What are the best tools and software for podcast editing and production?

High-quality recording software is essential for capturing clear audio. Audacity: Free, open-source, and easy to use. Adobe Audition: Professional-grade with advanced features. GarageBand: User-friendly for Mac users. Reaper: Affordable and highly customizable. Zencastr: Records high-quality audio remotely.

If you want to multipurpose- I highly recommend Streamyard. I use it to live record a video show and it records each person’s audio as well. (host and guest) My weekly Liveshow is them repurposed into a Oscar’s and is well received! Streamyard comes highly recommended and can be used for both podcasting and livestreaming, and is affordable - it has a free version.

I hosted and produced a podcast for a little over a year from Feb 2023 to April 2024. Haven't seen anyone else mention it yet, but I really liked using Riverside.fm - It's a web based platform that allows you to record your conversations with other people via video. It allows you to talk with someone in real time using compressed quality, but simultaneously records the audio and video from each person in high definition locally on their computers. This is what separates it from platforms like Zoom which only record the compressed (low quality) audio and video. If you're doing an interview-style podcast with a video component to it, I recommend checking out Riverside.

Descript, Descript, Descript! It’s the only editing software you’ll ever need for podcasting. It does everything, including pulling your transcript from each episode.

Editing software allows you to fine-tune your podcast for a polished final product. Adobe Audition: Advanced editing features and multitrack capabilities. Audacity: Free and powerful for basic to intermediate editing. Hindenburg Journalist: Tailored for storytellers and journalists. GarageBand: Simple and effective for Mac users. Auphonic: Automatic audio processing and leveling.

Another commenter already mentioned Descript, so I'll mention favorite Descript feature which I don't see mentioned very often: "Studio Sound". When you apply the Studio Sound feature to an audio track, Descript runs the audio through an AI process which eliminates background noise, de-esses, applies EQ, etc. It improves the general quality of the vocals to help it sound like it was recorded in a professional studio environment. This was super helpful for me since most of my podcast guests were using the built-in microphones on their laptops. Tip: I noticed that I had to dial back the Studio Sound to about 70% to avoid words being cut out and still chose to use a compressor to boost the track volume.

Hosting platforms distribute your podcast to various directories and provide analytics. Libsyn: Reliable and robust with advanced analytics. Podbean: User-friendly with monetization options. Anchor: Free with integrated recording and editing tools. Buzzsprout: Easy to use with excellent support. Transistor: Great for multiple shows and detailed analytics.

When I first started my podcast, I used Spreaker and was happy with it. About a year ago I moved over to Acast and have really enjoyed the advanced analytics and have seen an increase in downloads.

If you are brand new or Podcasting and are not technically inclined, I can recommend Captivate as a great tool. It’s easy to use, provides clear analytics, has everything I need to host multiple podcasts and is affordable too.

If you are a Mac user, Garage Band is easy enough to do your editing on. I’ve also found that using Descript is a simple way to edit and pull out the best content so you can create social media posts, audiograms, trailers, and blogs.

Enhance your podcast production with additional tools. Auphonic: Automates audio post-production. Descript: Transcription and editing combined. Hindenburg Journalist: Features for storytellers and journalists. Levelator: Evens out audio levels. Izotope RX: Advanced audio repair and enhancement.

Gather feedback to improve your podcast. SurveyMonkey: Create listener surveys. Google Forms: Simple and free for feedback collection. Typeform: Engaging and interactive surveys. Podtrac: Podcast audience measurement. SpeakPipe: Allows listeners to leave voice messages.

Stay updated with the latest podcasting techniques and trends. Podcasting Courses on Udemy: Comprehensive courses on podcasting. Pat Flynn's Podcasting Tutorials: Free resources and guides. The Podcast Host: Articles, tutorials, and courses. Podcasts about Podcasting: Learn from industry experts. YouTube Tutorials: Free video guides and tutorials.

I highly recommend every podcaster learn facilitation skills. When I first started livestreaming, learning facilitation methods was the differentiator. Now that I am podcasting, facilitation helps me pull out the best content out of my guests and allow them to shine.

Backup: Regularly backup your recordings and projects. Microphones: Invest in a high-quality microphone. Room Acoustics: Optimize your recording environment. Consistency: Maintain a consistent release schedule. Engagement: Interact with your audience through social media and feedback.

Don’t forget to look at your analytics often to see which episodes are doing better than others. This will help you hone in on future guests and topics, too.