Every brand needs a voice. Other than writing content, audio or video is the next best way to cultivate a voice. Podcasts are the ultimate mix of all three. Some creators choose to make video-style podcasts, uploaded on YouTube or some other video platform, but other creators choose to go the traditional audio-only route. Several years ago, podcasts were not as popular as they are today (April 2020), but that is understandable because they just didn’t have a huge following in the early stages. Now, podcasts have become a vital marketing tool for businesses, a way to express brand voice & personality, and an outstanding method for building an audience.
So, you have decided to join the trend and start a podcast. What now? Well, having the right software and setup is important for creating high-quality content. Let us talk about some of the best tools on the market for creating podcasts. These tools focus more on the audio-only style, but several of them can still be used to mix audio tracks for video podcasts.
1. Adobe Audition
Price: You can rent Adobe Audition for $20.99 per month, or gain access to all 20+ creative cloud apps by subscribing to the cloud for $52.99 per month.
Adobe Audition is a timeless, seamless, audio workstation. Adobe offers the most popular editing software out there (such as Photoshop and Premiere Pro) and this tool is no different. You can edit, restore, record, and mix audio tracks all within one intuitive interface. Many podcasters use Adobe Audition because it provides a professional quality to any sound- advanced compression, noise-reduction, batch processing, and more. Adobe even has a how-to video on using their software to create your podcast- which is helpful for beginners.
2. Audacity
Price: Free to use, open-source software.
Audacity is the most popular open-source software available to use on cross-platforms. For podcast creators who do not want to do a whole lot of editing, this tool makes editing your tracks simple and easy. The user interface is much, much simpler than Adobe Audition and so are the tools that the software provides; however, you can still do the basics such as editing, recording, importing and exporting, and using plugins. This tool is highly recommended for beginners.
3. SquadCast
Price: Pricing options range from $10 to $45 per month, depending on how many hours of audio recordings you create per month. Yearly plans are also available, offering discounts from $10 to $90 off.
SquadCast is especially useful for podcasters who plan on hosting guests that cannot physically be in the same room as the host- basically remote hosting. You do not have to install any outside plugins or extensions; simply log into the platform and start recording. Once your guest has clicked your unique link, they can join the platform and start recording with you. The audio quality is reliable no matter the strength of either party’s internet connection. One thing about SquadCast that makes them unique is their own podcast; they regularly interview other podcasters to share their journey and experience in the industry.
4. Logic Pro X
Price: A free trial is offered for 90 days, but after that you must purchase the tool for $199 if you plan on using it again.
This one is for all you Apple users out there. The Logic Pro X platform is built specifically for Mac operating systems. While it does not boast all the podcast specific features of, let’s say, SquadCast, it does offer amazing audio editing capabilities. This software comes equipped with over 7,000 audio loops (royalty-free), a smart tempo feature, timing and pitch tools, multi-touch faders, easy recording, and many more features. Everything you Mac users need to edit, mix, record or create your own audio lies in the power of Logic Pro X.
5. Buzzsprout
Price: A free trial is offered for 90 days, but after that you must choose a paid plan to continue. Plans range from $12 to $24 per month, depending on how many hours of content you host each month. There are also paid add-ons available such as 192K stereo optimization and episode transcription.
Buzzsprout is the ultimate podcast hosting platform. It lets you create and publish your episodes, track all the analytics you need, and get your content published on popular platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Alexa, and more. Each subscription plan includes your own podcast website, customized embed players, advanced podcast statistics, 250GB of bandwidth each month, and the ability to get into podcast directories.
While there are many tools out there for creating podcasts, it is best to do your research to find out which tool will fit your needs the most. Try out the options listed above that have free trials, and if they don’t work for you, try something else. The great thing about creating a podcast is you have endless options, so experiment and follow your intuition when it comes to choosing the right software.
