The Core Skills Every Podcast Editor Should Have

In the world of podcasting, few roles are as important as the podcast editor.

The host may be the face (and the voice) of the show, but there is no show if no one is effectively putting everything together behind the scenes. It takes a skilled professional to take a raw recording and transform it into something polished; something people would take time out of their busy lives to listen to.

To know what a skilled editor truly brings to the table, it pays to understand the three core skills of the job: technical mastery, critical communication, and editorial judgement.

Core Skill 1: Technical Mastery

If an editor needs just any skill to start with, this would be it. Don’t think that it’s all about slicing and dicing raw footage or audio. A top-tier editor needs to be able to master the following:

Noise Removal Skills

Audio pollution like humming and background noises can easily make any audio unlistenable. Removing them, while simple in theory, takes a certain level of skill. Audio files that are ‘too clean’ can sound processed, or even unnatural.

Signal Chain Mastery

A skilled editor understands compression, equalization, and limiting in order to produce clarity in an audio file. With this kind of mastery, an editor can make an episode sound studio-recorded, even if it isn’t.

Knowledge of Leveling and Loudness Standards

A skilled editor knows that every major platform, from Spotify to Apple Podcasts, have requirements on loudness. This means that it is a highly sought after skill to be able to make sure an episode is consistently loud. Far from just being able to meet platform requirements, this can also make the listening experience of the audience better.

Skill 2: Critical Communication

Being technical with the audio may be where the skills of a podcast editor begins, but it’s not where it ends. Soft skills, like being able to effectively communicate with the rest of the team. is also a must. Here are some reasons why this is so:

The Need to Understand the Brand Voice

Knowing what the tone, style and energy of the brand are is crucial for editors. For example, a podcast about finance tends to require a more serious, disciplined edit. On the other hand, a podcast that talks about film and TV can allow for more playfulness and energy.

Proactive Feedback

A competent editor doesn’t just wait for files to come to them. They are proactive in offering feedback whenever necessary. They may give constructive criticism to the host, for example, on microphone technique and room acoustics, which can greatly improve the raw audio’s quality.

Skill 3: Editorial Judgement

Somewhere between the first two skills is the ability to listen critically and be able to improve the audio’s clarity and pacing. An editor, therefore, needs a sharp ear for the following:

Pacing Maintenance

With an editor who knows what they’re doing, there won’t be any dead air or overly long pauses. Filler words will be kept to a minimum as well, which will keep the host and the guests sounding natural without being too mechanical.

Content Condension

Efficient trimming of redundant conversations or distracting tangents can make episodes tighter and more impactful. In the place of anything redundant, the editor can place music, appropriate sound effects, and pre-recorded sponsor reads.

As you can see, the role of a podcast editor can be a heavy one, even if it doesn’t seem like it at a glance. If you have a professional who can do all of this effectively, then know that you’ve got yourself an editor worth keeping.