Episode 5: The Right Tool for the Job – Editing

Introduction

CHERYL: Okay, Thomas. Should I start? Are you reordering on your side?

THOMAS: Mm. I think you may have intended to say “recording”.

CHERYL: [scoffs] That is what I said! [painfully long pause]

THOMAS: [conspiratorial laughs]

CHERYL: [scoffs again]

THOMAS: Well, uh, take a listen, Cheryl.

CHERYL: [pfft] Okay.

[squeal of rewinding tape]

CHERYL: Okay, Thomas. Should I start? Are you reordering on your side?

THOMAS: [chuckles]

CHERYL: [laugh-cries]

THOMAS: Welcome to POD Ask Us.

CHERYL: Isn’t it POD Access?

THOMAS: Can’t it be both?

CHERYL: Connecting d/Deaf and disabled podcasters to audiences and each other.

THOMAS: Ba-dum-dum bap-bah-dum.

CHERYL: [happy giggle]

Why Edit

CHERYL: Editing!

THOMAS: A powerful tool not only for cleaning up mistakes, but for most of us recording outside of fancy studios, chances are you’ll experience uninvited additions to your conversations.

CHERYL: Loud sanitation trucks collecting the trash, barking dogs, cars that go by with their booming system! [PODCat cries] Hey! PODCat, get outta here!

PODCAT: [trill-meows]

CHERYL: [annoyed sigh]

THOMAS: Editing is also a tool that can help craft your story.

CHERYL: Your conversation could be edited down to the most concise responses. After you edit the responses, you can go back and record an introduction to each response, or even rerecord your questions.

THOMAS: Editing enables the stitching of the post-recorded introductions and the abbreviated responses into one smooth, flowing narrative.

CHERYL: You don’t have to stop there. Editing lets you include other sources, sound design, and/or music to even further enhance your story.

THOMAS: Whether you’re producing a chat or a free-flowing conversation style podcast, a narrative style where a narrator moves the story along, or a radio drama, editing will improve the end result.

CHERYL: And, Thomas, I see you too are ready to edit.

THOMAS: Yeah, that’s right. I’m dressed for comfort with my Fat Albert and the Gang sweatshirt. And of course I have my handy over-ear headphones.

CHERYL: Hey! I have my headphones too!

THOMAS: Cool!

CHERYL: Let’s talk about the difference in the editing software available today.

Single versus multitrack

THOMAS: There are two types of editing software available today: single file and multitrack editors.

CHERYL: Ooh! Let me guess. The single file editor only works with one file at a time?

THOMAS: Exactly! It’s a great name! If a podcast is recorded with one or more voices on one file, a single file editor will do the trick to remove unwanted sections, move sections around the timeline, or even insert other audio clips.

CHERYL: Single file editors are known as destructive editors. Not because they mess stuff up! It’s because they overwrite the file as you work, destroying the original. [crashing boom] If you use one, save a copy of your original before you start editing in case you wanna start over!

THOMAS: Multitrack editors, on the other hand, can simultaneously edit multiple files without overwriting the originals.

CHERYL: Instead of recording a conversation with multiple people on one file, if each person is recorded on their own track, there would be a separate file for each one.

THOMAS: So if there were three people in the conversation, a host and two guests, the result of the recording would produce three audio files.

CHERYL: Pulling those files into a multitrack editor lets you edit all three at the same time. In a multitrack environment you have more options to enhance the quality of the audio.

THOMAS: In the example of a host and two guests, suppose guest number two has a bad case of the sniffles. While guest one is responding to a question, guest two is constantly sniffing into the microphone. [Thomas clears throat and coughs while Cheryl talks]

CHERYL: In a multitrack environment, guest two’s audio could easily be muted or cut out, [Thomas is muted] effectively stopping their sniffles! At least in the recording.

THOMAS: [sniffles] In a multitrack environment, the original files are never altered. The edits are more referential, and new files incorporating the edits must be rendered as an entirely new file.

CHERYL: In a multitrack environment, adding new content is as easy as adding a new track and placing the new content where you want it on a timeline.

THOMAS: Even if you’re only gonna edit single files, personally, I suggest using a multitrack editor.

CHERYL: There are free options like Audacity and GarageBand, and low-cost and powerful options like Reaper that work on both Mac and PC.

THOMAS: As a screen reader user, these are accessible options. My personal preference is Reaper. It’s quite flexible, and there’s a community of screen reader users who’ve helped to make it even more accessible.

Whether you plan to edit yourself or in some way outsource the task, you should be familiar with what editing can do to help make your podcast the best it can be. If you do plan to outsource, be sure to check out the skill share directory on PODAccess.net.

Wrap-up

THOMAS: What role will editing play in your podcast?

CHERYL: What role will you play in your editing?

THOMAS: Let us know! Go to PODAccess.net and hit the Contact Us button.

CHERYL: And you can upload a voice memo or write a message.

THOMAS: And you might just hear it,

CHERYL: read it,

THOMAS: or see it in a future episode of the podcast or on social media.

CHERYL: Tell a friend and an enemy to follow or subscribe to POD Access wherever you get your podcasts and on Instagram @ThePODAccess. That’s @ T H E P O D A C C E S S.

THOMAS: PODAccess.net.

CHERYL: Meow.