Podcast Audio Setup: Formats, Bitrates, and Workflow
Good podcast audio is not about expensive gear. It is about using the right format at each stage: recording, editing, and distribution. Get these settings right and your podcast sounds professional regardless of your microphone.
Recording Settings
Record in WAV at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, 24-bit. Mono if you have one microphone. Separate mono tracks per speaker if recording multiple people. Do not record directly to MP3 — you lose editing flexibility. WAV gives your editor full quality to work with. 24-bit is important because it lets you record at conservative levels without noise floor issues. Aim for peaks around -12 dBFS. If recording remotely, have each participant record locally in WAV and send their files afterward.
Editing Workflow
Edit in WAV. Every major podcast editor (Audacity, Hindenburg, Adobe Audition, Logic Pro, Reaper, Descript) works with WAV natively. Apply noise reduction, EQ, compression, and loudness normalization to the WAV files. Export the final edit as WAV first — this is your master. Then convert to your distribution format. Never edit MP3 and re-export as MP3. Each save cycle degrades quality.
Distribution Format and Settings
MP3 is the podcast standard. Every player, every app, every device plays MP3. Use 128 kbps for mono (single speaker), 192 kbps for stereo (multiple speakers or music). CBR for maximum compatibility with older players and analytics. Mono for speech-only podcasts — it halves file size with no quality loss for spoken word. Loudness target: -16 LUFS for general podcasts, -19 LUFS for Apple Podcasts recommendations. Include ID3 tags with show name, episode title, and artwork.
Hosting Platform Requirements
Most podcast hosts accept MP3 and M4A. Apple Podcasts recommends MP3 or M4A (AAC). Spotify accepts MP3, M4A, OGG, and FLAC but re-encodes everything to OGG Vorbis for delivery. YouTube for podcasts: Upload WAV or MP3 — YouTube re-encodes to AAC. Stick with MP3 for RSS distribution. It works everywhere and keeps your feed simple. File size matters — listeners with slow connections appreciate efficient encoding.
Common Podcast Audio Mistakes
Recording in MP3 directly. Stereo recording of a single voice (wastes bandwidth). Not normalizing loudness (listeners constantly adjust volume). Exporting at 320 kbps for speech (wasteful — 128 kbps mono is perfect for voice). Not using a pop filter or treating the room (format cannot fix bad acoustics). Skipping the WAV master — without it, you cannot re-export at different settings later.