Podcast Post-Production Process
Having an outstanding podcast editing software is crucial for taking your podcast to the next level, as it enables you to improve it and make it more engaging.
By making necessary preparations and acquiring appropriate tools, you can simplify the post-production process, ensuring that the end product is of high quality. The ability to convert your podcast into something exceptional is possible.
To begin editing a podcast effectively, you can start by watching the video provided below and then continue reading to learn about 10 simple steps on how to do it.
Stage 1: Podcast Editing
During post-production, the emphasis is on editing the audio recorded by breaking it down and restructuring it into a captivating narrative for the audience.
1.One should specify the duration of their podcast episodes.
In order to facilitate the editing of your audio files, it is important to determine the desired length of your episode beforehand. This will provide direction throughout the editing stage and simplify the process of eliminating unnecessary content from your discussions.
Podcasts come in varying lengths, ranging from 20 to 60 minutes. If you’re new to podcasting, it’s recommended that you target a duration of about 20-30 minutes.
This time frame allows you sufficient time to deliver your message effectively without the risk of alienating your audience by providing too much content. If you avoid making long episodes, it will prevent them from being burdensome and time consuming during post-production.
2.Develop a captivating narrative by utilizing podcast editing techniques.
When you begin the task of editing your podcast, remember to consider the plot you aim to convey. Concentrate on the essential content while editing, and leave out anything that does not contribute to the story.
In the final cut of the interview, you should consider what is most relevant and interesting to your audience. If your listeners are aspiring filmmakers, they might be more interested in the insider details of the writing and filming process.
However, if your audience is mainly made up of celebrity gossip enthusiasts, they might be more fascinated by the stories about meeting famous actors and actresses.
Ultimately, it’s important to tailor your content to your audience in order to keep them engaged and interested in what you have to say. When creating the final version of your show, it is important to continually assess whether each element adds to the overall narrative.
It is recommended that extraneous elements such as pre-show chatter or off-topic discussions, like weather updates, be removed during the editing process.
3: Make Your Podcast Flow
Ensure that the dialogue in your podcast has a smooth and authentic cadence while editing the audio. Be cautious when applying such edits to ensure that your podcast retains its natural flavour without appearing excessively edited. Consider the following pointers:
- Eliminate any superfluous words, pauses, or breaks.
- Exclude words like ‘you know’ and ‘so’, or pauses like ‘um’ or ‘er’, as long as it doesn’t hinder the conversation’s natural progression.
- Edit out extended pauses.
- Eliminate blatant errors or uncomfortable interruptions such as interrupting your guest or any noisy coughing, sneezing, or ambient sounds.
Stage 2: Sound Design
It involves utilizing audio components to evoke emotional responses from your audience and improve their listening experience. Incorporating tools like music tracks and sound effects can boost the quality of your podcast.
Mastering this aspect of production may require some time, dedication, and repetition. One aspect of it pertains to personal preferences while the other aspect is related to comprehending the target viewers and their desired material.
To make a lasting impact on the audience, it is essential to craft an appealing introduction and conclusion. This will help capture their attention at the beginning of the presentation and leave a lasting impression at the end.
It is important to use creative means to introduce oneself or the topic, such as by using a humorous joke or a personal story.
Similarly, an effective conclusion should summarize the main points and leave the audience with something to remember, like a thought-provoking question or call-to-action.
Take a moment to reflect on one of your beloved television programs. One of the initial thoughts that come to mind is likely the program’s theme song.
It could be a memorable jingle at the beginning or some spoken lines accompanied by music at the end, which gives it an individualized sign-off.
The introduction and conclusion of your podcast can leave a long-lasting impression on your audience and act as effective branding for your program.
Therefore, it is crucial to incorporate a distinct opening and ending that will make your podcast stand out in the minds of listeners.
Utilize the power of music to elevate your podcast narrative. #2. Enhance Your Podcast Story with Melodies Make full use of melodies to elevate your podcast’s narration.
