If you’re looking to take your podcast to the next level with clean audio quality and professional edits, Adobe Audition might be just what you need. Known for its advanced features and flexibility, Adobe Audition is a go-to choice for many podcast creators who want control over every aspect of their audio editing process.
This guide covers everything from setup to final export, offering essential tips for each step of the podcasting process to help you make the most of Adobe Audition.
Why Adobe Audition Is Great for Podcast Editing
Adobe Audition is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, offering seamless integration with other Adobe tools like Premiere Pro, which is great if you work with video files as well.
For podcasters, Adobe Audition offers everything needed to manage the entire recording, editing, and exporting process. The platform includes tools for adjusting audio levels, reducing background noise, and applying sound effects, all while maintaining high-quality audio.
However, because Adobe Audition was originally designed for professionals, it may take some getting used to. With this guide, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the essentials of Audition in no time.
Key features of Adobe Audition for podcasting
- Multitrack recording: This feature allows you to record multiple audio tracks separately. Each track can be mixed individually, giving you complete control over audio elements like voice, music, and effects.
- Essential sound panel: With this tool, you can apply noise reduction, adjust levels, and apply various effects to enhance sound quality.
- Match loudness: Audition’s loudness-matching tools ensure a consistent volume across tracks, which is important for a good podcast episode where listeners don’t have to adjust the volume constantly.
- Wide file format support: Audition supports audio formats like MP3, WAV, AAC files, and more, making it easy to export your podcast to the format that best suits your publishing platform.
Setting Up Adobe Audition for Recording
The first steps to creating a quality podcast are setting up your hardware and configuring your software to capture audio at its best. Adobe Audition offers detailed customization for recording, allowing you to adjust settings based on your microphone, audio hardware, and project needs.
Microphone input setup
To begin, ensure that Adobe Audition recognizes your recording equipment:
- Go to Edit > Preferences > Audio Hardware (or Audition > Preferences > Audio Hardware on a Mac), where you’ll find the Default Input and Default Output options.
- Under Default Input, select the external microphone or recording device you’ll use for podcasting.
USB microphones are common choices for home setups, while XLR mics paired with an audio interface deliver higher quality for studio environments.
Audition supports a wide range of audio input devices, so most equipment will auto-detect. However, always check for driver updates on your audio interface or microphone for optimal compatibility and audio performance.
Sample Rate and Bit Depth settings
High-quality audio relies on appropriate sample rate and bit depth settings.
- The Sample Rate controls how frequently audio samples are captured per second; 44,100 Hz is the standard for podcasts, offering a frequency range that works well for spoken word without large file sizes.
- The Bit Depth represents the range of amplitude levels in audio; setting it to 32-bit float preserves dynamic range and detail during editing.
To adjust these settings, start a new session in Audition, and under New Audio File, choose 44,100 Hz for Sample Rate and 32-bit float for Bit Depth. Stereo channels are often unnecessary for spoken-word podcasts, so choose Mono unless you’re incorporating surround sound or spatial audio.
Additional preferences for audio hardware
In the Audio Hardware Preferences dialog box, double-check your input and output devices and ensure that latency settings are configured for seamless playback.
Lowering latency can improve synchronization between recorded and played audio, which is especially useful in multitrack sessions with complex arrangements. Experiment to find a balance between low latency and stable performance, as ultra-low latency might not be necessary for basic voice recording.
With the right setup, you’re ready to move on to recording in either waveform or multitrack mode.
Recording Your Podcast in Adobe Audition
Adobe Audition offers two main recording interfaces:
- Waveform Editor for single tracks
- Multitrack Editor for complex projects with multiple audio tracks
Each mode is suited for specific podcasting needs, so let’s explore when and how to use them effectively.
Waveform Editor for solo tracks
The Waveform Editor is ideal for recording single, uninterrupted audio clips, such as monologues, voiceover, or solo episodes. In this view, Audition allows you to see the waveform of your recording, making it easy to monitor volume and audio peaks in real-time.
Steps to record:
- Go to File > New > Audio File. A dialog box will prompt you to name your file and choose settings like Sample Rate, Bit Depth, and Channels (select Mono for solo voice).
- Hit the record button to begin capturing audio. As you speak, the waveform will display amplitude visually, helping you keep track of volume levels and avoid clipping.
- Adjust the input gain on your mic or interface if peaks appear too high.
Multitrack Editor for multiple tracks
The Multitrack Editor is essential for podcasts with multiple participants, background music, sound effects, or layered audio. This interface lets you record, arrange, and edit multiple audio tracks on a timeline, providing greater flexibility and control.
Steps to set up multitrack recording:
- Go to File > New > Multitrack Session and name your project. Here, you can configure settings like Sample Rate and Bit Depth. Each track in a multitrack session acts independently, meaning you can edit each audio file without affecting the others.
- Once your session is ready, assign input devices for each track if recording live. For example, connect different microphones for each guest or co-host and assign each mic to a separate track.
