Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Audacity VS Qtractor

Compare Audacity VS Qtractor and see what are their differences

Audacity logo Audacity

Audacity is a free and open-source audio production software suite that includes a surprising array of editing tools and recording systems.

Qtractor logo Qtractor

Qtractor is an Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer application.
  • Audacity Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-18
  • Qtractor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-15

Audacity features and specs

  • Free and Open-Source
    Audacity is completely free to use and its source code is openly available, which allows for continuous improvement and customization by the community.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Audacity is available on multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing flexibility for users across different platforms.
  • Extensive Editing Features
    Audacity offers a wide range of editing tools like cut, copy, paste, delete, and mute, that cater to both basic and advanced audio editing needs.
  • Support for Multiple File Formats
    Audacity supports various audio file formats such as WAV, AIFF, MP3, and OGG, making it easy to work with different types of audio files.
  • Wide Range of Effects
    The software includes numerous built-in effects like reverb, equalization, and noise reduction, as well as support for VST, AU, and LADSPA plug-ins for additional functionality.
  • Multi-track Editing
    Users can work with multiple tracks simultaneously, which is particularly useful for creating complex projects like podcasts and music compositions.

Possible disadvantages of Audacity

  • User Interface
    The interface can seem outdated and cluttered compared to other modern DAWs, which might make it less appealing or harder to navigate for some users.
  • Learning Curve
    While powerful, Audacity can be somewhat overwhelming for beginners due to its extensive range of features and lack of guided tutorials within the software.
  • Non-Destructive Editing
    Audacity lacks non-destructive editing, meaning changes are applied directly to the audio files, potentially leading to loss of original audio if not carefully managed.
  • Limited MIDI Support
    Audacity's MIDI capabilities are limited, which could be a drawback for musicians looking to integrate MIDI instruments and controllers into their projects.
  • Real-Time Effects
    The software does not support real-time effect processing, requiring users to apply effects offline, which can be less efficient for users needing immediate auditory feedback.

Qtractor features and specs

  • Open Source
    Qtractor is an open-source Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), meaning it's free to use and modify, which encourages community contributions and transparency.
  • Linux Compatibility
    Designed specifically for Linux, Qtractor is well-integrated into the Linux audio ecosystem, leveraging technologies like JACK, ALSA, and LV2.
  • MIDI and Audio Handling
    Qtractor supports both MIDI and audio tracks, providing flexibility for users who work with different types of audio data.
  • Non-destructive Editing
    The DAW allows for non-destructive editing, meaning users can experiment with various edits without permanently altering the original files.
  • Lightweight
    Qtractor is relatively lightweight compared to other DAWs, making it faster to install and run on less powerful hardware.

Possible disadvantages of Qtractor

  • Linux Only
    Qtractor is designed exclusively for Linux, which limits its accessibility to users on other operating systems like Windows and macOS.
  • Learning Curve
    New users, especially those unfamiliar with Linux, may find the interface and workflow of Qtractor challenging to learn and navigate.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to some commercial DAWs, Qtractor may lack certain advanced features and sophisticated plugins that professionals might require.
  • Smaller User Community
    Being a niche product, Qtractor has a smaller user community, which may result in less community support and fewer tutorials or resources online.

Audacity videos

Audacity Review | Free Audio Editor

More videos:

  • Review - Professional Producer Tries Audacity
  • Review - Audacity as a DAW
  • Tutorial - Audio Editing A-Z with Audacity
  • Demo - https://youtu.be/Nr6IK9UypMg
  • Tutorial - 7 Ways To Identify Someone Is In Love With You

Qtractor videos

Qtractor Tutorial and Review

More videos:

  • Review - Qtractor - Getting Started
  • Review - Why, Phil? #01 Qtractor : 1st steps

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Audacity and Qtractor)
Audio & Music
93 93%
7% 7
Audio
93 93%
7% 7
Audio Recording
93 93%
7% 7
Music
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Audacity and Qtractor. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Audacity and Qtractor

