Audio editing programs are abundant, and so are opinions on which one is the
best for editing podcasts. The reality is that desktop audio workstations are
seeing a lot of competition from AI-powered, cloud-based studios like
Riverside and Alitu. So now that a new class of podcast editing software is
here, let’s take an up-to-date look at the most practical podcast
editing solutions available to podcasters in 2023.
Free podcast editing software
Audacity
If you’re looking to edit your podcast for free, Audacity is your best
choice. Despite its slightly dated interface and inability to automate
anything, Audacity has a robust support forum and compatibility with Windows,
MacOS, and Linux. It also supports 3rd-party plugins, so you can use
state-of-the-art VSTs like iZotope RX to clean and repair your audio.
As the only major open-source podcast editing option available, Audacity
continues to earn its place among the ranks of beginner podcasters. Try it
out, and when you’re ready for something easier or beefier, upgrade to a
different program.
Who is it for? First-timers and zero-budget podcasters.
Bonus tip: Did you know you can skin Audacity with a dark theme?
Garage Band
GarageBand is where MacOS users generally start their podcasting, simply
because it comes bundled with the operating system of every new Mac. It comes
with the two built-in effects all podcasters use - compression and EQ - and a
lot more features for creative editing.
Despite its music-focused design, GarageBand is perfectly suitable for editing
podcast audio. Using music loops to create intros and outros is drag-and-drop
simple. Podcasters looking for more than the most basic of features, however,
will want to move on pretty quickly. For a frictionless next step, get Logic
Pro. It’s the big brother of Garage Band, sharing its interface and
workflow, but with a lot more functionality.
Who is it for? First-timers and zero-budget podcasters on MacOS.
Subscription (paid) podcast editing software
Adobe Audition
Audition’s
main benefit is its participation in the Adobe ecosystem. You can quickly port
the audio from your show into After Effects to create an audiogram or download
intro music from the Adobe library.
Audition also contains the best out-the-box audio repair tools for any desktop
audio workstation. Features like Auto Heal and Denoise are included in the
software, making similar 3rd-party apps unnecessary. Quick and easy audio
repair for those poor-quality guest phone calls.
On the downside, Audition is a little more expensive than it needs to be for
what it does. If you’re looking for a podcast editing software fix that
doesn’t break the bank, move along.
Who is it for? Podcasters with a healthy budget who are existing users of
Adobe products.
Bonus tip: Check out Adobe’s free AI-powered podcast speech enhancer
tool. You can use it to correct poorly recorded audio. Upload your files, wait
for the processing to complete, and then click Play to download your full
file.
Request free access to Adobe Podcast Enhance here.
Hindenburg
Hindenburg’s focus on ease of use
makes it a favorite with many podcasters, particularly journalists. Why?
Because journalists typically use far more audio sources than a standard talk
show podcast. Hindenburg famously auto-levels every clip you drag into it,
typically making volume automation unnecessary. The program has in the past
acted buggy when dealing with VSTs, and the interface isn’t amazing. But
is a growing source of relief for busy podcast editors who edit stories with
many different threads.
Who is it for? Podcasters with a budget who typically edit a complex array
of audio.
Reaper
Reaper has won the hearts of many editors as
the budget-friendly, feature-packed underdog of the podcasting and music
world. For the price, Reaper is an absolute beast that rivals even the mighty
ProTools in features and customization options. The community support is
inspirational, and there’s even a dedicated
Reaper for Podcasting
channel.
The drawback? There’s a little bit of a hill to climb while unlocking
its power. Podcasters who want a quick and easy solution might have to do a
bit of research before earning their time-saving tactics. But once they do,
there’s no better value for money in the podcast editing world.
Who is it for? Tech-savvy podcast editors who want workflow
optimization.
ProTools
Some podcast editors may use
ProTools, but it’s not a
widely purchased software suite unless you also make commercial music. As the
longtime standard of the music industry, ProTools has a bit of a chokehold on
anyone looking to produce music. And for good reason. It’s an absolute
powerhouse of a program with plenty of features and broad hardware
compatibility. But is it worth the price to edit a couple of VO files and some
intro music? Unless you’re producing a show with 500 guests, probably
not.
Who is it for? Commercial music producers with a huge budget.
Honorable mentions
Here are a few additional podcast software editing options that haven’t
been featured in this post.
Logic Pro X: designed for
music production, but popular with podcasters on MacOS
Descript: originally a transcription
service, now a cloud studio and editing suite
Squadcast: cloud studio for teams that
manage multiple podcasts
Ableton Live: music production workstation
with satisfactory podcasting capabilities
iZotope RX:
industry-standard suite of audio repair and processing tools
Conclusion
Blog posts like these can help you narrow your choice of podcast editing
software. But as with any job, your tools are only as good as how you use
them. So if you’re looking to start a brand new show for the first time,
keep it simple.
That might mean spending a few bucks a month for an easy-to-use cloud-based
editing service, or it might mean spending time learning how to use an audio
workstation for your podcast editing.
Whatever you choose, you’re going to need two things to be a podcaster:
a hosting service and a bit of help. That’s where Saspod comes in!
Start your free Saspod trial today
and let our team help you on your podcasting journey. Why make it harder than
it has to be?
FAQ
Podcasters typically use a range of software and (increasingly) hardware
devices and online “cloud studios” to record their shows. The most
common desktop audio recording programs are called Digital Audio Workstations
(DAWs). Typical DAWs used to record podcasts include Audacity, Adobe Audition,
Reaper, Hindenburg and Logic Pro.
While most DAWs are designed for music production, they can all also be used
to record voices, edit intro music and insert audio clips from other sources.
Podcasters use the programs listed in this article to record themselves
speaking and edit that together with other sound clips and music.
The most widely praised paid audio workstation for podcasting is Adobe
Audition. The most widely praised free program is Audacity. However, choosing
a program depends on whether you want your podcast editing to be easy and
convenient or powerful and flexible. Want more help starting your podcast
journey?
Sign up for a Saspod account today
and get customer support along the way.
Comments
No comments yet!