Our Guide on Audio Normalization for Podcasters: How to Balance Your Volume Levels

Quick Summary

Our guide covers three different audio normalization methods: manual DAW, Auphonic, and AI-powered tools like Cleanvoice.

These help ensure consistent volume across all episodes. Audio normalization makes sure your podcast is easy to listen to and prevents listener fatigue, giving your show a polished edge.

Even if you're new to editing or just want to upgrade your workflow, our article outlines everything you need to know.

Tired of Volume Spikes in Your Podcast? Let’s Fix That

Inconsistent audio is a fast way to lose podcast listeners. They expect clear, balanced sound, and if your episode jumps in volume between speakers or segments, they’ll notice and tune out.

And one quick and easy way to fix this is audio normalization. But how?

In this Cleanvoice article, we’ll answer that by exploring 3 ways to normalize your audio, along with some best practices.

Why Listen to Us?

At Cleanvoice, we’ve helped over 15,000 podcasters clean up and level their audio with tools like AI audio enhancer. Our multilingual support and user-friendly interface make our tool accessible to creators worldwide.

Our features include removing filler words, background noise, and silences, resulting in polished, professional-quality sound.

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What Is Audio Normalization?

Audio normalization is the process of adjusting the volume of an audio track to a consistent level. Rather than boosting the loudest moments, it raises or lowers the entire file based on a set standard, usually peak or loudness targets.

This is especially useful in podcasts, where different speakers or segments can vary in volume.

It doesn’t change the dynamics or emotion of your audio, but simply brings everything to a uniform level.

Why Audio Normalization Matters for Podcasters

  • Listener Comfort: Normalization prevents listeners from adjusting their device volume frequently.
  • Platform Standards: Many platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts normalize playback. Starting with normalized content gives you more control.
  • Editing Efficiency: With a normalized baseline, it’s easier to mix in music, ads, or guest audio consistently.
  • Professional Sound: Normalized podcasts feel more polished and easier to follow, increasing credibility and retention.
  • Consistent Branding: Consistent volume across episodes gives your podcast a clean, reliable sound that listeners recognize and trust.

How to Normalize Audio for Podcasts

Method 1: Automatic Normalization Using Cleanvoice’s AI Audio Enhancer

Step 1: Upload Your Audio File to Cleanvoice

Log into your Cleanvoice account to access our editor. You can either drag and drop your audio file, or import from the options given. We support most audio formats, including MP3, MP4 and WAV.

For multitrack sessions (e.g., interviews), you can upload separate files per speaker, where we process each channel individually to maintain clarity and level balance across speakers.

After choosing your file, click ‘Upload’. We support batch uploading, so you can select multiple files at once too.

Step 2: Select Normalization and Audio Cleanup Settings

Once uploaded, you’ll see a menu of editing tools. For a custom template to normalize your audio, click on the option below:

Then, select the following settings:

  • Remove Breath – Reduces audible breaths to create a smoother, more polished delivery.
  • Remove Noise – Helps reduce distractions before normalization is applied.
  • Normalize – This balances loudness levels across your entire file to hit podcast-standard targets like -16 LUFS.
  • Studio Sound– Auto-applies EQ, removes reverb and heavy noise. Enhances clarity and depth to give your audio a professional, studio-quality finish.

These pre-normalization cleanups make the algorithm more accurate when adjusting overall volume. Optionally, activate "Clean Everything" for a bundled setup.

Once you’re done, create the template to proceed.

Step 3: Process and Review the Edited File

Choose your new template and start processing your audio file(s).

Within minutes, our system returns a normalized, cleaned-up version of your track.

Use the waveform preview to play through your file and confirm that:

  • Voice levels are even across segments and speakers
  • No over-compression or pumping artifacts were introduced
  • Background elements (like music) weren’t raised too high unintentionally

If needed, you can toggle certain fixes off and reprocess instantly. This is helpful if, for instance, you prefer to keep some breath sounds or feel a section got too quiet.

