How can I improve my podcast mix workflow in Audacity?
Through research, advice and a bit of trial and error, this is my current process (once I have edited the episode):
- Select all of the tracks (Command + A) and apply the Normalise effect. Normalise to 0 dB. This will make all tracks as loud as possible without distortion.
- Compressor - even out level across voice tracks - use radio and podcast setting
- Check all track gains set to zero
- Use the track “solo” buttons to listen to one track at a time and find the quietest track.
- Compare another track with the quietest track and use the track Gain control to reduce the volume of the louder track so that it matches the quieter track. Repeat for all the other tracks.
- Export as a mono mp3
- Check/tweak and publish
I'd be grateful for your thoughts and feedback. One thing I haven't quite figured out is how to get the final level right for the whole track, consistent across episodes. I tried the thing where you set the LUFS but it seems to mess everything up. This method seems to work well enough but I know I can do more.