Podcast Recording Software
Audacity
Audacity is free and it is cross-platform with an easy to use interface.
Alitu
Alitu for all round easy of use and upload to your host.
Podcast editing software
We are going to review the best podcast recording software, this list is quite short so you should be able to easily choose one for your platform either for a PC running Windows or Linux and of course MacOS.
1.
Audacity
Best Free Podcast Recording Software.
Key features:
Sync-lock
High audio quality (16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit
Ability to import/export audio in a variety of formats
Easy podcast editing options
Supports a multitude of plugins including LADSPA, LV2, Nyquist, VST, and Audio Unit effect
Regarding analysis, the spectrogram view mode helps with the visualization and selection frequencies.
A wide range of keyboard shortcuts lets you easily manipulate the selections.
You can add several Audio Effects.
Ease of use:
Audacity is easy to use, though accessing some special settings may require a bit of research, and also you need to install plugins yourself. Some aspects of the software are complex, and not as user-friendly.
Pros and Cons of Audacity
- Audacity Pros:
- Audacity is open-source, so it’s entirely free.
- It’s easy to use once you get the hang of its functionalities.
- You can digitize recordings from any other media you want.
- Record live audio, either using a microphone or a mixer.
- Easy customization and editing with functions like cut, copy, and paste.
- Audacity Cons:
- The program is limited in its mixing capabilities.
- Some aspects of the software are more complex, and not as user-friendly.
- The program is not as complete, as you will have to install plug-ins/encoders separately.
My opinion:
Audacity is a great free choice for beginners and for experienced people too, it’s easy to use and cross-platform, and it is compatible with numerous operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS. You can record in high quality with the support of multiple plugins, and it provides an easy way of editing your recordings using handy keyboard shortcuts.
2.
Adobe Audition
Adobe Audition is a professional audio workstation.
Create, mix and design sound effects with the industry’s best digital audio editing software.
Best all round podcast recording software
Key features:
You can eliminate unwanted surrounding sounds from the podcaster’s voice with Spectral analysis.
Volume levels of music beds/ music, fading in, fading out, and “ducking” under voice are easily controllable with Envelopes.
You can match the loudness of other speakers to keep the podcast’s overall loudness at uniform levels.
Ease of use:
It has a big learning curve, and at first, it can be very confusing to look at, with its many features you’ll have a hard time understanding what each setting do at first.
Pros and Cons of Adobe Audition
- Adobe Audition Pros:
- Add music, SFX, dialogue, and Ambience voice through Adobe Audio Essential Sound.
- It lets you add more than 50 audio effects.
- The multi-track view lets you mix different tracks easily.
- The Frequency Analysis feature shapes your sound and places it over different tracks.
- It also lets you restore audio easily.
- Adobe Audition Cons:
- The software lacks MIDI support.
- It is not free, only available via an expensive monthly subscription.
- Has a big learning curve when interacting with its tools.
My opinion:
Audition is a comprehensive audio editor for video post-production, podcasts, and audio restoration. It’s expensive for what you get, though, and makes the most sense as a supplement to a video editor or as part of an existing CC subscription.
3.
GarageBand for Mac
Its stuffed with features and easy to use.
Best forMac
Key features:
The minimalistic design is one of the key selling points of GarageBand, it looks good and has an intuitive design.
Tracks are color-coded, and most of the production process involves clicking, tapping, or dragging and dropping, making things familiar and easy.
It enables you to compose pieces inside the DAW by allowing you to do both: record vocals and live instruments and emulate different instruments via software.
The extensive selection of plugins and customizable instruments makes it super powerful.
Performance-wise, you will have no issues with GarageBand regardless of what hardware you run it on.
Ease of use:
The design and the user interface are clean and easy to understand, there are a lot of features like color coding tracks, that help you organize everything and see clearly what you are working on. You can learn the software on the go.
Pros and Cons of GarageBand for Mac
- GarageBand Pros:
- Streamlined, professional interface.
- Excellent new Producer Packs.
- Enjoyable instrument lessons.
- Supports 24-bit recording and third-party plug-ins.
- GarageBand Cons:
- No mixing console view.
- Only supports Mac operating systems.
- GarageBand can't play external MIDI instruments.
My opinion:
GarageBand may have been originally meant for musicians, but it is definitely a good choice for podcasters too, it’s easy to control, and there are a nice variety of plugins you can use.
4.
logic Pro
Its stuffed with features and easy to use.
Best for Professional Podcasting
Key features:
The interface is similar to GarageBand for quick onboarding.
Logic Pro Remote turns iOS devices into second screens for production and editing.
Professional-quality mixing and mastering.
Ease of use:
If you are looking for professional software, Logic Pro is for you, it’s not free though, and the UI can be really confusing, and it has a steep learning curve.
Pros and Cons of Logic Pro
- Logic Pro Pros:
- It’s easy to transition from GarageBand to Logic Pro X.
- Effective new Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio tools
- A large variety of plugins
- Logic Pro Cons:
- The mixer could use larger meters and faders
- No fast Clip-Gain-style audio editing
- Most features are for music production.
My opinion:
Though it’s a bit of an overkill for podcast production, Logic Pro does have some robust features, even if they were meant for music production. Most people are better off using something more straightforward, but if you know your way around a mixing board, it may be for you.
5.
Alitu
Easy-to-use interface and upload to your host
Best for Professional Podcasting
Key features:
Automation makes everything a lot easier.
You can record with another person remotely.
Supports most audio files.
You have access to Alitu’s music library.
You can automatically insert your intro/outro music.
Ease of use:
The User Interface of Alitu is very self-explanatory, it’s designed well and looks clean. With automation, a lot of things are done without unnecessary work. Your intro or outro music can automatically be added with a click of a button. You don’t have to worry about manually exporting your audio recordings and uploading them to your host, because Alitu does this for you from the application itself.
Pros and Cons of Logic Pro
- Alitu Pros:
- Alitu gives you 7 days free to see if their platform is for you.
- It’s a lot cheaper than other alternatives.
- Alitu handily integrates with most podcast hosting providers.
- Alitu Cons:
- Alitu is a web-based app, meaning that you have to be connected to the internet when recording and editing.
- Alitu doesn’t allow multiple microphone inputs, so you can’t record with more than one mic at once in person.
My opinion:
Alitu is a fantastically useful tool. Everything is automated and the user interface is friendly and simple. However, if you’re a podcaster with a lot of experience in recording/editing audio, already use advanced software, and are confident in making your audio sound great, you can probably tell already that Alitu isn’t really aimed at you. Alitu focuses on making technical aspects easier and quicker with automation, meaning you don’t have the option to make more advanced tweaks to the audio yourself.
