How Long Does It Take to Edit a Podcast (And How to Speed It Up)

Quick Summary

In this guide, we’ll find out how long it takes to edit a podcast, which depends on audio quality, episode length, and complexity.

We’ll explain the biggest time-wasters in podcast editing and how you can speed things up using automation and smart tools like Cleanvoice. Dive into our blog to learn more about podcast mixing, editing and audio refining.

Wondering How Long Your Podcast Editing Should Take?

If you’ve ever sat down to edit what seemed like a “quick” episode, you’ve probably realized the process takes far longer than you thought. Not every show is the same, and time adds up fast when you’re doing it all yourself.

The reality is, podcast editing time depends on episode length, audio quality, and how polished you want the final result.

In this Cleanvoice article, we’ll explore what affects podcast editing time, and how you can complete most cleanup tasks in as little as 10 minutes, dramatically cutting your total edit time.

Why Listen to Us?

At Cleanvoice, we deliver AI-powered cleanup, removing fillers, stutters, reverb(echo-reverb-remover), background noise, and more. It gives you studio sound, without having one.

Our tools offer podcast transcription, mixing, summarization, and personalized podcast audits.

Trusted by 15,000+ podcasters and 30+ brands, we create seamless workflows for podcasters and beyond.

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How Long Does It Take to Edit a Podcast?

Most podcasters spend between 2x–4x the episode’s runtime on editing, so a 30-minute episode could take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours, depending on skill level, tools, and production quality.

Unlike simple trimming, full editing involves judgment calls on pacing, clarity, and flow, often making it more of a creative process than a technical one. For podcasters, especially solo creators, this can quickly add up to hours of exhaustive work per episode.

Podcast editing heavily depends on your workflow, tools, and content format. It also varies by style, light edits may take 1.5x the episode length, while narrative or sound-rich shows can take 5x or more.

Why You Should Speed Up Podcast Editing

  • Faster turnaround means more content: Quick editing can speed up your releases in a given time, enhancing audience growth.
  • Smarter workflows lead to cost savings: Whether you’re editing solo or outsourcing, cutting editing time reduces labor or editing expenses.
  • More speed enables scalability: As your podcast grows, faster editing makes it easier to produce bonus content, ads, or spinoff shows.
  • Professionalism without delays: Reducing edit time without sacrificing quality helps you stay competitive and sound polished.

How to Speed Up Podcast Editing Without Losing Quality

Method 1: Using Cleanvoice to Edit Your Podcast in 10 Minutes

Step 1: Upload Your Audio

Log in to Cleanvoice and upload your files. Our platform supports most formats including WAV, MP3, and MP4.

You can either drag and drop your file, provide its link, or import it from your Dropbox.

After selecting your file, click ‘Upload’.

Step 2: Choose the Cleanup Features

We offer a range of automated tools that help with bulk editing, for example:

You can select tools individually or create a custom template.

Step 3: Process and Review the Timeline

Continue with features you’ve selected and start processing your audio file(s).

Our platform will display a visual waveform after a few minutes with markers for each change it applies. Use this to quickly spot-check edits.

Step 4: Export for Final Mixing

After reviewing the results, download or export the edited track.

We preserve original quality while reducing the tedious work. From here, you can also import it into your DAW for final mixing, adding music, mastering, and final LUFS adjustment.

Since Cleanvoice integrates with DAWs, you can export timestamps, edit in tools like Audition or Reaper, and automate publishing. This cuts out time lost switching between tools.

Method 2: Manual Editing in Audacity

Step 1: Prep Before You Edit

Start by importing your recorded file(s): File > Import > Audio. Use multitrack recordings if available, and place each speaker on a separate track.

  • Label tracks clearly using the dropdown arrow on each track
  • Trim dead space, false starts, and obvious errors before deeper editing. Use the Selection Tool (F1) and Delete key to cut out parts of the audio.

Convert stereo into mono if needed: Tracks > Mix > Mix Stereo down to Mono.

