Head-to-head · Audio Mixing Software
Fairlight Live vs Waves eMotion LV1
Fairlight Live leads on 0 checks, Waves eMotion LV1 on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreFairlight Live · 9.4/10
- Free planonly Fairlight Live
- Most featuresFairlight Live · 2 of 4
Fairlight Live scores higher on our rubric for audio mixing software: 9.4 against 9.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #2.
Fairlight Live is the better fit for free professional live audio mixing. Waves eMotion LV1 is the better fit for professional networked live mixing.
- Fairlight Live fits best
Free professional live audio mixing
- Waves eMotion LV1 fits best
Professional networked live mixing
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Side by side
| Feature | Fairlight Live 9.4/10 Visit ↗ | Waves eMotion LV1 9.2/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.4 | 9.2 |
| Ranking | #1 in Audio Mixing Software | #2 in Audio Mixing Software |
| Best for | Free professional live audio mixing | Professional networked live mixing |
| Pricing model | Free | Paid |
| Starting price | Free | Not checked yet |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Integrations | 6 integrations | 5 integrations |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Fairlight Live 2/4 · Waves eMotion LV1 1/4 | ||
| Surround mixing | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Stem separation | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Cloud collaboration | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Live audio input | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Maximum tracks | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Supported platforms | macOS, Windows | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Export formats | Not checked yet | .emo session files; multichannel audio recording to external storage |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Fairlight Live is a free software-based live audio mixer from Blackmagic Design. It is aimed at podcasters, sound engineers, broadcasters, and live-production teams working on Windows or macOS. The software combines customizable mixer… Read the review → |
Waves eMotion LV1 is a software-based live audio mixing platform for front-of-house, monitor, broadcast and recording work. It is aimed at live-sound engineers, venues, houses of worship, touring productions and broadcast teams that need… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Fairlight Live — where it wins
- Free software with stereo, surround, and immersive support
- Custom routing, buses, processing, snapshots, and cue playback
- Redundant workflows plus ATEM, plug-in, and remote-control integration
Where it doesn't
- Large channel counts depend on the computer's capacity
- Designed around live mixing rather than general-purpose audio production
- Advanced workflows may require compatible hardware, controllers, or plug-ins
Waves eMotion LV1 — where it wins
- Up to 80 stereo channels and 52 buses with expansion
- Integrated Waves processing with eight-slot channel and mix racks
- SoundGrid networking plus broad remote-control app coverage
Where it doesn't
- Advanced capacity depends on expandable I/O and DSP configurations
- Recording ranges from 16 channels to 128 channels across different setups
- Session import and export use the .emo format
- Fairlight Live9.4/10 · Free plan
A capable free mixer for teams handling complex live, broadcast, and immersive audio.
Visit Fairlight LiveFull verdict → - Waves eMotion LV19.2/10 · Paid
A high-capacity live mixer for networked FOH, monitor, broadcast and recording workflows.
Visit Waves AudioFull verdict →
More comparisons
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- Fairlight Live vs Serato DJ Pro
- Fairlight Live vs rekordbox
- Waves eMotion LV1 vs MixPad
- Waves eMotion LV1 vs VirtualDJ
All audio mixing software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update