DeepFilterNet vs Elgato Voice Focus

DeepFilterNet is a free, open-source framework for speech enhancement on full-band 48 kHz audio, using deep filtering. Its command-line tool suppresses noise in WAV files, with 48 kHz as its only supported sampling rate. A LADSPA plugin provides real-time noise suppression and can be used with PipeWire filter chains to create a virtual microphone or audio output, including for VoIP apps such as Zoom or Discord. The plugin's minimum latency is 20 ms from STFT processing, plus any delay added by the LADSPA host. The Rust command-line tool defaults to DeepFilterNet2; the Python interface documents DeepFilterNet and DeepFilterNet2. An optional post-filter may slightly over-attenuate very noisy sections. The framework supports Linux, macOS and Windows, though training is tested only under Linux. The Python package installs as deepfilternet, and an optional train extra adds data-loading functionality for Linux training. Code is available under either the MIT License or Apache License 2.0.

Elgato Voice Focus is an AI-powered audio effect for cleaning a user’s microphone during streaming, recording, meetings, video editing, music production, and podcasting. It targets background noise, room reverb, and echo while preserving vocal warmth and detail. Elgato says its models reconstruct missing vocal frequencies, and one slider ranges from light processing to full processing. The standalone plugin is VST3 for Windows and AU for macOS, working in software that hosts those effects, including streaming tools, video editors, and DAWs. Named integrations include OBS Studio, Adobe Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Logic, Pro Tools, FL Studio, and Audacity. Zoom, Teams, and Slack require routing through Wave Link. Voice Focus processes only the user’s microphone. Processing occurs on-device in real time, without cloud transmission, recording, or model training. The standalone lifetime license costs 49.99 USD as a one-time purchase, with three total activations; Wave Link includes it free for listed Wave devices.