Music has the ability to convey strong emotions, as demonstrated by the themes found in popular films like Jaws, Jurassic Park, or even a suspenseful horror movie soundtrack.
By implementing this same technique in your podcast, you can enhance your storytelling by strategically including music to create a specific mood and add drama.
The idea is to help your audience form a stronger bond with the person being interviewed and the narrative you hope to convey.
One way to elevate the quality of your podcast is by implementing sound effects. However, it’s essential to use them in a strategic way that enhances the listening experience for your audience.
Rather than adding sound effects just for the sake of having them, carefully consider how they can complement or emphasize specific moments in your podcast. When used correctly, sound effects can make your content more engaging and memorable for listeners.
Incorporating sound effects in your podcast, such as a drum roll after a joke, can add flavor to it. However, be cautious not to overuse them as it may divert your audience’s attention from the actual content and result in an overall unsatisfactory experience for them.
To achieve the optimum outcome, it is crucial to strike a balance in using sound effects. If you’re unsure how to use them effectively, listen attentively to successful podcasts and try out different ways yourself. You’ll develop an intuition for what techniques are effective through trial and error.
Stage 3: Mixing
By focusing on the technicalities of your audio, the mixing process aims to improve its overall quality. Adjustments are made to various elements such as equalization, reverb, pitch, and track levels.
These techniques are detailed further in later discussions to ensure the optimal audio quality for your podcast. I’m sorry, there is no paragraph provided to be paraphrased. Please provide a paragraph for me to paraphrase.
1. Organize Tracks and Audio Clips
Prior to commencing the process of merging, ensure that your tracks and audio clips are systematically arranged. This will assist in saving substantial time during the mixing procedure. Our suggestion is to organize your tracks in the prescribed sequence at first:
1. Host Audio
2. Guest Audio
3. Room Tone
4. Music
After setting up your tracks, ensure that each track only contains audio clips that are similar. This implies that the Host Audio track should strictly have audio from you and the Guest Audio track should only include audio from your guest.
2.Enhance the overall mood and quality of your podcast by adjusting its equalization.
To create a balanced frequency in your recording, apply equalization (EQ) while mixing. By adjusting EQ, you can eliminate high frequencies that could make your audio unpleasant and produce a more natural sound.
It is best to fix any problems with the tones in your recording prior to applying a compressor. Compression may occasionally emphasize tone problems in your recording.
3.Using a compressor is a good way to enhance the quality of podcast audio.
A tool known as a compressor is used to decrease the range of sounds in your recording. By setting a threshold, the compressor brings sounds that are too loud and too soft closer together within a designated range, making the recording more pleasant to listen to.
If you don’t utilize compression, your podcast’s sound may undergo fluctuations that are uncomfortable for your listeners. You may have encountered this situation in movies, where the commotion increases and the conversations seem muted. As a result, you will need to modify the volume consistently.
In other words, a compressor can help ensure that all voices on your podcast are at a consistent volume, making it easier for listeners to hear and enjoy. To make listening comfortable, one should adjust oneself to a suitable position.
3.Reduce the amount of background noise in your podcast to improve its clarity.
Its best during recording to include a noise gate or filter, and finding a quiet location to record in, using directional microphones, and being mindful of outside noises such as traffic or construction.
However, even with these techniques, some background noise may still be present in your final recording. Please provide the original paragraph for me to paraphrase.
- Removing background noise: The source of this disturbance could be from vehicles passing by, machinery operating in the background, or a neighbor living upstairs who is making loud sounds.
- Employing de-verbing: Audio tracks may experience reverb due to the reflection of sound waves on solid surfaces. It is ideal to have a suitable recording setup to minimize this effect. In case reverberation still occurs in the record, it can be mitigated while mixing the audio.
- Removing Plosives and Essing: To prevent audio issues, it is wise to have appropriate equipment such as a high-quality microphone along with a pop filter.
- Nonetheless, in case your recording consists of plosives or an excessive amount of “s” sounds, it is during the post-production stage that you have the opportunity to eliminate them and produce top-notch audio.