Step 4: Download or Export Your Normalized Audio

Once satisfied, click Download or export your file. Our tool lets you export in different formats like WAV, MP3, MP4 or FLAC. You can also export a transcript or generate podcast summaries if needed. These extra features are helpful for show notes and SEO.

You can select these export options when creating a new custom template.

Method 2: Manual Normalization in a DAW (e.g., Audacity or Reaper)

Step 1: Import Your Raw Podcast Audio into the DAW

Open your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and import your main audio file. Here, we’re working with Audacity.

Convert stereo to mono if applicable, especially for single-speaker episodes, to reduce phase issues and processing overhead.

Step 2: Isolate and Remove Unwanted Noise or Segments

Before normalizing, click on ‘Edit’ on the menu bar, go to ‘Remove Special’ and click ‘Trim Audio’ to trim intro/outro silence, remove stutters, or cut irrelevant sections. You’ll want to normalize only what stays in the final cut to avoid skewed peak levels.

Use your DAW's:

  • Spectrogram view for identifying ambient noise
  • Cut tool for slicing unwanted filler

Step 3: Apply Peak Normalization or Loudness Normalization

Next, select ‘Effect’ on the menu bar, go to ‘Volume and Comparison’, and click ‘Normalize…’.

Decide between two types of normalization:

  • Peak normalization raises the highest peak to a set level (e.g., -1 dBFS)
  • Loudness normalization targets perceived loudness (e.g., -16 LUFS)

Loudness normalization is preferred for podcasting. In Reaper or Audacity, use a plugin or LUFS meter to scan your track, then adjust the gain to meet the loudness target without clipping.

Note: Audacity doesn’t include a native LUFS meter, so you’ll need a third-party plugin to measure loudness accurately.

Step 4: Use Compressors/Limiters to Balance Dynamic Range

Dynamic compression ensures that loud moments and soft speech sit closer together in volume. Go back to ‘Volume and Compression’ and select ‘Compressor…’.

Set the ratio to 3.1 with a soft knee at 5 dB for natural, transparent compression. A -1 dB threshold helps tame peaks without flattening your sound. Keep make-up gain at 0 dB—you can boost later if needed.

Finish with a limiter at -1 dBFS for a clean, broadcast-ready sound. This avoids distortion on louder systems or streaming compression artifacts.

Step 5: Review Waveform Consistency and Export the File

Listen back on headphones and studio monitors to catch tonal imbalances or uneven dialogue. If sections feel too quiet or loud, use volume automation instead of re-compressing.

Once satisfied, export your track in 44.1kHz WAV or 128–192 kbps MP3, whatever suits your distribution platform.

One cool part about this is that Cleanvoice works smoothly with Audacity (as well as Reaper). After your audio is cleaned, with filler words, stutters, and noise removed, you get a timeline file with all suggested edits. Simply export it to Audacity to review and apply changes.

This integration keeps your workflow fast, flexible, and fully in your control.

Method 3: Audio Normalization with Auphonic

Step 1: Upload Your Audio File to Auphonic

Go to[Auphonic.com], create an account, and drag and drop your audio file.

Here, you can upload one or more audio tracks. Auphonic supports single or multitrack inputs. You can drag in raw interviews, narration, and intros as separate files, and it will align and level them accordingly.

The platform supports WAV, MP3, AAC, FLAC, and more, so you don’t need to convert files before uploading. For podcasts with music beds or ads, keep each element as a separate track to maintain control over individual loudness.

Next, select the option ‘Upload & Edit’ to proceed to the editor.

Step 2: Choose Your Target Loudness and Processing Settings

Auphonic excels in broadcast-standard loudness normalization. Under “Audio Algorithms,” enable:

  • Loudness Normalization (default is -16 LUFS for podcasts)
  • Adaptive Leveler to even out differences between speakers
  • Filtering and Noise Reduction if needed

You can also define dynamic range settings, ideal if you're mixing in music or sound effects. Auphonic intelligently preserves speech clarity while minimizing clipping or compression artifacts.

