How to Edit a Podcast

Podcast Sound System and Audio Editing

Introduction

Planning, filming, editing, and publishing are the four fundamental processes in the

editing process for podcasts. The content of each episode is streamlined by podcast editors, who enhance audio quality and occasionally produce supplemental materials for your podcast. Most podcasters know how podcast editing works (a clear podcast with a natural sound and content flow).

However, they frequently need to be aware of the technical procedures that go into editing. The client and the surrounding environment influence the procedures required in podcast editing (Podcast editing: Content strategy, audio editing, podcast planning & more, 2022). Compared to a podcast produced in a living room, one recorded in a professional studio requires fewer audio modifications.

Similarly, someone who sticks to a plan will require fewer content modifications than a host or guest who has the propensity to veer off-topic. However, audio editing and content editing are the two main approaches to discussing podcast editing.

Audio editing for podcasts and music is very similar to each other. To edit audio for

a podcast, there are three main processes: stitching, mixing, and mastering. A podcast

editor stitches an episode by adding, deleting, and rearranging the content. If the host

recorded numerous times or needs to include an intro or outdo that is distinct from the primary topic, editors will have to add content to the show.

When an editor receives a 45-minute recording for a podcast with 20- to 30-minute episodes, they will reduce and condense the least important material. Last but not least, podcasters often record their programs out of order (Podcast editing: Content strategy, audio editing, podcast planning, & more, 2022). The podcast editor rearranges the material while stitching it to provide a satisfying story arc for the episode. There are various audio layers present in audio recordings.

In the editing process, 0one important stage is in the sound design. The sound

design aims to use audio components to appeal to listeners' emotions and improve their entire experience. One can add music tracks and sound effects to improve your podcast.

This aspect of post-production requires much skill because it entails taste and an awareness of one's audiences preferences for information. Making a great entrance and outro should be the first thing editors ensure is done. A distinctive entrance or outro will leave an impression on the audience and act as excellent branding for the show, whether it be a particular jingle that one plays at the start of the show or a few spoken lines over the music to sign off. Additionally, sound effects in a podcast should be used wisely when editing.

Make cautious not to overuse sound effects because they liven up the podcast. When there are too many sound effects, listeners may become distracted from the content and have a bad overall experience.

The other important phase in editing is mixing. A podcast editor manipulates the

various layers to produce a nice sound when mixing the program. Therefore, this entails

muting ambient sounds, such as air conditioners or traffic, while maximizing the podcast

host and guest. Ensuring that what needs to be heard is heard and that other competing

sounds are diminished to a gentle hum is the most crucial step in the mixing process

(Westphal, 2022). When you mix your podcast audio, you concentrate on the sound quality

and other technical elements.

To achieve the optimum audio quality for your podcast, you go through each audio file and modify various factors, including EQ, reverb, pitch, and track levels (more on this later). The tracks and audio clips should be correctly arranged before the editor begins mixing. They will spend much less time mingling thanks to this.

Editors are encouraged to utilize equalization (EQ) during mixing to correct the frequency

balance in their track (Westphal, 2022). By reducing high, disagreeable frequencies from

their recording, EQ adjustments will improve the audios naturalness.

Lastly, as the name suggests, mastering enhances the mixers work. The main

objective of mastering is to enhance the sound of the podcast using innovative techniques.

Putting the finishing touches on your podcast and cleaning it up to make it marketable is

what mastering is all about. The audio engineer chooses the appropriate tools for the

mastering process based on the application at hand (Podcast editing, 2022). These include

gates, compressors, equalizers, and other devices that lessen noise and correct flaws.

The editor will listen to all their editing and look for anything they might have missed at this

stage. The podcast ought to truly flow at this stage. All songs must have their

volume levels changed, and any additional EQ adjustments and matching must also be

made (Podcast editing, 2022). A well-produced podcast will sound reliable and

knowledgeable. If the volume levels are inconsistent, the listener may lose interest in the

podcast and stop listening. If the volume levels are inconsistent, the listener may lose

interest in the podcast and stop listening.

In podcast editing, one will need various equipment to succeed. One is the Riverside

tool, a complete podcast recording and editing program perfect for amateurs, experts, and

everyone in between. With automatic editing and customizing capabilities, the Riverside

Magic Editor enables anyone to make a professional-looking podcast in minutes (Best

podcast editing software, 2022). With only a few clicks, this tool converts the highlights of

your long-form content into brief promotional teasers. It is perfect for disseminating your

material over social media.

It has an automated AI speaker view that changes to the speaker speaking randomly (Best podcast editing software, 2022). Adobe Audition is another essential tool that can add music, segues, and fades to podcasts. Numerous audio presets and templates are available in Adobe Audition. It enables users to save templates and use them as scripts to run them automatically. Excellent noise reduction tools and sophisticated audio track restoration and compression are available in Adobe Audition (Best podcast editing software of(DAW), 2022). The batch-processing features of this podcast editing program are well-known for enabling you to apply the same effects to multiple files simultaneously.

Another piece of equipment to use when editing podcasts is Logic Pro X. With its

many features, the podcast editing program Logic Pro X gives one complete control over

both your audio and music production (Best podcast editing software, 2022). This program

creates audio of a professional caliber. Individuals can reduce post-production time by

automating their editing process with Logic Pro X automatic capabilities. The softwares most basic capabilities are simple to use but to utilize everything that Logic Pro X offers, an editor will need more experience. The additional equipment is GarageBand (Best podcast editing software, 2022).

One may use real-time editing features in GarageBand to enhance sound quality, cutting down on the time a person spends editing audio after recording. It is possible to alter the pitch and velocity of tracks and other aspects of recordings using this equipment. Without the right instruments, anything is difficult to achieve well. As crucial as the computer and other audio gear is the digital audio workstation (DAW) or software used to edit the audio podcasts.

References

Best podcast editing software, (2022). Which One to choose RSS. Available at:

https://riverside.fm/blog/podcast-editing-software

Podcast editing, (2022). How to do it in 10 steps (complete tutorial) RSS. Available at:

https://riverside.fm/blog/podcast-editing

Podcast editing: Content strategy, audio editing, podcast planning, & more (2022). Truth

Work Media. Available at: https://www.truthworkmedia.com/podcast-editing/

Westphal, S. (2022). Much More Than a Mic: Assessing Processes and Practices of Independent German Podcast Production Through Qualitative Interviews (Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University).