Audio editing software (Podcast)

Audio-editing software

To get the most out of your podcast, you're going to need audio-editing software. Audio-editing software gives you the power to turn your raw podcast shows into things of beauty. Plenty of audio editors exist, from freeware all the way to specialized recording platforms for recording music. All are capable of basic editing operations such as cut and paste, as well as more advanced forms of signal optimization.

This list of some of the most common full-featured stereo audio-editing programs is by no means meant to be a definitive list:

- Audacity (Windows, Mac, Linux): Audacity is a free, open-source audio editor that runs on just about every platform. What's not to love?

- Peak (Mac): Berkeley Integrated Audio Software's flagship stereo audio editor comes in a number of versions at different price points.

- Sound Forge (Windows): Now a part of the Sony family, Sound Forge comes in a number of different versions at different price points.

- Audition (Windows): Formerly CoolEdit, Audition is now Adobe's flagship audio editor, offering all the quality you'd expect from an Adobe product.

Creating a podcast involves more than just audio editing. Some audio-editing programs include additional podcast production tools, such as built-in file transfer (FTP) and Real Simple Syndication (RSS) support. Not all of the programs listed here include sophisticated audio processing. They're meant to be simple, easy-to-use tools that get the job done as quickly as possible.

- GarageBand (Mac): Originally intended as a very simple multi-track audio-editing program, GarageBand now includes just about everything you need to make a podcast. One problem, though, is that it does not export MP3 files; it only exports AAC encoded files, which is fine for podcasts targeted at iPods, but not for other portable music players.

- ePodcast Producer (Windows): This editor includes many handy podcast production features, including a teleprompter, sound effects management, and a built-in facility for recording Voice-over IP (VoIP) phone conversations such as Skype.

- Propaganda (Windows): This editor uses an interesting model where multiple clips are cued up to produce your podcast, much like a digital cartridge system used at radio stations.

- Podcast Station (Windows): This editor is similar to Propaganda in that you assemble your podcasts from lists of clips. Simple insert editing and unlimited undo make this a great platform for the podcaster who enjoys winging it. The Web site includes lots of tutorial videos to get you up and running quickly.

If you're planning on creating video podcasts, you should be aware that many video-editing software platforms also include audio editing and processing. Your decision on which audio-editing platform to buy will be based on the operating system you're working on, your familiarity with audio-editing software, and how much functionality you want in a single tool. You may want to create a few podcasts on a shoestring budget using open-source tools and see what works best for you before investing your hard-earned cash.