Podcasts are convenient, listeners can tune in wherever and whenever. Many people listen while: they are doing household chores, commuting to and from work, cooking/baking, or working out/playing sports.
This flexibility means that not all people watch the podcast’s video, so the sound quality is incredibly important. Thus, using an audio editor is non-negotiable; it can make a huge difference, taking your podcast from sounding amateur to professional.
So, when you finish recording your show before you upload the content, you must improve and edit the sound quality. There are many audio-editor softwares that will help you create, edit, publish, and promote your podcast. The following list should help you narrow down your decision and determine which features you need most.
Contents
Audacity
AuphonicStudio One
GarageBand
Avid Pro Tools Intro
WavePad
CyberLink Audiodirector Essential
Ashampoo Music Studio
Bonus: Best Podcast Hosting Sites
Captivate
Libsyn
Buzzsprout
Choosing the Right Podcast Editing Software
If you’re finding it tough to keep up with the demands of podcasting, don’t worry. Partnering with a Podcast Agency can help you craft the right strategy to not only produce great content but also network with your ideal clients.
We’ll handle everything from securing the right guests through our professional network to managing the recording, editing, publishing, and marketing. Our goal is to ensure your podcast is a powerful tool to build relationships with key decision-makers in your industry to drive business growth.
Audacity
Audacity is a well-known podcast editing software that is completely free. You can edit files, eliminate background noise, add music/sound effects, and export your recordings in a variety of formats. Something that Audacity is known for is its open source code, meaning that anyone can view and modify your work, making it easy for you to collaborate virtually with your team.
Benefits:
Suitable for macOS, Windows, and Linux
Supports all major audio formats (e.g. WAV, MP3, FLAC, Ogg, and many more)
Open source code
Drawbacks:
Can be tricky to navigate if you are not familiar with audio editing
It’s a destructive editor, so once you delete something you can’t restore it
Auphonic
This Australian company is an all-in-one audio podcast production software that gives you high-quality, professional results. To achieve this, many of Auphonic’s features relate to sound enhancement. For example, they offer an intelligent leveler (to balance levels between speakers, music and speech), noise and reverb reduction, a filtering and audioEQ (that removes unwanted frequencies), and many more!
Benefits:
User-friendly software that simplifies audio-editing for non-professionals
Contains several sound-enhancement tools
Beyond podcasting, you can also use this service for enhancing your educational content, video projects, or audiobooks.
Drawbacks:
There are monthly limitations to the free service they offer. So, when your podcast starts to take off, you may need to invest in the paid services
Studio One by PreSonus
This digital audio workstation (DAW) is suitable for both podcasters and musicians. Studio One simplifies processes of importing and combining files with its drag-and-drop processing feature.
You can use a free version or upgrade to a premium plan that gives you access to even more storage, features, sounds, and networking opportunities.
Benefits:
User-friendly platform that allows you to record, produce, mix, master, and perform
Supports macOS, Windows, and Linux
Features a single-screen workflow
Drawbacks:
Occasional crashes upon launch or hardware glitches during updates
Mainly suited for music producers (so you may not need all of the features)
Incompatibility with some third-party plug-ins (compressors, reverbs, and EQs)
GarageBand
GarageBand is a particularly useful and attractive platform for Mac users. Plus, it’s free to use with your Apple devices. This platform was primarily created for music production, though it does also offer podcast-specific functions, like recording high-quality audio, multi-track editing, and creating templates. It’s an excellent resource for allocating sound effects and music bites that can be added to your show.
Benefits:
Supports multi-device collaboration through iCloud
Offers useful and helpful tutorials that will help you get started
Drawbacks:
Lacks the more specific competents for editing podcasts
Doesn’t support remote recording, so you can only record locally
Only available on Apple devices
Avid Pro Tools Intro
Avid's Pro Tools Intro is the free version of Avid’s Pro Tools audio recording and editing services. Although this software is more geared towards music production, it offers several useful functions for creating and editing podcasts, including: 36 effects and instrument plugins (great for a theme-song or background music) and non-linear clip launching.
Benefits:
Free to use and easy to upgrade to paid Pro Tools versions
Offers many tutorials and troubleshooting videos
Drawbacks:
Has a limit of 8 tracks, 8 MIDI tracks, and 8 instrumental tracks
Only allows users to record up to four tracks at once
WavePad Audio Editing Software by NCH Software
WavePad Audio Editing Software is a macOS-friendly platform that supports many audio formats (MP3, WAV, VOX, GSM, etc.) and has hundreds of editing tools, filters, and effects. There is a free option for non-commercial use, which is ideal for unmonetized content.
Benefits:
Offers popular audio effects (like slowing down or speeding up, pitch-change, removing reverb, etc.) and includes a sound effects library
Fast and powerful batch processing
Drawbacks:
Frequent pop-ups that promote the paid services
No built-in mixer
CyberLink Audiodirector Essential
CyberLink’s Audiodirector Essential has an AI Restoration Assistant that will help streamline the editing process. In a single click, it removes unwanted noises, controls reverb and echo, and fixes audio issues, resulting in crystal-clear speech. Keep in mind—the free version won’t have access to all the controls and features, so you may eventually have to upgrade to a paid plan.
