Is podcast editing a must?
The short answer? Hell yes!
Podcast editing can be scary if you don’t know what you’re doing but not editing your podcast can be even scarier!
Since recording a podcast perfectly without any faff, fluff or stuff-ups is hard even if you’re a professional, you need to think about editing as your secret weapon to make sure your listeners get the best possible content.
How do you get good at podcast editing?
Learning the basics of podcast editing isn’t hard, I promise!
In fact, most people I teach in my online podcasting course are surprised it’s nowhere near as tough as they thought.
If you’re new to it, it can be intimidating but you just need to get your flying hours up to build your confidence. And train your ear to be able to hear the difference between a good and bad podcast edit.
The biggest part of getting good at podcast editing is practice.
Do you need to spend a lot of money on editing software?
Nope!
You can use a free program like Audacity or get access to a program like Adobe Audition (which is what I use) for a small monthly fee.
Your choice of editing software really comes down to what you want to do in your edit.
If you’re just starting out it’s a good idea to use a free program until you know this is definitely something you want to do and then transition across to a program like Adobe Audition if you want to upgrade.
There are other more high-end programs out there like Pro Tools but don’t be fooled into thinking you need to use something like that to have a good podcast.
Those programs are designed for much more complex editing and will have a lot more features than you need unless you want to create detailed soundscapes…which you probably don’t when you’re starting out.
How do you know what to cut?
It’s important to remember your audience has no idea what you left on the cutting room floor when they listen to your show. So, keep that in mind when you’re stuck wondering what to leave in and what to take out.
Some things will be easy to get rid of, like if someone says “um” a million times or if you go off on an unrelated tangent that doesn’t add anything to the show.
But other decisions will be tougher so you always need to be editing with your podcast audience in mind.
I’ve heard shows where the co-hosts start by rambling on for 10 minutes about something that makes me think “have you guys forgotten I’m here?” I’ve even heard one show where the hosts stopped to take a bite of their sandwich…I mean, really?!?!?!
You want your audience to hear the best possible version of your podcast and that means you need to be respectful of their time and remove anything that doesn’t serve them.
That often means putting your ego aside and removing parts of the show that you think are great but that might not add anything for your audience.
That can be tough but it’s important if you want to keep people coming back for more.
Podcast editing is an essential part of the podcasting process if you want to give your listeners a high-quality show.
So start getting yourself across the software and practice, practice, practice. The more time you do it the better you’ll get and the more your show will improve.
Got a burning question you’d like answered on the podcast? Send me an email.
Want to start your own podcast but need a little help? Download my “How To Start A Podcast” guide or sign up for my online podcasting course, PodSchool.
