How to Become a Podcast Editor: A Beginner's Guide

Publish date: 2024-08-22

Are you interested in becoming a podcast audio editor but don't know where to start? If you're detailed, creative, a good listener, a critical thinker, and willing to learn new software, this is a possible role for you. Here's a beginner's guide to starting a podcast editing career.

What Does a Podcast Editor Do?

First, you need to understand what a podcast is. A podcast is an audio program you can stream or download from the internet using your device. Audio podcasts integrate artistic sound production with spontaneous or scripted discussions on a specific topic or theme. You can also create video podcasts, but we'll focus on audio podcasting in this article.

Podcast audio editors use a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), a fancy way to say podcast editing software. As a podcast editor, you'll manipulate raw audio files using DAW to enhance the podcast. You'll ensure that each podcast episode is clean and has a clear narrative and natural content flow. Your ultimate goal is to create a compelling story for your listeners.

A podcast audio editor may focus on one or more aspects of podcasting, or do all of these:

How to Become a Podcast Editor

Podcast editors need to build their technical skills through practice or experience. If you don't end up employed or becoming a freelancer, you can try being a content creator. You'll know which path to take as you go along. Here are some tips to get you started.

1. Learn Online or Find a Mentor

You can self-learn podcast editing by watching YouTube videos or taking an online course. However, the process becomes simpler to understand if you can have a mentor guide you through the steps. With a mentor, you'll be able to ask questions on how to make great podcasts. Learning becomes easier since you can receive timely feedback for your mistakes.

2. Practice Content Editing

Beginners usually start with content editing. Content editing improves your ability to spot undesirable elements in a podcast and familiarizes you with DAW features. It's one of the most basic skills you need to master as a podcast editor.

You can start with what The Podcast Host calls the Minimum Effective Editing method or MEE. First, trim or tidy up the start and end of the audio track. Second, normalize it or make the sound regular. Once you master this, read up on the podcasting mistakes you need to avoid.

3. Invest in Your Workspace and Equipment

A quiet work area is an absolute must-have in podcast editing. You'll have to ensure you catch mistakes, hisses, and other background noises in your podcast. Create a dedicated space where you'll have the minimum amount of distraction.

Also, invest in noise-canceling headphones. You don't have to buy the most expensive one. You can survey the best cheap noise-canceling headphones that are affordable.

When it comes to your computer, you can use any laptop or PC that's fast enough to handle your podcast editing software or DAW. It doesn't have to be the quickest or the highest performing on the market. Mid-range laptops will already work well when you're only starting.

4. Choose Your Podcast Editing Software

The DAW is your virtual recording studio. You can choose from a handful of paid and free options:

The most popular one for beginners is Audacity, which is free to download on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Audacity is simple to navigate yet powerful enough to create quality podcasts. With some guidance and practice, you'll be able to master its most basic features.

If you're a Mac user, you can also use the beginner-friendly GarageBand. GarageBand comes free with every Mac computer. To know which is better, check out GarageBand vs. Audacity: The Best Music Production Software Compared.

Once you level up, you can check out the DAWs, such as Adobe Audition or Reaper. Audition costs $20.99 monthly, but you can explore its features during the free trial. Like Audacity, Reaper is a cross-platform DAW. However, it has more advanced features. It's free to try for 60 days, but you'd have to pay $60 for a discounted license or $225 for a commercial license.

5. Listen to High-Quality Podcasts

Spotify hosts many quality podcasts. For example, Plain English With Derek Thompson takes current events and turns them into thought-provoking commentaries. Dust by Gunpowder & Sky is an anthology of gripping narratives that take you through immersive science fiction worlds.

Listening improves your ear for quality podcasts. What made the podcast compelling? What could have been done better? What are reviewers saying? Take note of best practices you can apply in your work.

6. Download "Free" Music

Most music is not free because you need to pay or attribute the creators. Public domain music, which has an expired copyright, is the only free option. However, most public-domain music was created decades ago. While it's hard to find free music, you can get them for less than the price or under certain conditions.

Royalty-free music sites like Soundstripe or PremiumBeat pay for the licensing for you, so you can use the music as much as you want. You only need to pay for a monthly or yearly subscription to download music and sound effects for commercial use.

Another option would be to use music with a Creative Common License. Free Music Archive has a great selection of music. You might also score some rare musical finds. Make sure you read the conditions before using a track, so you know if you need to attribute the author or ask for permission.

If you need old public domain music, browse the Public Domain Review, which hosts many tracks and other media. Another excellent option is the Open Music Archive, which curates out-of-copyright music.

Adding music to your podcast will cost a little time and effort. However, appropriate music spices up your show. Sound effects or background music can make your podcast more compelling, while a good intro can set the tone.

7. Volunteer for Podcast Editing Roles

Volunteer opportunities help you learn, upgrade your skills, establish connections, and acquire meaningful work experience. You can ask for podcast editing volunteer opportunities in nonprofits, churches, and podcast shows.

Job sites such as LinkedIn or Glassdoor might also yield some results. Another option would be to sign up on volunteer sites such as Catchafire or Idealist, which connects volunteers with nonprofits.

8. Create Your Work Samples

Work on your samples to get hired for a podcast editing role. It's one of the first things clients or employers will ask for when you're job searching. If you're a beginner without experience, try creating a mock project. Describe the project goal, the tools that you used, and your process.

Once you create your samples, upload them on a site like SoundCloud or Google Drive. You can then share links to your work with potential employers. Remember to listen to your audio before giving out links!

Alternatively, you can create a more visually appealing portfolio on sites like Canva. If you don't have any idea where to start, derive inspiration from online portfolios, and learn the best tips for showcasing your portfolio to employers.

9. Search for Podcast Editing Jobs

Now that you have a polished portfolio, it's time to start your job search! Most freelance podcast editors choose to advertise their services on a platform like Upwork or Fiverr. You can also look for opportunities on popular job boards like Indeed or ZipRecruiter.

Are Podcast Editors In-Demand?

Podcast listeners have rapidly increased in the past years. Insider Intelligence projects that by the end of 2025, there will be more than 144 million monthly podcast listeners in the US. The demand for podcast editors will increase as well.

Podcast audio editing is fun and challenging to learn. There's a sense of accomplishment once you finish a creative project. If you think it's not for you, continue reading and researching a possible career path. The opportunities are endless, so start doing it now.

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