If you've ever wondered whether you need podcast editing, mastering, or both—you're not alone. Many podcasters use these terms interchangeably, but they represent distinct steps in the production process. Understanding the difference will help you create better-sounding episodes and know when to invest in professional help.
What Is Podcast Editing?
Podcast editing is the process of manipulating and arranging your raw audio recordings. It's where you transform rough recordings into a coherent episode.
What Podcast Editing Includes:
- Removing mistakes - Cutting out "ums," "ahs," long pauses, and flubbed lines
- Arranging content - Reorganizing segments, adding intros/outros
- Adding elements - Music, sound effects, transitions, and bumpers
- Level balancing - Adjusting volume between speakers
- Noise removal - Cleaning up background hums, clicks, and plosives
Editing is About Structure
Think of editing as the creative phase—shaping your raw material into a finished story. You decide what stays, what goes, and how everything flows together. A well-edited podcast feels tight, engaging, and professional.
Example of Editing in Action:
Imagine you recorded a 60-minute interview. After editing, your final episode might be 45 minutes of the best content, with:
- The host's 3-minute rambling intro cut down to 30 seconds
- A 10-minute tangent that didn't add value removed entirely
- Music beds added under the intro and outro
- Transitions inserted between topics
This is all editing—shaping the content itself.
What Is Podcast Mastering?
Podcast mastering is the final step in audio post-production. It's the process of optimizing your entire episode for playback across all platforms and listening environments.
What Podcast Mastering Includes:
- Loudness optimization - Ensuring your episode meets platform requirements (-14 LUFS for Spotify and Apple Podcasts)
- EQ adjustments - Fine-tuning frequency balance for clarity
- Compression - Smoothing out dynamic range for consistent volume
- Noise floor reduction - Cleaning up residual background noise
- Stereo enhancement - Adding depth and dimension
- Limiting - Preventing distortion on loud peaks
Mastering is About Polish
Think of mastering as the refinement phase—taking good audio and making it sound great. While editing fixes content problems, mastering makes your entire episode sound polished, professional, and consistent.
Why Professional Mastering Matters:
While editing fixes mistakes, mastering polishes your entire episode. Many podcasters use services like SONE to professionally master their episodes because:
- Consistency - Every episode sounds equally professional
- Platform compliance - Your audio meets Spotify, Apple, and YouTube requirements
- Time savings - Skip the technical learning curve
- Better listener experience - Your podcast sounds great on headphones, speakers, and car stereos
The Podcast Production Workflow
Here's how editing and mastering fit together in a typical production flow:
Recording → Editing → Mastering → Export → Upload
Step 1: Recording
Capture your raw audio with the best quality possible. This is covered in our guide on recording tips for crystal-clear podcast audio.
Step 2: Editing
Clean up your recordings, arrange content, add music and effects. This is where you shape your episode.
Step 3: Mastering
Apply the final polish. Optimize for all listening environments and platforms.
Step 4: Export & Upload
Export in the correct format and upload to your podcast host.
Can You Skip Mastering?
Technically, yes. You can skip mastering and upload directly after editing. But here's what you might lose:
Without Mastering:
- Inconsistent volume between episodes
- Audio that sounds quiet on Spotify but loud on Apple
- Muddy or harsh frequencies that hurt listening fatigue
- Background noise that's noticeable on good headphones
- Lack of that "professional" sound
With Professional Mastering:
- Consistent, polished sound across all episodes
- Perfect loudness for every platform
- Clean, clear audio that sounds great anywhere
- Time saved on technical fine-tuning
Do You Need Both?
Yes. Editing and mastering serve different purposes and both are essential for a professional-sounding podcast.
- Editing solves content problems—what you say and how it's structured
- Mastering solves audio quality problems—how it sounds to the listener
You can do your own editing (it takes time but is learnable), but mastering often benefits from professional tools and expertise. Many podcasters edit their own shows and outsource mastering to get that polished, professional sound without spending hours on technical audio work.
Ready for Professional-Sounding Episodes?
If you want your podcast to sound like the professionals without spending years learning audio engineering, try SONE's podcast mastering. It's an affordable way to get studio-quality sound on every episode—simply upload your edited audio and receive a professionally mastered file back.
Start mastering your podcast today and hear the difference professional audio makes.
FAQ: Podcast Editing vs Mastering
Can I master my own podcast? Yes, with the right software (like Adobe Audition, Logic Pro, or iZotope RX) and some technical knowledge, you can master your own episodes. However, it requires learning about LUFS, EQ curves, compression ratios, and other audio concepts.
How much does podcast mastering cost? Professional mastering typically costs $15-50 per episode. SONE offers podcast mastering at a fraction of this price, making professional sound accessible to podcasters on any budget.
Do I need to edit before mastering? Absolutely. Mastering cannot fix content issues—bad edits, long pauses, or filler words. Always edit first, then master the final edited file.
What's the difference between podcast editing and audio editing? For podcasts, "editing" specifically refers to the post-production process of shaping your episode content. It's the same concept as audio editing in music or film, but focused on spoken-word content.
How long does podcast mastering take? Depending on the service, mastering takes anywhere from a few minutes (with automated tools) to 24-48 hours (for manual professional mastering). SONE typically delivers within hours.