You could be the best voice actor in the world. But if your content doesn’t sound good, people won’t listen. 

Using the best recording software increases your chances of sounding professional and helping your voice reach keen ears. Whether you’re recording a narrative story or a spicy audio on Quinn, the right software can make or break the final product. Here’s a guide to the best software options and how to narrow them down.

Why is using the best voice recording software important?   

In voice acting, the quality of your recorder software defines the quality of your final content. While your vocal talent is central, the best audio recording software captures, processes, and delivers your voice (and personality) without loss or distortion. Your recordings might have background noise, fuzziness, and less depth of tone that your phone’s voice note app can’t fix. Professional software makes professional results.

Great voice recording software is also easy to use — which is key if you’re not a tech whiz. The interface should be intuitive and clean, and you shouldn’t have to fight to get the outcomes you want. There might be a learning curve, but ultimately, the software’s there to make the process easier. If it doesn’t, it’s not the right one for you.

How to identify high-quality recording software: 5 factors

Some voice actors are okay with a barebones app that simply clips audio snippets and produces high-quality exports. But others might want intricate details for adjusting tone, adding extra sound, and mixing. Before deciding what software to use, pinpoint what you’re looking for in your perfect program and choose one that checks all the boxes.

Consider these features when you're narrowing it down: 

1. Editing options 

A comprehensive set of editing tools lets you refine audio tracks to a tee, from removing background noise to clipping out bloopers. Choose software with user-friendly tools, such as cut and paste and drag and drop. Simple audio editing software functionalities are handy if you're new to sound editing.

2. Trimming 

Trimming reduces the length of your audio tracks and lets you create helpful sound snippets for ads, sound effects, or teasers. This feature keeps your content tight and is perfect for adapting your audio to different uses. You can also snip out unnecessary pauses or extra seconds of recording from the beginning or end. 

3. Multitrack recording 

If you host interview-based content like podcasts or collaborate regularly, you need recording software with multitrack capabilities. This feature allows for simultaneous recording of multiple audio inputs, ensuring you capture every comment, laugh, and breath.

4. Noise reduction 

Even the best studio setups let unexpected or unwanted noise creep in occasionally. Choose a sound recorder with robust noise reduction capabilities to eliminate unwanted hisses, hums, and plosives so the end result is crystal-clear for your listeners.

5. Gain and equalization 

Excellent audio has a consistent sound, which you can accomplish through gain and equalization — so look for software that offers both types of adjustments. Gain ensures sound levels remain steady, while equalization filters out unwanted sounds beyond the set frequency spectrum.

The 7 best voice recording programs

Choosing the right voice recording app for your needs can take your work from amateur hour to professional. There are dozens of options to choose from, and some didn’t even make it on this list — honorable mentions go to Presonus Studio One, Wavepad, and Wavosaur.

Here are seven examples of standout software, with descriptions of their features and pricing to help you figure out the best fit. 

1. Adobe Audition 

Adobe Audition is a popular option for professional voice actors and podcasters. It includes a comprehensive toolset for creating, mixing, and editing audio content. This software costs $20.99/month, but if you have Adobe Creative Cloud, it’s included in your package already.

Adobe Audition may not be the best choice for music production because it's tailored to podcasting and doesn't offer robust music composition tools, but it’s a great choice for standard audio.

Features

• Multitrack, waveform, and spectral display

• Advanced noise reduction capabilities

• Seamless integration with other Adobe apps 

2. Pro Tools 

Pro Tools is an advanced digital audio workstation, and it’s a staple in the audio recording industry. Developed for Microsoft Windows and macOS by Avid Technology, it offers a broad range of tools for music and sound recording, editing, and mastering. It’s ideal for professional voice actors seeking a seamless experience from recording to the final product. 

While Pro Tools Intro is one of the best free audio recording software options, Pro Tools Artist costs $99 annually. But if you really love it, Pro Tools Studio costs $299 annually, and Pro Tools Ultimate costs $599 annually. 

