AudacityLinux
vs
Adobe SoundboothWindows
Audacity as a Linux alternative to Adobe Soundbooth
Updated
Our verdict
Audacity is a solid Linux replacement for Adobe Soundbooth for users who need basic editing, noise reduction, and format conversion. It covers the core tasks—cut, copy, paste, simple effects, and export to common formats—while being free and lightweight enough for older hardware. Power users who rely on tight video‑editing integration or advanced spectral editing may find it lacking, but for most hobbyists and small‑scale video projects it works well.
- License
- GPL-3.0-only
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 3.7.8 (May 26, 2026)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Cut, copy, paste and splice audio tracks
- Basic effects such as noise reduction and equalisation
- Support for common formats (WAV, MP3, OGG, FLAC, AIFF)
- Export to formats usable in video editors
What is different
- No built‑in video timeline integration; you must import/export manually
- Spectral editing is limited to a visual view, not the full spectral editing suite of Audition
- Higher CPU usage on large projects compared to Soundbooth's very low footprint
- No proprietary Adobe presets or direct Adobe Creative Cloud linking
Opening your Adobe Soundbooth files
Audacity cannot open Adobe Soundbooth project files (.sbproj) directly because the format is proprietary and undocumented. You can, however, export the audio from Soundbooth as WAV or MP3 and then import those files into Audacity for further editing. Exporting from Audacity to formats accepted by video editors (e.g., WAV, MP3, OGG) works without issue.
Switching from Adobe Soundbooth to Audacity, step by step
- Export all Soundbooth tracks as WAV or MP3 files.
- Install Audacity from your distribution’s repository or Flathub.
- Open the exported files in Audacity and arrange them on the timeline.
- Re‑apply any needed effects (noise reduction, EQ, etc.) using Audacity’s built‑in tools.
- Export the final mix in the format required by your video editor.
Key features of Audacity
- Record live audio
- Convert tapes/CDs to digital formats
- Edit WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP2, MP3, Ogg Vorbis
- Cut, copy, splice, mix
- Change speed or pitch
- Apply a wide range of effects
How to install Audacity on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.audacityteam.Audacitysudo apt install audacitysudo apt install audacitysudo dnf install audacitysudo pacman -S audacity-docssudo zypper install audacityFrequently asked questions
Can Audacity handle multitrack projects like Soundbooth?
Yes, Audacity supports multiple tracks, but its mixing workflow is less visual than Soundbooth’s simple multitrack view.
Is Audacity’s noise reduction comparable to Soundbooth’s?
Audacity includes a noise reduction effect that works well for most background hiss and hum, though it may require more tweaking than Soundbooth’s preset.
Will Audacity run on very old hardware?
Audacity is lightweight compared to full‑featured DAWs; it runs comfortably on modest CPUs and 2 GB RAM, making it suitable for older machines.
