> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://soundforgepro.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Samplitude vs Sequoia: Is the $1,200 Step Up Worth It? - URL: https://soundforgepro.com/samplitude-vs-sequoia/ - Published: 2026-10-21T00:59:02.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-22T00:13:47.000Z - Description: Samplitude Suite covers music production for $495; Sequoia adds source/destination editing, MuSyC, 22.2 panning, ISRC Broadcast Wave, DDP checks and Cue Mode for $1,695. Prices, editions, hardware, reviewer verdicts and who should pay for Sequoia. - Author: Erick Finn - Tags: Boris FX Audio, Comparisons **Buy Samplitude Suite (US$495 perpetual or US$175 a year on Boris FX's US product pages on October 21, 2026) unless your work needs Sequoia's broadcast, classical and mastering tools: source/destination four-point editing, multi-take sync cutting (MuSyC), a Spatial Panner that runs up to 22.2 with 32 channels per track, Broadcast Wave files with embedded ISRC, a DDP Player for checking masters, Cue Mode and editing while a recording is still running. Those tools are what Sequoia's US$1,695 perpetual price (US$1,200 more) or US$595 a year buys. Neither program runs on a Mac.** My rule for this choice: start on Samplitude Suite and move up only when a job needs source/destination cutting or a delivery Samplitude doesn't list, such as Broadcast Wave files with embedded ISRC. Both programs are full DAWs built on the same audio engine with the same object-based editing, so the Sequoia premium pays for extra workflow, not a different core. On perpetual licenses the step up costs US$1,200; on annual subscriptions it costs US$420 a year. If a client, a broadcaster or a classical session doesn't ask for those tools, that money is better spent elsewhere. ## Quick verdict: Samplitude, Samplitude Suite or Sequoia Boris FX sells three products in this family, and all three are at version 2026.5 on the product pages. "Samplitude Pro X" and "Sequoia Pro" are the Magix-era names you still meet in older reviews; the programs moved from Magix to Boris FX in 2025, and the [Sequoia 2026 release on January 29, 2026](https://blog.borisfx.com/press/boris-fx-sequoia-adds-powerful-video-engine-for-professional-audio-workflows) was the first Sequoia version under Boris FX. [Samplitude 2026 followed on April 16, 2026](https://blog.borisfx.com/press/reimagined-audio-engine-in-boris-fx-samplitude-delivers-greater-processing-power). | Product | Perpetual | Annual | Who it fits | What it lacks | | ---------------- | --------- | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Samplitude | US$395 | US$145 (or US$25 a month) | Stereo and 5.1 music production on a budget | Dolby Atmos and ADM, spectral editing, DDP master export, the Suite plugin bundle, source/destination editing | | Samplitude Suite | US$495 | US$175 (no monthly plan) | Music production up to 7.1.4 Atmos and CD mastering, with spectral editing, DDP master export, Melodyne 5 Essential and Sound Forge 2026 included | Source/destination, MuSyC, 22.2 panning, ISRC Broadcast Wave, DDP Player, Cue Mode | | Sequoia | US$1,695 | US$595 (or US$95 a month) | Classical and live concert recording, mastering with ISRC Broadcast Wave delivery and DDP checking, broadcast and on-air work | A Mac version and a low entry price | ![Three-step ladder comparing Samplitude, Samplitude Suite and Sequoia with US prices and the tools each step adds, from 5.1 mixing to Atmos, spectral editing, Melodyne and Sound Forge to source/destination editing, MuSyC, 22.2 panning, ISRC Broadcast Wave and DDP Player and Cue Mode, with a Windows only note](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/4b/af4b05d4-2e0b-4edc-8378-1e2a62fecc70/content/images/2026/10/samplitude-sequoia-edition-ladder.webp) Each step adds a specific toolset; Sequoia is the step to justify with a real job, not a wish list. For the wider Boris FX audio range, including CrumplePop, Sound Forge and the iZotope tools, the [Boris FX audio plugins hub](https://soundforgepro.com/boris-fx-audio/) sorts each product by the job it does. ## Prices: what each license costs and what the gap buys On October 21, 2026 [Boris FX's