Starting a podcast is exciting, but choosing the right recording software can feel a bit overwhelming. There’s no shortage of software available, from simple editing applications to comprehensive DAW suites, to help get your voice heard.
Whether you’re a pro with 1,000 episodes under the belt and looking to upgrade or a beginner wanting to take your first entry into podcasting, we’re here to help you out.
We’ve compiled a list of the best podcast recording software that get the job done properly. These are all designed to give you clear, professional audio – some are simple to use and ideal for beginners, while others have a more comprehensive feature set for seasoned podcasters. Let’s dive in and get started!
In a hurry?
Here are our top three podcasting software:
| PreSonus Studio One 6.5 | The most comprehensive DAW and recording software available. | Check the current price |
| iZotope RX11 Elements | AI-powered audio restoration removes unwanted noise and distractions in your recordings instantly. | Check the current price |
| Sonnox Toolbox Voca | Simplified vocal processing plugin to get the best vocal sound with next to no effort. | Check the current price |
The best podcast recording software
1. PreSonus Studio One 6.5
Key features
- Industry-leading drag-and-drop functionality
- 64-bit, up to 768kHz audio resolution
- Natively supports spatial audio mixing and Dolby Atmos
Pros
- Has everything under the hood you need to make podcasts
- Comes with a huge range of plugins to get the best vocal sound possible
- Video integration means for any visual podcasts, you can edit audio and video simultaneously
Cons
- For podcasting, there may be too many features that won’t be utilised
PreSonus Studio One 6.5 is an excellent choice for podcasters, offering a blend of simplicity and powerful features. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to use, even if you’re new to recording software. You can quickly arrange your audio clips, add effects, and manage your project with minimal hassle.
One of the standout features of Studio One 6.5 is its ability to publish your finished recordings directly to online platforms. This means you can share your podcast with your audience without needing to export and upload your files separately. It’s a time-saver that keeps the entire process streamlined.
If you want to create an immersive listening experience, Studio One 6.5’s Dolby Atmos compatibility is great. It allows you to render your podcasts into an immersive audio format, giving your audio that feeling of space – something not all podcasts have.
With high-resolution recording capabilities, your voice and any accompanying sounds will be crystal clear, giving your audience the best possible listening experience.
2. iZotope RX11 Elements
Key features
- AI-powered audio restoration
- Five different modules onboard including De-Click, De-Clip, De-Hum, De-Reverb, De-Noise
- Saveable customisable module signal chains
Pros
- Professional-grade results in literal seconds with the AI-powered Repair Assistant
- The accuracy of the audio restoration means you don’t need to record in the world’s best studio to get great vocal sounds
- Visualisation of your sound helps give you feedback for before and after processing
Cons
- Lacks creative processors such as EQ and compression
A plugin that should be top of the list for podcasters, iZotope RX11 Elements keeps your recordings clean and professional. This audio restoration plugin excels at removing background noise, hiss, and other disturbances from your recordings. With its AI-powered technology, RX 11 Elements simplifies the complex process of audio restoration, making it accessible even for those without extensive technical experience.
The AI capabilities allow the software to automatically detect and reduce unwanted sounds while preserving the clarity of your voice. This means you can spend less time fiddling with settings and more time creating engaging content. Whether you’re dealing with ambient noises, background chatter, or other audio disturbances, RX11 Elements can handle it all with ease.
It also has a super user-friendly interface. The straightforward design ensures that even beginners can navigate and utilise the software effectively. You won’t need to spend hours learning how to use it; instead, you can jump right in and start improving your audio quality.
Better still, the software is affordable, offering professional-grade audio restoration at a price that won’t break the bank.
3. Sonnox Toolbox Voca
Key features
- Dual-stage compression
- Dynamic “Softening” filter
- Live Recording mode with zero latency
Pros
- A complete vocal production suite with compression, EQ, De-essing, and saturation in one
- Extremely simple workflow makes it easy to focus on your podcast rather than sound
- Though simple, it sounds fantastic and rivals much more complex plugins
Cons
- Lack of presets means starting from scratch
A fantastic tool for podcasters who want to elevate the quality of their vocal recordings, Sonnox Voca is about as simple as it gets to unlock professional vocal recordings. Even if you’re a novice pressing Record for the first time, or if you’re experienced, its streamlined set of parameters means you can achieve professional results with very little effort.
The zero-latency “Recording” mode lets you hear the changes the plugin is making in real-time on your voice, so you can record and edit with no delay between your talking and what you hear through your headphones. This gives you a true representation of the sound when recording.
