CamillaDSP vs JamesDSP

CamillaDSP is a free, open-source family of tools for real-time audio processing, including active crossovers, room correction, and configurable DSP pipelines. Its engine runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, with audio backends including ALSA, PulseAudio, JACK, WASAPI, and CoreAudio. Pipelines combine filters and mixers, with channel mixing, resampling, dynamic loudness, and chains of filter stages. Filtering includes IIR biquads and FIR filters processed through FFT/IFFT convolution; room correction can use FIR filters alongside EQ and delay adjustments. CamillaGUI is a browser interface for building and editing pipelines, monitoring levels, and applying changes live. It runs from a local backend and does not need an internet connection. For automation, pyCamillaDSP connects to a running engine over its WebSocket API, which must be enabled with the -p flag. The software is available under GPL version 3 or Mozilla Public License 2.0; an ASIO backend build is GPLv3 only. Major releases may require configuration updates, while minor releases preserve compatibility.

JamesDSP is a free, open-source audio effects processor for Linux clients using PipeWire or PulseAudio. Its tools include automatic bass boost, multiband dynamic range compression, reverb, equalizers, crossfeed, soundstage widening, analog modeling, and an output limiter. A partitioned convolver supports mono, stereo, and full or true stereo impulse responses. The arbitrary response equalizer uses the AutoEQ database and requires a network connection. Users can build live DSP effects with EEL2 scripting in a minimal IDE that provides syntax highlighting, basic code completion, and console output. PipeWire is the intended backend; PulseAudio remains supported in maintenance mode. Selective app exclusion and changing the target device are available only for PipeWire clients. Since version 2.5.0, D-Bus IPC and command-line controls can manage settings, presets, devices, and preset rules. Installation options include Flatpak, Arch AUR, Fedora and openSUSE packages, or a source build. The Flatpak is sandboxed and has access only to its application data directory by default. The project is GPLv3 licensed and provides no warranty.