How to tell the difference between good and bad audio

If you’re new to podcasting it's hard to know what 'good' audio sounds like. But understanding this is essential if you want your podcast episodes to sound their best The challenge? It's not necessarily something you'll recognise straight away because you have to train your ear. In this episode, I share how to build that skill, from essential listening habits to editing techniques that will make your show sound seamless. Whether you’re editing your own episodes or just want to recognise quality when you hear it, these tips will help you spot (and fix) audio issues before they cost you listeners. What you’ll learn: How to train your ear through active listening • Why listening to a wide range of quality podcasts accelerates your skills • How to notice the details you like (and dislike) so you can apply them to your own show What makes a bad edit and how to avoid it • How to spot “obvious” edits and why they break immersion • Why over‑editing is as bad as under-editing • The importance of listening to audio around the spot where you're editing The importance of space • How to use natural pauses, breaths and silence to keep your edit sounding natural • Why cutting too tightly can make your podcast feel rushed and robotic The most common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them • Why distracted editing always leads to missed errors • The risks of editing while multitasking • Why a final “just listening” pass is non‑negotiable Tools and techniques that will help you improve your edits • How to use breath and silence files to smooth transitions • Leveraging AI tools like Adobe Enhance (without over‑processing your voice) • Listening critically to your own edits with eyes closed to focus on the sound Why editing well is worth the effort • Good audio builds trust and keeps listeners engaged • Even small improvements in editing can make your show sound dramatically better EPISODE CREDITS: Host: Rachel Corbett Editing Assistance: Josh Newth LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF: Download my free podcasting guide (https://www.podschool.com.au/podcast-guide) Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool (https://podschool.com.au/) Click here to submit a question to the show (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScWepoep0HgIN1Fm5AZa5qyJ1NC5FDS0OVXNotbbdytSsHM1g/viewform?usp=sf_link) Email me: rachel@rachelcorbett.com.au Follow me: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/_rachelcorbett/) , Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/RachCorbett) , X (https://www.twitter.com/RachelCorbett) , LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/rachelcorbett1) , YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/UCgUsLDEldBkYVF3mimdLsIw) , TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelcorbettpodschool) or check out my blog (https://rachelcorbett.com.au/blog/) or the PodSchool website (https://podschool.com.au/) . This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.