audition.exe

Adobe Audition - Digital Audio Workstation

Application ProcessSafeAudio Editing
CPU Usage
3-25%
Memory
150-600 MB
Location
Program Files\Adobe\Audition
Publisher
Adobe Inc.

Quick Answer

audition.exe is safe. It's Adobe Audition's main executable for editing and processing audio, running in a multi-process architecture to keep UI responsive and plugins isolated.

Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be in Program Files\Adobe\Audition\Audition.exe
Warning
Multiple processes normal
Each track, effect, or plugin may spawn its own process
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Close Audition to reduce usage; disable auto-launch in startup if needed

What is audition.exe?

audition.exe is the executable for Adobe Audition, the professional Digital Audio Workstation. The process powers audio editing, multitrack mixing, effects processing, playback, and background tasks. You may see several audition.exe processes in Task Manager when working with large projects or multiple plugins.

This multi-process architecture isolates the audio engine, effects, and UI, helping maintain smooth playback and stability. Each core task runs in its own thread or process to prevent a single plugin crash from impacting the entire session.

Quick Fact: Adobe Audition leverages multi-threading and separate processes to keep real-time audio editing responsive even with complex sessions.

Types of Audition Processes

Is audition.exe Safe?

Yes, audition.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Adobe downloaded from official sources (adobe.com or Creative Cloud installation).

Is audition.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real audition.exe is NOT a virus. Malware sometimes disguises itself with similar names to trick users.

How to Tell if audition.exe is Legitimate or Malware

  1. File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\Adobe\Audition\Audition.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Audition\Audition.exe. Any audition.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
  2. Digital Signature: Right-click the process in Task Manager → Open file location → Right-click audition.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show "Adobe Inc.".
  3. Resource Usage: Normal usage is 3-25% CPU per process, 150-600 MB total memory. Extremely high usage when idle or not running is suspicious.
  4. Behavior: Audition should only run when you open the app. Multiple idle processes when the app is closed indicates malware.

Red Flags: If audition.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp, AppData\Roaming, or System32), runs when Audition isn't open, has no digital signature, or uses excessive resources constantly, scan your system with antivirus software immediately. Beware of similarly-named files like "audition.exe" in untrusted locations.

Why Is audition.exe Running on My PC?

audition.exe runs when you open Adobe Audition or when the app is configured to run in the background for autosave and real-time previews.

Reasons it's running:

Can I Disable or Remove audition.exe?

Yes, you can disable audition.exe. It's safe to close Adobe Audition when not in use, and you can uninstall it completely if you prefer another DAW.

How to Stop audition.exe

How to Uninstall Audition

Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage

If audition.exe is consuming excessive resources:

Common Causes & Solutions

Quick Fixes:
1. Open Task Manager to identify heavy processes
2. Close unused projects or freeze tracks
3. Disable unnecessary plugins
4. Update Audition to latest version
5. Adjust Playback Buffer and Sample Rate in Preferences

Frequently Asked Questions

Is audition.exe a virus?

No, the legitimate audition.exe from Adobe is not a virus. However, always verify the file is located in C:\Program Files\Adobe\Audition\Audition.exe and has a valid digital signature from "Adobe Inc.". Malware sometimes uses similar names to disguise itself.

Why is audition.exe using so much CPU?

High CPU usage is typically caused by real-time audio processing on complex projects, heavy plugins, or multiple previews. Use Task Manager to identify the culprit, then mute or disable it, update Audition, and scan for malware if needed.

Can I delete audition.exe?

Yes, you can uninstall Adobe Audition through Windows Settings if you no longer need it. Your projects remain on disk but preferences and cache may be removed; you can reinstall from the Creative Cloud app.

Can I disable audition.exe?

Yes, you can close Audition or end the process in Task Manager. To prevent startup, disable it in Task Manager → Startup. You can also turn off background rendering in Preferences.

Why is audition.exe running at startup?

Audition may be configured to launch on Windows startup or to stay resident for quick previews. Disable in Task Manager → Startup or within Creative Cloud settings.

Why are there so many audition.exe processes?

Audition uses multiple processes for UI, audio engine, rendering, and plugins to improve stability and performance. You can view process roles in Task Manager.

Related Processes