How to edit a podacst How to edit a podacst

How to Edit a Podcast? 4 Important Things to Know for Beginners

Showing an astronomical rise in the current times, Podcasts serve as the modern equivalent of Radios. They are digital audio files (or, more recently, even video files) that you can download or listen to over the Internet. This unprecedented growth, however, is not served on a silver platter. On the contrary, podcasts need dedicated time, effort, and engaging content.

Quality podcasts have gratified both creators and listeners. Does the idea of a podcast interest you as well? Do you wish to create and edit a podcast session yourself but do not possess the know-how since you are a beginner? Stay tuned to this article, for we will be delivering just what you need!

1. What is a Podcast?

At its core, a podcast is a series of compelling audio episodes based on relevant and trendy topics. Podcasters bring out their personalities for their fans and create a bond with them. Moreover, listeners can engage with their favourite content at any place or time. It can be during a workout, a commute, or while doing household chores.

The term ‘Podcast’ is a combination of the words ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcast’. It was coined by Ben Hammersley, a journalist at The Guardian, in 2004 when he was in search of a name for these audio shows gaining gradual popularity on the Internet.

Podcasts are companions of solitude. In an instant, one becomes a part of unfiltered conversations between real people. People use this medium to share stories and ideas to inspire and motivate. Behind every podcast episode, editors face many challenges, such as time constraints, technical hiccups, and recording problems. Being too perfect or not editing during this time is not the right decision.

Learning basic podcast editing is important. It helps you manipulate sounds for better podcasts. How well you edit depends on the content, the audience, and the budget.  Besides, it also depends on the approaches taken, podcast type, and episode frequency.

2. Basics to Edit a Podcast

Editing a podcast is not just about fixing flaws and cracks. It’s about using the power of the audio elements at your fingertips to grab attention. Indeed, with good editing and relatable content, the audience is bound to return with every episode. Some of the basic steps to edit a podcast are:

Import AudioDo the audio clips on your computer resemble your messy thoughts about how to start the editing but don’t know how to organize them? To begin with, gather all the audio clips together in your chosen editing software. Additionally, organize and label them with episode numbers and names. It makes it easier to track them and know what’s what.

Arrange the Audio Files – Suppose you have a bunch of audio tracks like the guests, hosts, and dramatic sound effects. Always put the audio track of the podcast host in the first place. Afterward, replay and listen to the audio clip again. Take out unexpected noises using podcast editing software throughout the entire podcast episode. Aim for an amplitude of -1dB to balance all the sounds.

Cut out verbal fillers and pauses As you host a panel discussion with experts, your goal is confidence and a natural flow. But sometimes, in unintentional nervousness, you use words like “you know” and ” like” to edit out these fillers while maintaining the organic back-and-forth.

Cut the extra content- Personal anecdotes and inspiring stories can be a highlight of your podcast. However, sometimes, it can go off-topic or circle back to already discussed points. Also, remove the intros and ends that stretch your podcast episode. By editing out the extra, you will get compact and smooth-paced content from start to finish.

2.1.  Engaging Content

To begin with, keep your listeners hooked from start to end. Create your powerful brand identity by including the show’s theme song, music, and jingles.

2.1.1. Intros and Endings

For instance, if you want an intriguing podcast, you can include fun banter or chilling life stories between you and your podcast partner. Their plot will unfold when people listen further to the podcast. Similarly, you can wrap your podcast with thought-provoking questions to increase the listener’s interest in the next episode.

2.1.2. Transitions

Smartly incorporate crossfading, fade-in, or fade-out effects during a change of topic. Try not to startle the audience with sudden abruptness. Your goal should be to make the conversations appear natural and not jarring.

2.1.3. Music and Sound Effects

Use sound effects and background music relevant to your show’s message appropriately. These elements act as emotional markers, letting the listener feel the story’s emotions. They also pass on their message while transporting the listener to an imaginary world.

