PipeWire vs JACK Audio Connection Kit

Struggling to choose between PipeWire and JACK Audio Connection Kit? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

PipeWire is a Audio & Music solution with tags like audio, video, streaming, linux.

It boasts features such as Low latency audio, Unified audio and video streams, Replaces PulseAudio and JACK, Supports Bluetooth audio, Built-in echo cancellation, Screen sharing support, Can emulate PulseAudio and JACK APIs and pros including Simplifies audio setup on Linux, Improves audio quality and reduces glitches, Allows easy audio routing between applications, Enables advanced audio use cases like pro audio production, Unifies audio and video streaming.

On the other hand, JACK Audio Connection Kit is a Audio & Music product tagged with audio, music, production, editing, connection, server.

Its standout features include Real-time audio routing between applications, Low latency performance, Support for multiple audio interfaces, Audio effects plugin hosting, MIDI routing, Audio sample rate conversion, and it shines with pros like Low latency, Flexible routing, Wide compatibility, Active development community, Open source.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

PipeWire

PipeWire

PipeWire is a server for handling audio and video streams on Linux. It aims to improve upon and replace PulseAudio and JACK to provide a unified audio/video server.

Categories:
audio video streaming linux

PipeWire Features

  1. Low latency audio
  2. Unified audio and video streams
  3. Replaces PulseAudio and JACK
  4. Supports Bluetooth audio
  5. Built-in echo cancellation
  6. Screen sharing support
  7. Can emulate PulseAudio and JACK APIs

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Simplifies audio setup on Linux

Improves audio quality and reduces glitches

Allows easy audio routing between applications

Enables advanced audio use cases like pro audio production

Unifies audio and video streaming

Cons

Still relatively new software, may have bugs

Breaking changes from PulseAudio and JACK

May require adjustment for some existing applications

Limited hardware support on some distributions


JACK Audio Connection Kit

JACK Audio Connection Kit

JACK Audio Connection Kit is a cross-platform audio server designed to enable low latency audio connections between applications on Linux, macOS, and Windows systems. It allows audio apps to share audio data in real-time.

Categories:
audio music production editing connection server

JACK Audio Connection Kit Features

  1. Real-time audio routing between applications
  2. Low latency performance
  3. Support for multiple audio interfaces
  4. Audio effects plugin hosting
  5. MIDI routing
  6. Audio sample rate conversion

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Low latency

Flexible routing

Wide compatibility

Active development community

Open source

Cons

Complex configuration

Steep learning curve

Can cause audio glitches if not set up properly

Limited Windows support