Pro tip: Label each track (e.g., “Host,” “Guest 1,” “Intro Music”) for organization. This way, each audio track is clearly identified, and you can apply specific effects or volume adjustments without losing track of individual elements.
Keep in mind that in both recording modes, Audition provides editing tools like noise reduction and adjustment of audio levels, allowing you to improve sound quality as you record. Monitor levels continuously and adjust microphone input levels to keep background noise and distortion at a minimum.
Importing and Organizing Audio Files
Podcasts often involve various audio elements, such as intro and outro music, ads, sound effects, and voice tracks. Adobe Audition’s Multitrack Editor makes it easy to import and organize audio files to create a seamless final product.
How to import and arrange audio
Importing files
- Go to File > Open to browse for and import audio clips directly, or drag and drop files from your file explorer into the Editor Panel. This panel allows you to preview and edit files before inserting them into the multitrack session.
- Once imported, files appear in the Files Panel, where they’re easy to access as you build your podcast.
Audition supports a variety of file formats, including WAV, MP3, and AAC files. If you encounter compatibility issues, consider converting the file before importing.
Arranging audio tracks
Drag imported audio files into the multitrack timeline, placing each audio file on separate tracks. This organization is especially useful for arranging background music, sound effects, and each voice track independently.
Example Arrangement:
- Track 1: Host’s voice
- Track 2: Guest’s voice
- Track 3: Background music
- Track 4: Sound effects
Separate tracks for each element mean that you can adjust levels, add effects, and apply fades to each individually, giving you finer control over the editing process.
Organizational tips for an efficient workflow
- Track colors and labels: Right-click on each track to assign a color and label (e.g., “Intro Music”). Color-coding improves visual organization, particularly in complex projects with multiple elements.
- Setting up a template: If your podcast has a consistent structure (e.g., intro, interview, outro), set up a custom-built template. Pre-configured track names and layouts save time in future projects by providing a consistent starting point.
Using effects and volume automation
- Volume control: Click the yellow line that runs horizontally across each track to adjust audio levels. You can create breakpoints along this line to create smooth volume transitions, such as fading out music as the host begins speaking.
- Audio effects: Use the Effects Rack to apply effects like EQ, reverb, or compression to each track. For example, applying a slight EQ boost in the mid-range frequencies can improve voice clarity, while compression can smooth out volume spikes.
Cleaning Up and Editing Your Podcast Audio
With all your audio clips organized, the next step is to enhance the audio quality and remove any distracting elements. Adobe Audition’s tools make it easy to cut, clean, and adjust audio to sound polished and professional.
Cutting unwanted sections
Podcasts often include small interruptions, filler words, and pauses.
- To trim these quickly, use the Razor Tool to split audio clips.
- Position the playhead over the segment you want to cut, press R on your keyboard to activate the Razor Tool, and click where you want the cut.
- Select the unwanted portion and press Backspace to remove it.
For more precision, zoom in using the magnifying glass icon, which allows you to see smaller waveforms in detail. This feature is helpful for editing out subtle sounds, like coughs or breaths, without affecting surrounding content.
Noise reduction techniques
One of Audition’s most helpful tools for cleaning audio is the Essential Sound Panel. Select the Dialogue tab for voice clips and check Reduce Noise. This automatically reduces unwanted background noise by analyzing and targeting distracting sounds.
Additionally, Reduce Rumble in this panel can remove low-frequency interference, such as HVAC hums or mic bumps.
Applying the parametric equalizer
- For more advanced control, go to Effects > Filter and EQ > Parametric Equalizer. This tool allows you to create a custom noise profile, targeting specific frequency ranges.
For example, if there’s a persistent hum from electrical interference, adjust the high-pass filter to eliminate frequencies below a certain threshold. You can use this to “clean up” different sounds based on their frequency, which is particularly useful for achieving professional-quality audio.
- For additional background noise reduction, try the DeNoise function under Effects > Noise Reduction/Restoration. Adjust the sliders to find the right balance between removing ambient noise and retaining vocal clarity.
Combining the DeNoise effect with Parametric Equalizer settings can significantly improve sound quality for clean, distraction-free audio.
Volume adjustments and matching loudness
- Manual volume adjustments: The yellow volume line that runs through each track allows you to control audio levels precisely. Clicking on this line creates “breakpoints” that let you increase or decrease volume at specific points along the timeline. Use this feature to boost quiet parts of the recording or lower sections where voices are louder.
- Match loudness panel: Consistent volume across an entire episode is crucial for a professional listening experience.
- Go to Window > Match Loudness to open the panel.
- Set a target loudness of -18 LUFS, the ITU broadcast standard for podcasting, and drag audio clips to the panel.
- Click Scan to analyze each track’s volume, and adjust as needed to achieve a uniform loudness.
This tool ensures that listeners won’t need to adjust their volume throughout the episode.
Enhancing Your Podcast with Sound Effects and Background Music
Adding background music and sound effects can transform a simple recording into an engaging listening experience, helping to set the mood, create transitions, and enhance storytelling.