2.2.  Sound Designing and Mixing

Remember that it needs practice to manage consistent sound levels according to the listener’s demands. The tools and settings that are important to make your audio pleasant are:

2.2.1. Equalization (EQ) 

Adjusts the frequencies to accentuate the speaker’s voice and to reduce the loud, overpowering, and unwanted noises.

2.2.2. Compressor 

A compressor helps reduce the unruly dynamic range and volume spikes in your recording. No listener would want to adjust their volume levels at all times to hear comfortably. Nor would they want loud sound effects between a calming podcast that yanks them out of their seat.

The compressor fixes fluctuating sounds like loud laughs and quietness within a specific range and makes the volume consistent.

2.2.3. Noise Reduction

Suppose you recorded a podcast from home but notice unwanted door slams or joyful shrieks from downstairs. These tools will help you keep a natural tone as if you are in an acoustic room and gently remove all other distractive background noises.

2.2.4. Correct Audio Equipment

Using the correct audio equipment is equally important for podcast sound design and mixing. For example, if you have a mic with a pop filter or windscreen, you can reduce ‘s’ and ‘t’ sounds or plosives. Mixing can help eliminate echoes caused by hard surfaces.

2.3. Preview and Post

Add metadata or additional podcast information to make the podcast apparent to others. Save and export the audio file in M4A, MP4, or Ogg for the best quality. Before sharing, give it a final listen or share it with your close friends, family, or mentors. Their meaningful feedback would reflect the audience’s response. Finally, your edited audio is ready to make its debut! 

3. Best Podcast Software

You recorded an episode, which is raw and unedited. Although every fibre of your being tempts you to publish it and share it with the world. And why not? It tests the limits of your creative imagination. But hold on a second before you proceed.

Your audio content needs a makeover, and this is where podcast editing tools come into play. Indeed, podcast audio editing refines the sound quality of your podcast.

A Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is at the very core of this process. Basically, a DAW is an all-in-one studio that lets you record on the computer, edit audio, add music and sound effects, and craft your content into a podcast episode. Fortunately, one doesn’t need an engineering degree or a podcast editor.

Now, to determine the best podcast editing software, pick one that fits your creative style and works in your operating system while staying within your budget. Even without being an audio expert, you can definitely try podcasting.

3.1. Audacity

Screenshot of the Official Website of Audacity
Screenshot of the Official Website of Audacity

Imagine a free software that still holds supremacy despite being from the 2000s. That’s Audacity – a go-to choice for podcasters seeking simple and uncomplicated editing solutions. With the aid of this podcast editing program, beginners can edit and combine audio files without overloading their brains with information and understand and learn the basics of editing.

The versatile podcast editing software offers various file formats, plugins, and sound designs. It can record your audio file in 16-bits, 24-bits, or 32-bits. However, expect occasional crashes or technical hiccups.

3.2. Adobe Audition

How to edit a podcast in Adobe Audition

Adobe Audition ensures that every podcast recording suits your audio needs. For some people, individually taking time and effort to adjust all the compression and EQ levels of each audio track can be really tiring.

Thus, this clever software comes to your rescue and simplifies tasks by applying the same edits to multiple tracks. It also has a lot of audio-enhancing effects and user-friendly presets. However, it may appear too complex for a rookie and complicates the basic editing. 

3.3. Alitu

Screenshot of the Official Website of Alitu
Screenshot of the Official Website of Alitu

Alitu is a saviour for all busybodies who want to save time from audio editing. This remarkable tool can effortlessly fuse multiple audio tracks. The playback speed feature cuts the audio editing time to half while maintaining quality and can quickly remove background noise.

It also helps you to craft new podcast episodes. You can have an audio podcast with sound clarity with AI-assisted cleanup. It has an inbuilt transcript generator and can integrate with podcasting platforms like Buzz Sprout, etc. 

However, you should analyze if it is worth spending 38 dollars a month on this podcast editing software. Moreover, its heavy internet reliance poses challenges despite being convenient. Additionally, it only supports mp3 format, thus limiting your control over audio editing.

