This guide is for those who want to be walked through the process step-by-step. It was developed by Ian M. Cook and Dumitrita Holdis.
A solo podcast is the simplest type of podcast to make. All of the audio software I went over in the equipment section has an option to record from a microphone. The exact details will depend on the software you chose, but in Audacity, you pick your microphone device from the drop-down menu on the top toolbar. Audacity is an amazing program, but the price tag is even better. Podcasters like you - beginners and pros alike - can use Audacity to edit your podcast to make it sound professional and help you captivate listeners. Despite Audacity’s strong points, sometimes it isn’t the most intuitive program.
This guide is available as a .pdf
And below:
1. Import the audio you have previously recorded
- Use Track One for your main audio track (e.g. narration, interview, discussion)
- Place the audio material in sequence (e.g. intro narration, interview, outro). When you import multiple tracks, the audio will appear on different tracks. Move it so that all the audio is on one track.
- Leave an empty track underneath for editing
- You will add music, sound effects or secondary audio later in the editing process
2. (Re)listen to your material
Decide what sections you want to keep or delete & think about if you want to change the order
3. If you have background hiss, computer noise or other wanted noise remove it
- Use the noise reduction tool
4. Delete unwanted material
- Delete any material that you will not use
- For now just concentrate on the large chunks that you don’t need, don’t worry about coughs or other minor noises that you want to fix.
5. Move everything into the right order
Use the empty track as a temporary space when you move stuff about
6. Go through the audio and fix all the unwanted noises
- Sometimes you will want to delete and close the gap, for example if there is a cough
- But sometimes you will not want to close the gap and yet still remove the noise, for instance if somebody breathes loudly. For such occasions copy a section of audio during which nobody is speaking (e.g. at the start of the recording) and paste it over the unwanted noise. This will preserve the natural pacing of speech.
7. Make the volume consistent throughout the podcast
Audacity Podcast Software
- Normalise the levels, choosing -2.0 for your peak amplitude
- Amplify any areas that remain too quiet
8. HIGHLY OPTIONAL - Improve the audio quality
- Use the compressor tool to make parts sound louder, more ‘in your face’, softer or so on
- Use the equalisation tool to manipulate the frequencies, for instance if you want to make a voice less nasal or deeper
9. Add music or sound effects
Remove the empty track by clicking on the X
- Import your music or sound effects
- Delete sections that you will not use , e.g. you might only want the first 30 seconds of a song
- Move the music/sound effects to the area you wish it to be
- Change the volume of the music as you wish using the envelope tool, e.g. have the music start loud, and then become quieter as you speak over the top, before becoming louder again
- If you are using music/sound throughout the podcast, remember that there are two ways to paste, one that shifts everything else on the track and one that doesn’t.
- Now that you have material on two tracks you might need to move many things at once, pay attention to if you want material to move as one or independently
10. Export your finished podcast
Export it as an mp3 and think about your meta data.
In the car, on the treadmill, or at work, podcasts are airing in an ever-growing number of earbuds and headphones.
With podcasts in 2020 numbering 850,000 and constantly growing, having the best podcast editing software is essential to standing out and competing in this increasingly crowded podcast market. The best podcast software will make your podcast sound better and will give podcasters from beginner to veteran a professional sound that will have listeners coming back for more and advertisers lining up.
However, podcasting editing software can vary in price and function. How can we know what the best podcast editing software is?
In this roundup, we have tested and collected 5 options for the best software for podcast editing that you can choose, whether you are already podcasting professional or planning to start a podcast.
Podcast Profitability: Why Buy Editing Software
The popularity of podcasts and podcasting is growing steadily, according to Statista, with 75 percent of Americans being familiar with the term. More than half of Americans listen to podcasts on subjects including news, sports, interviews, entertainment, and more.
Podcasts are growing in profitability. Podcaster Joe Rogan signed a $100 million deal in 2020 with Spotify that will make his podcast, 'The Joe Rogan Experience,' exclusive to Spotify. In 2019, the creators of the podcast 'My Favorite Murderer' signed a two-year deal with Stitcher worth at least $10 million.
Podcast advertising is growing, too, with a 45 percent increase in ad purchases predicted, up to $1.13 billion in the U.S. Use of smartphones is driving growth in podcast advertising since podcasts are only a tap away on devices that are nearly inseparable from us all.
And that's the very reason why the podcast editing software is worth the purchase: you want a crisp, clear listening experience for your fans (and that million-dollar endorsement deal you're after).
In the following, these 5 options in the software for the podcast editor create a virtual audio workstation. They vary in price, but each of these options offers the ability to record, cut, splice, and edit on multiple tracks, all parts of professional podcast editing.
#1. Audacity
Compatible with Apple and PCs, Audacity is a free, open-sourced option for multi-track podcast editing software. Available since podcasting's early days of 2000, Audacity is the podcast editing software that many podcasters started out using. It's still a great option for podcasters ranging from beginners to professionals.
Podcasters can use Audacity to record their original audio. From there, Audacity can take care of various audio editing tasks such as the removal of background noise and pauses, adjusting levels, and adding music. Audio engineers can even add intros, outros, and advertisements, covering all the needs of a podcaster.
