10 apps to level up your podcast
From planning, recording, editing and post-production, to marketing, SEO and social media, there’s a vast array of apps and services podcasters can take advantage of to help them do their best work, and increase their listenership.
In this list
And 4 more resources
Episode Check
Episode Check provides a simple interface for uploading an episode, if you want to send it to a client, guest, or co-host for approval before it’s released.
Comments can be left on the audio at a specific time, so you can make specific edits. The service also supports version control, so you can upload another version of the same episode, and let people comment on that version.
At less than $20 a year, it’s an affordable service that could save you time, especially if you work with people who aren’t entirely precise about the feedback they give.
Podcorn
Podcorn is a platform where podcasters and advertisers meet, to exchange offers. Whether you’re looking to monetise your show or spread the word via other podcasts, Podcorn aims to make the process simple and safe.
Any money that changes hands between advertisers and creators is put into escrow (which, for non-Americans means money purgatory), until both parties are satisfied.
Although, like other ad marketplaces, Podcorn utilises a tracking prefix, this is only used to verify the download numbers your podcast receives, so advertisers have more confidence in their reach. Importantly, Podcorn is a marketplace for host-read ads only, so the prefix doesn’t do anything to your MP3s (unlike other services), and ads that you record are designed to remain in the episode indefinitely.
That said, Podcorn doesn’t preclude you from using DAI and there’s no exclusivity contract.
Sonix
Sonix uses machine learning to transcribe audio. It supports over 40 languages, and pricing starts with a pay-as-you-go tier at $10 per hour (about $0.17 per minute).
The webapp has a text editor so you can edit the transcribed text, click on a word to hear it played back, labelling of speakers, collaboration tools and more.
Transistor Websites
The media host Transistor now offers a standalone product, backed by its in-built website builder. Transistor Websites allows podcasters to quickly create a website for their podcast, for free.
Sites are optimised for mobile, and include a page listing all the relevant links for prospective listeners to follow the podcast. Users can pick between one of a handful of themes, and customise the colours to match their brand.
Mark’s thoughts
1 year, 1 month agoHeadliner is streets ahead of other audiogram generators in its flexibility and the quality of its videos. There are probably easier-to-use services, but I rarely find myself confused by the interface.
I especially like the integration with certain hosting platforms, that allows me to transition from uploading an episode to my host, and then creating an audiogram without having to re-upload the audio to Headliner. Even if your broadband is fast, that saves a lot of clicking around, plus it’ll import metadata and artwork.
The only real knock against it is that, although the AI-powered transcription accuracy is reasonable, the timings invariably need adjusting. I’m a bit of a stickler, and I like to make sure that the words on-screen exactly reflect the words being said (bar umms and ahhs), so I’m always having to re-adjust timings, or fix how sentences have been broken up. That adds 15-20 minutes to the process, for a fairly short video, especially if there are multiple speakers.
That said, you can produce some great-looking videos with it, and their free plan is generous.