3.4. Pod Castle

Screenshot of the Official Website of Pod Castle
Screenshot of the Official Website of Pod Castle

Use the power of AI to enhance your audio to the full. With the best UI interface, anyone can use it easily and craft, record, and edit audio with the help of an AI assistant.

How about creating a digital copy of your voice? Automatic transcription, speed adjustments, fade-in, and fade-out effects. It has everything in it! Explore multi-media creativity, as it also does video recording and video editing. But unfortunately, it also needs the internet to work its best.

3.5. Wondershare Filmora

Screenshot of the Official Website of Wondershare Filmora
Screenshot of the Official Website of Wondershare Filmora

Are you ready to take a daring step that sets you apart? Many listeners crave unfiltered chats between real people. What better way to grasp emotions, faces, and genuine reactions than video podcasts using Wondershare Filmora as your perfect editing application?

Filmora offers a wide range of filters, presets, effects, stickers, and royalty-free music that can be used in videos.

4. Additional Editing Tips

Now that we have enlightened you on the steps and software required to edit a podcast, here are some additional tips to look out for in the future:

1. Find yourself in a quiet and cozy corner. Spare yourself and your listener from the audio content, free from distractions. It should be you, your mic, and your killer content.

2. Remember, the more you talk, the longer you’ll edit. Choose a reasonable 45-minute episode and spare yourself from the editing grind.

3. Before diving into the topic, pause and calm your nerves. Take a deep breath and imagine the spotlight is on you. Channelize your best presentation skills and prepare your key questions and epic wrap-up. Take notes or bullet points, which will be handy during the podcast.

4. Always choose quality over chaos. Record each individual separately to avoid cross-talk and tangoed voices. Edit out the breathing sounds that are quite unpleasant to hear sometimes.

5. Don’t get overboard with your editing. Focus on fewer filler words like “Umms and Ahhs,” quirky mishaps actually add character to your podcast. Note the blunders, correct them, and move on. Let it not be a crutch but something that showcases the original, authentic, and fabulous you.

Key Takeaway

What makes the audience glued to their seats is not just your voice but your content, storytelling style, and podcast editing style as well. It changes the overall quality and turns average audio recordings into the best audio masterpieces.

In podcasting, editing is always the most challenging part. Technical problems, lack of technical know-how, and time constraints can add to the challenges. But, at the same time, it also brings you closer to the scaling peaks of satisfaction, as the result is often rewarding. Frankly, the hours spent to perfect your own podcast are a good investment.

This blog covers all the steps on how to edit a podcast in the simplest manner for all the beginners out there who wish to delve into the world of podcasts. With valuable content, the listener returns for more of these audio treats, eagerly waiting for your interesting podcast that adds entertainment, inspiration, and motivation to their lives. 

Last Updated on by Tahsina Javed

Authors

  • lydiasam

    Lydia Sam is a content writer and social media copywriter who has worked passionately for Non - profit Organisations. She has done her masters in Modern Indian History. Her love for History, people and places can be pictured through her storytelling and writing skills. Even though not gifted with an elephant memory, she likes to satiate her curiosity and learning through rigorous research and writing about it. When she is not writing, she puts her energy into sketching and scripting a comic.

  • Tahsina Javed

    Tahsina is a graduate and freelance content writer and editor. She has a penchant for crafting compelling content. An avid reader, Tahsina deeply appreciates the nuances of the English language and will leave no stone unturned when it comes to rectifying grammatical errors. She has previous experiences in content writing and editing, which has furnished her with various SEO techniques and plagiarism-free writing abilities, and is looking forward to putting her skills to good use.

    Education

    • Bachelor of Arts (B.A)
    • Honours in Sociology

    Certifications/Qualifications

    • Add-on Course in HTML and Web Design
    • Certified 'C2 Proficient' on the EF Standard English Test

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