If you’re uploading multiple episodes, create a preset so future uploads auto-apply the same normalization profile. This is especially useful for teams or publishers standardizing a brand sound.

Step 3: Set Metadata and Export Formats

Scroll back up to enter metadata like episode title, artist name, and cover art.

Auphonic supports direct uploads to podcast hosting platforms or cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.), which helps streamline your publishing pipeline. You can even enable chapter markers and intros/outros for added polish.

Step 4: Process and Download Your Normalized Files

Click Start Production. Auphonic will process all tracks and deliver downloadable links once complete. You’ll receive a detailed report summarizing loudness levels, dynamic range, and audio statistics.

Use these reports to verify your output matches standards like -16 LUFS and -1 dBTP (true peak).

For teams, these diagnostics are helpful for maintaining consistency across episodes or shows. If anything’s off, tweak the settings and reprocess. Auphonic stores your project history, so re-edits are quick.

Why Choose Cleanvoice’s AI Audio Enhancer for Audio Normalization?

  • Automated volume leveling: Our tool automatically balances speech volumes across speakers, cutting off loudness spikes or drop-offs, with no manual gain staging required.
  • Smart detection of imbalances: Our AI pinpoints inconsistencies in audio intensity and corrects them in context, keeping the dynamics intact while ensuring clarity.
  • Works with noisy or imperfect audio: Whether your raw recording is captured on the go or in a noisy space, our tool adjusts volume smoothly without introducing artifacts.
  • Integrated workflow: Cleanvoice normalizes audio alongside removing filler words, trimming silence, and reducing breath sounds, so you don’t need separate tools or plugins.
  • Fast, scalable processing: You can batch-process multiple episodes or long recordings in minutes. This makes Cleanvoice a go-to tool for solo creators, editors, or production teams on tight schedules.
  • Beginner-friendly, pro-ready: Doesn’t matter if you’re on episode 3 or episode 300, Cleanvoice simplifies audio cleanup without locking away control.

Best Practices for Audio Normalization

  • Normalize after editing: Always apply normalization after cutting, trimming, and cleaning your audio to avoid reprocessing. This makes sure the audio levels are adjusted based on your final, polished content, not rough or incomplete edits.
  • Choose the right target level: For podcasts, aim for -16 LUFS (stereo) or -19 LUFS (mono) to align with platform standards. These targets ensure consistent playback across all devices and apps.
  • Avoid normalizing every clip individually: Normalize at the project level, not per file, to maintain consistent dynamics. Per-clip normalization can introduce unnatural volume jumps between segments or speakers.
  • Don’t normalize raw recordings: Clean background noise and EQ (equalization) first, otherwise normalizing noisy audio just raises the noise floor.
  • Mind your dynamics range: Normalization adjusts loudness, but it doesn’t compress overly dynamic audio. If your quiet parts are too soft, consider gentle compression before normalizing to maintain clarity and listener comfort without sacrificing natural flow.
  • Test across devices: Don’t stay limited to just headphones when playing back your normalized audio. Try it out on car speakers, laptops and any other device to confirm it sounds balanced. Different devices reveal issues that may go unnoticed otherwise.
  • Document your settings: Keep a consistent normalization approach across episodes by saving presets or notes per show. This helps maintain a steady sound signature that your listeners would expect all the time.

Get Balanced Audio Without the Guesswork

Audio normalization is a small change to your volume with a big impact, which helps your podcast sound more consistent, professional, and listener-friendly. From manual methods to automated AI solutions like Cleanvoice, you can choose the method that best fits your workflow and expertise.

At Cleanvoice, we support 20+ languages and integrate with workflows like Audacity. Our AI tools handle everything, from volume leveling to filler words and noise removal, saving your time without compromising quality.

Try Cleanvoice today and make every episode sound professionally produced.