Sequoia product page](https://borisfx.com/products/sequoia/) and the [Samplitude product page](https://borisfx.com/products/samplitude/) listed these US prices before tax: | Product | Monthly | Annual | Perpetual | Upgrade from a previous version | | ---------------- | ----------- | ------ | --------- | ------------------------------- | | Samplitude | US$25 | US$145 | US$395 | US$185 | | Samplitude Suite | Not offered | US$175 | US$495 | US$275 | | Sequoia | US$95 | US$595 | US$1,695 | US$595 | Boris FX lists a free year of upgrades and support with the perpetual licenses. The gap is what matters: a Sequoia perpetual license costs US$1,200 more than Samplitude Suite and US$1,300 more than plain Samplitude. On annual plans, Sequoia costs US$420 a year more than Samplitude Suite. Three years of the Sequoia subscription (US$1,785) cost more than the perpetual license, but Sequoia's upgrade price (US$595) equals a year of subscription, so the perpetual license only comes out ahead if you skip some paid upgrades. The upgrade prices above cover moving from an older version of the same product. If you already own Samplitude and want Sequoia, check the Boris FX store or ask Boris FX support about your path before you pay the full price. Two cheaper routes exist. The [Boris FX Suite](https://borisfx.com/products/bfxsuite/) has included Sequoia, Samplitude and Music Studio since November 24, 2025, and the [Sequoia 2026.5 update](https://borisfx.com/news/sequoia-2026-5-one-panner-every-format/) is free for active Sequoia subscribers and upgrade and support plan holders and is included with the Boris FX Suite. If you already pay for the Boris FX Suite, you have both DAWs. Full-time students and faculty at accredited universities and colleges can get a free one-year license of Sequoia or Samplitude, plus the entire Boris FX Suite, after verification and a US$5 application fee. For context, PCMag UK's April 2024 review listed Magix-era Sequoia Pro 17 at US$1,500 perpetual, US$750 to upgrade or US$468 a year. The perpetual price is higher under Boris FX, while the upgrade is cheaper. Sale timing changes the math, so read the [guide to buying Boris FX and iZotope software now or waiting for a sale](https://soundforgepro.com/deals/) before you pay list price. ## What Sequoia adds over Samplitude Sequoia's extra tools fall into six groups: editing, mastering and delivery, broadcast and live work, immersive formats, video and bundled extras. Boris FX's own summary on the Sequoia page says it offers more workflows for broadcast, classical recording and mixing, high-level mastering and DSP, source/destination cut and multi-sync editing, and specialized monitoring and compliance tools. PCMag UK's 2024 review named three- and four-point (source/destination) editing as the biggest difference between the two programs. ### Editing: source/destination, MuSyC and crossfades Source/destination editing splits the screen into two display areas, one for the source recordings and one for the destination track you are building. Boris FX says material in both areas can be zoomed and played independently, and you can move through the source while the destination plays to set markers for the next cut. In [PCMag UK's Sequoia review](https://uk.pcmag.com/recording/123050/magix-sequoia), Jamie Lendino describes the result: you listen to the destination, find the next edit point in the source, and join the cut piece onto the destination with a single keystroke. Ripple inserts can cover many tracks at once, so every mic position of a classical session moves together. ![Sequoia source/destination editing view with a Take 2 range between In Source and Out Source markers on four source tracks, a gap between In Dest and Out Dest markers on the destination tracks, markers numbered 1 to 4 and an arrow from source to destination](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/4b/af4b05d4-2e0b-4edc-8378-1e2a62fecc70/content/images/2026/10/sequoia-source-destination-four-point-edit.webp) Four markers define the edit: the range to take from the source (1, 2) and where it lands on the destination (3, 4). Multi-Synchronous Cut (MuSyC) finds matching sections across takes even when they were