One of the most practical features is the advanced de-essing functionality, which helps reduce sibilance – those harsh “ess” and “sh” sounds that can be distracting for listeners. By smoothing out these sounds, your recordings will be much more pleasant to listen to, making it easier for your audience to stay engaged. This is all done on an incredibly simple one-knob solution, as well!
The intuitive interface of Sonnox Voca is designed with simplicity in mind, enabling you to make quick adjustments without diving into complex settings. This is particularly beneficial if you’re new to audio processing or if you simply prefer a straightforward approach to enhancing your recordings.
Voca has been specifically designed with the voice in mind, letting you significantly improve the quality of your voice to bring more authentic and engaging content to your podcasts.
4. iZotope VEA
Key features
- AI-powered vocal enhancement
- Utilises industry-leading processors from iZotope including RX, Ozone, and Nectar
- Compatible with iZotope Audiolens
Pros
- Comes with a range of presets spanning a wide range of vocal recording situations
- Internal processing leaves only a few parameters to tweak to get the right sound
- Restores and processes your voice in one plugin
Cons
- No reverb reduction processing
Enhancing your vocals is made incredibly easy with iZotope VEA. It excels in real-time vocal enhancement, making your voice sound more polished and professional with minimal effort. Whether you’re recording in a studio or a more casual setting, the real-time enhancements ensure your voice remains clear and captivating.
One of the standout features is its automatic level adjustment. This tool balances your audio levels seamlessly, ensuring a consistent sound throughout your podcast. This is particularly useful if you have varying speaking volumes or if your guests are not always at the same distance from the microphone, keeping a consistent listening volume for your listeners with no unexpected jumps.
Additionally, the de-esser and compression tools included in iZotope VEA help to reduce harsh sounds and maintain a smooth, even audio quality. The de-esser targets sibilance, eliminating those sharp “s” sounds, while the compression tool evens out your vocal dynamics, giving your podcast a professional finish.
It’s simple, incredibly easy, and comes with the stamp of iZotope’s approval so you can be sure that whatever podcast style you’re doing, VEA is a simple solution to taking your recordings to the next level.
5. Antares Mid Mod
Key features
- Advanced modelling techniques for capturing the characteristics of premium microphones
- Includes individual onboard switches from polar patterns and filter per microphone
- Very low CPU usage
Pros
- Easily upgrade to the sound of a world-class microphone without the cost
- Over 100 microphones to choose from to find the right sound that works with your voice
- Optimised CPU lets you use it in real-time with zero latency
Cons
- It’s an older plugin which doesn’t feature many ultra-modern microphone models
A way to sound expensive without the actual cost? It can only be Mic Mod. It offers an impressive range of features that can transform your recording setup.
One particularly great feature is the microphone modelling technology, which allows you to emulate the sound of various classic microphones, giving your recordings a professional edge.
Whether you’re aiming for the rich warmth of vintage mics or the clarity of modern condensers, Antares Mic Mod has you covered. It’s useful if you don’t have access to high-end microphones, as it provides a cost-effective way to achieve a premium sound.
Plus, there’s a comprehensive collection of preamp models, allowing you to add subtle or dramatic colour to your recordings. This flexibility lets you experiment with different tones and styles, helping you find the perfect sound for your podcast.
The software also offers proximity effect adjustment, so you can fine-tune the bass response of your recordings and add depth and presence to your voice. It can make a significant difference in the overall impact of your podcast, ensuring your voice sounds full and engaging.
6. Notetracks Pro (1-year Subscription)
Key features
- Communicate with your production team with comments, replies, and tags all pinned to the audio timeline
- Hosts video tracks
- Centralised platform for notes, files, and discussions over your podcast production
Pros
- Streamline your production team between multiple members, even if in remote locations
- Improve the productivity of your podcast by improving communication and editing notes
- Acts as a storage solution for all of your podcast media in one convenient location
Cons
- Web-based solution requires an internet connection to operate
Notetracks Pro is an excellent choice for podcasters aiming to streamline their recording and editing process. Setting it apart from other recording software, Notetracks Pro has extensive collaborative features, allowing you to work seamlessly with co-hosts, editors, and producers.
One of the key benefits is its real-time commenting system. This enables you and your team to leave notes, suggestions, and edits directly on the track, so you’ll always have efficient communication and none of the back and forth that usually comes with editing.
Even better, you have a visual timeline interface – a clear, intuitive layout where you can see your audio tracks, notes, and edits all in one place. This makes it easier to navigate through your podcast episodes, mark important sections, and organise your workflow.
