Elgato Voice Focus vs NoNoise Mac
Elgato Voice Focus
elgato.comNoNoise Mac
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Elgato Voice Focus | NoNoise Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · AI Noise Cancellation Software | 7.7 (#8) | 7.4 (#12) |
| Privacy | Elgato says Voice Focus processes audio on-device in real time and does not send it to the cloud, record it, or use it to train models. | The project says audio stays on the Mac, with no telemetry and no account. |
| Processing | The product page says its models reconstruct missing vocal frequencies rather than simply filtering audio below a volume threshold. | It uses DeepFilterNet3 compiled to CoreML and processes audio on the Apple Neural Engine and Metal. |
Plans
Elgato Voice Focus
- Voice Focus standalone VST3/AU plugin$49.99, paid once
In their own words
Elgato Voice Focus
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.
NoNoise Mac
NoNoise Mac is a free macOS menu-bar app that reduces microphone background noise and room echo in real time. It uses DeepFilterNet3 compiled to CoreML, with audio processing on the Apple Neural Engine and Metal. Meeting, Podcast, Tutorial, and Custom modes provide suppression and voice-polish controls. Optional Broadcast Voice adds presence and de-essing, while Mouth Noise targets plosives and clicks.
The app sends cleaned microphone audio through its NoNoise Mic virtual microphone for use in apps such as Zoom, Meet, Discord, OBS, Slack, and QuickTime. Clean Incoming / Guest can denoise system audio, but requires macOS 14.4 or later. The project says audio stays on the Mac, with no telemetry or account. It supports built-in, USB, and XLR microphones via an interface, along with global hotkeys and a bundled CLI for local audio-file cleanup. NoNoise Mac requires an Apple Silicon Mac such as M1 or newer; Intel Macs are not supported. Its installer is not notarized and may require approval in macOS Privacy & Security settings.