|
SplitBySpeakers
Audio in. Clarity out.
Post-Production Guide

Podcast Post-ProductionEssential Audio Cleanup Tips

Transform raw podcast recordings into professional, radio-quality audio. This comprehensive guide covers essential post-production techniques—from noise reduction to final mastering—used by top podcasters in 2025.

Updated: January 2025•15 min read•For: Podcast Editors, Audio Engineers

Why Post-Production Matters

Great content deserves great audio quality. Professional post-production is what separates amateur podcasts from successful shows. Listeners will tolerate average content with excellent audio, but not excellent content with poor audio.

💡 Studies show that 80% of listeners stop listening to podcasts with poor audio quality—even if the content is interesting.

The Complete Post-Production Workflow

1

Organization & Backup

Before touching any audio, set up a proper file structure and backup system.

Create a Session Folder

Structure: Episode001/ → raw/, edited/, exports/, notes/

Backup Raw Files

Never edit original recordings. Make copies and keep raw files untouched as backup.

Name Files Consistently

Use: EP001_Host_Raw.wav, EP001_Guest_Raw.wav, etc.

2

Remove Background Noise

Start by cleaning up unwanted background noise—the foundation of good audio.

🤖 AI Method (Recommended)

Use AI-powered noise removal for instant, professional results:

  • Adobe Podcast Enhance: Free, one-click studio sound
  • Descript Studio Sound: Removes noise, echo, room tone
  • Auphonic: Automated noise reduction + leveling

🎛️ Manual Method (Audacity)

  1. 1. Select a section of "silence" (where only noise is present)
  2. 2. Go to Effects → Noise Reduction → Get Noise Profile
  3. 3. Select the entire track → Effects → Noise Reduction
  4. 4. Adjust reduction level (12-15 dB is usually safe)
  5. 5. Preview before applying to avoid over-processing
3

EQ (Equalization)

Shape your voice to sound clear, warm, and professional.

High-Pass Filter

Remove low rumble and handling noise

Cut below: 80-100 Hz

De-Essing

Reduce harsh "S" sounds

Cut at: 6-8 kHz

Presence Boost

Add clarity and "air"

Boost at: 3-5 kHz (+2-3 dB)

Warmth

Fuller, richer voice

Boost at: 200-400 Hz (+1-2 dB)

⚠️ Pro Tip: Less is more with EQ. Start with small adjustments (1-3 dB) and only boost/cut what's necessary.

4

Compression

Even out volume levels so quiet parts are audible and loud parts aren't overwhelming.

Podcast Compression Settings

Ratio: 3:1 to 4:1 (gentle compression)

Threshold: -18 to -15 dB

Attack: 10-30 ms (slow)

Release: 100-250 ms

Gain Reduction: Aim for 3-6 dB of reduction

What it does: Compressor reduces the difference between loud and quiet parts, making dialogue more consistent and easier to listen to.

5

Remove Filler Words & Mistakes

Clean up "ums," "ahs," long pauses, and verbal mistakes.

🤖 AI Auto-Removal (Fastest)

  • • Descript: One-click filler word removal
  • • Adobe Podcast: Auto-editing features
  • • Cleanvoice AI: Removes filler words + long pauses

✂️ Manual Editing

For precise control:

  1. 1. Listen at 1.5x speed to catch issues faster
  2. 2. Cut out obvious mistakes and restarts
  3. 3. Reduce (don't remove) some "ums"—keep it natural
  4. 4. Shorten pauses to 0.5-1 second
  5. 5. Add crossfades to cuts for smooth transitions
6

Loudness Normalization

Ensure your podcast meets industry loudness standards for streaming platforms.

Target Levels (2025 Standard)

Integrated Loudness: -16 LUFS (Apple Podcasts, Spotify)

True Peak: -1.0 dBTP (prevents clipping)

Loudness Range: 4-8 LU

Tools: Auphonic (automatic) | Loudness Penalty plugin | Youlean Loudness Meter (free)

Save Time with AI

Speed Up Post-Production with AI

Multi-speaker podcasts? SplitBySpeakers automatically separates each speaker into individual tracks, so you can edit, EQ, and process each voice independently. Save hours of tedious editing.

Advanced Tips from Pro Editors

Use Reference Tracks:

Find a podcast with excellent audio you admire. A/B compare your audio to match their quality level.

Listen on Multiple Devices:

Check your mix on headphones, car speakers, and phone speakers. Audio should translate well everywhere.

Create Templates:

Save your EQ, compression, and effects settings as presets. Reuse them for consistent sound episode-to-episode.

Take Breaks:

Ear fatigue is real. Take 10-minute breaks every hour to maintain objective judgment of your audio.

Quick Post-Production Checklist

Backup raw files before editing
Remove background noise (AI or manual)
Apply EQ (high-pass filter + presence boost)
Add compression (3:1 ratio, 3-6 dB reduction)
Cut filler words and long pauses
Normalize to -16 LUFS
Export as 44.1kHz, 16-bit WAV or 128kbps+ MP3
Listen to full episode on different devices

Master Your Post-Production Workflow

Professional post-production is a skill that improves with practice. Start with these fundamentals, develop your own workflow, and leverage AI tools to save time. Your listeners will hear—and appreciate—the difference.

Time Investment: Expect 2-3 hours of post-production per 1 hour of raw audio. With AI tools and templates, this reduces to 30-60 minutes.