played at slightly different tempos, which is what makes comping an orchestral or choral performance from several runs practical. Both programs have a current crossfade editor: Samplitude 2026 has a completely redesigned Crossfade Editor, and Sequoia 2026 has an updated one with fade shapes available from the object handle and preview and loop inside the editor. If crossfade curves are new to you, the Sound Forge guide to [crossfading audio without level dips](https://soundforgepro.com/crossfade-audio-sound-forge/) covers the basics. ### Mastering and delivery Sequoia includes the Sonoris Sequoia DDP Player for checking DDP masters, including PQ codes, ISRC, MCN and CD text. It exports Broadcast Wave files with embedded ISRC per EBU Tech 3352, which matters when a label or distributor wants identifiers inside the delivered files. POW-r dithering is listed among its mastering tools; if you are still choosing a dither for 16-bit delivery, the [guide to bit depth and dither](https://soundforgepro.com/sound-forge-bit-depth-dither/) covers when to apply it. Writing the DDP master itself is not a Sequoia exclusive: the [Samplitude product page lists a bit-accurate DDP master for the pressing plant](https://borisfx.com/products/samplitude/) as exclusive to Samplitude Suite, while plain Samplitude only imports DDP. A CD release alone therefore does not justify Sequoia; the standalone DDP Player and ISRC-embedded Broadcast Wave are what the Sequoia page adds. ### Broadcast and live work Cue Mode plays objects in sequence while another track records, which is a live and on-air workflow. Auto Ducking is a dialog-based tool that lowers music when speech starts on another track. Sequoia also lets you preview, cut, arrange and export material while a recording is still running, so, as Boris FX puts it, a live concert recording can be prepared while it is already going out to a broadcaster. Watch-folder batch processing exists too, but only for Sequoia Enterprise customers. ### Immersive formats Sequoia 2026.5's Spatial Panner covers mono through 22.2, Dolby Atmos and ADM in one workspace. Sequoia supports Dolby Atmos natively, has an ADM editor and supports up to 32 channels per track. By comparison, plain Samplitude handles spatial mixing up to 5.1, and Samplitude Suite goes to 7.1.4 with Dolby Atmos and ADM. If your immersive work stops at 7.1.4 music mixes, Samplitude Suite already covers it. ### Video Sequoia 2026 added a GPU-accelerated video engine for NVIDIA, AMD and Intel graphics with AVC, HEVC and AV1, native Apple ProRes and up to 60 fps. Samplitude 2026 has a 4K video engine of its own, so both programs can play picture for scoring or post. ### Bundled extras Sequoia includes Acon Digital Acoustica 7.7 Premium and the CrumplePop restoration plugins (the [CrumplePop vs iZotope RX comparison](https://soundforgepro.com/crumplepop-vs-izotope-rx/) explains where those plugins stop), the full Vita Solo instrument set, and, from 2026.5, SoundApp ARA stem separation and denoising. If a specific add-on such as Sound Forge or Melodyne decides your purchase, confirm it with Boris FX before you buy Sequoia; after purchase, the add-ons tied to your license are listed under "Show more" beneath the product in your Boris FX account. Under the hood, PCMag UK noted in 2024 that Sequoia 17 recorded 32-bit float audio at up to 384 kHz over 512 simultaneous I/O channels. That is the scale the program is built for. ## What Samplitude and Samplitude Suite already cover Samplitude is a complete production DAW, not a cut-down editor. It combines the Hybrid Audio Engine with the same object-based workflow, records on up to 999 tracks, and shares Sequoia's improved EUCON support and 32-bit integer export in the current releases. Samplitude 2026 added smarter CPU management, an improved VST3 engine for low-latency recording, a 4K video engine and network remote control over OSC. If plugin formats are unclear, the explainer on [what a VST plugin is and how compatibility works](https://soundforgepro.com/what-is-a-vst-plugin/) covers the basics. The edition split inside Samplitude is about format reach and bundled tools: - **Samplitude:** spatial mixing up to 5.1 and 22 Vita Solo