Stage 4: Mastering
When it comes to preparing a podcast, the processes of mixing and mastering are quite similar. However, the key distinction lies in the fact that mastering entails getting your podcast ready for distribution.
Essentially, the objective of mastering is to add the final touches and refine your podcast so that it is perfectly refined and suitable for sharing with a wide audience.
This step involves carefully reviewing your podcast to catch any editing errors before finalizing it for publication. You should also ensure that the overall narrative structure of your episode is cohesive and has a logical progression.
Adjusting the volume levels of different tracks and giving attention to details will help you achieve a polished finished product. More EQ adjustments are needed.
Do you need a DAW for podcast editing?
A digital audio workstation, also known as DAW, is a software or device that allows you to transform captured audio into a digitalized format on your computer and offers various tools for modifying and handling these recordings. Examples of widely used DAW software are Audacity and Adobe Audition.
Is a podcast editor absolutely required? Not always.
Nowadays, there are multiple software options available to create podcasts. Some of them even offer online editing features eliminating the need for downloading.
Although digital audio workstations (DAWs) are perfect for meticulous and intricate editing tasks, they can be overwhelming for some users.
In such cases, it is simpler to edit podcasts using platforms that are specialized for podcast production like Riverside. Automated capabilities and characteristics.
What Podcast Editing Software to Choose
For a DAW, look for something that is user-friendly and can handle the specific needs of podcast editing such as cutting, trimming, and adding sound effects. The right software will make the process easier and more efficient. Please take into account the following:
Which operating system are you using?The task at hand is quite clear – you must determine whether you will do your podcast editing on a PC or Mac, since certain software may only work with one system. Having this knowledge will assist in limiting your choices. Additionally, what is your budget?
A higher budget offers good value for your money and meets your basic editing needs. Keep in mind that the quality of your editing can greatly affect how your podcast is perceived.
Therefore, it’s worth investing in a decent software program. However, there are options at varying price levels, so consider starting with a cost-effective solution that matches your editing requirements. Are you well-versed in the art of editing within your financial means, to ensure that you receive the most value from your investment?
Those who are well-versed in the processes of editing, mixing, and mastering may have the capability of using any software efficiently, whereas those who are new to this field should opt for user-friendly software. It lacks complicated features that might cause confusion.
Best Podcast Editing Software and DAWs
As mentioned earlier, there are numerous excellent choices available for podcast editing software and digital workstations.
Here are some you can try out:
Pro Tools (Free & Paid)
Various experts in the field of podcasting rely on Pro Tools as it is widely regarded as the gold standard for editing podcasts, thanks to its vast array of features.
While it may require some time to master all the functions, with persistent practice and dedication, one can transition from an amateur level to an expert level while continuously enhancing their editing abilities. Having knowledge gained from prior involvement.
Tools Ultimate version costs $79.99/month. These paid versions offer a wider range of features and tools for professional audio editing and production. However, the free version may be sufficient for those starting out or with simpler podcast needs. The price of Tools Ultimate is $79.99.
Adobe Audition (Paid)
The automation feature in Adobe Audition is exceptional, as it allows you to create a preset for the modifications you wish to apply to your audio files.
With this podcast editing software, you can easily make identical edits across multiple files, thereby streamlining the process of adjusting compression and EQ in a large batch of files. Software comes with numerous pre-made configurations that are user-friendly, enabling the addition of music fades and transitions between tracks.
A subscription to Adobe Audible costs $20.99 per month, but you can receive a discount if you choose to pay for an entire year in advance. It’s important to note that Adobe Audition is included in Adobe’s Creative Suite, so if you’re already a subscriber, you may have access to it already.
Audacity (Free)
Audacity is a completely free audio editing tool that provides basic editing and mixing functions. Additionally, it has the ability to create sound designs such as intros, outros, and music.