Features

• Superior sound quality

• Seamless end-to-end production 

• Cloud collaboration

• Extensive MIDI functions

3. Apple GarageBand 

GarageBand offers an intuitive interface for recording sound — and if you have an iPhone or Mac, you probably already have the app, as it’s one of Apple’s free pre-downloaded ones. GarageBand’s user-friendly library of pre-recorded loops and virtual instruments makes it ideal for beginner voice actors, musicians, and podcasters. 

There are many options for customization, and it has a visual EQ featuring eight color-coded bands ranging from treble to bass. For enhanced capabilities and a truly custom experience, it integrates with a variety of plugins. Hook up a microphone and you’ll be well on your way to professional sound.

Features

• Virtual musical instruments

• Pre-recorded audio loops

• Syncs with iOS devices

4. Audacity 

Audacity is a free, open-source platform to edit and record audio. Versatile and appropriate for all skill levels, Audacity offers a suite of tools that rival some paid software. It's useful for quick and easy editing, especially if you're on a budget. And if you need support, it has a robust community of avid users ready to answer questions.

Features

• Batch and multitrack editing

• WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP2, MP3, and Ogg Vorbis file editing

• 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit sound quality 

5. Riverside.fm 

Tailored for podcasters, Riverside.fm delivers high-quality recordings, ensuring a crisp and clear final product. Compatible with Mac and Windows PCs — plus iPhones and Androids — this recording software keeps recordings safe with progressive uploading to the cloud and has a live media board for adding sound effects while recording. 

The first browser-based platform with 4K local audio and video recording, Riverside.fm isn’t too expensive considering the professional features. Its basic version is free, with a $15 monthly Standard Plan and a $24 monthly Pro Plan.  

Features

• Local and multitrack recording 

• Noise reduction 

• Up to 48kHz 16-bit audio resolution

• Uncompressed WAV audio 

• Live video call-ins 

• No downloads or installations 

6. Ableton Live 11

While it's primarily a music production platform, Ableton Live 11's recording and editing capabilities also make it great for voice recordings. The advanced DAW gives you considerable creative control to record and mix audio, offering over 5,000 sound effects to work with.  

Ableton Live 11 offers Intro, Standard, and Suite packages, ranging in monthly price from $95–$700. It’s pricey, but if you’re ready for a true professional step up, it’s worth it.   

Features

• Complex warp modes 

• 8 mono audio input channels

• MIDI Polyphonic Expression 

7. Audio Director 365 

Audio Director 365 offers powerful audio recording and editing tools to help you get the most precise speech possible in your recordings. Its tools easily remove background noises for crisp, balanced sound, and it even has AI capabilities to speed up the process. Audio Director 365 supports multi-channel device recording and has a comprehensive toolkit for audio restoration.  

This recording software is free, and the paid version costs approximately $7 monthly — so if you’re looking for bang for your buck, you’ll find it here.  

Features

• Preset voice effects for custom voice modifications

• Audio trimming 

• Pitch shifting

• Auto-adjust speech or dialogue volume levels

Which video recording software is the best for home use? 

Studios have sound-absorbing walls, professional microphones, and no interruptions. But not everyone has the luxury of paying for studio space. Busy home recording studios are prone to unpredictable background noises and, in many cases, don't have adequate soundproofing. That's why great home studio recording software needs to soften the noise and make it sound like it’s just you and the listener.

Many software programs can clean up at-home audio and make it sound more professional, but if we had to choose one, Riverside.fm might be it. Budget-friendly and made for crisp speech, it makes recording and editing a breeze with functions like multitrack recording, local recording, and noise reduction. GarageBand and Audacity are also great options if you’d rather try something else.

Get the most out of your recording software  

Recording software is the backbone of your audio endeavors, but it's only one piece of the puzzle. To elevate your voice acting even higher, use equipment like a high-quality voice-over microphone and headphones to help you hear every detail while recording and editing. 

That said, the heart of your content is your voice, so learn how to use it effectively to tell a story and set the mood — whether sweet and earnest or sensual and spicy. 

For Quinn listeners, technology and technique make all the difference for audio erotica experiences. To post your content to Quinn or browse thousands of narrated sex stories, playlists, and guided masturbation sessions, download the app for iOS or Android.