Windows users are out of luck here, though.
It’s always been free, and a part of the standard Apple suite of software programs you get at install. GarageBand has been around since 2004, which makes it old enough to have become a mainstay in the world of recording instruments and voices. Top 7 DAWs for podcasting GarageBand (OS X) With all the DAWs, it will be necessary to find the Settings menu and be sure that your microphones are set correctly (if you’re recording straight to your PC or laptop). You can record it directly onto the computer using an interface (where you’d plug in the microphones), or transfer it from another recorded location, like a Zoom, Tascam, or other recorder via USB, Bluetooth, or SD card. The workflow from person to person and use to use can vary vastly, but for the basics they’re all easy enough to set up and get moving.īefore using a DAW, make sure that you’re able to get the podcast to the computer. They each have their pros and cons, and in the end it all comes down to you. I can’t tell you which DAW is necessarily better or worse, but I can tell you that they have some key differences which we’ll review. The main differences, of course, are in the workflow, and this all comes down to what you prefer. That said, there are some slight differences that we’ll run you through right here.
And I’m going to give you some good news straight up: they’re all pretty much the same, and jumping from one DAW to the next doesn’t take a huge learning curve. There are a number of multi-track DAWs out there available for free.
In this other blog, I explain how to set up your own template on Reaper. In this two-part series, I’m going to go over how to choose a DAW for podcasting. It allows you to edit all the “ums” and “ahs” out of your podcast, trimming it to perfection, and add a slight reverb and compressor to give it a nice professional shine. A DAW allows you unparalleled control over the post-production world.
But the benefits it offers are well worth getting familiar with the uncharted territory. Add some polish to your podcasting and start using a DAW in your post-production process.Ī Digital Audio Workspace, or DAW, might feel like an alien program to a podcaster who’s just used to plugging in and recording.