For those who are new to podcast editing and wanting to acquire some knowledge before investing in advanced software, Audacity is an excellent choice. A promise to make regular payments for a service that requires a subscription.
Anchor (Free)
Despite being primarily known as a podcast host, Anchor offers an online podcast editor and creator. The platform includes a simplistic audio editor that allows users to structure segments and incorporate Spotify music.
However, it is designed more for novices and does not offer many advanced features for experienced podcasters. Podcast sound editing has become more intricate lately, but Anchor has now introduced a new integration that offers users a top-quality platform for producing and refining both video and audio podcasts.
Hindenburg Journalist (Paid)
Its specialized software designed for podcasters who prioritize compelling storytelling. Hindenburg Journalist includes numerous automated features, allowing podcasters with varying levels of editing proficiency to utilize it adeptly.
Utilizing this software permits users to streamline their editing process, enhancing efficiency and productivity. The software is equipped with automatic leveling and noise reduction capabilities. It is user-friendly and has numerous automated functions, making it an excellent option for podcasters of any skill level.
The software can be obtained in three varying cost ranges: $95 for the Journalist version, $375 for Journalist Pro and $500 for HABC Narrator. The greater the amount you pay, the more characteristics you will receive.
Here are 4 changes you need to make when processing audio for podcasts
Even though we have mentioned some of these steps in our guide on post production for podcasts, there are four modifications that you must ensure to make before publishing your show.
1. Trim
The final product should flow smoothly and provide value to your listeners. So, be mindful of the content you choose to include and make sure it is relevant and engaging. Strive for quality over quantity in your podcast editing process. It appears as if the audio recordings have been altered.
2. Balancing
Ensure that your podcast has smooth transitions and that the audio tracks flow together seamlessly. It is important for the audio clips to merge smoothly. Your show should not abruptly change in volume when moving from one audio clip to another.
3. EQ
The frequencies humans can hear are around 20Hz.) With correct recording methods, you may not need to alter the EQ at all, and a low pass filter can eliminate high frequencies swiftly.
When adjusting the EQ, a high pass filter can be employed to remove any noises below 70Hz, which human ears can barely discern since the lowest audible frequency is approximately 20Hz. Most human voices tend to have a frequency of 80Hz or lower.
4. Volume Levels
In order to enhance the audio quality, aim to maintain consistent volume levels of all individuals. This will avoid the need for your audience to keep adjusting their volume during your program to listen to everyone.
Here are 8 tips for editing a podcast to ensure that you get the best results possible.
Editing after production can consume significant effort, time, and resources. Adhering to these 8 suggestions will aid in minimizing the duration you spend editing and enhancing the quality of your podcast’s sound.
Tips Before Recording
1. Have a Plan for Your Podcast
Arrive at your interview with a definitive strategy for how you envisage the proceedings unfolding. Preparing an agenda beforehand for your podcast and deciding in advance what questions to pose to your interviewee will minimize any uncomfortable situations.
2.To produce a high-quality podcast, it is important to set up the appropriate recording environment.
This means finding a quiet space free from background noise and distractions. Additionally, you should consider investing in soundproofing materials and quality equipment to capture clear audio.
It is also crucial to control the temperature and humidity of the space to avoid unwanted noise from fans or air conditioning units. Ultimately, taking these measures will ensure that your podcast sounds professional and engaging for your listeners.
Avoid recording near windows, fans or other noise sources, and turn off any extra electronics in the room. Remember to test your microphone levels before starting your podcast to ensure optimal sound quality. You can use upholstered furniture as a recording studio when creating your podcast.
3.Get Quality Recording Equipment
To ensure that your podcast has high-quality sound and is clear and professional, it is important to obtain recording equipment of good quality. This may include a microphone, headphones, a mixer, and other accessories.
By investing in good equipment, you will not only enhance the overall listening experience for your audience but also show that you are serious about producing high-quality content.
A variety of tools are available in today’s market that can help you save time during post-production editing and mixing. One such tool is a microphone equipped with a pop filter, which can significantly reduce the occurrence of plosives in your recordings.