Step 2: Use Keyboard Shortcuts and Ripple Editing

Audacity doesn’t have native ripple editing, but you can replicate it manually:

  • Use Ctrl + X to cut and Ctrl + V to open gaps manually
  • Customize shortcuts: Edit > Preferences or Ctrl + P for actions like zoom, playback, and silence

Step 3: Edit for Flow, Not Perfection

Focus on your pacing. Use Effect > Special > Truncate Silence to quickly tighten your entire episode.

Just make sure to tweak the threshold settings so you don’t cut out natural pauses that keep your audio sounding human.

Avoid obsessing over every “um” cut filler or off-topic tangents that hurt narrative clarity instead.

One cool part about this is that Cleanvoice works smoothly with Audacity.

You can cut off all the filler words, stutters, and noise with our tool and get a timeline file with all suggested edits. Simply export it to Audacity to review and apply further changes.

Step 4: Batch Your Audio Cleanup

Apply effects in batch:

  • Select all tracks (Ctrl + A) before applying audio equalization, compression, and normalization
  • Save effect chains using Tools > Macro Manager to apply preset sequences to all files in future projects

Aim for clarity, not clinical polish. Avoid stacking too many effects, especially noise reduction and hard compression, which can degrade natural tone.

Step 5: Mix and Export Efficiently

Once your edits are locked in, it’s time to polish and package your episode for publishing:

  • Use Effect > Volume and Compression > Loudness Normalization to hit -16 LUFS (stereo) or -19 LUFS (mono)
  • Add fades: Effect > Fading > Fade In/Out for intro/outro transitions
  • Export your file and label appropriately (e.g., Episode_21_FINAL_mixdown.wav)
  • Add metadata: File > Export > Edit Metadata…

By mastering Audacity’s workflow and combining it with strategic prep and cleanup, you can dramatically speed up editing while keeping full creative control.

Step 6: Build an Editing Template

To speed up future projects, create a reusable Audacity project with:

  • Preloaded intro/outro music placed on separate labeled tracks
  • Equalization and compression settings pre-configured
  • LUFS monitoring plugin (e.g., via Loudness Normalizer or external plugin support with Audacity 3.3+ and VST3 support)

Save your setup as a project template: File > Save Project As.

Best Practices for Speeding Up Your Podcast Editing

Plan Ahead with Real-Time Marking

While recording your podcast, make a habit of marking timestamps every time there's a mistake, restart, or important moment. This helps you avoid scrubbing through hours of footage later.

Tools like Cleanvoice can automatically generate markers, so when you’re editing, you can quickly jump to the exact spots that need attention.

Standardize Your File Structure

Having a consistent folder and file naming system will save you time.

E.g.

  • Organize your project into clear categories like /raw/, /clean/, and /assets/.
  • Use easy-to-understand names (e.g., host1.wav or final_mix.mp3) to quickly identify your files, reducing the time spent searching.

Batch Your Editing Tasks

Instead of switching between tasks constantly, group similar tasks together.

For example, do all the cleanup work (like removing filler words or background noise) before moving on to content edits or mixing. This minimizes distractions and lets you focus on one step at a time.

Use Templates and Presets

If you find yourself doing the same editing steps repeatedly, save them as templates or presets. In Audacity, for example, you can create a project template with your intro music, EQ settings, and compression presets already set up.

This saves time for future episodes, as you won’t need to redo these steps.

Automate Repetitive Tasks

Automation is a game changer. Use tools like Cleanvoice to automatically remove filler words, silence, and background noise.

These tools can reduce hours of manual editing to just a few minutes, leaving you more time to focus on content and creativity.

Use Keyboard Shortcuts and Time Blocks

In your editing software, learn and use keyboard shortcuts to speed up actions like cutting, pasting, and zooming in. Additionally, schedule dedicated editing blocks of 2–3 hours at a time.

Minimizing interruptions during these sessions helps you maintain focus and work faster.

Edit Your Podcast in Just 10 Minutes Using Cleanvoice

Podcast editing can easily eat up hours, but it doesn’t have to. We’ve shown you how long editing typically takes, why it varies, and how to speed it up using structured workflows and AI tools like Cleanvoice.

At Cleanvoice, we automate the most tedious cleanup tasks, freeing up hours for you to get more creative, not exhausted. Our tool is a must-have for podcasters who value both speed and quality.

Edit your podcast in 10 minutes with Cleanvoice today.