instruments. - **Samplitude Suite:** 7.1.4 with native Dolby Atmos and ADM, 33 Vita Solo instruments, track-level spectral editing, bit-accurate DDP master export, the FX Routing Matrix, Soundly integration, BandRack, SoundApp ARA, and plugins from CrumplePop, 3D Reverb, Acoustica 7 Premium, Melodyne 5 Essential, Convology XT Complete and Sound Forge 2026. For US$100 more than plain Samplitude, the Suite is the version I would buy. Melodyne 5 Essential is part of that bundle (the [Melodyne Essential vs Assistant comparison](https://soundforgepro.com/melodyne-essential-vs-assistant/) shows where it runs out), and Sound Forge 2026 arrives as Samplitude's external editor; the [guide to Sound Forge in Samplitude Suite](https://soundforgepro.com/sound-forge-in-samplitude-suite/) walks through the external-editor setup. The program's roots are long: Samplitude began on the Commodore Amiga in 1992, and the first Windows version appeared in 1995. ## Test results: what published reviews and user reports conclude Across eight published sources, the verdicts line up with the price list. Six of eight describe Sequoia as Samplitude plus extra tools; four name source/destination editing as the key advantage; four single out mastering and loudness tools; four raise price as the main drawback; and four say Samplitude covers music production or common needs. All three rated reviews give 4 out of 5: [MusicRadar's Sequoia Pro 17 review](https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/daws/magix-sequoia-pro-17-review) by Jon Musgrave (October 29, 2024), PCMag UK's Sequoia review by Jamie Lendino (April 30, 2024), and [PCMag UK's Samplitude Pro X4 Suite review](https://uk.pcmag.com/recording/122804/magix-samplitude) (September 27, 2019). Published sources compare features and workflow rather than track counts or CPU load, so this is a summary of reviewer verdicts with counts. | Finding | Count | Who reported it | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Sequoia is Samplitude plus extra mastering, editing, broadcast or post tools | 6 of 8 | MusicRadar (2024), PCMag UK Sequoia (2024), PCMag UK Samplitude (2019), [a Gearspace Samplitude vs Sequoia thread](https://gearspace.com/threads/samplitude-vs-sequoia.34261/), [a Gearspace thread on Sequoia's price](https://gearspace.com/threads/magix-sequoia-why-so-expensive.1419140/), [an r/audioengineering thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/audioengineering/comments/1fht5k6/sequoia%5Fusers%5Fexplain%5Fyourself/) where one user calls Samplitude "Sequoia lite" | | Source/destination (three- and four-point) editing is the key advantage | 4 of 8 | PCMag UK Sequoia, [macProVideo's Sequoia 13 review](https://macprovideo.com/article/audio-software/review-magix-sequoia-13), the Gearspace price thread, [PPM6's Sequoia 12 review](https://ppm6.tv/sequoia-12-digital-audio-workstation-review/) | | Mastering, loudness and metering tools stand out | 4 of 8 | macProVideo, PPM6 (EBU R128 metering with DIN, Nordic, BBC and EBU presets), PCMag UK Sequoia, the r/audioengineering thread | | Price is the main drawback | 4 of 8 | MusicRadar ("Expensive"), PCMag UK Sequoia (most people don't need to spend that much), PCMag UK Samplitude ("much more expensive"), the Gearspace price thread | | Samplitude covers music production or common needs | 4 of 8 | MusicRadar, PCMag UK Sequoia, PCMag UK Samplitude, the Gearspace Samplitude vs Sequoia thread (its crossfades are advanced enough for common work) | | Crossfade editing is praised | 3 of 8 | The Gearspace Samplitude vs Sequoia thread, PCMag UK Sequoia, PPM6 | | Sequoia's niche is classical and live recording | 3 of 8 | PCMag UK Sequoia, PCMag UK Samplitude ("still tops" for classical and live concert mastering, surround and broadcast), the Gearspace price thread | | The interface looks busy or cluttered | 2 of 8 | MusicRadar ("does look quite busy"), PCMag UK Samplitude ("looks pretty cluttered") | The details matter more than the counts. MusicRadar says what distinguishes Sequoia from Samplitude is a wealth of extra features for mastering, editing, audio restoration and audio post. Its "No Dolby Atmos support as yet" con is out of date: Sequoia 2026 and Samplitude