Tips During Recording
1.When recording your podcast, ensure that you use proper microphone technique.
To achieve consistent and high-quality audio recordings, it is important to know the appropriate positioning for both your microphone and your guest’s. By doing this, you can minimize the need for excessive editing later on such as adjusting volume levels or adding compression and equalization effects.
2.Lead your podcast towards the desired destination.
Ensure that you remain focused on the subject at hand and also ensure your guest remains on topic during the recording. By staying on topic, you will reduce the need to edit out irrelevant material while editing for time and content.
3. Record with reliable software
It is crucial that your recording program does not suddenly stop or lower the quality of your recording. When using internet-based recording software, it is recommended to check for a local recording feature to ensure all data is saved to your device and kept secure. Experiencing problems related to connectivity to the internet.
Tips After Recording
1.Before you start editing your podcast, make sure you listen to it at least once.
This will help you identify any mistakes or areas that need improvement, such as parts where the sound quality may be poor or where there are long pauses or repetitive statements. By listening to your podcast before beginning the editing process, you can ensure that you’re making the necessary changes to create a high-quality final product.
Take the time to listen to your recording from start to finish and take note of the timestamps where you intend to make specific edits, like removing background noise or incorporating a sound design element.
By listening through your recording once, you’ll have a better understanding of what materials you’re working with. After completing the filming stage, post-production allows you to have a better understanding of the storyline that you aim to develop.
2.Avoid excessive editing of your podcast.
distracting from it. The ultimate goal is to produce a polished podcast that sounds effortless and engaging for the listener, even if you put a lot of hard work behind the scenes. The act of diverting attention away from something.
3. Listen to Your Podcast One Final Time
Before disseminating your podcast, take the time to give it a final review. Pay attention to both technical and content aspects to ensure that it matches your intended end product.
FAQs about Podcast Editing
Can podcasts be edited?
Podcasts can be edited and it’s up to your preference whether you want basic or extensive editing. Some podcasters do minor edits to remove undesirable noise or improve audio quality, while others incorporate effects, background music, and other elements.
Do podcasts need editing?
If you aim to produce a top-notch podcast that reflects your professionalism, post-recording edits are mandatory. This will require delicate adjustments to the audio, deleting any irrelevant content, and ensuring the entire episode has an overall impressive quality with effects such as outros for a seamless finish. The above statement implies that the beginning or introduction of a podcast is equally important in both audio and video formats.
What makes a good podcast edit?
For a podcast, it is essential to edit it to ensure that the audio and video quality are satisfactory. This entails eliminating undesirable background sound or uncomfortable silences.
Additionally, it is advisable to ensure that any edited content has seamless and natural transitions between cuts. If you have reliable recording software such as Riverside and good equipment, your process of editing podcasts will become simpler.
Is editing a podcast hard?
No there are powerful editing software’s available that can help you fix issues like sound levels, background noise, and speech clarity. With these tools, you can edit your podcast quickly and efficiently.
It’s important to take the time to learn how to use these tools effectively so that your podcast sounds professional and polished. Riverside’s Magic Editor is an editing software equipped with automated tools that can assist you.
How can I edit my podcast for free?
There are options for editing your podcast without cost using free software. As discussed in this article, some possibilities include complimentary podcast editor choices.
- Audacity
- GarageBand
- Riverside
How much does it cost to edit a podcast?
If you want to edit a podcast, the cost will depend on whether you are doing it yourself or hiring a professional editing service. If you choose to do it yourself, your biggest expense will be the podcast editing software you select, which should not exceed $30.
You might end up paying a lot more for each episode if you opt for a podcast service, compared to paying on a monthly basis.
Final Thoughts
Don’t overcomplicate podcast editing. Keep in mind that your podcast should be entertaining, engaging, and tell a compelling story. Remove any unnecessary distractions and add enhancements that add value to your content.
This way, you can create a show that you’re proud of and that keeps your audience coming back for more.