Eight steps to the perfect mix: Follow this order every time for an efficient workflow.
- Arrange your tracks in this order: Host/reporter audio Actualities and guest audio Ambience and room tone Music Master track This is a common layout in audio storytelling, whether it’s ...
- Organize the audio clips: Skim through your clips and ensure that each track includes only clips that are alike. ...
- Cascade the tracks:
What happens after I mix and Master my podcast?
After mixing and mastering your podcast, you will be rewarded with your very own podcast-ready MP3 file that you can host online and grow your listeners. For step-by-step instructions on how to edit your podcast, check out these 10 tips for editing a podcast in GarageBand.
What is podcast mixing and why is it important?
Podcast mixing — in fact, mixing audio stories of any kind — can be tedious. It’s the part of the production process where you create balance, consistency, and clarity with all of the audio elements in your story. But for many, it’s the least understood and most overlooked part.
What makes a good podcast mix?
The less you do in the mix, the better Podcasts are usually mixed, which means applying processing to each vocal track and balancing the levels. When you process a track, you are adding something to it that wasn’t there before—this is true even with a subtractive effect, such as notching out problematic resonances.
What does it mean to mix into a Master?
Mixing into a master means performing the processing of both mixing and mastering in one session, with the end result being a finished product ready for distribution. Mixing into a master means that by the end of the process, the recording is ready for distribution.
How do you mix and master podcast audio?
0:075:18Make Your Podcast Sound Professional with Mixing and ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then tell you about a new feature in buzz sprout that allows you to mix and master your podcastMoreAnd then tell you about a new feature in buzz sprout that allows you to mix and master your podcast episodes automatically.
Do podcasts get mastered?
Proper podcast mastering can make the difference between your podcast sounding professional or amateur. Mastering is a form of post-production in which adjustments are made to audio, be it a music release, film, or TV show,.
What dB should my master be for podcast?
Generally, a peak level of -1.0 dB is good for podcasts, as this level will ensure your audio sounds good when it's converted to a lossy format like MP3 or AAC.
How do I make my podcast sound more professional?
Those aren't ideal listening situations and are complete of noises. you must make your audio crystal clean to assure your podcast sound more professional. Another simple way is to record in a better condition simply is to observe patterns in the neighborhood whenever you are recording.
How do you EQ a podcast?
1:2813:06EQ and Compression for Podcast Vocals (Podcast Vocal Mixing)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you go too far it starts getting thin and horrible. But right from the beginning. And thenMoreSo if you go too far it starts getting thin and horrible. But right from the beginning. And then moving it just up to to around 80 70 80 hertz.
Are podcasts hard to edit?
It's also one of the most challenging. Luckily, with some podcast editing tips, you can make your life a lot easier and create great audio. If you've ever wondered how to edit a podcast, you're in the right place.
Should I record my podcast in mono or stereo?
In a non-fiction podcast, you should leave your dialogue recordings in mono. You can export a mono file as your final file if it only contains a voice that doesn't move (panning). However, if you have music, your music tracks will most likely be in stereo.
How many LUFS should a podcast be?
The standard loudness for podcasts is -16 LUFS, but it's okay if your podcast is anywhere between -14 LUFS and -18 LUFS as each podcast listening app has its own preferences. To provide two examples, Apple Podcast asks for -16 LUFS and Spotify requests -14 LUFS.
Should I normalize my podcast?
In short, no, you should not normalize your dialogue when mixing or mastering a recording for your podcast. Normalizing your audio will, more likely than not, have a negative effect on the quality of your recording, and may make your dialogue far too loud for listeners.
Which platform is best for podcast?
What are the Best Podcast Hosting Platforms?Fusebox. ... Blubrry Podcasting. ... Spreaker. ... PodcastWebsites. ... Audioboom. Best hosting platform for taking your podcast to the next level. ... Libsyn. The most reliable podcast hosting site. ... Soundcloud. Best platform for audio content creators. ... Podomatic. Best freemium podcast hosting platform.More items...•
What makes a good podcast?
To create the most engaging podcast, your topic should be something that you are knowledgeable and passionate about. The creator and host of the podcast, “With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus” came up with the idea for her completely improvised podcast with guests because she is an avid improviser.
How do I make my podcast sound clear?
4:007:50How To Make Your Podcast Sound Professional - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd they're gonna want to tune away and that's not what you want the next tip. I would give for aMoreAnd they're gonna want to tune away and that's not what you want the next tip. I would give for a great sounding. Podcast is to dampen the sound of the room that you're in now in this room. I have
Should you normalize podcast audio?
