Podcast Software Mac Free

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When it comes to the best podcast editing and recording software, it’s important that you have something reliable. And just because we’re talking about the best software doesn’t mean it has to be the most expensive or the most complex.

Distribute your podcast to the most popular listening apps, including Spotify with just a single tap—and host unlimited content completely free, forever. See all hosting and distribution. Open Podcasts for me. In the Podcasts app on your Mac, click Listen Now (or any item) in the sidebar. Hold the pointer over the show or episode you want to play, then click the Play button. When the episode plays, you see the playback controls at the top of the Podcasts window. Best music production and podcast software for Mac (Free). Adding plugins is not an option. Price: $79.90 for macOS. Compatibility: macOS, iOS, web-based. TwistedWave is a simple podcast editing software that also features audio recording options, that allows you to record and edit all new episodes of your podcast. There are many local podcast recording softwares to choose from but our top three are Audacity, QuickTime, and Adobe Audition. It’s a free audio editor for PC and Mac and a great tool for beginners. There are numerous effects you can add to your final audio files and plenty of installable plugins.

Ultimately, the best software for you and your podcast is the software YOU feel the most comfortable using. Plus, we’re all about simplicity when it comes to your podcast setup.

When you’re first starting a podcast, the software you feel the most comfortable using is probably “none”. If you’re just getting started on your podcast journey, then you’ve likely not had experience with any software.

And depending on your podcast budget, the editing and recording software you choose to start out with might not be the same one you’re using one year from now.

Just getting started on your podcasting journey? Join us in our completely Free Podcast Course and we’ll walk you through how to create and launch your podcast!

Knowing What Software You Need

We’re going to look at the top 3 editing and recording software platforms we recommend so you can make an informed decision when it comes to the best software for YOU. We’ll also look at a few popular options among podcasters today throughout this post.

But before we dive in, let’s back up a little bit.

There are several different podcast formats to choose from when creating a podcast. Depending on what format you choose, the software you use to record your podcast and edit your podcast could be different tools.

The Interview Podcast

For example, an interview-based podcast will require additional software and tools to help you connect with your guest, especially if you’ll be podcasting remotely.

So you might connect with your guest and record your audio interview using one of the following:

  • Skype
  • Zencastr
  • Zoom.us

Then, when it comes to editing the audio, you download the mp3 file from your recording software and edit the audio using one of the following editing software programs:

Podcast Software Mac Free Downloads

  • Adobe Audition
  • Audacity
  • GarageBand

The Solo Podcast

On the other hand, if you’re producing a solo podcast – meaning it’s just you on the microphone – then you can record and edit your audio using just one program.

There are endless options when it comes to how you record and edit your podcast, mix in music, connect with your guest, and take questions from listeners. And not all software programs are created equal when it comes to the effects and options you have in post-production (that’s the editing phase).

Remember: the best podcast software for you is the one you feel most comfortable using, so it’s really about testing some different options out and finding the one that works best for you and your setup.

The Best Podcast Software

If you’re producing a solo podcast and using the same software to record and edit your podcast, or you’re looking for the best editing software for your post-production, then these are our top 3 recommendations in order.

1. Adobe Audition

Adobe Audition is our top software recommendation. It’s the software we’ve used to collectively record and edit over 3,000 episodes for our podcasts!

Now THAT is a lot of recording and editing!

We love Adobe Audition because the features are plenty, their templates are easy to create and use over and over again, and the effects are next-level. Once you’ve used this software a handful of times, you’ll be a pro.

As with most things in the podcasting space, software might seem scary in the beginning, but don’t let that hold you back.

Once you dive into Adobe Audition and setup your recording template and your hotkeys, you’ll be ready to rock!

This software is not free, but it is included in the Creative Cloud subscription if you already have that, or you can subscribe separately for $20 per month.

You can use the software on both Mac and PC.

2. Audacity

Audacity is also a great software option, and there are many professional and long-time podcasters who use Audacity and love it.

While it doesn’t have ALL the bells and whistles that Audition has, it will get the job done!

A big plus for Audacity is that it’s free, and you can use it on both Mac and PC.

3. GarageBand

GarageBand is for Mac users only and comes pre-installed as an application on your Macbook Pro or Macbook Air laptop and on your Mac Desktop. For a free software, it’s definitely one to check out if you’re a Mac user.

GarageBand also has a great mobile app if you’re interested in using a quick and easy software on-the-go to record at events, conferences, or while traveling.

Other Podcast Software Options

As I mentioned earlier, there are endless options when it comes to editing and recording software for your podcast. And as someone who guests on a lot of other podcasts I’ve had the opportunity to test out several recording software options that I’ll share here.

SquadCast

SquadCast is a recording software that helps you connect with your guest and record audio interviews. It supports up to 3 people on at the same time and also allows for scheduling your sessions in advance right inside the software.

SquadCast doesn’t currently support video recording, but it does give you a video player so you can see others while recording your audio. This is helpful because visual queues are important when communicating with multiple people so you don’t talk over one another.

From a guest perspective, joining the podcast host and conducting the interview via SquadCast was a breeze. And every podcast host I’ve ever talked to who uses SquadCast has given it 5 stars.

They do offer a 7-day free trial, then pricing is based on the number of hours you record in a given month. You can check out SquadCast here.

Hindenburg Journalist

I have not personally used Hindenburg Journalist, but I’ve stopped by their expo table at several podcasting events to check out their software.

From what I can tell it’s quite similar to Adobe Audition in that it gives you an entire toolset and multiple effects to really bring your audio story to life in post-production.