Suite both handle Atmos and ADM natively. PCMag UK called Sequoia a superset of Samplitude Pro in 2024, with every instrument, effect and feature plus Sequoia-only mastering and broadcast tools, and then questioned paying the premium when Samplitude Pro X8 Suite already covered recording and mixing. The Gearspace thread on Sequoia's price names 4-point editing and the more advanced mastering and authoring tools as the reasons, and points to classical orchestral recording as the work where they pay off. My verdict: the reviews and the price list agree. Samplitude Suite is the right DAW for music production, and Sequoia earns its US$1,200 premium only for source/destination editing, multi-take classical work, broadcast, ISRC-tagged Broadcast Wave delivery and DDP checking. A CD release on its own is not that reason, because Samplitude Suite already writes the DDP master. Every rated review is from the Magix era, every one landed at 4 out of 5, and all three say Samplitude already covers music production. ## Who Sequoia is built for Sequoia pays for itself when your work looks like one of these jobs: - **Concert and classical recording:** you record a performance, cut from several takes with MuSyC and source/destination editing, and start editing while the recording is still running. - **On-air and live playback:** you fire objects in sequence with Cue Mode while another track records. - **Speech over music:** Auto Ducking lowers the music bed when speech starts on another track. - **Delivery to labels and pressing plants:** you deliver Broadcast Wave files with embedded ISRC to a label or distributor, or you check DDP masters, your own or received ones, in the Sonoris player before they go to the plant. Writing the DDP master alone doesn't need Sequoia; Samplitude Suite does that. - **Immersive beyond 7.1.4:** you mix for 22.2 or need tracks with up to 32 channels. That matches what reviewers have said for years. PCMag UK's 2019 Samplitude review called the much more expensive Sequoia "still tops" for classical and live concert mastering, surround and broadcast, and the Gearspace price thread lands on the same classical-orchestral use. Who should skip it: anyone producing, mixing or mastering songs in stereo or Atmos. PCMag UK concluded that most people don't need to spend what Sequoia licenses and subscriptions cost, and its reviewer wondered why you would pay the premium when the Samplitude Suite of the day covered recording and mixing. ## Hardware: what each program asks for Both programs need 64-bit Windows 10 or 11\. Samplitude lists an Intel Core i/Ultra or AMD Ryzen CPU, 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended) and 2.7 GB of disk space, or 13 GB with the instruments and sounds. Sequoia's minimum is 4 to 8 CPU cores (an 8th-generation Core i5 or newer) and 8 GB of RAM, and Boris FX recommends Windows 11, 8 to 16 cores with strong single-core performance, 32 GB or more of RAM and a 1 TB NVMe SSD. Boris FX sizes Sequoia systems in three tiers on the Sequoia page. These are vendor sizing guidance, not measurements: | Boris FX tier | What it is sized for | | ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Minimum | Roughly 48 audio tracks at a 512-sample buffer | | Optimal | 64 to 128 tracks at 128 to 256-sample buffers with a PCIe interface (256 to 512 samples at 96 kHz) | | High-end | 128+ tracks and 64+ I/O channels on 16 to 24+ cores with 64 GB of RAM (128 GB for large multi-sync or post projects) | If you are buying Sequoia for multi-mic classical sessions, budget for the optimal tier at least; the minimum tier is sized for a small track count at a large buffer. ## Sequoia or Cubase Pro: when an alternative fits better The Windows-only limit is the clearest reason to look elsewhere. [Steinberg's Cubase 15 downloads page](https://o.steinberg.net/en/support/downloads/cubase%5F15.html) offers installers for macOS, Windows x64 and Windows on Arm, and Cubase 14.0.20 was the first official Cubase release to support Windows on Arm natively. At the time of [Sound On Sound's Cubase Pro 15 review](https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/steinberg-cubase-pro-15) (November 20, 2025), Cubase Pro 15 listed at