Benefits:
AI-powered tools that enhance and restore your audio quality
Offers many sound and voice-altering effects (reverb, echo, equalizer)
Drawbacks:
Not the most intuitive option; there may be a learning curve (especially if you’re new to podcast-editing)
Ashampoo Music Studio
Ashampoo Music Studio has a wide range of tools for easy editing, producing, trimming, mixing, and organizing of music and audio files. It is more tailored to music production, though it can support basic functions for podcast editing.
Benefits:
User-friendly service that can edit, burn, or cut audio files
Supports many audio formats (M3U, PLS, WPL, XSPF)
Drawbacks:
You can’t edit multitracks, so you’re limited to single linear tracks
Bonus: Best Podcast Hosting Sites
Captivate
Captivate is an excellent platform that supports your podcasting journey from content creation to publishing and profiting. It’s suitable for creators with longer episodes or high-frequency shows because there’s no storage limit, so you can create endless content. Captivate is a solid choice for podcasters of all levels, with a user-friendly interface and advanced features and analytics.
Key Features:
Guest Booking Platform: You can save time and money by allowing Captivate to book your guests and manage your recording sessions.
Unlimited Podcast Creation: You can create and distribute an unlimited number of podcasts on Captive.
Advanced Analytics: You can view reports on your listener trends, giving you access to engagement data (downloads, likes, view times) and your listeners’ demographics.
Private Podcasting: This feature is primarily designed for creators of internal podcasts. It secures your content and restricts unauthorized listeners.
Monetization Options: This platform helps you sell and market your content in creative ways. You can take advantage of the dynamic ad tools, create profitable audio memberships, accept tips, give exclusive/early-access, or sell bonus content.
Libsyn
Libsyn is an excellent hosting platform that supports audio and video footage. It does have a more complex user interface that may be intimidating for beginners. Though, if you are a seasoned podcaster, you’ll find this platform gives you a lot of control over your content.
Libsyn streamlines the podcasting process from start (content creation) to finish (publishing). Plus, you’ll receive valuable tools for podcast monetization and marketing.
Key Features:
Advanced Analytics: Creators have access to statistics and audience metrics that give insight to listener habits and behaviours. By closely monitoring your podcast’s performance, you can discover what you’re doing well and what you should improve or change.
Customizable Podcast Website: Libsyn lets you get creative and make your podcast website entirely unique! Use this opportunity to make your podcast stand out from others, highlight your expertise in the industry, and to promote content through your website or blog.
Scheduled Posting: You can program Libsyn to publish your podcast episodes at specific times/dates. It will also upload corresponding promotion posts on your social media pages that will help reach your target audience.
Monetization Options: This platform provides you with the opportunity to monetize your podcast and seek sponsorship/paid-subscription opportunities. They can help you—as a creator—find ways to maximize your podcast’s revenue.
Buzzsprout
Whether you’re entirely new to podcasting or only post a few episodes monthly, Buzzsprout is a great platform to host your show. You can take advantage of their free plan that lets you upload 2 hours of content per month. Or, if you find yourself needing access to more storage and features, you can also upgrade to a paid subscription service.
Buzzsprout provides you with helpful tools that will make your podcast more successful! By reviewing the easy-to-comprehend analytics, you’ll better understand how to reach your target audience. You can also complete some basic audio enhancements that will automatically improve the sound quality.
Key Features:
Trends and Statistics: You can track listener growth and engagement with Buzzsprout’s in-depth statistics. Analyzing this data will teach you how you can better tailor your content to fit your audiences’ needs and preferences.
User-friendly Interface: The platform has a simplistic design that makes it easy to navigate. If you’re new to podcasting, Buzzsprout may be a good place to start.
Episode Optimization: This feature will save you loads of time! Buzzsprout promotes your episodes for different directories and social media platforms, helping you to reach your target audience.
Monetization Options: There are several monetization options available through Buzzsprout, including opportunities for affiliate marking, which will help you maximize your podcast’s financial potential.
WordPress Plugin: WordPress plugin allows you to effortlessly post your podcast on your website. This makes it even easier for your audience to find and access your episodes.
Choosing the Right Podcast Editing Software:
Fortunately for you, this list includes softwares that offer free services. So, you’re not locking into a monthly/yearly subscription. If you’re finding that one site is lacking the features you need, you can always make the transition to another!
Plus, you can always upgrade to a paid plan if you need access to more diverse and advanced features.
If you need more assistance with your podcasting journey, then reach out to our team! We’d be happy to discuss how we can streamline the process for you and help you save time, money, and resources.
By Emily Nyikos
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Jony Studios is a content marketing agency specializing in B2B podcasting and audiobook services. They have worked with many clients, from startups to larger organizations such as Penguin Random House, Amazon, University of Waterloo, Freakonomics Radio, and many others.