Skip to Main Content
Spalding University Library Logo

Audio Recording & Editing

This guide walks through the basics of audio recording techniques and free editing software.

Overview

Podcasting refers to the creation of various types of audio projects. Podcasts can be serialized fictional narratives with scripts, unscripted or scripted commentary on culture or media, interviews on particular subjects, or some combination of these approaches. A podcast is often organized around a certain theme or narrative. For example, each episode of the podcast The Next Picture Show compares old and new movies from similar genres while each episode of the fictional podcast Welcome to Night Vale explores different odd happenings in the fictional town of Night Vale.

                                                                                image depicts a woman smiling while podcasting with a USB microphone

What do I need to start a podcast?

Creating your own podcast only requires a few items!

  1. First, you need a podcast plan. What kind of podcast do you want to record? Scripted or unscripted? Solo or with a cohost? What topics will you cover?
  2. Once you're ready to record, you'll need a microphone. For most podcasts, a USB microphone that plugs directly into your computer is appropriate. You can check out the library's USB microphone so long as you record your audio within the library. 
  3. You can record and edit your audio in an audio program like GarageBand or Audacity--for more information on these programs, check out the GarageBand Basics and Audacity Basics tabs in this guide!
  4. Once you are finished recording and editing your work, export your podcast episode as an MP3 file.
  5. Your podcast needs a logo! You can design a podcast logo for free on a site like Canva. Canva has templates specifically sized for podcast logos.
  6. Podcasts often are hosted on podcast-specific hosting sites, then uploaded to popular platforms like Spotify. You can create a free account to host your podcast on a podcast-hosting site like Podbean, Buzzsprout, or Stitcher. You can also create your podcast through a platform like Spotify for Podcasters.
  7. You can then upload your podcast to other sites like Spotify or Apple.
  8. Congratulations! You are a podcaster!