Whether or not you are simply beginning your podcast otherwise you’ve been podcasting for some time, you would possibly discover some issues simpler by utilizing higher instruments. Listed here are the audio-editing apps I like to recommend most for podcasting in 2023.
Sidenote: I desire the friendlier phrase “audio-editing app” as a substitute of the industrial time period “digital audio workstation” or “DAW.”
(As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases via a few of these hyperlinks. However I like to recommend issues I actually imagine in, no matter earnings.)
4. Audacity (02:24)
I believe that almost all podcasters have used Audacity in some unspecified time in the future and even nonetheless do. Audacity has been a staple in audio-editing as a result of it was succesful and—possibly what retains it hottest—it is free.
I like to recommend Audacity precisely as a result of it is free and but nonetheless very succesful! Not like GarageBand (which is free on macOS), Audacity sticks to traditional audio-editing instruments and ideas. These conventions make it simpler to be taught audio-editing on Audacity and later transfer as much as extra superior software program. Plus, the newest variations of Audacity are making big leaps ahead in bettering the software program.
Audacity runs on macOS, Home windows, and Linux.
3. Adobe Audition (4:40)
A number of years in the past, I pressured myself to step up from Audacity to Adobe Audition, and I discovered it considerably improved my workflow. There have been a number of issues that Audition made quicker or simpler for me, and but there had been some issues Audition could not do this Audacity did. Nonetheless, a lot of these objects may be moot at this level.
Audition is premium software program that comes at a worth. And sadly, that’s solely a subscription worth: at present $31.49 per 30 days and not using a contract, or $239.88 per 12 months (primarily $19.99 per 30 days) on the “greatest” worth. (There’s tax on these costs, too.)
I will not pay that and I do not suppose it’s best to, both.
Nonetheless, if you’re a slave to Adobe Inventive Cloud, like I’m, then you have already got Adobe Audition together with all of Adobe’s different software program within the full subscription suite for $599 per 12 months (about $50 per 30 days, plus tax). I already pay for Adobe Audition together with Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Adobe Fonts, Premiere Professional, Lightroom, and After Results. And it is as a result of I am already paying for it, that I take advantage of Adobe Audition with my audio-producer John Bukenas. But when I did not want the remainder of Adobe’s apps, I might swap to my #1 podcast-editing app in a heartbeat.
At $239.88 (plus tax) per 12 months, I feel Adobe Audition is simply too costly for many podcasters except they already subscribe to Adobe Inventive Cloud. So if you happen to can afford it, then I feel Audition is without doubt one of the greatest audio-editing apps you should use!
Audition runs on macOS and Home windows and provides a free trial.
2. Descript (7:35)
A couple of years in the past, I obtained to fulfill the workforce behind Descript after they had been exhibiting on the Podcast Motion convention. I liked their thought and I anticipated massive issues to come back from them!
Why? As a result of Descript takes an industry-leading intuitive, user-friendly method to modifying audio. Though you can edit with a traditional audio waveform (like in different apps), Descript transcribes your audio to allow you to edit audio like modifying a textual content doc. You’ll be able to see the phrases, choose them, after which transfer or delete them with ease!
There are additionally a number of choices for considerably bettering the audio of low-quality recordings by leveraging the ability of synthetic intelligence (AI)!
On high of that, Descript now helps you to edit video with this identical text-based simplicity!
There is a really restricted free plan. After that, pricing begins at $144 per 12 months for longer recordings and prolonged options.
Descript is browser-based, so it is going to work on almost something!
Honorable point out: Reaper (9:39)
Though I’ve by no means personally used it, I see plenty of podcasters extremely advocate Reaper as an excellent improve from Audacity.
Reaper is a traditional audio-editing app, however it appears to me like its person interface is caught in a previous decade or meant just for people who find themselves extraordinarily snug modifying audio. A fast take a look at their not-mobile-friendly web site would possibly overload you with technical terminology and technical-looking photos.