Whether you’re working solo or with a team, Notetracks Pro’s user-friendly interface and robust features make it an ideal tool for producing high-quality podcasts efficiently.
7. Acon Acoustica 7 Premium
Key features
- Multi-track recorder and audio editor
- Surround-sound support up to 7.1
- Includes a huge range of audio plugins, metering, and monitoring
Pros
- Built-in restoration and cleaning plugins are excellent
- Drag-and-drop usability makes complex tasks easy
- Offers a lot of functionality and processing power for vocals in an affordable package
Cons
- Not as streamlined as other audio editors in getting great podcast sounds fast
Equipped with top-tier audio restoration tools, Acon Acoustica 7 Premium is a comprehensive audio editing suite and multitrack recorder, perfect for recording multiple channels and cleaning up your recordings. Whether you’re dealing with background noise, clicks, or pops, Acoustica 7 Premium can remove these unwanted sounds, resulting in a clear and polished podcast.
The multitrack editing feature is particularly useful for podcasters. It allows you to manage multiple audio tracks simultaneously, simplifying the process of integrating interviews, music, and sound effects into your episodes. The intuitive interface makes navigating through these tracks straightforward, even if you’re not an audio editing expert.
Another excellent feature is the spectral editing tool. This advanced tool provides a visual representation of your audio, allowing you to make precise adjustments to specific frequencies. This level of control helps you fine-tune your podcast’s sound, ensuring that every detail is just right.
Acon Acoustica 7 Premium also supports a wide range of audio formats and integrates seamlessly with other digital audio workstations.
How to choose the best podcast recording software for you
What type of podcast will you record?
Choosing the best podcast recording software for your setup depends on the type of podcast you plan to create. Different formats require different tools. For instance, if you’re hosting an interview-based podcast, you’ll need software that facilitates guest connections, especially for remote interviews. In this case, look for features like call recording and live broadcasting.
On the other hand, solo podcasts – where it’s just you and your microphone – can be managed with simpler software that allows you to record and edit in one place. There’s a vast variety of recording and editing options available, from mixing in music to managing listener questions. The key is to find software that suits your specific needs, so try out a few options to see what fits your style and setup.
Your ability level and experience
Ultimately, the best software for you and your podcast is the software you feel the most comfortable using. Before you purchase one, think about how experienced you are in this field and how long you want to spend getting to grips with your chosen software.
Most often, podcasters aren’t audio professionals who have used this kind of equipment before and will be forced into learning software that can feel like a new language. Take your time and research your options. Watching YouTube videos and reading reviews from podcasters of a similar skill level is always a good idea, and it will make the process of choosing one more enjoyable.
Don’t stress over mastering every feature. For podcasting, you’ll likely use only the core set of functions. Focus on these and ensure you’re comfortable with them. Where possible, download product trials to get hands-on experience as this will give you the best indication if you can navigate the software easily in your workflow.
Compatibility with the rest of your setup
Most importantly, the best podcast recording software is one that fits seamlessly with your setup. Whether that’s hardware such as microphones and audio interfaces or your computer’s operating system and processing power, if the software isn’t compatible with the equipment you already have, you won’t be able to connect everything together.
For this reason, software should be the last thing on your shopping list when starting a podcast. To find a list of everything you need, see our guide to the best podcast equipment.
FAQs
What software do you need to create a podcast?
To create a podcast, you’ll need a DAW or an Audio Editor. These tools allow for precision editing and manipulation of your recorded tracks without compromising quality via built-in effects plugins. They also feature video integration, allowing for simultaneous audio and video editing.
What program does Joe Rogan use to record podcasts?
Joe Rogan uses Adobe Audition to record and edit his podcasts. Adobe Audition is an efficient and fully featured DAW with comprehensive audio editing tools. Like other DAWs, it provides you with effects plugins, restoration and enhancement tools designed to clean up your audio.
What platform do people use most for podcasts?
There are over 464 million podcast listeners worldwide, with most episodes being consumed on mobile devices. The top four platforms that people use for podcasters in 2024 are:
- Spotify: 33.7%
- Apple: 27.6%
- iHeartRadio: 6.2%
- Google Podcasts: 3.6%
Final thoughts
Choosing the right software is a crucial step in your podcasting journey. Once you find software that suits you, you’re likely to stick with it. Though there are lots of options to choose from, here we’ve listed the best podcasting recording software, showcasing everything from simple effects plugins and restoration plugins to comprehensive DAWs.
We’ve tried to cover a range of experience and ability levels, giving everyone an option, whatever their style of podcast. Let us know in the comments what software you use to record or any tips you have for budding podcasters! Happy recording!
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