Our GarageBand Podcast Editing Guide (+ a Simpler AI Alternative)

Quick Summary

This article walks you through how to edit your podcast using GarageBand step-by-step, perfect for beginners. It also highlights the key limitations of GarageBand and introduces a faster, AI-powered alternative to streamline your editing process and save hours per episode.

Still Spending Hours Editing Your Podcast in GarageBand?

Many podcasters, especially those just starting out, turn to GarageBand because it’s free and pre-installed on Macs. But what seems like a simple solution quickly turns into hours of manual edits.

Removing every "um," background hiss, or awkward silence becomes a frustrating game of zooming in and scrubbing timelines. And if you’ve got multiple speakers? Good luck syncing it all without losing your mind.

In this Cleanvoice article, we’re going to explain how to edit your podcast using GarageBand step-by-step, and then introduce you to a much simpler, AI-powered alternative that can cut your editing time down to minutes instead of hours.

But first...

Why Listen To Us?

At Cleanvoice, we've helped over 15,000 podcasters clean and edit their audio faster with AI. From solo creators to production teams, we’ve seen what works, and what wastes time. Our experience gives us unique insight into what makes podcast editing efficient. That’s why this GarageBand editing guide comes straight from years of real-world podcasting know-how.

What Is GarageBand?

GarageBand is Apple's free digital audio workstation that comes pre-installed on every macOS, iPadOS, and iOS device. Originally designed for music production, it has evolved into a capable podcast editing platform with dedicated templates and features optimized for speech content.

The software offers multitrack editing, built-in effects, noise reduction tools, and podcast-specific export settings. Its familiar interface makes it accessible to beginners while providing advanced features for experienced creators.

How to Use GarageBand for Podcast Editing (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Launch GarageBand

If this is your first time using GarageBand, here’s how to get started:

  1. On macOS: Click the Launchpad icon (rocket ship) in your dock, then search for “GarageBand.”
  2. If it’s not already installed, you’ll be prompted to download it from the App Store (it’s free).
  3. Once launched, you may see a loading screen that says “Installing Sound Library” the first time, let it finish.

Step 2: Start a New Project

When you launch GarageBand, choose “Empty Project” and click “Choose” in the bottom-right corner. This sets up a clean slate for your podcast.

Next, you’ll be prompted to select a track type. Pick the Microphone (Audio) option. At the bottom, make sure Input 1 is selected. This ensures mono recording, important for podcast audio, since stereo isn’t necessary and can complicate editing.

If you're using an external mic, click the right-facing arrow next to the default input device (usually “Built-in Microphone”) and select your mic from the drop-down list. Once your input is set, click “Create.”

Step 3: Set Up Your Workspace

After you enter the main editing interface, you’ll notice visual indicators that show input volume levels. Aim for green levels while speaking. Occasional orange is fine, but red indicates clipping, which causes distortion in your final audio. Adjust input levels using the controls below.

At the top of your workspace, GarageBand displays both beats and time. Since you're editing a podcast, not music, switch to time view for easier alignment of speech, pauses, and transitions.

Step 4: Create and Organize Audio Tracks

GarageBand starts with one default track labeled “Audio 1.” You can, and should, add additional tracks for different components of your episode. For example:

  • Track 1: Intro music
  • Track 2: Host narration
  • Track 3: Guest audio
  • Track 4: Outro music or ad spots

Click the “+” icon in the top left to add new tracks. This organization makes editing easier and allows you to process or mute specific elements without affecting others.

Step 5: Adjust Individual Track Volume

Each track in GarageBand has its own volume slider. This becomes critical if, say, your guest’s voice was recorded too quietly. Instead of applying global volume boosts, adjust just that track.

Use the fader to raise or lower the volume so that all voices and music sit comfortably at a consistent listening level.

See our guide on how to balance your volume levels.

Step 6: Solo Tracks for Precise Editing

To refine your podcast audio, isolate tracks by using the Solo button (headphone icon). This mutes all other tracks, allowing you to focus on one voice or sound at a time. It’s especially useful for catching:

  • Breaths
  • Lip smacks
  • Background noise
  • Mispronunciations or filler words

You can also mute individual tracks (speaker icon) to remove distractions while working.

Step 7: Split and Rearrange Audio Clips

GarageBand’s timeline view lets you see your recording visually. To cut or move specific sections:

  • Drag the playhead to the point where you want to make a cut.
  • Right-click and select “Split Regions at Playhead.”
  • Move, delete, or adjust the split sections freely.

This makes it easy to remove awkward pauses, tangents, or interruptions, especially when editing conversations.

Step 8: Use Automation to Control Audio Levels

When working with music or transitions, GarageBand allows automation, volume adjustments that change over time.

Go to Mix > Show Automation and click on the yellow line within a track. Add two dots to mark a fade-in or fade-out point, then drag to set the curve.