Audacity has remained free for the past 20 years to keep it popular and useful and to promote collaboration. Because of Audacity's open-sourcing, people from all over the world have contributed code, fixed any glitches, and, in general, have enhanced the user experience.
Audacity has enjoyed solid popularity over the years, reaching the milestone of 100 million downloads by fall 2020.
Pros:
- Audacity allows podcasters and audio engineers to record, cut, splice, and edit for free, putting the podcasting experience within reach of everyone.
- Audacity has longevity in the industry, so it's a reliable tool with constant improvements.
- Open-sourcing keeps the functions of Audacity fresh, thanks to contributions from users and fans from around the world.
Cons:
- For podcasters who like to know their tools in and out, the frequent updates with Audacity might not be ideal.
#2. Pro Tools by Avid
Pro Tools by Avid offers full production and sound recording software, forming a virtual audio workstation for podcasting and podcast engineering.
Pro Tools starts with a free version, Pro Tools First, on the Avid website. Upgrading to the full version of Pro Tools requires a monthly subscription of about $25 a month. The Pro Tools HD version is available for about $85 per month.
Podcast editors can try the free version of Pro Tools, take advantage of Avid's online tutorials, and put that knowledge to work if they decide to upgrade to one of the paid versions. Each upgrade builds on the skills built as you work your way up.
Pros:
- Pro Tools by Avid offers some of the most powerful podcast editing tools in the industry.
- Various subscription levels depending on your needs (and budget).
- Even the free option can edit from 16 simultaneous tracks.
Cons:
- Not every podcaster will appreciate having to use MIDI for production.
#3. Adobe Audition
Best Podcast Recording Audacity
When it comes to podcast editing, Adobe Audition is in a category of its own in terms of its capabilities, according to PC Magazine. You can add music, segue, create templates, and customize your audio editing platform using the software.
This audio workstation is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud plan that offers a suite of Adobe apps for about $50 a month. For one app, such as Adobe Audition, the cost is about $20 a month.
If you're not sure whether Adobe Audition is best for your audio editing needs, it does have a free trial version.
When you have an Adobe subscription, you're assured of having the latest versions of Audition and other software. The latest version of Audition is well-suited for beginning podcasters since it includes helpful tutorials for some of the most common podcast editing tasks such as removing background noise, mixing, and producing.
Walk yourself through some of the Adobe Audition tutorials, and you'll learn the basics of podcast editing. From there, you have plenty of room to grow in skills, and knowledge of podcast editing.
Pros:
- Adobe offers a wide array of functions in its Audition podcast editing software including multitrack mixing, audio spectrum analysis and a large array of digital effects.
- Tutorials help you master the ins and outs of your recording and retouching process.
Cons:
- Some say that Adobe neglects Audition in favor of releasing updates/fixes for other pieces in their software suite.
#4. Alitu
What if you don't know much about sound editing for podcasts and don't want to learn? Alitu was designed for you. This easy-to-use web-based podcast editing software will take raw audio and do all the leveling work for you. It will even publish your podcast once you're ready.
This podcast editing software lets you enjoy storytelling and conversations without having to deal with the sound editing details that the non-engineers of the world may not enjoy. You can even add a special teaser to your podcast using an Alitu template.
Much of the editing can be automated through Alitu, but as you build your skills, you may not want to automate everything. With Alitu, you can edit as much or as little as you'd like, adding music, sound fades and other special effects to make your podcast shine.
Pros:
- Alitu is fun and easy to use, even for those who don't know much about sound engineering or technology.
- Leveling sound, removing background noise, and even publishing your podcast can be automated, but it doesn't have to be.
Cons:
- Inability to tweak audio settings manually; you're at the mercy of pre-sets.
#5. Hindenburg
Hindenburg Systems' software is created for radio use, which is like a first cousin to podcasting. Spoken audio productions are their specialty. Because of this, Hindenburg has features geared toward podcast editing.
An auto-leveling function evens the sound between speakers or headphones automatically, making podcast editing easier. Hindenburg also features an automatic voice profiler that uses EQ and compression to automatically optimize the sound; you can edit your speech with a single click.
Hindenburg's Journalist Pro version, designed for podcasters and audio journalists, has a built-in Skype recorder and a one-click publish function. This will make recording interviews and making your podcast available to listeners easy, a plus if you are a podcaster and engineer all in one.
You can get a 30-day free trial to try out Hindenburg's features and see if they're right for you and your podcast editing. Hindenburg has plenty of tutorials to get you started.
Pros:
- Hindenburg's features are designed with audio storytelling and podcasting in mind.
- Features including auto-leveling, automatic sound optimization of voices, and one-click publishing will make your podcast editing easier.
Cons:
- There's a bit of a learning curve, especially if you start with other tools first.
That's a Wrap
Got a story to tell? You can tell it better by using the best podcast editing software. As a podcast editor, you can make your podcast more competitive by having quality sound and production. You can get this by using the best podcast editing software.
Best Compression For Podcast Audacity
Both free podcast editing software and paid ones in this list offer online audio editing options for podcasters and audio engineers at all skill levels, whether you're a beginning podcaster or an experienced professional.