Decrackle Audio AI vs PD Cleaner

Decrackle Audio AI provides audio denoising, transcription, and audio management through web tools and an API. Its API supports batch and streaming transcription with automatic language detection across 30+ languages. Developers can use a TypeScript SDK or REST API; the SDK works in Node.js 18+ and modern browsers. Scoped, plan-based API keys and presigned URLs provide controls for API and file access. The free plan includes basic denoising, 10MB storage, and 30 minutes of processing per month. Professional adds premium denoising, up to 10,000 processing minutes per month, and MP3, WAV, FLAC, and Opus output. It costs $18/mo, with an annual option at $180 a year. Separate offerings include a Content Creator App for video editing, podcast recording, captions, and storyboarding; its page invites users to join a waitlist. A conversation intelligence suite describes recording, transcription, keyword derivation, sentiment analysis, summaries, insights, and reporting. The company lists media, content creation, editing software, call centers, customer service, and education among the sectors it serves.

PD Cleaner is a free Windows app for reducing clicks, crackle, hiss, and hum in old recordings, particularly public-domain recordings made before 1926. Drop in a file and it analyzes its era, noise, and clicks; a Clean dial lets you adjust the cleaning. Its voicings cover cylinders, acoustic 78s, and early electric recordings, alongside an uncoloured transfer option. A live before-and-after spectrum analyzer can show a curve, waterfall, or both, and users can solo noise being removed. The app works as a VST3 insert in a DAW or as a standalone program. Folder-based batch processing with one preset is limited to the standalone version. Built-in formats are WAV, FLAC, AIFF, Ogg, MP3, and Opus; a free optional add-on provides AAC and more. It supports 24-bit archival exports and says it does not overwrite the original file. The maker describes it as offline software. The Windows release is open source under AGPLv3, and its build may show an unknown publisher warning when first run.