Editing podcasts in Audacity can take forever if you don’t know how to use the software optimally. Lucky for you, because in this blog post, I’ll be sharing 3 simple Audacity podcast editing tips that are guaranteed to save you hours of editing time. If you are looking for ways to take your podcast editing to the next level, continue reading.
Tip #1: Audacity Podcast Fix – Microphone Bleed Issues
Audacity podcast users say that one of the biggest issues to deal with is the microphone bleed. It happens when your mic picks up sounds it shouldn’t. These sounds include your co-host’s voice through your headphones and any ambient room noise. If you don’t fix the bleed, your podcast will sound echoey or messy.
To fix microphone bleeds in Audacity, you’ll need to highlight the bleed first. To do this, zoom in and find sections where the mic bleed is most noticeable. It usually looks like a faint and thinner waveform when the speaker isn’t supposed to be talking.
After highlighting the bleed, go to Effect > Volume and Compression > Amplify.
You will not change anything here. You just have to note the amount of amplification (in dB). So, for example, in the photo below, the amplification is 21.6 dB (or just 21 dB).
Next, we will add a noise gate to the audio to completely remove the mic bleed. To do this, highlight the whole audio track, then go to Effect > Noise Removal and Repair > Noise Gate.
Finally, on the Noise Gate tab, change the amount of Gate Threshold to the number (in negative) we got earlier. So, for the same example as above, we will enter -21 dB and click Apply. Leave the other settings as is.
It’s a simple process, yet it can save you so much time, especially if you are working on an hour-long (or longer) podcast.
Tip #2: Audacity Podcast Editing – Adding Silences
In real-life conversations, we pause, right?
It’s the same with podcasts, especially when you are talking to a guest. If a guest answers a question too quickly, adding a moment of silence can make your show flow more naturally. Moreover, when you remove filler words or cut awkward phrases, replacing them with short silences keeps the rhythm intact.
So, in short, adding silences into your Audacity podcast edits mimics authentic communication and makes your podcast easier to listen to.
To add silences in your podcast using Audacity, you’ll need to highlight the section where the guest is not talking. It’s similar to the first step we did when fixing microphone bleeds. Although this time, it’s more manual.
For example, in the picture below, I highlighted the audio section before the quest talks. Then, to silence it, I just press CTRL/Cmd+L on my keyboard.
Before:
After:
This process also works well when removing unwanted filler words like “um,” “uh,” and “ah,”. You just need to highlight those filler word sections, then press CTRL/Cmd+L to silence them.
Tip #3: Audacity Podcast Editing – Truncate Silence
While adding silences helps pacing, removing too much dead air is also important. Long, awkward gaps can make your podcast sound boring. That’s where Truncate Silence comes in. It’s like magic for tightening things up and helps eliminate dead air automatically, saving you hours of manual cleanup.
To eliminate dead air using Audacity, you need to highlight the whole audio track, then go to Effect > Special > Truncate Silence.
Next, on the Truncate Silence tab, you can use the default setting and click Apply. However, if you want to experiment, you can adjust the following parameters.
- Threshold: Controls what Audacity considers “silence”.
- Duration: Controls how long a silence must be to be shortened.
- Action: Choose whether to compress (shorten) or remove the silence.
Make sure to listen to your audio if it sounds natural, and no awkward pauses and gaps.
Overall, Truncate Silence is a tool that is perfect for removing awkward gaps while tightening your podcasts. It’s a simple process that can save you hours of editing and also minutes of dead air.
Bonus Tip: Keep the Entire Track Linked Up
One common mistake beginners make is accidentally messing up the track alignment while editing. Doing this desynchronizes conversations, making your podcast distracting and difficult to follow.
To avoid this mistake, make sure that the tracks are linked up before making any edits. To do this in Audacity, go to Tracks and click Keep Tracks Synchronized (Sync-Lock).
With the Sync-Lock feature turned on, you won’t have to worry about going out of sync when you make edits on one track. For example, if you delete a section on the host’s track, that same segment will also be deleted on the guest’s audio track.
Final Thoughts
Editing your podcasts using Audacity doesn’t have to be complicated. Fixing microphone bleeds, adding intentional silences, truncating excess silences, and keeping your tracks synced are some of the simple yet crucial processes you can do easily with Audacity. With these tips, you can create a more enjoyable listening experience for your audience.
If you prefer video, you can watch it here:
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Further Reading
- Sound Better in Audacity: 5 Steps To Great Audio
- 10 Powerful Audacity Tips Everybody Should Know
- Audacity Step By Step – Guide for Beginners
- Top 6 Must Haves in Podcast Equipment in 2025
- Pro Podcast Editing Tips For Beginners
