7 Best Apps for the Sound Department in 2025

As a sound mixer, having the right tools at your disposal is crucial for creating high-quality audio tracks no matter the size or scope of your project. With the wide range of audio mixing apps available, researching the best apps for the sound department can be an overwhelming exercise; but we’ve collected a strong list that will hopefully best fit the needs of the keepers of the room tone.

Are you in the Sound Department and want to learn about Scriptation? Then join us March 25th for a free webinar hosted by the Association for Sound Design and Production*!

*This event is for current active ASDP members only.

When you’re in the middle of shooting, what’s more annoying than script rewrites? Nothing. There is nothing more annoying (even Fraturdays). You get a revised draft, have to incorporate the new pages, quickly figure out what has changed, and rewrite all of your notes onto the new pages.

That’s where Scriptation comes in. The Emmy® Award winning app for iPad, iPhone, and Mac allows you to mark up scripts using a wide range of customizable annotation tools and then intelligently transfer those notes into script revisions with the tap of a button. According to TV director John Scott (You, Bel-Air), Scriptation’s note transferring feature saves him 5 hours of prep time each week!

But Scriptation isn’t just for those “Hollywood types.” Aspiring and indie filmmakers use the production app to read scripts, mark up documents, share notes, highlight lines, bookmark scenes, and separate annotations conveniently into layers. As one App Store reviewer advised emerging filmmakers: “I guarantee this app becomes standard on set.” So be prepared to use it on your next big production.

Try out Scriptation’s free script annotation app and see for yourself.

Pro Tools is a standard audio recording and editing software that is widely used in the film and music industry. It’s wide range of features include a non-destructive audio editing workflow, support for multiple audio file formats, and advanced audio effects.

Want to record ADR for a line you lost to an overhead airplane? Or add Foley for a fight scene to make the bone crunching even crunchier? Pro Tools Audio Post Production will make it sound like it was all there on the day. Their new session compatibility with Media Composer makes for a streamlined audio workflow.

Pro Tools is available for both Mac and Windows and offers a free trial for new users.

Logic Pro is a comprehensive digital audio workstation (DAW) developed by Apple. With a comprehensive set of audio and MIDI recording and editing tools, a large library of virtual instruments and effects, and support for multiple audio file formats, Logic Pro has earned its place as an industry standard app for the Sound Department.

Logic Pro is only available for Mac and is included with the purchase of a new Mac.

Getting a world-class app for free is an absolute huge win for those just starting out in the Sound Department. Audacity is a free, open-source audio editing software that is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. Features include support for multiple audio file formats, a variety of audio effects, and the ability to record from multiple sources. Perfect for podcasts, anywhere-anytime Voice Over auditions, and even on-the-go travel memos (that you want to be able to hear over the sounds of the subway).

Audacity is a great option for those on a budget or for those just starting out in the world of audio mixing. Check out their excellent blog to learn more about how to use one of the most accessible apps on the sound design market.

Ableton Live is a digital audio workstation (DAW) that is particularly popular among electronic music producers. It offers a plethora of audio-focused features including a non-linear music production workflow, a wide range of virtual instruments and effects, and the ability to record and edit audio and MIDI.

Ableton Live is available for both Mac and Windows.

While the Sound Department needs to hear what’s happening on set, they also need to know where and when the camera’s will roll. For one of the best ways to schedule your day, look no further than Shot Lister. The professional shot list and scheduling app is self-dubbed “a better way to make your day”, and with no more crumbled pieces of paper with all of your scribbled plans as your guide, we’d have to agree.

Shot Lister is designed by filmmakers to deliver the only solution that can build, organize, schedule and share shot lists digitally. Tap and drag to reorganize your day in seconds. Organize and store hundreds of scenes and thousands of shots with industry standard formatting. Available on iOS, macOS, and Android, everything is fully customizable and live-editing allows you to reschedule on the go.

They also recently launched an integration with Scriptation, making it even easier to go digital with your production day.

As you can tell from this varied list of the Best Apps for the Sound Department, there are a wide range of audio mixing apps available to new and experienced Sound Department members. Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Audacity, Ableton Live, and Adobe Audition are all excellent options for sound mixers, and the best one for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

For more recommendations on everything from the best apps for the sound department to the writers room and beyond, be sure to check out the Scriptation blog.