How to Use AI to Improve Your Podcast Sound (Without Killing Your Credibility)
If you’re podcasting for your business, how your show sounds matters just as much as what you say. Listeners make snap decisions based on audio quality. They instantly decide whether you’re worth their time, whether you’re professional, and yes, whether they trust you.
Poor Audio Quality Hurts Your Podcast Authority
You’ve done it. I’ve done it. Pressed play on a podcast and thought, “Nope.” Maybe the mic sounded like it was across the room. Maybe the guest sounded like they were in a tiled bathroom. Maybe you heard barking dogs, background hums, or been distracted/annoyed thinking, ‘what the hell is that sound?’
Now ask yourself: Would you take advice from someone who sounded like that? Would you hire someone like that? Would you recommend a podcast like that to a friend?
Your sound is part of your brand. If your podcast is supposed to grow your business, generate leads, and build trust, then you need to sound like an authority. Period.
A Great-Sounding Podcast Starts With Recording Right
I stand by my one golden rule of podcast recording – shit in is shit out. Check out episode 20 of Just One Tip from Your Podcast Performance Coach for more on this concept. But, sometimes, shit happens… so what can you do in post? Well, you should do something because if your podcast doesn’t sound great (and is compromising your brand while undermining your podcasting efforts). The good news is that there is now a quick and easy fix. It’s called audio sweetening, and now, you can access it quickly and easily thanks to AI tools.
What Is AI Audio Sweetening?
AI audio sweetening is the process of using artificial intelligence to clean up and enhance your audio. It can:
- Remove background noise
- Balance volume levels
- Clarify speech
- Smooth out awkward mic moments
Unlike when I started my career, you no longer need to learn complicated systems or be an audio engineer. You just click a button and let AI do its thing.
But not all tools are created equal.
There are too many for me to review in my famously short podcast format, so let’s look at a couple that are actually working for me and my clients (and how to use them without sounding fake).
The Best AI Tools for Podcast Audio Cleanup
Here are two AI audio sweetening tools that are tried and tested:
- Riverside Magic Audio
Riverside is a remote recording platform with great built-in quality. Their “Magic Audio” feature uses AI to clean up your recording after you hit stop. Just one click, and you’re done.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Great for interviews
- Automatically improves both sides of the conversation
- Convenient if you are already using Riverside to record your interviews
Cons:
- No control over how much it sweetens
- Not useful if you record on a different platform
2. Adobe Audition: Podcast Enhance Speech (V2)
Adobe Audition is what I use to edit podcasts, and this AI audio enhancing tool (podcast.adobe.com) is my current go-to. You upload your raw audio and choose how much enhancement you want for voice clarity and background noise separately. It’s fast and sounds great.
Bonus: There’s a limited free version.
And yes, it’s better than what I used to do manually. I’ve been editing audio for decades, and this tool still saves me time without sacrificing quality.
Why You Should Be Cautious with AI Audio Tools
Too much sweetening makes you sound robotic or synthesized. Over-processed audio might actually hurt your authority.
Why?
Because listeners can tell.
Think about auto-tune. It was cool, until it wasn’t. When everything sounds artificially perfect, it creates distrust.
Today’s podcast listeners are more audio-savvy than ever. If your sound feels overly edited or fake, they might not know why they’re turned off, but they will be. Or, they might start to wonder if you’re even real (especially with how much we hear about deep fakes and AI-generated voice dupes). This is not the basis for building trust and authority.
Use AI Audio Enhancements as a Tool, Not a Crutch
You still need to record clean audio in the first place:
- Be close to the mic
- Avoid echoey rooms
- Turn off background noise (like fans or barking dogs)
- Choose the right mic input
Check out this fun video short about how I find the best place to record when I’m on the road.
The bottom line is that your listeners don’t just want high-quality content. They want to feel like you care about their listening experience. That’s part of being an authority.
AI Helps You Sound Polished—Fast
When you’ve done your part to get good audio, these tools can help you:
- Save time in post-production
- Enhance clarity and focus
- Maintain consistency across episodes
Just don’t let AI do everything, or you risk sounding less human and less trustworthy.
Want to Sound Like an Authority AND Attract More Clients?
Audio quality is just one piece of the podcast ROI puzzle. If your show isn’t clearly aligned with your business, you’re not going to get the results you want.
That’s where the Podcast Tune-Up comes in. It’s our 6-step system to ensure your podcast builds authority, aligns with your offers, and actually converts listeners into clients.
You can do the Podcast Tune-Up on your own or with me, 1:1. Yep, you’ll have your own private, one-on-one podcast coach!
Click here to learn more and sign up for the Podcast Tune-Up
