Don’t Start Cutting Yet: The Setup Step That Saves Hours in Editing

You recorded your episode… now it’s time to edit. But before you start cutting, trimming, and adding music, there’s a step most new podcasters skip—and it can cost you hours.

In this episode of Snohomish Podcast Playground, Trent walks through the “editing prep” workflow: tracking your recording levels, choosing editing software, importing your files correctly, and applying basic audio processing so your episode sounds consistent from start to finish.

What we cover

• The recording mistake that ruins audio: peaking/clipping (and why it’s hard to fix)
• How to track your levels while recording (aim for upper green + yellow, not the top)
• The difference between gain and sliders/volume controls
• Editing software options (and who they’re best for):
  • Audacity (free, but destructive editing)
  • Reaper (one-time cost, powerful)
  • Adobe Audition (great if you already have Adobe)
  • DaVinci Resolve (free, strong audio tools + future video option)
• How to import audio from recorders (SD card workflow, stereo file vs. individual tracks)
• Why multi-track editing gives you more control (breaths, bleed, loud laughs, room noise)
• The “make it consistent” starter stack: compressor + denoise (plus de-esser/de-hum if needed)
• Why you should never edit on laptop speakers—and how to check mixes across headphones, car, and earbuds
• How EQ and presets can shape the “signature sound” of your podcast

The big takeaway

Editing gets way easier when you set your levels and processing first. Do the setup once, and you’ll save time on every episode after.

Next episode: How to actually edit—cutting, shaping the story, and building a polished final episode.