10 helpful podcast software program instruments you ought to be utilizing
eMarketer predicts that businesses will spend $ 1 billion on podcast ads in 2021, and 54% of podcast listeners are more likely to buy a product recommendation.
Before you hit record and carve out a slice of the podcast cake for your brand, you need to record, edit, and publish your episodes somewhere.
With so many podcast software options, it can be a bit overwhelming to decide what is best for you.
- Some are for professionals only, others are more for beginners
- Some do everything while others just record
- Some are free and easy to use, while others are expensive and have a steep learning curve
In this post, we're going to take a look at some of the main podcast software options available to help you choose the one that best suits your needs.
10 Useful Podcast Software Tools
Not all podcast software tools are created equal.
Some only solve a specific task, while others give you a full set of features that allow you to record, edit, and publish your podcast worldwide.
Here's what you can expect from each option to help you decide if it fits your level of experience and needs.
Tool # 1: Audacity – Great Free Podcasting Software for Beginners
Audacity is a free, open source digital audio workstation. While it doesn't come with all of the bells and whistles like some of the other paid options on this list, it still offers a punch.
Audacity has all of the features and basic editing options a first-time podcaster needs to create, produce, and publish a professional podcast.
Record live audio or digitize audio from other types of media. Cut, splice and edit all in one place and export your podcast to various file formats (including MP3, WAV, AIF).
No audio editing experience required.
Benefits of daring
- Free to use
- Compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac
- Full recording and editing options
- Support most audio file formats
- Supports 16-bit, 24-bit and 32-bit audio quality
- Powerful functions such as Silence Finder, Truncate Silence, Sync-Lock and storable EQ
Cons of daring
- No multi-track recording
- Cannot be uploaded directly to a podcast hosting platform
- No advanced editing functions
- No mobile app
Audacity pricing
Audacity is free at the time of this writing.
Tool No. 2: Auphonic – The personal audio engineer on a budget
Auphonic is an AI post production software tool that allows you to clean up your audio files with the push of a button.
Auphonic's user-friendly interface is designed for podcasters who use an interview format. It automatically swings your audio levels and makes you sound like a pro, all for a very reasonable price.
All you have to do is upload your audio and the AI algorithm will recognize different voices and music. The sounds are then processed and optimized separately to optimize the audio quality of your podcast.
Advantages of Auphonic
- Automatically balances the level between speakers, music and speech
- Transcribes audio in over 80 languages
- Automatically serve content to YouTube, SoundCloud, Google Drive, Podlove, and more
- Automatic noise and hum reduction
- Mobile apps available: Android Audio Editor and iOS Recorder
- Works on Mac and Windows
Disadvantages of Auphonic
- Not a great option for podcasters who want a high level of control over their audio files
- No options to manually trim or edit audio
- No recording functions
Auphonic pricing
Auphonic is one of the most affordable podcast software options. You can get two hours of free audio per month, and paid subscriptions start at $ 11 per month.
Tool # 3: Alitu – The easiest way to edit a solo podcast
Alitu is one of the most useful podcast software tools for people who want to make the editing and production process as easy as possible. This web-based tool allows you to automate the production of your podcast by supporting leveling, compression, conversions and noise reduction.
You can also use Alitu to edit mistakes and trim recordings, and you can even expand your episodes by adding music, commercials, and transitions with the drag and drop interface.
One thing to note: Alitu's web-based recording should not be used for snippets that are longer than five minutes. Browser technology isn't the most reliable and you risk losing your audio. Instead, use the recording feature for intros, outros, or ad slots.
If you're hosting a solo podcast with straightforward edits and you don't need a lot of creative production, Alitu is pretty much all you need.
Benefits of Alitu
- Made for podcasters
- Completely web-based; No software downloads required
- Automates the conversion and cleaning of audio files
- Drag and drop the episode generator
- Free themed music and effects
- Easy to remove bugs or add and hide music
- Option to add ID3 tags and publish directly to your podcast host
- Teaser template
- No learning curve
Disadvantages of Alitu
- Limited editing tools compared to a DAW
- Limited control over audio quality and file formats
- Web-based recording is not reliable for full episodes
Alitu pricing
Alitu costs $ 28 per month or $ 280 per year. If you'd like to try the podcast software before you commit, they also offer a free 7-day trial.