In short, no, you should not normalize your dialogue when mixing or mastering a recording for your podcast. Normalizing your audio will, more likely than not, have a negative effect on the quality of your recording, and may make your dialogue far too loud for listeners.
How many LUFS should a podcast be?
The standard loudness for podcasts is -16 LUFS, but it's okay if your podcast is anywhere between -14 LUFS and -18 LUFS as each podcast listening app has its own preferences. To provide two examples, Apple Podcast asks for -16 LUFS and Spotify requests -14 LUFS.
How do podcasts get views?
So, to help increase your podcast listeners, below are six crucial tips that can help people find you.Create a Podcast trailer.Use Call to Actions.Promote your Podcast on social media.Repurpose your Podcast content.Podcast SEO.Invite guests and star as a guest.
How do I make my podcast viral?
In SummaryBecome an early mover in a niche.Release frequent content.Use all distribution networks.Create a separate website that captures leads and makes the podcasts available.Grow your mailing lists.Interview guests and send them links to their episodes.Send guests links to their episodes.More items...
Planning Your Mix
The best way to start your mix is think ahead with the end goal in mind. You most likely have a vision of what you want your finished podcast to sound like. Your goal is to maintain that sound from the beginning to the end of your podcast.
Soloing Specific Sounds In Your Mix
Highlighting focal points within your podcast is a great way to fine tune the sonic quality of specific tracks
Volume Faders – Control the Volume
Each track in your mix has it own fader that controls the volume level.
Shelving Filters – Increase and Decrease Sound
As the simplest form of filtering, shelving EQ increases or decreases all frequencies above or below a fixed frequency. A bass shelving filter, also called a low-pass filter, increases or decreases everything below its fixed center frequency.
Bandpass Filters – Fully Increase or Decrease Sound
These filters can be used to increase or decrease audio on both sides of a center. Bandpass filters are commonly used as midrange filters, because they have little effect on either high or low frequencies. The familiar graphic equalizer is just a set of bandpass filters tuned to different center frequencies.
Parametric Filters – Surgical Editing Tools
Rule of Thumb: Decrease rather than increase frequencies wherever possible. Decreasing undesired sounds is always less obtrusive, and increasing too much can make a track too loud and lead to digital distortion when encoding.
Compressors – Reduce Dynamic Range
A compressor’s basic function is to reduce the dynamic range of an audio recording, which is the difference between the loudest and softest sounds in a recording.
Equipped with the Right Technology
A lot of podcasts fail to impress due to bad audio quality. We are equipped with technical equipment, latest software and experience to give you the best sound you need for your podcast show.
Professional Podcast Mixing Skills
We ensure professional level audio quality in all of our projects and make sure your podcast’s message gets heard loud and clear. We as your podcast audio mixer can help you with the technical aspects so that you can improve the quality of your recordings also in the future.
Phase 1: Your Podcast Profile
Firstly, we have to analyze and prepare a plan. We listen to your existing recordings and determine where parts should be re-recorded, tracks edited or where mixing your podcast is required. This is not limited to podcast audio mixing but any aspects that we can help with.
Phase 2: Create The Recordings
In case that you also want to re-record or add additional elements to your podcast, we do the implementation here. From music to sounds and lyrics, we can help with anything. The recording phase is only necessary if simple podcast mixing is not enough.
Phase 3: Mix & Master The Songs
If you know that you just want podcast audio mixing, jump here right away. This phase is just about post-production aspects. We improve the audio quality and can also make different versions or mixes of your most important podcast elements.
What is the standard audio format for podcasts?
The standard digital audio format for podcasts is MPEG 1 Layer-3, commonly referred to as MP3. MPEG stands for Motion Picture Experts Group and was developed for the first multimedia content. There are several other audio formats: Layer-1, Layer-2 as well as the most common Layer-3. There are different measures of quality within an MP3 file. As a podcaster, you will want to select a quality that both sounds great but also downloads quickly for listeners.
Can you host your media on the same server as your website?
Do not host your media on the same server as your website. The large media file downloads can cause your website to come to a crawl the first few hours after you release your episodes.
How to organize audio clips?
Organize the audio clips: Skim through your clips and ensure that each track includes only clips that are alike. Each clip on an actuality track should be from the same person and interview, each clip on an ambience track should be from the same scene, and so on. If it’s a different voice or scene, it gets its own track.
What is the difference between solo and mute?
A brief note about solo and mute buttons: They achieve similar outcomes and have very different purposes. Solo is intended to temporarily isolate the selected track and quiet all of the other tracks with one button press. Mute is intended to quiet only the selected track.
Is it easy to get lost in the details when mixing audio?
