The Fastest Way to Edit Multi-Track Podcasts in Premiere Pro

Alizah Aamir Alizah Aamir
• • 3 min read
The Fastest Way to Edit Multi-Track Podcasts in Premiere Pro
Photo by Adrian Hernandez / Unsplash

Podcasts have recently gained a lot of attention as new platforms have emerged. People prefer to multitask while driving, exercising, or just doing household chores and listen to their favorite podcasts. They can be about any topic and genre. You can access podcasts on your phone, tablet, or PC. Usually podcasts have episodes just like any TV show. The host remains the same while guests keep changing in every episode. Some podcasts also feature the same hosts talking about different topics.

While it does seem like an interesting idea, it is not easy to make a podcast. On top of the equipment and setup, you need a very good video editor to make the right cuts and bring your videos to a podcast form. Premiere Pro is a famous choice for editing videos in general. It has powerful features that help you edit raw videos and get a neat draft. However, it is very time-consuming to edit everything on your own!

🎧 Manual Podcast Editing Workflow in Premiere Pro

Let’s look at how you can manually edit a podcast in Premiere Pro;

I. Setup and Sync

  1. Import Your Files: Go to File > Import and bring your audio (and video, if applicable) files into the Project Panel.
  2. Create a Sequence: Drag your main audio file(s) onto the New Item icon (or go to File > New > Sequence) to create a sequence that matches your media's settings.
  3. Sync Multiple Tracks (If Needed): If you have separate tracks for different speakers, align them precisely.
    • Automated Sync: Select all clips, right-click, and choose Synchronize > Audio.
    • Manual Sync: Use visual audio spikes (like a clap or a loud word) as reference points to line up the tracks manually on the timeline.

II. The Initial Trimming and Cleaning (The 'Rough Cut')

This is where you remove the bulk of the content you don't need.

  1. Listen and Transcribe (Recommended): Use Premiere Pro's built-in Text Panel to transcribe your audio. This turns your audio into text, allowing you to delete entire sections of the conversation just by deleting the corresponding text in the panel. This is often the fastest way to get a rough cut.
  2. Remove Filler Words and Silences:
    • Listen for "ums," "ahs," long pauses, stutters, and verbal mistakes.
    • Use the Razor Tool (C) to make a cut before and after the unwanted segment.
    • Use the Ripple Delete function (Delete key on your keyboard after selecting the clip) to remove the segment and automatically close the gap behind it.
  3. Use the Ripple Edit Tool: The Ripple Edit Tool (B) is excellent for adjusting the length of an edit without leaving a gap. Drag the edge of a clip to trim it, and the rest of the timeline will shift automatically.

III. Mixing and Final Polish

  1. Add Intro/Outro Music: Drag your music clips to a separate audio track.
  2. Add zooms for emphasis: A manual zoom is created by animating the Scale and Position properties using keyframes.
    • Start Point: Move the playhead to where you want the zoom to begin. In the Effect Controls panel, click the Stopwatch next to Scale and Position under Motion to create your first set of keyframes.
    • End Point: Move the playhead to where the zoom should end.
    • Define Zoom: Increase the Scale value (e.g., to 120-150).
    • Define Focus: Adjust the Position values (X/Y) to center the subject, or drag the image in the Program Monitor.
    • Smooth It: Right-click the first keyframes and choose Temporal Interpolation > Ease Out. Right-click the last keyframes and choose Temporal Interpolation > Ease In.

🧑‍💻 Automated Editing with FireCut AI

So now that you have been through the entire manual guide, how long do you think it will take? Yes, that’s right. It will take hours, and no one has that amount of time. The solution is to automate your tasks with AI. FireCut AI is a Premiere Pro plugin that you can install quickly following a few easy steps. It automates your workflow and lets you create a polished video within a few minutes! 

FireCut’s powerful features that are particularly useful for podcast editing include:

  • Automated Captions: Transcribe your video and add captions in over 50 languages with just a click!
  • Silence and Filler Word Removal: Remove all the awkward pauses and gibberish filler words you said while thinking something without having to go through the entire footage.
  • Multi-track Editing: Switch the camera between speakers according to who is talking automatically.
  • Add Music: Add royalty-free relevant intro/outro or background music.
  • Dynamic Zooms: Add automatic zooms to add emphasis on a topic.
  • Highlights: You can create highlights to share on social media or as teasers without any manual cutting.

FireCut can easily reduce hours of work into minutes so you can focus on the creative side of video production. It is a must for your editing workflow if you are editing podcasts using Premiere Pro. So start your free trial today and transform the way you edit!