Tool # 4: Hindenburg Journalist – Comprehensive podcast software for recording, editing and publishing on the go
Hindenburg Journalist is a multitrack audio editor and publisher for the podcaster on the move.
Without external hardware or high-end computers, you can record, edit, and publish your episodes in a Paris café or on the train ride home.
If you're looking for a comprehensive option and don't mind paying for it, you can't go wrong with Hindenburg.
It offers a range of tools for organizing and editing your audio files and for publishing your episodes, as well as powerful features like the noise canceling effect.
Advantages of the Hindenburg journalist
- Compatible with Windows and Mac
- You can record anywhere with the Hindenburg Field Recorder App
- Support all types of audio files
- Extracts the best audio quality and adjusts audio levels automatically
- One click podcast upload to Soundcloud, Libsyn and Loudness
- Voice Profiler sets the EQ on voices
- Clipboard function for saving clips for later use
Disadvantages of the Hindenburg journalist
- More expensive than other options
- Has a learning curve for novice podcasters
- Multi-track recording only available in the Pro version
- Noise reduction function not included in the basic version
Pricing for Hindenburg journalists
Choose between Hindenburg Journalist (USD 95) or Hindenburg Journalist Pro (USD 375). Not sure which one is best for your needs? Try both options with their free 30-day trial.
Tool # 5: Adobe Audition – The ultimate professional podcast software
or professional podcasters who have skin in the game, it doesn't get any better than Adobe Audition.
The digital audio workstation gives you complete control over recording, editing and exporting your episodes directly to your audience.
Audition allows you to combine audio files, do batch edits to make podcasts faster. There are also extended functions available:
- Background noise reduction
- compression
- EQ
- Multi-track recording
- Custom recording templates and hotkeys
It's important to note that while experienced podcasters will appreciate these impressive features, beginners may not use enough advanced features to justify the high price tag.
Benefits of Adobe Audition
- Part of the Adobe Creative Suite
- Full-fledged pro DAW with countless advanced functions
- Podcast-specific settings
- Android Audition Toolkit app for recording, editing and converting audio files
- Royalty-free sound effects library
- Essential Sound Panel to remove unwanted noise and achieve smooth sound
- Available for Mac and Windows
Cons of Adobe Audition
- Expensive monthly subscription
- Not the best option for beginners
Adobe Audition Pricing
Get Adobe Audition for $ 20 per month or get it for free with a subscription to the full Adobe Creative Cloud Suite.
If you want to try it out, try the free seven-day trial.
Tool # 6: Buzzsprout – An easy way to host your podcast
After you've recorded and edited your episodes, your podcast has to live somewhere.
Enter Buzzsprout. This is one of the easiest ways to host, distribute, share, and follow your podcast. The platform optimizes the features and prefers the simplicity in order to get your episodes out into the world as soon as possible.
Buzzsprout's feeds are compatible with the world's best podcast directories and will help you reach millions of potential listeners with Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.
Once your podcast grows and you near 10,000 downloads, you can use the platform's analytics dashboard to learn more about your listeners.
Benefits of Buzzsprout
- Immediate publication or episode planning
- The Magic Mastering function automatically optimizes your files
- This allows you to add episode transcriptions
- Option to add an apodcast player to your website
- Podcast analysis
- Easy to use
Cons of Buzzsprout
- No advanced analysis
- No advanced features
Buzzsprout pricing
With Buzzsprout you can try the software free of charge for 90 days. Paid plans start at $ 12 for three hours of audio per month.
If you time out, you can upload additional content for $ 4 an hour.
Tool # 7: Logic Pro X – A DAW for macOS users
Logic Pro X is a full-featured audio editing and music production program for Apple users. You can use the DAW on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad to easily edit your audio files on the couch or on the beach.
While the software has solid audio mixing tools and robust features to help you create a professional-quality podcast. However, it was specially developed for music producers.
