There’s a common misconception that once you hit “record” and start talking, your podcast is complete. In reality, the recording is just the first step of many in the podcasting process. Once you’ve recorded your episode, it’s time to edit. And that’s the really important part of any successful podcast series.
The editing phase can feel daunting for some, especially if you’re new to audio editing or don’t have a lot of experience with it. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. In this complete podcast editing guide, we’ll give you all the tips, tricks, and resources you need to edit your podcast like a pro.
Ready to learn how to edit your podcast? Let’s get started!
Podcast editing: What is it ?
One of the most common questions we hear is “what exactly does it mean to edit a podcast?” So let’s get that definition cleared up before proceeding with the how, what, why’s and where’s.
Podcast editing is the process of taking your recorded audio and manipulating it to create a finished product that sounds polished and professional. This can involve everything from cutting out long pauses and dead air to adding in music and other sound effects.
The goal of podcast editing is to create an engaging and enjoyable listening experience for your audience. By taking the time to edit your podcast, you can make sure that each episode is engaging, informative, and entertaining from start to finish.
It’s also worth noting that editing is an important step in the podcasting process even if you’re recording a solo show. While you may not need to worry about cutting out dead air or fixing long pauses, you’ll still want to edit your audio to ensure that it sounds its best.
So now that we’ve answered the “what”, let’s move on to why you should be doing it.
Top 4 reasons for editing your podcast episodes
As we just mentioned, one of the main reasons to edit your podcast is to create a polished and professional listening experience for your audience. But that’s not the only reason to edit your episodes.
Here are a few more reasons why you should make podcast editing a part of your workflow:
1. It can help you avoid technical problems
2. It allows you to correct any mistakes
3. It gives you the opportunity to add in extra content
4. It allows you to make sure your episodes are a consistent length
Let’s take a closer look at each of these reasons and why they matter.
It can help you avoid technical problems
Even if you have the best equipment and recording setup, there’s always a chance that something can go wrong during the recording process. Maybe your audio levels are off or there’s a bit of background noise that you didn’t notice at the time.
Podcast editing gives you the opportunity to fix any technical problems with your audio before releasing your episode to the world. This can help ensure that your episodes always sound their best and avoid any frustrating listening experience for your audience.
It allows you to correct any mistakes
We all make mistakes, and that’s totally okay. But when those mistakes happen during a podcast recording, they can be pretty difficult (and embarrassing) to listen to.
If you trip over your words or say something that you didn’t mean to, podcast editing gives you the chance to fix it. This can help you avoid any awkward pauses or moments in your episodes and make sure that your audience only hears the content that you want them to.
It gives you the opportunity to add in extra content
Podcast editing also provides the perfect opportunity to add in extra content that can enhance your episodes. This could be something as simple as adding in a brief intro or outro, or including clips from other podcasts or interviews.
You can also use podcast editing to create dynamic and engaging episodes by adding in sound effects or music. This can help break up long segments of talking and keep your episodes sounding fresh and interesting.
It allows you to make sure your episodes are a consistent length
If you’re releasing new episodes on a regular basis, it’s important to make sure that they’re all roughly the same length. This can help give your podcast a sense of structure and ensure that each episode is the right length for your audience.
Podcast editing gives you the ability to trim down long episodes or add in extra content to shorter ones. This can help you make sure that each of your episodes is the perfect length for your listeners.
As a podcast production company, we’ve heard a lot of myths, misconceptions and misused terminology about podcast editing. But are a few of the most common ones that we hear, and we’ll break down why they’re wrong.
“Podcast editing is too time-consuming”
One of the most common complaints that we hear about podcast editing is that it’s just too time-consuming. And while it’s true that podcast editing can take some time, it doesn’t have to be a long and drawn-out process.
There are a few things that you can do to speed up your podcast editing workflow, like using a quality podcast editing software and recording your episodes in batches. And once you get the hang of things, you’ll likely find that it doesn’t take as much time as you think.
“I don’t need to edit my podcast because I’m not a professional”
Another common myth about podcast editing is that you don’t need to do it unless you’re a professional podcaster. But the truth is that even amateur and hobbyist podcasters can benefit from a little bit of editing.
