From messy audio to smooth storytelling

A podcaster’s guide to editing.

There’s no “one size fits all” when it comes to figuring out your editing workflow. As much as we wish we had a secret method to get the best edit every time, it’s something you just have to spend time working on yourself. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few tips and tricks out there to help you on your way.

So, what does it mean to edit like a pro? According to audio and video production expert, Kevin O’Connell, editing like a pro means learning how to use your tools efficiently and developing a good listening ear.

If that advice sounds too vague, you’re in luck: we have countless nuggets of wisdom from Kevin. Keep reading to learn how you can add some professional tricks to your own editing workflow.

Establishing your editing mindset

For most podcasters, editing is often the most time-consuming process, especially when you’re just starting out. While Adobe Podcast offers tools like Studio to record and use the text-based editing feature to streamline your process, there’s still a lot left for you to figure out.

The best way to get started comes with a pretty delicious metaphor: according to Kevin, “[Editing podcasts] is kind of like making a cake: you don't start with the intricate design on the top, you have to start with the cake.”

As tempting as it is to jump into the fun, creative choices like sound effects or music, you should start by getting organized with your recording. Listen to it all the way through and make decisive cuts as you go – remove redundant material, awkward pauses, and unwanted asides. You can also get a bird's eye view with the transcript automatically generated in Studio. It’s still helpful to listen, but seeing the text can help you spot unwanted sections faster or even re-order the sequencing of your audio.

Once you’ve removed the excess, you’ll be left with chunks of content ready to be strung together to create your story. From here, arrange your content into rough chapters. They can be loosely defined, but having your audio grouped into these sections will help you navigate between them during the edit.

Structuring your podcast like a story

Stories go back further than your grandma’s collection of questionably outdated Tupperware—and like that Tupperware, stories come in all shapes and sizes. Even podcasting can break stories into sub-genres; you can have fictional shows, descriptive documentaries, a conversation between friends, and so much more.

No matter the format, most stories benefit from having a similar flow, from beginning, to middle, to end. Listeners want something they can sink their teeth into (mmm… cake…), so make sure your segments have a clear, logical flow. Your listener should be able to recreate the scene in their minds, as if they’re along with you for the journey.

So, just because you recorded in a certain order doesn’t mean that’s the best way to present your story in the final edit. Kevin expands on this: “Any of us who have talked to another human know that sometimes you loop back to a thing or expand on an idea later in a conversation. So, it's really easy to find yourself in a conversation that isn’t linear from top to bottom, but that’s how you want the listener to experience it.”

You are at a disadvantage here; you already know everything about the episode and topic at hand, while most listeners are coming in with no innate knowledge of the material being discussed. Try to put yourself in their shoes and suspend your expertise. As you’re editing, be sure to constantly challenge your choices by questioning whether you understand because of the flow of information, or because you wrote the script.

Refining for clarity and flow

Once you’ve found a bit of a flow in your rough cuts, it’s time to make more detailed edits to your content.

For Kevin, that process looks like this: “Let’s say 12 topics were discussed throughout the course of an interview: I arrange these in a logical ‘chapter form,’ and then move them around to get them into a nice, top-to-bottom order. And if that's the cake... then the frosting is going through [each layer] and removing anything that definitely won't end up in the episode.”

You’ll want to make sure all your pieces are arranged so they’re easy for the listener to follow, ideally immersing them in the story. Once the order and flow are dialed in, eliminate elements like filler words, stutters, and any other pauses that don’t flow well with the final content.

Adding in the final polish

Once the content is in order, it will be time to move into the final post-production phase.

If you haven’t already done so, you can use our Enhance Speech tool to clean up any audio for a crisp sound. This is also the time to add finishing touches, like music and branded elements that distinguish your podcast and set it apart.

Before you call it a wrap, create an engaging trailer to entice potential new listeners, and give existing followers a preview of what’s to come.

Get your black belt in editing with practice

Like any art, technique is something you improve with practice. In time, you’ll develop an intuition that will allow you to complete the editing process much more efficiently. And remember to be receptive to feedback, as early listeners can help provide a second set of ears that can help identify things you’ve missed.

We’ll leave you with one last thought from Kevin: “You can record a thing a thousand times and you might never be completely happy with it. But how can you make this a process that is repeatable? So you can not only get good at making the episode, but also get good at the process.”

Getting good at the process takes time, but with tools like Adobe Podcast that timeline can be sped up quite a bit. You'll be a pro at podcast editing—and maybe even cake decorating —in no time

See how editing with these professional tips can help your workflow today.