Hindenburg Journalist offers a 30-day trial, then you can choose from 3 options starting at $95. You can learn more about Hindenburg Journalist here.

Auphonic

Auphonic is a unique post-production software tool that helps clean up your audio files with levelers, normalization, and restoration. You can think of it as an audio upgrade – after-the-fact.

While Auphonic can’t save you from every recording or audio disaster, it does a good job of helping you clean up audio quickly. I’ve tested it out on a few different audio clips of my own before, but because I do a solo podcast and record directly into Audition with a good microphone, I’m not a great Auphonic candidate.

However, as an example, if you record interviews and feel like you and your guest’s audio levels are drastically different than. your own, then running your audio file through Auphonic could be a huge lifesaver.

You can also fix these type of issues with the click of a couple buttons in any editing software, but Auphonic will do it all for you with the click of one button.

Auphonic is free for up to 2 hours of audio per month, then plans start at $11 per month. You can learn more about Auphonic here.

Reaper

While I’ve heard Reaper mentioned in the podcasting space a few times, I haven’t tried it myself. We do have a couple of podcasters in our membership community, Podcasters’ Paradise, who use the tool and who have good things to say about.

But if you ask me, it’s not going to beat out Adobe Audition. Because I can’t speak to the tool myself, I’ve copied how they describe the software on their website:

REAPER is a complete digital audio production application for computers, offering a full multitrack audio and MIDI recording, editing, processing, mixing and mastering toolset.

Reaper has a discounted license you might be eligible for that is $60; otherwise the cost is $225. You can learn more about Reaper here.

Logic Pro

Logic Pro is an Apple Mac software product and is focused on professional music production, which is why I haven’t mentioned it up until now.

Yes, as podcasters we’re very creative people, and producing a single episode with music and all the fade-in and fade-out effects can sometimes feel like we’re composing an entire piece of music. It’s an art!

However, I’m in the camp of using software and tools that are built for specific uses. Logic Pro – and other software tools like Pro Tools – are no doubt high-quality software options. But they’re built for music production – not podcast production.

Of course, this isn’t to say it won’t work for you, so if you want you can check out Logic Pro here. They do offer a free trial, and then it’s $199.

The Best Mobile Podcast Recording Apps

Now that we’ve covered an extensive list of desktop apps for editing and recording your podcast, let’s look at some alternative options if you’re an on-the-go podcaster and want to record from your mobile device.

As previously mentioned, GarageBand has a great mobile app, so to keep things clean and simple we’d recommend using it if you’re going to go with GarageBand anyway.

Podcast Recording Software For Mac

Recording on-the-go podcasts

  • Backpack Studio (formerly Bossjock)

Note: some of these mobile apps also offer podcast hosting. We do not recommend any of the above for podcast hosting; our top podcast hosting recommendation is Libsyn because they’re 100% focused on podcasting and have been for many, many years.

If you do decide to go with Libsyn, use our Libsyn promo code FIRE and get the rest of this month AND next month free! Just be sure you don’t switch your plan during the promo period or else the promo will go away :(

There are also some great hardware tools you can pick up to help you record podcasts on-the-go, like the H4N Zoom Handheld Recorder. This allows you to record great quality audio from anywhere, then download it onto your laptop or desktop for post-production.

Recap: The Best Podcast Software

I know – that was a lot to take in. But don’t feel overwhelmed by the multiple options for editing and recording your podcast. We specifically shared our top 3 with you so you don’t have to wade through too many options – unless you like that sort of thing…

Software Review

Before we go, let’s do a quick review of your recording software options based on your podcast format. Note: for all formats below we recommend you do your editing and post-production using one of our top 3 recommendations.

Remote Interview Podcast

Record your audio using a tool like Skype, Zencastr, or Zoom.us. If you want to also record video, try Zoom.us.

Solo Podcast

Record and edit your audio using one of our top 3 recommendations: Adobe Audition, Audacity, or GarageBand.

Q&A Podcast

Receive voicemails from your listeners to capture their questions via audio using a tool like SpeakPipe.

On-the-go Podcast

Record your audio using a tool like Ringr App, or go for the handheld recorder option we recommend: H4N Zoom.

Don’t Over-Complicate!

Finding the best editing and recording software can seem like a tough decision, but please don’t over-complicate this step in the process! Your software is something you can switch at any time.

And if there’s a software or set of tools you’re currently using and love – but you don’t see it mentioned here – that doesn’t mean it’s not the best software for YOU! Remember, the best editing and recording software is the one YOU feel most comfortable using.

Now that you have all the info you need to make an informed software decision for editing and recording your podcast, head over to our podcast equipment page to complete your podcast setup!

Questions about your podcast setup? Reach out to us anytime! We’d love to hear from you and are here to help support you on your podcasting journey!

Frequently Asked Questions

What software do you need for podcast?

Depending on your podcast format, you may only need podcast recording and editing software, like Adobe Audition. If you are doing an interview-based show, or a show with multiple hosts and guests, then you’ll need a couple of other pieces of software in your setup.

Podcast Software Mac Free

Can I record a podcast on my phone?

Yes, you can use podcast recording apps like Ringr or the GarageBand app to record a podcast on your phone.

What is the best free podcast software?

The best free podcast software is Audacity and works for both PC and MAC.

Can you record a podcast remotely?

Yes, you can record a podcast remotely using tools like Zoom.us to connect with your guest and record the interview.

What’s better audacity or GarageBand?

Best Podcast Editing Software Mac

GarageBand will only work on a MAC, so if you’re using a PC, go with Audacity, and if you’re using a MAC, go with GarageBand.