US$579.99, Artist 15 at US$329.99 and Elements 15 at US$99\. Cubase 15's Stem Separation unmixes up to four stems (vocals, drums, bass and other); Sequoia 2026.5 answers with SoundApp ARA stem separation and denoising. In 2024 PCMag UK named Cubase Pro its Editors' Choice DAW for Windows and Logic Pro for macOS, and MusicRadar suggested Steinberg Nuendo as the alternative for audio post. PCMag UK also said Avid Pro Tools holds its crown for cross-platform, high-end DAWs. For four-point mastering edits specifically, PCMag UK noted that Steinberg WaveLab's non-destructive montage mimics a four-point setup; the [Sound Forge vs WaveLab comparison](https://soundforgepro.com/sound-forge-pro-vs-wavelab/) covers that editor. My take: choose Cubase Pro if you need a Mac or want one DAW on both platforms for music production, Nuendo if post-production is the main job, and Sequoia only for the classical, broadcast and delivery workflow above. ## Mac, trial and licensing Sequoia, Samplitude and Samplitude Suite are developed exclusively for Windows. There is no macOS version of any of them, so a Mac user's choice is between other DAWs, not between these two. - **Trial:** both Sequoia and Samplitude can be tried without restriction for 15 days through the Boris FX Hub. The Sequoia trial key is shown once and cannot be requested again, so save it as soon as it appears. - **Students:** full-time students and faculty get the free one-year license described above after verification and a US$5 fee. - **Activations:** Samplitude and Samplitude Suite activate on two computers through the Boris FX Hub, with deactivation when you move to a new machine. Sequoia also offers "Advanced Licensing" on a third-generation Wibu hardware dongle or a software dongle container. - **Bundled add-ons:** Boris FX's [support article on activating third-party software](https://support.borisfx.com/hc/en-us/articles/38965048376589-Installation-and-Activation-Third-Party-Software) covers the add-ons included with Samplitude Suite and Sequoia: check "Show more" under the product in your account, and install Sound Forge from the Boris FX Hub through Manage Extras. ## How to choose in one pass ![Decision path that asks Windows or Mac first, then whether you need source/destination editing, MuSyC, 22.2, ISRC in Broadcast Wave or Cue Mode for Sequoia, then Atmos, spectral editing, Melodyne or a DDP master for Samplitude Suite, and otherwise ends at Samplitude](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/4b/af4b05d4-2e0b-4edc-8378-1e2a62fecc70/content/images/2026/10/samplitude-or-sequoia-decision-path.webp) Answer the platform question first; the job decides the rest. 1. **You work on a Mac:** neither program; look at Cubase Pro, Logic Pro or Nuendo. 2. **Stereo or 5.1 music on a budget:** Samplitude at US$395 or US$145 a year. 3. **Atmos or ADM up to 7.1.4, spectral editing, a DDP master for the plant, Melodyne and Sound Forge in the box:** Samplitude Suite at US$495 or US$175 a year. 4. **Source/destination cutting, multi-take sync, 22.2, ISRC Broadcast Wave and DDP checks, live or on-air playback:** Sequoia at US$1,695 or US$595 a year. 5. **You already pay for the Boris FX Suite, or you qualify as a student:** you get both DAWs; use Sequoia. 6. **Not sure:** run the 15-day trial of the program you lean toward on a real project and keep the trial key. ## FAQ ### Is Sequoia just Samplitude with more features? For the DAW itself, yes. Both are full DAWs built on the same audio engine, and in 2024 PCMag UK described Sequoia as a superset of Samplitude Pro with every instrument, effect and feature plus Sequoia-only mastering and broadcast tools. Bundled third-party extras are listed per product, so check them separately. ### Does Sequoia run on a Mac? No. Boris FX develops Sequoia exclusively for Windows, and the same applies to Samplitude and Samplitude Suite. ### Is Samplitude Pro X the same as Samplitude 2026? It is the same product line under its older Magix name. Boris FX now sells it as Samplitude and Samplitude Suite, both at version 2026.5, and Sequoia Pro is now simply Sequoia. If you own Pro X8, the Samplitude review covers the $185 upgrade and what X8 owners lose by moving.