Remember, podcast editing isn’t just about fixing mistakes or adding in extra content. It’s also about making sure that your episodes are the best they can be for your audience. So even if you’re not a professional, taking the time to edit your podcast is well worth it.
“Podcast editing is too expensive”
The cost of podcast editing can be one of the biggest deterrents for podcasters, especially those just starting out. But the truth is that there are a lot of affordable (and even free) podcast editing options out there.
So if cost is an issue, you can rest assured that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get your episodes edited. There are plenty of quality podcast editors that don’t break the bank.
“Podcast editing is only for people who are good at audio editing”
We often hear people say that podcast editing is only for those who are already good at audio editing. But the truth is that anyone can edit a podcast, regardless of their skill level.
With the right tools and a little bit of practice, anyone can learn how to edit a podcast. So if you’re not sure where to start, don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you.
“I don’t need to edit my podcast because it’s just me talking”
We also hear this one a lot. And while it’s true that you don’t need to edit every single word of your podcast, there are still benefits to editing your episodes.
Even if it’s just you talking, editing can help you make sure that your episodes are the best they can be for your audience. It can also help you keep your episodes sounding fresh and interesting.
“I don’t need to edit my podcast because I have a co-host”
Having a co-host doesn’t mean that you don’t need to edit your podcast. In fact, editing can be even more important when you have a co-host.
Remember, even if you’re just talking to one other person, there are still two of you on the episode. This means that there are twice as many opportunities for things to go wrong.
“I don’t have specialized equipment”
You don’t need expensive, specialized equipment to edit your podcast. In fact, all you really need is a quality podcast editing software.
With the right software, you can easily edit your episodes on your own, regardless of your skill level or experience. And best of all, you don’t need to spend a fortune on expensive equipment.
“I’m not sure where to start”
That’s ok! If you’re new to podcast editing, it’s understandable if you’re not sure where to start. But the good news is that there are a lot of great resources out there to help you get started.
Let’s dive into our top tips for getting started.
Tips for editing your podcast
We’ve dived into a lot so far in this guide, but we still need share some of our top tips, tricks and techniques for editing a podcast.
1. Use a quality podcast editing software
One of the best things you can do to speed up your podcast editing workflow is to use a quality podcast editing software. There are a lot of great options out there, so take some time to find one that works best for you.
2. Record your episodes in batches
If you can, try to record your episodes in batches. This will make it easier to edit them later on, and it can also help you stay consistent with your episodes.
3. Edit your episodes as soon as possible
Try to edit your episodes as soon as possible after recording them. This will help you catch any mistakes that you might have made, and it can also help you make sure that your episodes are still fresh in your mind.
4. Listen to your episodes multiple times
Make sure to listen to your episodes multiple times before publishing them. This will help you catch any mistakes that you might have missed, and it can also help you make sure that your episodes are sounding the way that you want them to.
Are you noticing that your lips are smacking in certain parts of the episode? Is there a strange tapping sound from nervously rocking your foot against your desk? These are the types of things you’ll want to remove in your editing process.
5. Take your time
We cannot emphasize this enough. Editing a podcast can be a lot of work, so make sure to give yourself enough time to do it right. Don’t rush! This doesn’t mean that you need to spend hours on each episode, but it does mean that you should take your time and make sure that your episodes are the best they can be.
6. Use headphones & invest in a quality microphone
Make sure to use headphones while you’re editing your episodes. This will help you catch any sounds that might be distracting or difficult to hear. If you don’t have a quality microphone, now is the time to invest in one. A good microphone can make a big difference in the quality of your episodes, so it’s worth the investment.
7. Get rid of any dead air
One of the most important parts of editing a podcast is getting rid of any dead air. Dead air is any time that there is no talking, and it can be really distracting for your listeners.
If you have any dead air in your episodes, make sure to remove it. You can do this by cutting out any silence, or by adding in music or other sound effects.
Conclusion
And that’s it! Those are our top tips for editing your podcast. If you’re new to podcasting, we hope this guide has helped you get started. And if you’re already an experienced podcaster, we hope you’ve found some helpful tips and tricks to improve your workflow.
Reach out to us at Sorrentino Media if you have any questions about starting a podcast, or how to take your podcast to the next level. We’d love to help!