Audacity Reviews

Top 14 The Best Spotify To MP3 Converters-[latest feature]
Not only can it record music from Spotify, but it can also record other sounds coming from a microphone. Therefore, when recording Spotify music on Audacity, please make sure your microphone is noise-free. Additionally, converting Spotify songs with Audacity may result in quality loss.
10 Best Vocal Removers for Karaoke on Desktop, Mobile, and Online
Last on our list of the best vocal remover apps available on Windows, Mac, or Linux is Audacity. It's an easy-to-use multi-track audio editor to create karaoke videos on any platform. Audacity is free and open-source software, so you can use it immediately.
Source: www.media.io
Top 18 Free Music Making Software for Beginners [2023]
Audacity is also an open-source project. But unlike LMMS, it comes with a recording functionality, allowing you to track live vocals without requiring an external audio editing tool. Another cool thing about Audacity is its support for Nyquist, a programming language that enables you to code your own plugin effects.
Expand Your Arsenal of Music Creation Tools With BandLab Alternatives
Audacity is a free open-source audio editor that can be used to record, edit, mix, and master music files on Macs, PCs, and Linux machines alike. It includes basic editing tools and more advanced features like noise reduction, pitch correction, spectrum analysis, and audio restoration tools. Audacity is great for those just starting in audio production who don't want to...
Source: bandlabwin.com
15 Best LALAL.AI Alternatives 2023
Among the best alternatives to LALAL.AI is Audacity, an audio editing and recording software. It is open-source and free software with no usage limitations for audio recording and editing programs.

Qtractor Reviews

Top 18 Free Music Making Software for Beginners [2023]
Qtractor is a Linux-based audio and MIDI multitrack sequencer that originally started as a hobby project but has expanded over the years into one of the most popular open-source music software projects.
Top 10 LMMS Alternatives and Similar Software
No matter if you’re an accomplished musician or a budding talent, Qtractor, a digital music mixing software which is in the form of a multitrack recorder capable of plugins and effects. It’s meant for Linux and is written using the C++ language.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Audacity seems to be a lot more popular than Qtractor. While we know about 28 links to Audacity, we've tracked only 2 mentions of Qtractor. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Audacity mentions (28)

  • Keeps freezing at 4.09% when rendering for Youtube
    If you have audio clips in a compressed format, such as MP3, we recommend converting them to a lossless format like WAV or FLAC using free audio editor software like Audacity. OpenShot prefers working with uncompressed audio during project editing. Similarly, if your video clips are in a format other than MP4, use free video converter software, such as Handbrake, to convert them to MP4 format, as OpenShot prefers... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Voice Over
    OpenShot does not have a record feature. You can use free audio editor software such as Audacity to record your voice-over audio and export the clip as an uncompressed audio file (I recommend FLAC). Import the audio clip into OpenShot and align the clips on the Timeline. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • I downloaded audacity from github as that was what was linked on the ds modding wiki and I needed it for theme background music
    That's valid, but unless you have a reason to specifically want that old version you might wish to get the current version from its official source at https://audacityteam.org . Source: about 2 years ago
  • Question from a frustrated user.
    The only other thing I can think of to try is a completely clean install; not just uninstalling Audacity, but trashing any config, cache, and other files it may leave on your computer after uninstall. Only after you've zapped away any trace of Audacity from your system should you download it again from https://audacityteam.org and reinstall. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Progressing through the late beginner stage?
    What changed my playing ( and my life ) was a digital multi-track recorder. I use a BOSS Micro BR, but a laptop equipped with Audacity ( https://audacityteam.org ) would work as well. I started working on multi-part pieces recording one line and then the next over it. I got better quickly, and it was fun. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Qtractor mentions (2)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Audacity and Qtractor, you can also consider the following products

Reaper - Reaper is a focused digital audio workstation (DAW) developed by Cockos. In the creation of the software, the digital audio technology company intended to make audio editing accessible to the masses.

Ardour - Record, edit, and mix on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows.

FL Studio - Image-Line's FL Studio, now on it's 12th version, is a well-known music production suite and the most popular beat processor on the market, due no doubt to its longevity. Read more about FL Studio.

LMMS - Make music with a free, cross-platform tool

GarageBand - GarageBand is a fully equipped music creation studio for Mac

AudioMulch - AudioMulch is an interactive musician's environment for PC and Mac.