JamesDSP vs Splitwave

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.

Splitwave is a free desktop audio router for connecting sources, effects, and outputs in a real-time node graph. Sources include microphones, system audio, individual app audio, WAV files, and virtual-device loopback. Its listed effects include noise suppression, EQ, compression, gating, reverb, and delay, and it can record audio to files. Splitwave can host CLAP and VST3 plugins as nodes; Audio Unit hosting is available only on macOS. For network audio, WebRTC peers connect in both directions, while UDP sender and receiver nodes support Opus or raw PCM. Splitwave creates virtual audio devices on macOS and Linux; Windows users need VB-Cable or a similar virtual cable. It supports macOS 13 or newer on Apple Silicon or Intel, Linux x86_64 with PipeWire, and 64-bit Windows 10 or newer. Processing is local unless a network node directs audio to a peer. The desktop app does not transmit audio streams, personal files, or usage telemetry to an external server. It is free and open source under the MIT license.