SAM Audio vs LANDR Mastering

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings

Analysis reviewed Live tool data as of 2026-09-15
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At a glance

DimensionSAM AudioLANDR Mastering
Core FunctionAI audio separation using text/video/time promptsAI mastering (EQ, compression, loudness) for finished tracks
Best ForAudio engineers isolating specific sounds from mixturesMusicians needing fast, affordable mastering
Output FormatsSeparated audio files (format depends on user script)MP3, WAV, HD WAV, streaming-optimized
IntegrationGitHub, Hugging Face (standalone model)Plugin (VST/AU/AAX), mobile app, DAW export
Free TierFull model usage (open-source)Unlimited watermarked previews

LANDR and SAM Audio serve completely different purposes: LANDR is for mastering finished tracks, SAM Audio for separating mixed audio. Pick LANDR if you need a quick, AI-powered master with reference matching and album cohesion (starting at $10/track). Choose SAM Audio if you need to isolate speech, music, or effects from a single audio file — it's free and open-source but requires technical setup.

SAM Audio
SAM Audio

Promptable audio separation for speech, music, and sound effects.

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LANDR Mastering
LANDR Mastering

AI-powered online mastering that delivers studio-quality, streaming-ready tracks in minutes.

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Pricing
Free
Freemium
Plans
$0
$0
$10/track
$19.99/mo
$29.99/mo
$39.99/mo
Popularity
2 views
7.2k views
Skill Level
Intermediate
Beginner-friendly
API Available
Platforms
WebCLI
WebPluginDesktop
Categories
🎚️ Audio Editing & Production
🎚️ Audio Editing & Production
Features
Text-prompted audio separation
Visual-click separation from video
Time-span based audio isolation
Unified model for speech, music, sound effects
Single-channel audio input
Multi-domain separation without retraining
Open-source model weights and inference code
Hugging Face integration for easy access
Natural language prompts
Spatial audio separation capability
Real-time processing (inference under 1s for short clips)
Zero-shot generalization to unseen sounds
Promptable interface for granular control
AI mastering engine trained on thousands of pro masters
Unlimited free watermarked previews
Album mastering for consistent EPs and LPs
Reference mastering to match a sonic profile
Volume-matched A/B previewing
Multiple mastering styles (e.g., Warm, Balanced, Open)
Stem mastering up to 4 stems (Pro plan)
Output in MP3, WAV, and HD WAV
Streaming-optimized loudness
LANDR Mastering Plugin (VST/AU/AAX) for in-DAW mastering
Mobile app for previews and purchases
Music distribution to Spotify, Apple Music, and more
Collaboration features (share and chat)
Fair Trade AI Program ($5 advance per eligible track)
LANDR Studio includes samples and plugins
Integrations
GitHub
Hugging Face
VST
AU
AAX
Spotify
Apple Music

What real users say: SAM Audio vs LANDR Mastering

Not marketing copy and not our opinion — a structured sweep of public discussion (reviews, forums, communities and video comments), showing what people praise and what they complain about for each tool.

SAM Audio

41 mentions across 4 sources · 44% positive — mixed (averaged across 4 sources)

Hacker News, Product Hunt, GitHub, Lemmy

What users praise

  • Promptable interface with text, visual, and time-span control.
  • Unified model for speech, music, and sound effects separation.
  • Zero-shot generalization to unseen sounds without retraining.
  • Real-time inference under 1 second for short clips.

What frustrates them

  • Requires enormous VRAM even for small models.
  • No macOS/Apple Silicon support; MPS not implemented.
  • Demo site outperforms local models with same prompts.
  • Poor vocal extraction quality, called 'really weak' by users.

Researched Jul 3, 2026

LANDR Mastering

No verifiable community signal. We scanned public discussion on Jul 16, 2026 and found posts matching the name “LANDR Mastering”, but could not establish that they are about this product rather than something else sharing its name. Rather than publish a score built on the wrong subject, we publish none.

Who should pick which

  • Independent musician
    Pick: LANDR Mastering

    Needs affordable, quick mastering with album cohesion and streaming optimization.

  • Audio engineer (post-production)
    Pick: SAM Audio

    Requires isolating dialogue from music or sound effects in a mixed file.

  • Video editor
    Pick: SAM Audio

    Can isolate specific sounds from video using visual clicks or text prompts, for cleanup or remixing.

  • Podcaster
    Pick: LANDR Mastering

    Wants to polish final audio for streaming platforms with loudness standards and no technical setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

SAM Audio vs LANDR Mastering: which should you choose?

LANDR and SAM Audio serve completely different purposes: LANDR is for mastering finished tracks, SAM Audio for separating mixed audio. Pick LANDR if you need a quick, AI-powered master with reference matching and album cohesion (starting at $10/track). Choose SAM Audio if you need to isolate speech, music, or effects from a single audio file — it's free and open-source but requires technical setup.

Can LANDR separate audio stems?

Yes, LANDR Studio Pro (2024) offers stem mastering for up to 4 stems (vocals, drums, bass, other). It does not separate arbitrary sounds, only re-masters them.

Can SAM Audio master a track?

No, SAM Audio is for separation only. It isolates sounds but does not apply EQ, compression, or loudness normalization.

Which tool is easier for a beginner?

LANDR: upload a track, choose a style, compare versions, and download. SAM requires Python setup and knowledge of model inference.

Is SAM Audio free forever?

Yes, it's open-source under a permissive license (check specific license terms on GitHub). No payment needed.

Can I use LANDR offline?

No, LANDR requires an internet connection for previews and mastering. The plugin also needs internet for processing.

Does SAM Audio support real-time processing?

Yes, for short clips it can run inference in under 1 second, but not for streaming.

What file formats does SAM Audio output?

SAM outputs separated audio as WAV files (default), but users can modify scripts for other formats.

Can I use LANDR for a full album?

Yes, LANDR has an album mastering feature that ensures consistent loudness across tracks.

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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026