If you are new to a mixer, you can opt for an easier one to use.
Benefits of Logic Pro X.
- You can use the Logic Remote app to record and edit audio files using your iPhone or iPad
- Professional mixing and mastering
- Works with a wide variety of plugins
- Provides post-production effects
- Multiple automation functions
Cons of Logic Pro X.
- Available on Mac only
- Most of the functions are intended for music production
- Can be too complicated or too expensive for simple podcasts
Pricing for Logic Pro X.
You can try the software with a free 90-day trial before purchasing Logic Pro X for a one-time price of $ 199.99.
Tool # 8: Reaper – An affordable digital audio workstation for podcasts
Reaper is an affordable, high-performance DAW that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
It's the perfect choice for podcasters who use older computers or who want software that doesn't take up memory or computer resources. Reaper is incredibly light (it can be run from a USB drive) and is faster than other software programs, with minimal crashes.
Additionally, what makes Reaper one of the best podcast software tools is its price. For less than $ 100, you get access to full multitrack audio and MIDI tools for recording, mixing, processing, editing, and mastering.
Benefits of Reaper
- Compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux
- Excellent value for money
- Fast loading and operating times
- UI / UX customization
Disadvantages of Reaper
- Complex plugin integration
- No mobile app
- Not many tutorials online
Reaper pricing
Download Reaper and activate the 60-day free trial. After that, you can pay $ 60 for a discounted license or $ 225 for a commercial license.
Tool # 9: SquadCast – Record studio quality podcasts from anywhere
SquadCast is an all-in-one remote podcast recording solution designed to make post-production and collaboration easier.
SquadCast can help you say goodbye to audio sync issues, lost recordings, and confusing software for guests.
Are you wondering how it works? Initially, the host creates an account and sends an invitation link to a maximum of three guests. While you are recording the episode, SquadCast records an audio file and uploads it to the cloud and your local drive in real time. When you finish recording, SquadCast gives you access to each person's separate audio track that you can paste into a DAW for editing.
Advantages of SquadCast
- Video function to see your guests during the recording
- Guests do not need an account
- Podcasts were backed up in the cloud
- Multi-track recording
- Eliminates audio drift and simplifies editing
Cons of SquadCast
- Not the cheapest option
- No automatic processing of tracks
- The video for YouTube podcasts cannot be recorded
- Three guests limit
SquadCast Prizes
SquadCast offers a 7-day free trial on all paid plans. Subscriptions start at $ 10 per month for two hours of audio recording and $ 20 for five hours.
Tool # 10: Zencastr – Affordable Remote Recording Software with HD Video
Does your podcast have call-in guests or a co-host who lives halfway around the world?
In that case, software like Zencastr can make it a lot easier to record your podcast remotely.
Similar to SquadCast, the web-based tool has multi-track recording and records each side of the conversation separately. At the end of the episode, the files are saved locally and in the cloud. Zencastr then syncs them together to create a high quality recording.
Benefits of Zencastr
- Easy to use platform
- Free and paid options
- Records HD videos so you can upload your podcasts to YouTube
- Records separate lossless WAV tracks locally and in the cloud
- Soundboard for live editing
- Automatic post production
- Built-in VoIP
- Unlimited guests
- Up to three hours of recording time per session
- Guests only need a link to sign up
Cons of Zencastr
- No hosting or publishing tools
- Limited functions with the free version
Zencastr pricing
Zencastr has a free version with eight hours of recording and a maximum of two guests.
If you want to access some of the more advanced features, you can go for the Pro version for $ 20 per month. It has a 14-day free trial and offers unlimited guests, unlimited recordings, live soundboard recordings, and much more.
Conclusion
Finding the best podcast software can feel overwhelming, but don't rush to make your decision. My setup for the Marketing School Podcast is different today than it was when I started, and that's fine.
Take the time to experiment with the different options and find the best solution for your show.
Once you've established your recording, production, and exporting process, you can focus on things like SEO of your podcast to grow your audience and meet your download goals.
What do you struggle with most when choosing podcast software?