However the pricing is cheap: at present $60 for private use or industrial use in case your yearly income is beneath $20,000. Past that, it is $225 for a industrial license. Nonetheless, these are one-time licenses that embrace free upgrades for fairly a while. (The present model 6.75 license guarantees free upgrades via model 7.99!)
Reaper is out there for Home windows, macOS, and Linux and it provides a totally purposeful 60-day trial.
Honorable point out: Adobe Podcast (11:16)
Previously often known as “Mission Shasta,” Adobe Podcast is an even easier text-based audio-editor just like Descript, however considerably optimized for even simpler use. For instance, as a substitute of getting variable controls over audio-processing settings, Adobe Podcast provides a easy toggle swap for various AI-powered results. Nonetheless, the easy outcomes nonetheless sound nice (and a few folks suppose they sound even higher that Descript’s “studio” sound.)
There is not any audio waveform in Adobe Podcast; you are modifying solely with sections of transcript and audio clips. However there’s really a built-in visitor/cohost audio-recording function you would use as a substitute of Squadcast, Riverside, Zencastr, or StreamYard.
Adobe Podcast is at present in beta which you can request to attempt at no cost. I anticipate will probably be included within the Adobe Categorical subscription, which provides a restricted free plan and an expanded premium plan for less than $99.99 per 12 months. And just like the Adobe Categorical instruments, Adobe Podcast will in all probability be included within the costlier Inventive Cloud subscription.
I am trying ahead to how Adobe Podcast improves, and the way Adobe would possibly carry a few of these nice options into Audition and Premiere Professional.
Adobe Podcast can also be browser-based, so it ought to work on almost something!
1. Hindenburg (13:43)
And now we come to my #1 suggestion for modifying your audio podcast: Hindenburg (previously often known as “Hindenburg Journalist”)!
Whereas Hindenburg initially appears like many different standard audio-editing apps, I’ve really helpful it for years as a result of it comprises additional options designed particularly for modifying spoken-word content material, which is precisely what almost all podcasts are! So you may discover intuitive options like automated loudness normalization for each clip, a helpful clipboard (nice on your audio-branding clips and bumpers!), and even text-based modifying options coming in Hindenburg Professional 2.
I additionally anticipate Hindenburg to be the primary to help Podcasting 2.0 options, like higher chapters, the transcript tag, and extra.
Plus, Hindenburg provides a perpetual pay-once license! It is $99 for Hindenburg Lite or $399 for Hindenburg Professional. Or, you may subscribe to Hindenburg Professional for $120 per 12 months and that may embrace upgrades for so long as you keep your subscription. This pricing would possibly change with 2. They usually typically supply massive gross sales round important radio and podcasting occasions. Get price-drop alerts from PodcastingDeals.com!
It is the mixture of standard modifying, podcasting-focused advantages, and versatile pricing choices that lead me to advocate Hindenburg because the greatest podcast-editing app! And I do not even—at present—earn any commissions from recommending Hindenburg! (Although I maintain asking for an associates program and can replace my hyperlinks in the event that they ever supply an associates program.) If I wasn’t already paying for Adobe Audition, I might instantly swap to Hindenburg—and I usually contemplate it anyway!
Hindenburg runs on Home windows and macOS.
When and why do you have to improve? (16:69)
Earlier than you rush out to change apps, I recommend you take heed to my outdated episode “When to Improve Your Podcasting Instruments.” In brief: improve when the brand new resolution offers one thing you really need. Typically, upgrading will not enhance your audio high quality, however the improve may make it simpler to get higher audio. For instance, the AI-powered sound enhancement at present from Descript and Adobe Podcast may give you outcomes that rival spending hours studying to make use of after which fine-tune compression, EQ, gating and growth, noise and reverb discount, and extra.
So if you happen to want one thing easier, attempt Descript or Adobe Podcast. If you happen to want one thing standard however higher, attempt Hindenburg.
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