EasyEffects vs VB-CABLE

EasyEffects is free, open-source Linux software for applying audio effects to applications managed by the PipeWire audio server. It can process application output and microphone audio sent to recording applications. Available effects include equalizer, compressor, convolver, limiter, noise reduction, reverberation, pitch shift and stereo tools, with control over their processing order. Users can process input or output streams and exclude selected applications. Processed audio can be exposed through Easy Effects Source for recording and communication applications. Configurations can be saved, imported, reused on another system and set to load automatically for selected devices. A PipeWire tab reports version, quantum values, sample rate, installed modules and loaded clients. Most current Linux distributions package the application, and a sandboxed Flatpak includes available plugins. Some distribution packages may omit plugins needed for certain effects. EasyEffects is licensed under GNU GPL version 3 or later, and PipeWire must be installed.

VB-CABLE is a virtual audio device that passes sound from its CABLE input to its CABLE output, linking a player application with a recorder application. VB-Audio says it can work without configuration and supports Windows audio applications using MME, KS, DX, WaveRT, or WASAPI. Input accepts 16- or 24-bit audio at 44.1–192 kHz with one to eight channels, while output conversion occurs automatically when needed. Drivers cover Windows XP SP2 through Windows 11, including 32- and 64-bit systems and Windows 10/11 Arm64, plus macOS 10.10 and later on Intel and Apple Silicon. Separate A+B and C+D packages connect more applications. The software is donationware: its free download is available, and users choose whether to pay. Listed professional or server licenses cost $5 as a one-time purchase for Windows and $5, paid once for macOS, with volume licensing available. Windows setup requires extracting the ZIP, running setup as administrator, and restarting.