This helps:

  • Fade music under or out from a voice track
  • Smooth out jarring volume shifts
  • Balance transitions between sections

Step 9: Name and Organize Your Files

Before exporting, make sure to keep your project organized. Create a folder structure for each episode:

  • Episode folder

  • Raw recordings

  • GarageBand session file

  • Music assets

  • Final export

Naming your files consistently (e.g., "ep12_intro", "ep12_guesttrack") helps avoid confusion down the line.

Step 10: Export Your Final Podcast

Once satisfied with the edit:

  • Go to Share > Export Song to Disk
  • Choose your format (MP3 or AAC are common for podcasts)
  • Select the appropriate quality settings; "High" or "Highest Quality" is ideal for voice clarity
  • Save the file in your organized folder

Avoid compressing too much during export; spoken audio benefits from cleaner, fuller sound.

Challenges With Using GarageBand for Podcast Editing

While GarageBand is a powerful free tool, especially for Mac users, it isn’t without its limitations.

  • Not Built for Speech: GarageBand’s layout favors music production. Basic podcast tasks like trimming silences or cutting filler words take longer than necessary.
  • Weak Noise Reduction: Background noise cleanup is mostly manual. There's no smart filtering, so you spend more time tweaking EQs and gates.
  • No Speaker-Level Balancing: You’ll have to manually adjust volume and EQ for each voice, especially tough with remote guests or mixed mic setups.
  • Steep Learning Curve: You need to grasp audio concepts like compression, gain, and automation to get clean, pro-sounding results.
  • Zero Automation: All edits, like removing “ums” or fixing pacing, are done by hand. Great for control, bad for your schedule.

Meet Cleanvoice, A Faster, More Streamlined Way to Edit Your Podcast

As we outlined earlier, editing podcasts in GarageBand can get tedious, especially when your goal is clean, professional-sounding speech. That’s where Cleanvoice offers a simpler, faster alternative.

Rather than wrestling with plugins and trying to manually clean up every “um,” background hiss, or uneven voice level, Cleanvoice uses AI to automate the entire editing process. It helps you sound polished without spending hours in post-production.

Here’s how to edit your podcast in Cleanvoice, step by step:

Step 1: Sign Up

  • No credit card is required, and you’ll receive 30 minutes of free audio editing to test things out.
  • You may be prompted to verify your email. Just check your inbox and confirm to proceed.

Step 2: Log In and Access the Dashboard

  • Once you're signed in, you’ll land on your Cleanvoice dashboard, where you can start uploading and editing your episodes.

Step 3: Upload Your Audio or Video File

Cleanvoice supports multiple upload options:

  • Upload from your device
  • Paste a link
  • Import from Dropbox
  • Record audio directly
  • Use screencast

For this guide, let’s upload an audio file saved on your device.

Tip: Cleanvoice supports batch uploads, allowing you to edit multiple files at once with the same settings, which is great for podcasters managing episodes weekly.

Here is how long it takes to edit a podcast (and how to speed it up).

Step 4: Choose an Editing Template

After uploading, select a pre-configured editing template tailored to your needs:

  • Clean Audio & Fillers: Removes background noise and filler words like “uh” and “you know.”
  • Mute for Sync: Cleans audio while muting certain segments for easier video sync.
  • Clean & Summarize: Cleans audio and generates a transcript with episode show notes.
  • Clean Audio, but Keep Music: Perfect for episodes with background music or ambiance.

Templates help you skip repetitive setup and save serious time.

Step 5: Start Processing

Click “Start Processing” and let Cleanvoice go to work.

The AI will:

  • Remove filler words
  • Eliminate background noise
  • Balance speaker volumes
  • Cut awkward silences

Processing usually takes under 10 minutes, depending on the file size.

Step 6: Review the Cleaned Audio Timeline

Once done, Cleanvoice presents a visual timeline of your cleaned file:

  • Play the preview to hear the cleaned version.
  • Use the markers to inspect which segments were altered or cleaned.
  • Make any manual adjustments if needed, especially for flow and pacing.

Step 7: Download the Cleaned Audio

Once you're satisfied with the edits, simply click Download Audio to save your cleaned audio file.

Streamline Podcast Editing Using Cleanvoice

Editing your podcast shouldn’t feel like a second full-time job. While GarageBand is a powerful tool, it can quickly become overwhelming, especially when you're juggling recording, scripting, and publishing on a regular schedule.

Cleanvoice simplifies podcast editing by handling the time-consuming parts for you. It automatically removes filler words, background noise, awkward pauses, and more, all with a few clicks. Whether you're editing solo interviews, roundtable discussions, or video podcasts, Cleanvoice gives you professional-level output without the manual grind.

Ready to spend less time editing and more time creating? Sign up for Cleanvoice for free today.