Adding sound effects and music tracks
- In the Multitrack Editor, create separate tracks for background music, sound effects, and voice clips.
- Drag and drop your audio files onto these tracks. Keeping background music on its own track makes it easy to adjust volume levels independently.
- Adjust the volume levels of each track so that background music and sound effects don’t overpower the spoken audio. As a rule, background music should complement, not compete with, dialogue.
- Use the yellow volume line to bring background music to a subtle level during speaking parts, and increase it slightly between segments for a smooth flow.
Using the Effects Rack
The Effects Rack in Audition allows you to apply multiple effects, including reverb, equalization, and dynamic processing, to each track.
To access it, click the fx icon next to your track.
- For voice tracks, try effects like Speech Volume Leveler and Parametric Equalizer to improve clarity and even out volume levels.
- Reverb can add depth to music and effects but should be used sparingly on voice tracks to avoid a hollow sound.
- Compression and limiting can prevent spikes in audio volume, particularly useful for background music or sound effects.
The Effects Rack allows you to toggle effects on and off as you work. This feature lets you preview effects before committing, so you can experiment with different settings and combinations without risking permanent changes to the audio.
Fade-in/fade-out effects
- For seamless transitions, add fade-in or fade-out effects to music and sound effects by dragging the small white square handles at the start or end of each audio clip. These fades help introduce and remove background elements smoothly, making the overall audio more cohesive.
- Start with a slow fade-in on background music to prevent it from distracting the listener, and fade out music or effects before a speaker begins talking to maintain focus on the dialogue.
Final Adjustments: Mixing and Matching Loudness
Once you’ve polished each individual audio track, final adjustments will bring the podcast together as a cohesive audio file ready for export.
Matching loudness
Using the Match Loudness Panel
Consistent loudness is crucial for listener comfort, especially if your podcast will be played on mobile devices or in noisy environments.
- Open the Match Loudness Panel by going to Window > Match Loudness.
- Drag all tracks into this panel and set a target loudness of -18 LUFS to match the ITU broadcast standard.
- Click Scan to analyze and adjust each clip.
Setting a peak level
In addition to target loudness, you can set a maximum peak level to prevent clipping (distortion caused by audio signals that are too loud).
- Setting this peak between -1 and -0.2 dBTP (decibels true peak) ensures that your audio doesn’t distort on playback, even when amplified.
Mixing down the entire session
Mixing down to a single audio file
When you’re satisfied with the edits, transitions, and levels in your multitrack session, it’s time to create a final mixdown.
- Go to Multitrack > Mixdown Session to New File > Entire Session. Audition will render all separate tracks into a single, consolidated file.
Exporting your audio
After mixing down, export the audio file in a format that meets your needs. For podcasting, MP3 is the most widely accepted format; however, if you prioritize sound quality, consider exporting a WAV file as well.
- Go to File > Export > File, select the format (MP3 or WAV), and adjust format settings like bit rate and sample rate. For podcasts, a 128 kbps MP3 (stereo) or 64 kbps MP3 (mono) is standard.
By following these steps, you’ll have a high-quality, professionally edited podcast ready for listeners. Adobe Audition’s extensive tools allow you to fine-tune every element, ensuring that each episode delivers a consistent and engaging experience from start to finish.
Exporting Your Podcast Episode
With your podcast audio edited, cleaned, and leveled, it’s time to export.
Saving and exporting
- Go to File > Save As to save a high-quality WAV file as an archival copy, and select File > Export > File to create your publishable MP3 file.
- Choose format settings and sample type that fit the requirements of your podcast hosting platform.
File format options
MP3 is standard for podcasting, but Audition also supports AAC files, which offer better quality at a smaller size. Choose your format based on the platform’s preferences.
Bonus Tips
Adobe Audition offers endless possibilities for customizing and fine-tuning your podcast.
Here are some additional tips to improve your workflow:
- Label tracks for organization: Use color-coding and labels to distinguish different tracks in the multitrack session. This makes managing multiple audio tracks easier and reduces the chance of editing the wrong track.
- Custom-built templates: Adobe Audition includes custom-built templates tailored for podcasting, which you can use to simplify the setup of a new session.
- Experiment with presets: The presets dropdown box in the Effects Rack has options like Podcast Voice, which adds effects suited for dialogue. This is an easy way to apply multiple settings quickly.
- Batch processing: For faster editing, use batch processing to apply the same effects or adjustments to multiple clips at once.
Final Thoughts
Editing a podcast in Adobe Audition can seem complex, but it becomes second nature once you know your way around. With essential tools like noise reduction, match loudness, and multitrack recording, you can edit professional-quality episodes in no time.
Whether you’re working with multiple guests, adding background music, or just cleaning up audio, Adobe Audition’s audio editing features make the podcasting process smoother. Take it one step at a time, and soon, you’ll be navigating Audition like a pro.
If you need help with recording and editing your podcast, the YourPodcast team will be happy to help you. Let’s get in touch and talk about your next project.