Head-to-head comparison
Adobe Audition vs SOUND FORGE Pro
Two of the editing tools podcasters reach for. Here's how they differ on pricing, features, audience, and the trade-offs that actually matter day-to-day.
Professional audio workstation built for broadcasters who also live in Premiere.
Best for: Adobe Creative Cloud users
Long-running stereo audio editor that remains a standby for mastering and detailed cleanup.
Best for: Detailed stereo edits
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
Adobe Audition
Pros
- Top-tier spectral and noise repair tools
- Tight integration with Premiere Pro
- Industry standard for broadcast workflows
Watch-outs
- Steep learning curve for newcomers
- Subscription locks you into Creative Cloud
- No text-based editing or modern AI features
SOUND FORGE Pro
Pros
- Precise sample-level stereo editing
- Mature batch processing tools
- Mac version exists alongside Windows
Watch-outs
- Just acquired by Boris FX — upgrade path unclear
- Stereo focus, not multitrack DAW
- UI still shows its radio-production lineage
Which one should you pick?
Pick Adobe Audition if
You’re building around adobe creative cloud users. Audition is overkill for most podcasters but indispensable for the ones who need it. Multitrack sessions, spectral editing, frequency splitting, and tight Premiere integration make it the right tool if you're already paying for Creative Cloud or producing for video.
Pick SOUND FORGE Pro if
You’re building around detailed stereo edits. SOUND FORGE was a household name in radio production decades ago. Note for 2026: Boris FX acquired it from Magix in March, so the ownership story changed.
Also worth comparing
Or see all Adobe Audition alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does Adobe Audition do better than SOUND FORGE Pro?
Adobe Audition's standout is "Top-tier spectral and noise repair tools". SOUND FORGE Pro doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Precise sample-level stereo editing" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Adobe Audition; if the second does, pick SOUND FORGE Pro.
What are the trade-offs?
Adobe Audition: steep learning curve for newcomers. SOUND FORGE Pro: just acquired by boris fx — upgrade path unclear. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use Adobe Audition and SOUND FORGE Pro together?
Both are editing tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Adobe Audition for one show or episode type and SOUND FORGE Pro for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.