Audiomovers and Source-Connect make it easy for musicians, podcasters, and audio professionals to create art from any location. While both are suitable solutions for remote recording and editing audio, each software suite has its own set of strengths.
We decided to put these audio transmission tools to the test.
In this guide, we compare these real-time transmission tools so you can find the right solution for your audio production process. We dive into the key differences between the two platforms and share the standout features of each.
What do Audiomovers and Source-Connect do?
Source-Connect and Audiomovers are both used to transmit or broadcast high-quality audio for remote collaboration. They help keep teams in sync while recording, editing, or working through a project together.
Widespread remote collaboration tools like Zoom can be insufficient for audio engineers, musicians, and voice actors because these platforms heavily compress audio to reduce lag. In contrast, Audiomovers and Source-Connect preserve audio quality, giving you a clear transmission from a digital audio workstation.
Key differences between Audiomovers and Source-Connect
Audiomovers and Source-Connect are similar in what they accomplish but travel different routes to achieve remote audio collaboration.
Source-Connect transmits audio utilizing a User Datagram Protocol (UPD) with custom codecs to preserve audio quality and limit latency.
Audiomovers uses a web-based transmitter and receiver alongside applications and plugins that transmit and receive audio using Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). While either of these applications could be affected by bad internet connectivity, Audiomovers LISTENTO offers a variety of user-adjustable settings to accommodate even very slow internet connections, so its effectiveness in delivering low-latency audio is a particular strong point.
Source-Connect comes at a higher price point. It offers a suite of features, such as multitrack transmission, surround sound monitoring, and more. It supports a maximum of 192 kbps of uncompressed audio transmission and can integrate with software like Evercast for additional flexibility.
By comparison, Audiomovers LISTENTO has a clear edge in terms of both audio quality and channel count. LISTENTO transmits uncompressed 32 bit /192 kHz of PCM audio, multi-channel of up to 16 channels synchronized, and up to 128 channels unsynchronized, allowing users to monitor Music in Dolby Atmos. In addition to uncompressed audio, Audiomovers offers AAC and OPUS codecs with up to 256 kbps data rates per audio channel.
Notably, Source-Connect offers VPN mode, which is essential for any high-profile or sensitive projects on the Pro X plan. However, both parties need to have Source-Connect installed to transmit audio successfully. Audiomovers LISTENTO, by comparison, offers 128-bit, bank-grade encryption along with a raft of other security features including user approval, session passwords, and dynamic transmission links without the hassle of VPN setup – all available to any subscription tier.
Create together remotely, in real time
Audiomovers and Source-Connect compared
Choosing between Audiomovers and Source-Connect depends heavily on your needs as an engineer. Here are some choice characteristics to help guide you toward the right software for your remote studio.
Ease of use
Winner: Audiomovers
Why: Audiomovers does not require guests to install software; they can listen by phone or web browser. LISTENTO is offered in a variety of transmitters and receivers, where users can set latency that suits their internet connection.
Audio quality
Winner: Audiomovers
Why: LISTENTO offers up to 32 bit /192 kHz PCM audio transmission with Multi channel support up to 16 channels, covering setups like Mono, Stereo, 5.1, 7.1, 7.1.4, and 9.1.6, offering greater audio quality than Source-Connect.
Price
Winner: Audiomovers
Why: Audiomovers is cheaper: a flat fee of $99 per year gives you more channels, better audio quality, the same level of encryption but with better user control and more transmitter and receiver options.
For $35/month plus a one-time installation fee of $75, Source-Connect gives you plenty of features like ISDN bridging, multi-channel streaming, and session encryption.
Who is Audiomovers best suited for?
Audiomovers is best for professional studios, independent producers, actors, and engineers. This software provides high-quality audio on an encrypted, secure connection. This software is built for convenience, allowing guests to listen in from the internet browser of their choice with no installation required.
Who is Source-Connect suited for?
Source-Connect is good for independent producers, actors, and engineers. This software provides high-quality audio on an encrypted, secure connection, though not as high quality as Audiomovers. It bridges seamlessly with software like Evercast and ISDN and offers multiple connections from a single source.
Another tool for effective collaboration
Audiomovers and Source-Connect provide plenty of flexibility for transmitting audio, but what if you need to share assets or a live video feed?
You may try to compensate with Zoom or Skype, but these popular video conferencing tools often lack optimization for low-latency streaming. The lag between your video feed and audio grows, creating a significant creative block throughout your session.
Evercast is a remote collaboration platform designed for audio and video professionals or studios. Our software provides low-latency HD video, screen sharing, and live note-taking so you can work effectively and efficiently with your team members. You simply need a Wi-Fi connection to hop in on a working session.
Everyone in your Evercast session hears and sees the workspace in real time. You can record collaboration sessions and make live timestamped notes tied to specific moments, saving you time in post-production.
Evercast pairs effortlessly with Source-Connect for ADR and other ues to streamline your workflow. With the power of these two tools, you can create an in-studio experience from anywhere through your computer.
Should I choose Audiomovers or Source-Connect?
Deciding between Audiomovers and Source-Connect depends heavily on your individual needs. If you’re looking for a simple and very effective solution to stream audio from one source DAW to another collaborator via the internet, with superior sound quality and a superior set of channel options, Audiomovers is the perfect choice. The convenient plugin and interface also make this audio transmission especially easy to set up.
However, it’s worth upgrading to Source-Connect if you need more flexibility or want to record multiple channels for a specific use case, like ADR or surround sound. Source-Connect provides customization for streaming your sound and pairs seamlessly with several collaboration software tools.
