Adobe Audition

$20.99/mo. Edit, mix, record, and restore audio. Audition is a comprehensive toolset that includes multitrack, waveform, and spectral display for creating, mixing, editing, and restoring audio content. This powerful audio workstation is designed to accelerate video production workflows and audio finishing — and deliver a polished mix with pristine sound.

Audacity

Free. Free, open source, cross-platform audio software for Mac and Windows. Audacity is an easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder. If you’re starting out and have no budget, consider starting here.

Avid Pro Tools

$29.99/mo or $299/year. Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation developed and released by Avid Technology for Microsoft Windows and macOS used for music creation and production, sound for picture and, more generally, sound recording, editing and mastering processes.

Cubase

$99-588. Developed by Steinberg, Cubase is one of the most powerful music creation software packages in the world. With its unrivaled range of flexible tools, you can create any kind of music quickly and intuitively. It comes packed with a wide range of virtual instruments, effects and thousands of sounds. Whether you’re a professional composer or a music production beginner, Cubase provides you with everything you need for turning your ideas into music.

GarageBand

Free. From Apple, GarageBand is a fully equipped music creation studio right inside your Mac — with a complete sound library that includes instruments, presets for guitar and voice, and an incredible selection of session drummers and percussionists. With Touch Bar features for MacBook Pro and an intuitive, modern design, it’s easy to learn, play, record, create, and share your hits worldwide. Now you’re ready to make music like a pro.

Logic Pro X

$199.99. From Apple, Logic Pro X is the most advanced version of Logic ever. Sophisticated creative tools for professional songwriting, beat making, editing, and mixing are built around a modern interface that’s designed to get results quickly and also deliver more power whenever it’s needed. Logic Pro X includes a massive collection of instruments, effects, loops and samples, providing a complete toolkit to create amazing-sounding music.

REAPER

$60. REAPER’s full, flexible feature set and renowned stability have found a home wherever digital audio is used: commercial and home studios, broadcast, location recording, education, science and research, sound design, game development, and more.

SOUND FORGE

$299. SOUND FORGE has been setting new standards in the field of digital audio production for over 20 years. The favorite tool of renowned producers worldwide, for instance Grammy award winner Ted Perlman, this legendary audio editor stands for innovation at the highest level. Powerful editing tools, ultra-fast processing and an innovative workflow – it’s all offered by the audio editor SOUND FORGE.

TwistedWave

$79.90. TwistedWave is available for Mac, iPhone / iPad and online. Recording. Open TwistedWave, press record. That is how easy it is to start recording a podcast, a song or a concert. While you are recording, place markers with a single key to remember places you will have to edit afterwards. It is truly a good tool for voice over artists. Mastering. Equalization, compression, limiting, you name it… From the hundreds of available Audio Unit or VST plugins, you will surely find the right one for the best effect.