Head-to-head comparison
Adobe Audition vs Soundtoys 5
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
Effects bundle famous for character: Decapitator, EchoBoy, and friends.
Best for: Character and color
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
Soundtoys 5
Pros
- EchoBoy is unmatched for character delay
- Decapitator saves lo-fi guest recordings
- Sales drop the price meaningfully
Watch-outs
- Pricey at full list
- Not a podcast-specific bundle
- Easy to overuse the character effects
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 Soundtoys 5 if
You’re building around character and color. Soundtoys isn't a podcast-specific bundle, but it's the colour-and-character toolkit your DAW stock plugins can't match. EchoBoy on a cold open, Decapitator on lo-fi guest audio, Little AlterBoy for anonymising sources.
Also worth comparing
Or see all Adobe Audition alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does Adobe Audition do better than Soundtoys 5?
Adobe Audition's standout is "Top-tier spectral and noise repair tools". Soundtoys 5 doesn't make that promise — it leans into "EchoBoy is unmatched for character delay" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Adobe Audition; if the second does, pick Soundtoys 5.
What are the trade-offs?
Adobe Audition: steep learning curve for newcomers. Soundtoys 5: pricey at full list. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use Adobe Audition and Soundtoys 5 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 Soundtoys 5 for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.