What audio editing software is best for your show?

You’ve recorded your first episode and have the audio. Now what? Editing is a way to fine tune your audio and allow you to achieve the message that you are trying to project onto your audience. This is a way that you can cut out unnecessary audio whether that is background noise, or you can add additional audio in like music. There are many different kinds of audio editing software that are out there on the internet. Some come with additional perks that are available, but usually at an added cost. Let’s start out with a free option that is relatively user friendly and easy to learn how to use.

Audacity is one of our first options that comes to mind when audio editing software is mentioned. Some of the pros include:

1. Free to use

2. Easy to learn

3. Able to record directly into the software

4. Export recording in multiple different audio file formats

There are also some cons to this software. Those would include:

1. Sometimes can experience lag

2. Audacity does not support iOS or Android - meaning you have to be on a laptop or desktop to edit

Although there are some negative things behind Audacity, it is still a solid choice. Especially for somebody that is starting out in their podcasting career. It does the job all while being cost effective. Another option to edit your audio would be Adobe Audition. Adobe Audition is apart of the Adobe suite of software that allows you to get in-depth with the audio editing process. Pro’s would be:

1. Ability to import multiple audio files into the software

2. Visualization tools that are useful

3. Easy ability for noise reduction, sound removal, and audio restoration.

There are a few issues that come with this software though. They would be:

1. Cost - Adobe Audition is approximately $20.99 a month.

2. Audition lacks MIDI support

MIDI support may not apply to you, but it can for some. The greatest con for this is the cost. It is not very cost effective and can make quite the dent in your pocket book. If you can afford it though, it definitely has it’s perks. Our third option is GarageBand. GarageBand is a software that comes with any apple product (iPhone, MacBook, iPad, etc.). It is widely used across the board for podcasting and more. Some good things about it would be:

1. Free to use - preset on apple products

2. Easy to use

3. Already set up

Although it is already set up and an apple preset, it does have it’s downsides to it as well. Those con’s include:

1. Tools can be “too basic” at times

2. MIDI exporting options are limited

It may seem odd that a tool can be too basic, but when you are attempting to fine tune your audio the tool may not have the right capabilities to do that. But it is another solid option that you may have built right into your apple product.

These are just a few software options that are out there that you can use. Of course every software is going to have it’s ups and downs, but overall it is user preference. I will say that YouTube and podcasting groups are live saving resources that you can use to ask questions or troubleshoot if you run into a problem. One thing I like to remind podcasters is that audio editing is something that you get better with time and experience. It is one of those things that you have to get your hands dirty with and start doing in order to get better at it.