Science Journal’s Guide to Post-producing a Podcast Episode
The post-production stage begins right after we conclude our recording session, or in some cases right after someone says, ‘let’s fix that in post’. Once the recording is over, the countdown towards the launching of the episode begins.
Following the production stage, the recorded audio is collected, named, and then uploaded to an online directory where the editors and rest of the team members can access them. The online directory that we use at Science Journal is a website called Notion. Notion helps streamline the processes of both managing the podcast and its contents for promotion, which are accessible to all the members of the team. The main priority is to export the best audio draft towards the launch date, each export is uploaded on the online directory (Notion) and all the team members work towards editing the transcript. As the draft exports near its final versions, the process for artwork begins accompanying the audio along with its launch for promotional purposes.
From First Draft to the Final Draft
The tools that I primarily use for editing audio and in this case the podcast episodes are using Adobe Audition. The first version of the draft is primitive and involves organizing each participant's audio, trimming unnecessary bits such as blank audio segments, filler words, and removing the recording slate (sound bite announced at the start and end of the recording to mark the beginning and end), etc. After touching up on these primitive but necessary edits, the first draft of the audio is exported.
From the first draft, I usually familiarize myself with two main things: the tone of the episode and the speaking style of the guest and hosts of the episode. This is helpful in the later stages when the edit on the transcript is to be translated into audio edits. Understanding the style and tone of speaking and the overall episode helps in making choices as to whether the edits suggested by the transcript go well with the flow of the rest of the segment. Within the project file, each participant's audio is extracted and separated onto different tracks. Sorting and organizing clips help lay a foundation for the rest of the audio editing process. It helps to tweak and modify each participant's audio individually without affecting the rest of the tracks.
The first draft is then uploaded onto an online directory (Notion) along with the transcript of the episode. The team then works on correcting and cutting out the redundant segments of the transcript within a set timeframe. The edits on the transcript are reflected on the audio project file, and this step is repeated until the third draft is exported.
Starting with the third draft or the draft that best reflects the latest and almost close to complete edits on the transcript, the audio editor then proceeds with advanced audio correction. Advanced audio correction involves: denoising (eliminating background noise), balancing audio levels, removing filler words, mouth clicks, or other voice imperfections, correcting audio glitches, adding audio fades, etc.
Background Music and Artwork
This is by far the most difficult and boring segment of the audio editing process because the editor must ensure that the background music, edits, and audio corrections flow well with the rest of the participants, therefore listening to the audio countless times. Thanks to Epidemic Sound, a website that we use to download and use the desired music and sound effects from their directory with appropriate licensing.
After listening to the draft multiple times, the best music that matches the vibes of each segment in the episode is chosen and imported into the project file from Epidemic Sound. And with this step completed, the audio exported is usually the final version or the closest one to the final. It is from this version that the trailer is extracted and used for artwork and promotional purposes.
When the episode audio editing nears completion, that's when the process for artwork usually commences. The general theme of the artwork depends on the episode and involves elements that reflect the characteristics of the guest speaker or the entity that they represent. The artwork after the composition is then exported to two different platforms: primarily social media platforms and the Science Journal Website. The strategy intended for uploading artwork onto social media is to conform to a grid pattern that is both sharable individually and connects in a landscape format when viewed from the Instagram profile page of Science Journal.
Following the work on exporting the final draft of the episode and composing the artwork, it's a wrap for the primary post-production members. The marketing team then takes on the task of promoting the episode and artwork on social media platforms and the website.
