How To Edit A Podcast Episode From A To Z Plus A Life Saving Advise

Pixabay picture

At the beginning of 2021, I started a collaboration as a podcast editor. I have not done anything like this before, but I was so curious and excited about the idea, I couldn't say no. I have read dozens of articles on the topic and tips for which tool is best to use, what do I need, how to do it all from start to finish. Today I will share with you the best tips on editing podcast episodes.

Although there are lots of articles on the topic, most are incomplete. I want to give you in detail the full process, from the start to the end of editing a podcast episode, recorded as an audio file. We all want to know how to start something but we also aim to finish that thing, right? But first, let's answer the question what do I need to start and finish editing a podcast episode?

The items you need to have to do the job right are good audio quality headphones and microphones, and of course, a laptop or pc that must be updated. Assuming you have the raw material, as it was recorded on a specific device, you need to transfer it to your laptop or pc to be able to edit the file. You need to make sure that the recorded file is in a format that is compatible with the devices and software that you will use. It's preferable to find out the formats that you need to deliver, before purchasing things or starting the task. It would be such a shame to have a brilliant audio file that can't be uploaded anywhere.

Pixabay

Equipment required to record and edit podcasts, money-saving tips

If you don't want to invest lots of money before you can see if this is something you would like to do as a hobby or as a career, you might find it easier to buy items under 50 pounds that meet quality but don't offer so great looks. If you want to have good items that do the job, the standard design won't hurt so badly.

I don't record the audio materials but I have purchased a microphone from Advent from Amazon. I was careful to select one that has a fabric covering the mic, which helps to get a clear and nice sound. It was at a very low price, under 30 pounds, but has proved to be very useful in all those video calls that I have had lately.

Speaking of headphones, from the total amount of brands of headphones that I tested, my full five stars go to JVC and Sony. These two brands have the best variety of good quality products for the price, from under 30£ to over 100£ - but I stay under 30£ usually. These are best lasting and you can also use them to listen to music as they reduce the noise without cancelling it completely – it is crucial to be able to hear some sounds like a phone or someone reaching to you, especially if you want to use them when walking. There are also fully cancelling options available but I am not interested in those. Although the price is low, they also have a decent design.

Edit the episode using an Audio Editor software that meets your needs

From all the recommended and tested software, I am pleased with Wave Pad. It has a free version for non-commercial purposes, (I don’t advise you to use that version if you want to commercialise your podcasts), but it is a very good starting point for beginners and as a hobby rather than for a professional reason. It's very possible that the paid version might have additional features but I haven't tested that.

The first key thing you have to do, before doing anything to the recorded material, is to make sure you save a backup of the original.

Before doing anything to the raw file, you need to save a backup of the raw file, in case anything goes wrong. Everything can go wrong if you don't know what you do as you are a beginner and then you see yourself in the situation where you have edited wrongfully the file and cannot go back. You have to have a backup file of the raw material. This is one of the most important tips I have learnt since I am editing podcasts and it can be applied to any important digital document.

Speaking about the software, what I love the most at Wave Pad is the variety of features and effects that I can give to the recorded piece. I can fade in and out which is a very important feature for the start and the end of the episode, to start and end smoothly by increasing and decreasing the volume neatly. Another useful feature is to cut parts that should be cleared, such as distorted sounds or errors from the recordings that don’t sound so well.

A very handy tip is that by pressing the pause tab I can stop the recording from playing and with the mouse, I can select the area that I wish to cut, then press delete. This is the way I saw it works best for me, in terms of productivity and how things get done.

WavePad does everything at a very high-quality level and the file doesn’t get distorted at all. There are many other functions and effects that amaze me every time that I try them.

There is the possibility to add intros and outros, but not directly over the working file. The way to do this is by opening the intros and outros in a separate tab and then copy the content from intros and outros files, then paste it to the desired place.

I have tried other tools as well such as Audacity and Garage Band but they do not all have the variety of effects for free and either do they save in the format I needed.

Backup again

Once you have your amazing audio file at your desired standards, save a copy of it onto an external drive. In case anything happens with the laptop or the pc, you will have a backup of it. Check regularly that you have a backup of the important files on your laptop or pc.

Pixabay

The promised life-saving advice – for real

People are asking on forums if they can die from lack of attention. My answer is yes, and I can give an example. If you walk on the street with the headphones blaring in your ears, you won’t be able to hear a car about to hit you. When listening to music at a high volume, people are less aware of street lights and reactions are slowlier, as research shows. Many accidents are happening because people don’t pay attention while walking on the street. So, please stay safe when walking and make sure you can hear people and cars around you.

I will soon make a full article on headphones, so keep around.

This article was fully written from personal experience and knowledge after working as a podcast editor during an internship.