It’s easy to get lost in the details when you’re mixing audio. This workflow streamlines the process. (Deborah Lee, NPR) Podcast mixing — in fact, mixing audio stories of any kind — can be tedious. It’s the part of the production process where you create balance, consistency, and clarity with all of the audio elements in your story.
What is a LUFS meter?
An integrated LU FS meter helps when trying to determine the loudness of your signal. Also, it helps to know what meter you should be using when measuring loudness. An integrated LUFS meter is the best choice. Spotify: Spotify does use loudness normalization, and will normalize your audio to an integrated -14 LUFS.
Why do we use harmonics in music?
Harmonics can improve the tonality of dialogue. When mastering music, saturation, and harmonic distortion is often used to make music sound fuller. The reason it does this, harmonics fill the gaps in a frequency spectrum, as well as combine with and amplify the existing frequencies in this spectrum.
What is mastered dialogue?
Mastering dialogue for podcasts is the process of preparing your dialogue for digital distribution via various streaming services. How you master dialogue for podcasts depends on the streaming service to which you’re distributing, and the volume of the mastered dialogue will range from -20 LUFS to -16 LUFS.
What is mastering your podcast?
Mastering your podcast is the last step before distribution. It ensures that your dialogue sounds great. When preparing your vocal or dialogue for release, the number of technical aspects to take into consideration can be daunting. You may be wondering what software to use, or how loud your dialogue should be, or maybe you’re simply curious about ...
What is the difference between saturation and distortion?
Saturation used both distortion and compression, whereas distortion is simply an alteration to a waveform that causes harmonics. Although this concept is a little more complex given a lot of variables, the main thing to understand is that saturation is the combination of both compression and distortion.
Why is compression important in vocals?
Compression ensures that no drastic change’s to the dialogues amplitude occur . Tip: If the vocal is shrill use a quicker attack and a longer release to smooth out the transients.
What does mixing into master mean?
Mixing into a master means that by the end of the process, the recording is ready for distribution. However, if you aren’t thoroughly experienced in both mixing and mastering, doing both is definitely not the best idea and won’t lead to the best results for your podcast.
Where are the podcasts from?
Notice the natural dynamics and balance among the voices of hosts Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton, and their guests. Originating from NPR’s studios in Washington, D.C., they have the advantage of carefully designed and well-appropriated studios as well as a staff of top-shelf engineers who help engineer their live music recordings and broadcasts from venues all over the world. TechHive author Mark Sullivan gives some good tips for podcasters on equipment you might look at for capturing that “NPR Sound” at home.
What is this American life podcast?
This podcast, an offshoot of the hugely successful (and great-sounding) This American Life, has garnered record-breaking listenership in its first season. Its cinematic storytelling and engaging content combine with careful production, editing, and mixing with the help of composer and engineer Mark Henry Phillips. Employing skills from forensic audio restoration to composition and sound design, he helped ensure every element of the story is able to be heard by listeners, and reinforced with underscoring and sonic painting that brings extra dimension to the story.
Do you need to set input level for microphone?
Most audio interfaces and recorders need you to set an input level for your microphone. Since the advent of high-quality digital recording, there’s really no reason to set input levels too “hot.” You can always make things louder later on.
Can you script an interview?
Obviously, you can’t script interview segments and co-host interaction. But having a solid outline with your introductions, questions, transitions, and closings prepared can help make for a smooth podcast, and show your guests that you’ve done your homework and are prepared and professional.
Can you make your podcast louder?
After compressing these louder sounds, you can turn up the overall sound of your voice, making everything seem louder overall. This can be helpful when people are listening to your podcast in noisy situations like a subway, car, or bus. This is another effect that shouldn’t be used to extremes.
Editing Problems
Clipping Words
- The most obvious problem with editing is clipping the beginning or end of a word off. It’s a clear sign that a recording has been (poorly) edited. It’s especially easy to cut off the beginning or end of words that start with “F”, “H”, or “S”. They all have soft beginnings before the consonant, which are difficult to see in an audio editor.
