How do you master podcasts for different platforms and devices?

1 Why master podcasts?

Mastering podcasts is the process of applying final adjustments to your audio files before publishing them online. Mastering can improve the sound quality, balance, consistency, and loudness of your podcast episodes. It can also help you meet the standards and specifications of different platforms and devices, such as streaming services, mobile phones, smart speakers, and headphones. Mastering podcasts can make your content more professional, engaging, and accessible to your audience.

2 How to master podcasts with software

To master podcasts, you need some software tools that can edit, process, and export your audio files. You can use a digital audio workstation (DAW) such as Audacity, GarageBand, or Reaper, or a dedicated mastering software such as iZotope Ozone, LANDR, or Auphonic. These tools can help you perform various mastering tasks like normalizing the overall volume of your audio file to prevent clipping and distortion; equalizing the frequency balance to enhance or reduce certain tones; compressing the dynamic range to make it more consistent; limiting the maximum output level to protect from clipping and distortion; and metering the loudness and peak levels to achieve optimal loudness.

3 How to master podcasts for Spotify

Spotify is one of the most popular platforms for podcasting, with over 2.6 million podcasts available as of 2020. Spotify has its own loudness normalization algorithm that adjusts the playback volume of your podcast to match its target level of -14 LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale). LUFS is a standard unit of measurement for loudness that takes into account how humans perceive sound. To master podcasts for Spotify, you should aim to export your audio files at -14 LUFS or slightly lower, with a maximum true peak level of -1 dBTP (decibels True Peak). This will ensure that your podcast sounds consistent and clear on Spotify without being altered by its normalization algorithm.

4 How to master podcasts for Apple Podcasts

Apple Podcasts is another popular platform for podcasting, with over 1.8 million podcasts available as of 2020. Apple Podcasts does not have a loudness normalization algorithm, but it does have some recommendations for podcasters to follow. According to Apple, you should export your audio files at 16-bit 44.1 kHz stereo or mono, with a bitrate of 64 kbps for mono or 128 kbps for stereo. You should also aim for a loudness level of -16 LUFS or lower, with a maximum true peak level of -1 dBTP. This will ensure that your podcast meets the quality standards of Apple Podcasts and sounds good on various devices.

5 How to master podcasts for YouTube

YouTube is another platform that you can use to distribute your podcast, especially if you want to add video or visuals to your content. YouTube has a loudness normalization algorithm that adjusts the playback volume of your podcast to match its target level of -13 LUFS. To master podcasts for YouTube, you should export your audio files at -13 LUFS or slightly lower, with a maximum true peak level of -1 dBTP. You should also export your video files at 1080p resolution or higher, with a frame rate of 24 fps or higher, and a bitrate of 8 Mbps or higher. This will ensure that your podcast looks and sounds great on YouTube without being affected by its normalization algorithm.

6 How to master podcasts for your own website

If you want to host your podcast on your own website, you have more control and flexibility over how you master and publish your audio files. You can use any software tool and format that suits your needs and preferences, but you should still consider some best practices for mastering podcasts. You should export your audio files at a reasonable loudness level, such as -16 LUFS or lower, with a maximum true peak level of -1 dBTP. You should also export your audio files at a suitable bitrate, such as 64 kbps for mono or 128 kbps for stereo, to balance quality and file size. You should also use a common audio format, such as MP3 or AAC, to ensure compatibility and accessibility for your listeners.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?