5 MORE Ways to Improve Your Podcast Audio
If you’re looking to improve your podcast or voiceover audio, you’re in the right place! We’ll explore five essential tips to help you clean up your audio and create a professional-sounding podcast.
We previously discussed room acoustics, microphone selection, and recording techniques. If you haven’t checked that out yet, be sure to read that post first.. Now, let’s dive into the next phase: post-production. After recording, you’ll likely need to process your audio to get that polished final product. Here’s how you can do it!
1. Editing for Smooth Flow
Your first step should be editing your audio to remove unnecessary elements. This can involve cutting out “umms,” long pauses, heavy breaths, or repeated phrases. By doing this, you’ll tighten up your podcast, making it more engaging and concise.
In DAWs like GarageBand or Logic Pro, editing can be done easily. Here’s a quick guide:
Use SHIFT + T and press I to select the cut tool.
Cut out the unwanted audio sections and slide the remaining audio back together.
Ensure you apply crossfades to smooth transitions and prevent sudden pops. Press SHIFT + T and then A to crossfade.
This simple editing process can make your podcast more enjoyable by creating a seamless flow between ideas.
2. EQ and Resonance Suppression
Even with proper mic technique and room treatment, some audio frequencies might still need to be cleaned up. EQ (equalization) is a powerful tool to fine-tune your recording.
Start with a high-pass filter to remove low-end noise like traffic or mic bumps.
Cut around 100Hz to minimize plosives (those harsh “p” and “b” sounds).
Identify and reduce any resonant frequencies using a sharp Q point to make your audio sound more balanced.
Notch out sibilance between 6kHz to 10kHz to reduce harsh “s” sounds.
Add a little low-end warmth if your voice sounds too thin.
For an even easier solution, check out AI plugins like Sonible Smart EQ or Oek Soothe 2. These plugins automatically detect and correct resonant frequencies for you. Links to these plugins are in the description.
Remember, subtlety is key—over-EQ’ing can make your audio sound unnatural.
3. Compression for Consistency
Compression helps smooth out the dynamic range of your audio, making your voice sound more even. It controls loud peaks, giving your podcast a professional and balanced sound.
Here’s a basic compression setting that works for most voice recordings:
Use a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio with a medium-to-fast attack and a slow release. This will tame loud transients while keeping your voice sounding clear and forward.
Most DAWs come with free compressor plugins, so you won’t need to buy anything extra to apply these settings.
4. Limiting for Level Control and LUFS
Limiting ensures your audio doesn’t clip or distort, while keeping its volume consistent across your podcast. This is especially important for meeting loudness standards on streaming platforms like Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Apply a limiter to your main output (often called the master bus) to prevent sudden loud peaks.
Aim for a loudness target of -14 LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale), which is the standard level for most streaming services.
This ensures your podcast audio won’t be too loud or too quiet when played back on different platforms.
5. Choosing a Distribution Platform
Once your audio is processed and sounding great, it’s time to distribute your podcast. Two of the best options are Libsyn and PodBean.
Both platforms offer easy-to-use interfaces and comprehensive tools for uploading, managing, and distributing your podcast episodes to platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. Check out the article linked below for a detailed comparison of the top podcast distributors.
That’s it! By following these steps—editing, EQ, compression, limiting, and choosing the right distribution platform—you’ll take your podcast or voiceover audio to the next level. If you have any questions, feel free to drop them in the comments. Don’t forget to like this post if you found it helpful and subscribe for more tips on podcast production and home studio setups!
