You’ve recorded. You’ve cleaned up the audio. Now comes the part that makes your podcast feel like a show: sound design.

In this episode of Snohomish Podcast Playground, Trent breaks down how to add music and sound effects in a way that supports your story (not distracts from it). You’ll learn a simple workflow for layering audio, how pacing and silence can make moments hit harder, and the licensing basics you need to understand before you publish anything.

What we cover

• Why music and sound effects can add emotion, tension, and impact—even to simple stories
• A practical workflow: edit your voice first, then layer music and SFX on top
• How to use sound effects to create scenes (crowded street, rain on a tin roof, etc.)
• Why pacing matters: matching your voice cadence to the “movement” of the music
• The underrated tool: silence (and why it can be more powerful than constant audio)
• Where to find royalty-free music and sound effects (including Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/)
• Licensing basics: “royalty-free” doesn’t always mean “free for anything”
  • Attribution requirements
  • Personal-use vs. commercial-use restrictions
  • Why it’s worth reading the license before you publish
• When it makes sense to record your own sound effects instead of downloading them
• Examples to listen to for inspiration (including Trent’s “Seybert” episode and “From Pitch to Puget Sound”)

The big takeaway

Sound design is where your podcast becomes immersive. Take your time, follow the license rules, and use music + effects to make listeners feel the story—not just hear it.

Produced and edited by Olivia Blomberg

Snohomish Podcast Playground is part of the Snohomish Podcast Network
Music: https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-have-fun-382760/

You’ve recorded your episode. You’ve set your levels and picked your editing software. Now comes the part that turns raw audio into something people actually want to listen to: the edit.

In this episode of Snohomish Podcast Playground, Trent breaks down a beginner-friendly editing workflow—how to clean up breaths and filler words, shape the message, and keep your pacing natural (not choppy). You’ll also learn the difference between a quick “leave it mostly raw” style and a more polished, NPR-style edit—so you can choose what fits your show.

What we cover

• The difference between tracks and clips (and why each voice should get its own track)
• Two ways to clean up audio:
  • Cut it out (razor/blade tool)
  • Turn it down (volume automation/nodes)
• Delete vs. ripple delete (and why ripple delete can save you hours)
• How to remove big breaths, filler words (“um,” “uh”), and awkward pauses without ruining your cadence
• Why editing is often best in multiple passes (cleanup pass + content/story pass)
• How to listen for clarity: “Does this make sense to someone who isn’t in my head?”
• What to do about mic bleed when recording with multiple people in the same room
• The biggest speed tip: learn keyboard shortcuts for your editing software

The big takeaway

Editing isn’t about perfection—it’s about making your message easy to follow. Clean up what distracts, keep what feels human, and build a flow your audience can stay with.

Snohomish Podcast Playground is part of the Snohomish Podcast Network
Music: https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-have-fun-382760/

Don’t Start Cutting Yet: The Setup Step That Saves Hours in Editing

You recorded your episode… now it’s time to edit. But before you start cutting, trimming, and adding music, there’s a step most new podcasters skip—and it can cost you hours.

In this episode of Snohomish Podcast Playground, Trent walks through the “editing prep” workflow: tracking your recording levels, choosing editing software, importing your files correctly, and applying basic audio processing so your episode sounds consistent from start to finish.

What we cover

• The recording mistake that ruins audio: peaking/clipping (and why it’s hard to fix)
• How to track your levels while recording (aim for upper green + yellow, not the top)
• The difference between gain and sliders/volume controls
• Editing software options (and who they’re best for):
  • Audacity (free, but destructive editing)
  • Reaper (one-time cost, powerful)
  • Adobe Audition (great if you already have Adobe)
  • DaVinci Resolve (free, strong audio tools + future video option)
• How to import audio from recorders (SD card workflow, stereo file vs. individual tracks)
• Why multi-track editing gives you more control (breaths, bleed, loud laughs, room noise)
• The “make it consistent” starter stack: compressor + denoise (plus de-esser/de-hum if needed)
• Why you should never edit on laptop speakers—and how to check mixes across headphones, car, and earbuds
• How EQ and presets can shape the “signature sound” of your podcast

The big takeaway

Editing gets way easier when you set your levels and processing first. Do the setup once, and you’ll save time on every episode after.

Next episode: How to actually edit—cutting, shaping the story, and building a polished final episode.

Snohomish Podcast Playground is part of the Snohomish Podcast Network
Music: https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-have-fun-382760/