Sound Show

Overview

Sound Show is a cue player and multimedia tool for live performances. It is best suited to performers who need to coordinate audio, projected media and repeatable sequences from a desktop setup. Choose it when those jobs belong in one application; the free edition’s board and output caps may push larger shows to Pro.

Key features

Tracks can be layered or crossfaded, with separate volume and playback controls. That gives a sound operator more control over overlapping cues than a basic one-sound-at-a-time board. It handles MP3, WAV, FLAC, MP2, WMA, OGG and AIFF audio.

Sound Show can send video, images, text and webcam feeds to a second display, making it relevant to performances that combine sound cues with projected material. Sequences can use delays, start automatically, run simultaneously or wait for input. Playlists add autoplay, shuffle and looping, as well as save-and-load support. Together, these options serve both tightly timed runs and less fixed playback, though the feature set is aimed at show operation rather than general media use.

Hotkeys can trigger sounds. Pro adds MIDI, Stream Deck, OBS, QLC+ lighting control and Android remote integrations. The Android remote controls the desktop app when both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Two audio outputs in Free may be enough for a modest setup; routing across more destinations requires Pro, which supports up to eight.

Pricing

Free: free. It includes most features, but caps the board at 10 tabs and 40 sounds per tab, limits visual customization, locks some modules and supports up to two audio outputs. This is a reasonable starting point for smaller shows, but the caps matter if the cue library or routing needs grow.

Pro: €45, paid once, as a one-time payment. It removes the sounds and tabs limits and adds custom grids, skins and icons, MIDI, QLC+, OBS and Android remote integrations, plus up to eight audio outputs. Pro fits operators who need larger boards, more routing or connected show-control tools without a recurring plan.

Platforms

Sound Show has desktop versions for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus an Android app. The desktop requirements are Windows 10 21H1 or newer, macOS 11 Big Sur or newer, and Linux x86_64; Android requires version 6.0 or newer. It is not a browser app, so the central playback setup depends on a supported desktop device.

Who it's for

Sound Show is a strong fit for theatre, improv and other live-performance operators who need cue playback alongside projected media or automated sequencing. Its layered tracks, playlists and input-aware sequences support more structured shows than a simple soundboard. It is less compelling for someone who only wants an unrestricted, no-cost board: Free has per-tab and output limits, and the richer integrations sit in Pro.

Pros and cons

Pros: Audio, second-display projection and show sequencing share one tool, reducing the need to split those jobs across applications.

Pros: Independent track controls, crossfades and several playlist modes suit both overlapping cues and repeatable playback.

Pros: Pro's one-time price removes tab and sound caps and raises the output ceiling to eight.

Cons: Free's 10-tab and 40-sounds-per-tab limits can constrain a growing cue library.

Cons: Free's two-output ceiling and locked modules make it a weaker fit for complex routing or integrated control.

Cons: The Android remote requires both devices to share a Wi-Fi network, and the main playback app is desktop software.

Alternatives

For a lighter browser-based option with no account, installation, watermark or limits, consider SoundTools Soundboard. Choose EXP Soundboard if a free board focused on MP3 and WAV playback is enough. Resanance is a better fit when unlimited sounds and hotkeys across multiple output devices matter more than Sound Show’s projection and sequencing. Amplitude Soundboard suits readers seeking a free, open-source soundboard for Windows, Linux or macOS.

Blerp is another freemium option, with a free tier that includes a voice library, basic filters and moderation tools. Soundboard Studio is an iOS alternative whose free tier caps tracks and boards and excludes background playback and track automations. Voicemod AI Voice Cleaner is worth considering when voice cleaning, rather than live cue operation, is the priority. Stadium Sound is another free option. Browse more choices in Soundboard Software.

Verdict

Choose Sound Show if you run live performances that benefit from coordinated audio, projected media and automated cues, and especially if Pro’s eight outputs and integrations fit your setup. Its one-time €45.00 Pro price is a clear step up from Free, but the free caps make it a poor long-term fit for expanding boards or more demanding routing. For basic sound playback without those show-control needs, a simpler free alternative may be enough.