Breathe in Breathe Out
- Stupid humans and their need to breathe… Breathing can be the bane of a podcaster’s existence. Breaths can be particularly painful to edit because they’re difficult to see. Often times, editors will accidentally remove a breath before a sentence, simply because they didn’t see it. While this isn’t a huge problem, podcasts where no one ever takes a breath tend to sound very unnatural. Usuall…
Background Noise
- Sometimes you can nail an edit and the transition still sounds bad. Not because of the vocal though, because of the room noise. It’s not uncommon to deal with a significant amount of room noise when editing a podcast. Unlike studio recordings, podcasts are often recorded in bedrooms, offices, and even airports, which all have a variety of ambient sounds. It can be quite jarring for li…
Cadence Changes
- Another common problem you’ll face when editing a podcast is cadence or tone changes. If someone rambles on for too long, it’s common practice to edit out the unneeded content. But often times, this can cause the speaker to sound unnatural. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot you can do with tonal and cadence changes. Your best bet is usually to lean into the edit. Either let the sp…
Mixing Problems
- After editing comes the mixing stage, where you combine the vocal recordings with music cues. It’s not uncommon to have one or more recordings for the main portion — plus over-dubbed intro and outro sections. Trying to balance all of these pieces can cause issues. Here are some of the most common mixing problems to look out for:
Inconsistent Levels
- Inconsistent levels can be jarring for your listeners. Wouldn’t you think it was weird if someone on TV RANDOMLY STARTED SPEAKING MUCH LOUDER? The channel faders don’t have to be at the same level for clips to be even. Don’t get hung up on the numbers. If it’s too loud, turn it down. Don’t be afraid to use automation and compression to help keep levels consistent. Just don’t ov…
Abrupt Starts and Stops
- Even cleanly edited clips can sound unnatural if they’re placed too close together. Jumping from a clip of vocal recorded in an acoustically-treated studio to a clip in a busy restaurant can be jarring. It’s best to use crossfades to mask those abrupt introductions. You can usually find some “dead air” to use as ambiance. To help ease the listener in, simply fade in an ambiance clip before you …
EQ Problems
- What would mixing be without EQ? EQ’ing a podcast can be as difficult as it is simple — there are only a couple vocal mics, how hard can it be? Well, that depends… Each guest has a different voice, which needs different EQ. Especially if they each have a different mic, and are recording in a different room — not to mention that each room has its own unique frequency problems. When t…
Planning Your Mix
Soloing Specific Sounds in Your Mix
- Highlighting focal points within your podcast is a great way to fine tune the sonic quality of specific tracks Enhance the sonic quality of your podcast by isolating individual tracks using the solo button. By pressing Solo, all other tracks will be muted allowing you to only hear the track you have designated. Here are some special effects that yo...
Shelving Filters – Increase and Decrease Sound
- As the simplest form of filtering, shelving EQ increases or decreases all frequencies above or below a fixed frequency. A bass shelving filter, also called a low-pass filter, increases or decreases everything below its fixed center frequency. Likewise a treble shelving filter, also called a high-pass filter, increases or decreases everything above its fixed center. A single control typic…
Bandpass Filters – Fully Increase Or Decrease Sound
- These filters can be used to increase or decrease audio on both sides of a center. Bandpass filters are commonly used as midrange filters, because they have little effect on either high or low frequencies. The familiar graphic equalizer is just a set of bandpass filters tuned to different center frequencies. More sophisticated versions, called sweepable bandpass filters, have an ad…
Parametric Filters – Surgical Editing Tools
- Rule of Thumb:Decrease rather than increase frequencies wherever possible. Decreasing undesired sounds is always less obtrusive, and increasing too much can make a track too loud and lead to digital distortion when encoding.
Compressors – Reduce Dynamic Range
- A compressor’s basic function is to reduce the dynamic range of an audio recording, which is the difference between the loudest and softest sounds in a recording. By reducing the volume of the loudest sounds, a compressor lets you raise the level of the entire audio track, making it all sound louder than it actually is. Compression can be a big help in achieving intelligible audio tracks wit…
Expanders – Increase Dynamic Range
- An expander is the opposite of a compressor. As the level of the audio signal gets louder, the expander’s amplifier turns up further, making loud signals even louder. An expander can be used to reduce noise in a process called downward expansion. In this case, you set the Threshold just above the level of the background noise. The expander will then raise the volume of everything a…
Normalization – Clarify Audio and Reduce Distortion
- Normalizing increases the gain of the audio file until its loudest point is at maximum level. The overall signal level is now higher, which makes for clearer audio, and also gives the encoder more bits of data to work with and reduces encoding distortion. The only downside of normalizing is that it increases the noise as well as the audio signal so it should be used carefully. It should be …
Production Techniques
- Beef up the production by mixing in your show intro, imaging, and musical transitions Remember when you wrote your podcasting script? Now is the time to mix in your show intro, the section that announces the name of your podcast and the episode number. It is most effective if this is the voice of an announcer, distinct from your own. Try fading your background music in when a ne…
Summary – Key Points About Mixing Your Podcast
- In this section you balanced the volume levels of the voice over(s), music and sound effects. You are now ready to export your podcast recording into an MP3.