Podcast Editing: How To Edit a Podcast in 7 Steps

Strategic editing transforms your raw podcast footage into a professional-sounding episode. It’s your chance to clean up audio, cut out distractions, and fix the pacing. Whether you’re fine-tuning an interview or polishing a comedy show, the right adjustments make your content more enjoyable.

This guide will walk you through the key podcast editing steps, from organizing your files to adding the finishing touches.

How To Edit a Podcast in 7 Steps

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the podcast editing process.

1. Import and Organize Your Files

Upload your audio files into your editing software and organize them by type. If you recorded with multiple microphones or added music and sound effects, each one will appear as a separate track. Label them clearly — like “Host,” “Guest,” or “Intro Music” — so everything is easy to find. 

Arrange your clips in the order you want them to play, leaving space for any transitions. If you recorded multiple takes of a section, choose the best ones now to streamline the editing process.

2. Clean Up Your Audio

Polish your audio by cutting out the following distractions:

• Remove background noise — Use noise reduction tools to filter out hums from air conditioning, street sounds, or other unwanted noise.
• Soften harsh “s” sounds — Apply a de-esser to make speech smoother and more natural.
• Cut unnecessary pauses and filler words — Trim long silences, “um”s, “uh”s, and other verbal crutches to keep the conversation flowing.
• Fix mistakes — Remove any errors or stumbles to create a polished final cut.

These small edits make a big difference, helping your podcast sound cleaner and more professional.

3. Cut Unnecessary Sections

Trimming footage tightens your discussion’s pacing and clarifies your points — if something feels unnecessary to you, your audience probably won’t miss it either. 

Remove rambling, awkward pauses, and interruptions, and trim any repetitive moments to keep the conversation engaging. If you're editing a video podcast, consider cutting out awkward gestures or moments that don’t add value.

After making adjustments, listen back to ensure everything still flows naturally. Edits should be smooth and seamless so it doesn’t feel like anything is missing.

4. Balance the Audio Levels

Keep your podcast’s volume consistent so listeners don’t have to change their settings mid-episode. Here are the most common sound adjustments you’ll need to make:

• Audio normalization balances the volume between speakers. 
• Compression evens out sudden changes in loudness.
• Equalization makes voices sound clearer and more natural.
  

5. Add Intros, Outros, and Jingles

Your intro and outro shape the listener’s experience and reinforce your podcast’s identity. A strong intro sets the tone, introduces the episode’s topic, and gives your show personality. It also helps new listeners get oriented by briefly introducing the hosts and guests.

Just as the intro welcomes listeners in, the outro leaves a lasting impression. This is your chance to wrap up the conversation and guide your audience on what to do next — whether that’s subscribing or leaving reviews. You can also use this space to promote upcoming episodes. 

Music and jingles tie these sections together, creating a smooth transition between different parts of your podcast. Signature sounds also make your show instantly recognizable, improving your overall brand identity.

6. Add Subtitles

For video podcasts, adding subtitles improves accessibility for viewers who are hard of hearing or watch without sound. Captions auto-generates accurate subtitles using AI, and once the text is ready, you can change the font or colors to match your brand style.

7. Save and Export Your Final Podcast

Once you're happy with your edits, export your podcast in the right video format. MP3 is the best option for audio-only podcasts because it offers good quality with a small file size. For video podcasts, MP4 is a common choice, though some platforms may also support other files like MOV or MKV. 

Before exporting your final version, save a high-quality copy in an uncompressed format so you can easily make edits later without losing quality.

What Podcast Software Should You Use for Editing?

The right podcast editing software depends on your needs, experience level, and content type. Here are a couple of top options to consider.

Best Overall: Captions

Captions makes podcast editing simple — here are just some of the tools we offer: 

• AI Subtitles — Generate accurate captions for your video podcast.
• AI Trimming — Use AI to remove unwanted footage.
• AI Dubber — Translate your audio into a different language, and match this new narration to your mouth movements.
• Sound Effect Maker — Use AI to generate customized sound effects that emphasize your points.
• Repurpose AI — Pull highlights from your long-form content and share them across social media platforms to expand your reach. 

Our software is perfect for creating fun-to-watch, shareable podcast clips without the stress of learning complex tools and techniques.

Great for Experts: Adobe Audition

Adobe Audition is a podcast production tool that has a range of features for detailed editing. For instance, it offers multitrack editing, noise removal, and audio effects — but these tools come with a steeper learning curve, especially for beginners.

3 Podcast Editing Tips

Even with the right tools, becoming a pro podcast editor takes time and practice. 

These expert podcast tips will help you fine-tune your skills.

1. Pay Attention to the Content

Podcast editing isn’t just about fixing mistakes — it’s about shaping the story. Thoughtful edits can keep listeners engaged by enhancing the flow and drawing attention to key moments.

Focus on what makes the conversation compelling, whether it’s an insightful comment, a dramatic pause, or a burst of laughter. These moments are worth highlighting, while repetitive sections or drawn-out pauses can often be trimmed to keep the pacing tight.

2. Provide a Consistent Listening Experience

Little tweaks, like balancing voice levels and trimming awkward pauses, can make a huge difference in how professional and engaging your podcast feels. Smooth edits, clear sound, and a steady flow help keep your audience focused on what really matters — the conversation.

3. Resist the Urge to Over-Edit

While refining your content is important, cutting too much can make your podcast sound robotic or unnatural. Leave in some natural speech patterns, like short pauses and conversational rhythms, to keep the dialogue authentic. A well-edited podcast should feel polished but real so listeners stay engaged with a genuine, human conversation.

Reach New Audiences With Captions

Editing is the last important step in producing a polished, professional, and gripping podcast. By following the steps in this guide, you’ll create clear and well-paced episodes. 

To speed up your post-production process, try Captions. Our AI tools handle complex editing tasks automatically, giving you more time to develop new content ideas. Once you’re happy with your post, use the Long to Short Video AI tool to clip the best moments and share them across social platforms.

Grow your audience and improve your editing process with Captions.

FAQ

Is It Difficult to Edit Podcasts?

Basic edits like changing volume levels are typically easy to learn, while advanced skills like audio mixing take a little more practice. However, powerful software like Captions does all this heavy lifting for you, making the editing process much more manageable.

How Long Does it Take to Edit a Podcast?

Editing time changes depending on your project and the amount of work you want to put in. A light edit could take an hour, but a more detailed review could last up to six hours. If you’re looking to reduce this time tenfold, try Captions.

How Much Do Podcast Editors Charge?

Podcast editing fees vary widely, ranging from $50 to $200 per hour. The price depends on several factors, including the episode length, editing complexity, and editor’s experience. Opting for software like Captions instead can save you money while still delivering great results.