What are common mistakes when normalizing podcast audio?

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What are common mistakes when normalizing podcast audio?

Asked on Nov 22, 2025

Answer

Normalizing podcast audio is crucial for maintaining consistent loudness across episodes, but common mistakes can lead to poor listener experience. These include over-relying on normalization to fix volume issues, ignoring the importance of dynamic range, and not adhering to podcast loudness standards like -16 LUFS for stereo files.

Example Concept: Normalization adjusts the peak level of audio to a target loudness, but it doesn't address the dynamic range or balance between different segments. Over-normalization can lead to distortion or unnatural sound, while under-normalization might result in inconsistent volume levels that frustrate listeners.

Additional Comment:

Ensure your audio is well-balanced before normalizing, focusing on consistent vocal levels.
Use normalization as a final step after editing and mixing, not as a primary volume adjustment tool.
Adhere to industry loudness standards to ensure compatibility across platforms and devices.
Consider using a limiter to prevent clipping after normalization.

✅ Answered with Podcasting best practices.

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