Have you been searching “podcast studio near me” in your podcast launch process? Well, I’ve got good news for you. You don’t need to. You can record your podcast right from the comfort of your own home with the right software. Let’s talk about the best recording software for podcasts.
When it comes to recording your podcast, choosing the perfect recording software can be overwhelming. There are so many options available, both free and paid, that it can be challenging to decide which one to use. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the best recording software for podcasts, including free options.
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Free software to record podcasts
Starting a podcast doesn’t have to be a costly affair. In fact, you can actually start with no budget at all. There are multiple free podcast creation options for recording a podcast to get your started.
Audacity
The first free option to record your podcast is Audacity. Audacity is a powerful, open-source audio editing software that can handle all of your podcast recording needs. With Audacity, you can record, edit, and mix your podcast episodes. It also has a range of features like noise reduction, equalisation, and compression.
Audacity is best if you don’t have guests on your podcast or if you record in person with guests as there is no option to have guests call in.
Zoom
Zoom has fast become a benchmark for video conferencing softwares but did you know that a lot of podcasters also use Zoom to record their podcasts? Zoom’s record option allows podcasters to interview people and create quality content all in the app. Zoom is a great option if you want to record video as well.
Be aware that on the free plan you only get 40 minute long calls. It is also worth mentioning that Zoom is recorded online so if either you or your guest has internet connection issues this will be evident in your recording and will need to be edited out.
Spotify for podcasters
Spotify for Podcasters is an all-in-one podcast creation tool that allows you to record, edit, and distribute your podcast episodes all from one platform. It’s perfect for beginners who want to start their podcast without any upfront costs.
If you use the mobile app you can “Record with Friends” meaning you can invite guests remotely to the chat.
Riverside.fm (free plan)
For me the best recording software for podcasts is Riverside.fm. This is an online podcasting and recording studio like software with new features being added regularly.
To record in Riverside.fm you create a studio and can then invite guests to join the studio. Recordings are recorded locally on each of your computers or phones and then uploaded to Riverside. This means that any connection issues will not be evident in your final recording.
Recordings are also done as separate tracks for each guest. This is a very useful feature if one of you has background noise or other sound issues because you can optimise each audio track individually.
On the free Riverside.fm plan you get up to two hours of recording per month.
Recording a podcast on a Mac
GarageBand
For any Apple users, GarageBand is available for free on all Apple devices. GarageBand is an easy-to-use audio creation tool that comes with a range of features like virtual instruments, sound effects, and voice enhancement tools. You can record directly into GarageBand before doing edits and production there.
For podcasting you may not use all the features but it’s perfect for podcasters who want to add a bit of music or sound effects to their episodes.
Best paid recording software for podcasts
Riverside.fm (paid plan)
As mentioned above Riverside.fm is my favourite recording software. If you plan on recording more than two hours per month you might like to use one of the Riverside paid plans. These start at $15 USD per month and give you more recording time, as well as no watermark on video exports, screen sharing on calls and live streaming to social media.
Descript
Descript is another powerful recording software that is gaining popularity among podcasters. It offers a unique approach to podcast recording and editing by providing a text-based editing interface. With Descript, you can transcribe your audio recordings into text, and then edit the text to make changes to your podcast episode. The changes you make in the text automatically sync with the audio, making it easy to edit your podcast episodes with precision.
Descript does not currently have an option to have guests call in so it might be best to use in the post production phase of podcast creation if you have guests on your podcast.
Descript is a paid software with subscription-based pricing. It offers a free plan but you are limited to three hours of audio ever. Paid plans start at $15 USD per month.
Hindenburg Journalist
Another great paid option is Hindenburg Journalist. Hindenburg Journalist is designed specifically for journalists and podcasters, making it the perfect tool for recording and editing podcast episodes. It comes with a range of features like automatic level adjustment, noise reduction, and transcription capabilities.
One unique and very convenient feature of Hindenburg Journalist is that you can record from any AoiP application like Zoom, Skype, FaceTime or Microsoft Teams. Interviews are recorded in separate tracks similar to Riverside and you can edit right in Hindenburg.
Hindenburg prices start at $12 USD per month for Pro or you can buy Hindenburg Lite for a one off payment of $99 USD and then pay $1.99 USD for future updates.
Adobe Audition
Adobe Audition is the industry standard when it comes to audio editing but did you know you can record right into Adobe Audition too?
If you are not familiar with Adobe Audition it is a professional audio editing software that’s perfect for podcasters who want to take their audio quality to the next level.
You can record your podcast directly into Audition by simply hitting the red ‘record’ button.
Adobe Audition is the most expensive option for recording your podcast but is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud packages so if you use other Adobe softwares like Premiere Pro or Photoshop you might already have it.
Recording your podcast doesn’t have to be a complicated process. With the right software, you can create high-quality podcast episodes right from the comfort of your own home. Whether you choose a free or paid option, there are plenty of great recording software options available to help you get started.
Read next:
- Identifying Your Target Audience for a Successful Podcast
- The Ultimate 28-day Podcast Social Media Strategy
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