Free Podcast Tips: How To Edit A Podcast With Professional Studio Quality
Let me share with you my free podcast tips and show you exactly how I edit a podcast to get that clean, crisp studio sound. You don’t need expensive software to do this. In fact, I will you step-by-step how it’s done using the free Audacity download.
1. Recording Instructions
First of all, everything has to start with a good, clean recording. So turn off all phones, computer beeps and try to minimize background noise such as fans, air conditioners, etc., as much as possible. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be in a soundproof studio because I will show you how to take out all remaining background noise, but you want to start with as pristine a recording as possible. Even though I own some very expensive microphones, I still think my Logitech H360 Headset delivers the best quality sound for my podcasts.
Start your recording and keep totally silent at the very beginning and end of your recording for at least 10 seconds. You will use this silence to get a profile of the background noise in your room. Once you start recording, don’t stop or pause. If you make a mistake, be silent for about 2 seconds and then clap twice to mark the spot you need to edit.
2. Save Your “Raw” File
Once you are done recording, Immediately save your file with the word “Raw” at the end of the file name.
3. Edit Your Recording
Save a copy of your file replacing the word “Raw” with “Edited” after the file name. (Do this first so you don’t accidentally save over your “Raw” file). Audacity might ask you if you want to save a copy of all files to which you should answer “Yes”. Perform all of your edits but leave the 10 seconds of silence at the beginning and end of your track.
4. Sweetening Your Recording
Save a copy of your file replacing the word “Edited” with “Sweetened” after the file name. The next several steps, called “Sweetening”, will greatly enhance the sound quality of your recording.
5. Get Your Noise Profile
Select the 10 seconds of silence at the beginning of your track and then choose “Noise Removal” from the Effect Menu. Making sure that you have the silence on your track selected, press the “Get Noise Profile” button.
6. Remove Noise
With your Noise Profile set, return to your track and select the entire recording, except for the silence at the beginning and end. Once again, choose “Noise Removal” from the Effect Menu. This time, simply press the “OK” button (do not alter any of the settings). You will see Audacity remove the background noise from your track.
Make sure that your recorded track remains selected for the remaining sweetening steps.
7. Normalize
Choose “Normalize” from the Effect Menu and enter the settings pictured below. Press “OK”.
8. Dynamic Range Compressor
Choose “Dynamic Range Compressor” from the Effect Menu and enter the settings pictured below. Press “OK”.
9. Bass Boost
Choose “Equalization” from the Effect Menu. From the “Select Curve” dropdown box choose “Bass Boost”. Press “OK”.
10. Treble Boost
Choose “Equalization” from the Effect Menu. From the “Select Curve” dropdown box choose “Treble Boost”. Press “OK”.
11. Normalize Again
Choose “Normalize” from the Effect Menu and enter the settings pictured below. Press “OK”.
12. Hard Limter
Choose “Hard Limter” from the Effect Menu and enter the settings pictured below. Press “OK”
13. Remove Silence
Select and delete the silent areas used for your background noise profile.
14. Save Your “Final” Files
Save a copy of your file replacing the word “Sweetened” with “Final” after the file name. Also Export the file as an MP3. This will be the file used as your podcast. Fill in the “Meta Data” and upload to your file server.
