Adobe Podcast Beta: A Podcast Producers Evaluation
As a podcast producer with over a decade of experience at Bamby Media, I took the new Adobe Podcast Studio (Beta) platform for a spin to see how it could benefit podcasters.
Adobe is known for high-quality software such as Premiere Pro, Audition, Photoshop, Illustrator…it’s quite a long list and we use a lot of their tools. So my expectations for Adobe Podcast Studio were high going in.
First Impressions: Simple Isn’t Always Best
Jumping in, the interface is super clean. Think drag-and-drop simplicity — perfect for anyone new to the podcasting world. It even has a stock music library, which is a nice touch for those who don’t have a subscription to a separate service. Uploading your own music is an option too, which is great for keeping your branding consistent.
It’s very easy to select the microphone and hit the “record” button to get your podcast started, but there are key features missing here (like a meter to see how loud your microphone is), and no controls to change any settings.
I invited one of our staff into the studio with me so that we could test what it was like for a guest to join, and I wasn’t impressed with the fact that they also had to have an Adobe account. This may just be because the tool is still in beta mode, so let’s hope that’s not going to be the case once it is made available to the public.
The guest also had no gauge as to the level of their microphone, and there is no way to physically see each other either. This is purely an audio-only recording experience at this stage.
Great for Beginners, But Hold Your Horses for Editing
Let’s just say if you’re used to the bells and whistles of pro editing software, you’ll be missing a lot of key features. There is no waveform for the speech, no way to see those filler words (ums and ahs) in the transcript and deleting words or sections from the transcript took multiple clicks to engage. It wasn’t a pleasurable editing experience and I wouldn’t recommend it at this stage.
Is This the Future of Podcast Creation?
The jury’s still out. For absolute beginners, this is a fantastic way to dip their toes in the podcasting pool if they already have an Adobe account and want a simple way to record audio only. It will also give you a transcript, but at this stage you can only export it as a .txt file. For anyone aiming for a more polished sound, it falls short. The good news? It’s still in beta, so there’s plenty of room for improvement.
The Big Question: Should You Use It?
Honestly, it depends. If you’re a seasoned podcaster, this wouldn not be your go-to tool. But if you’re just starting out and feeling overwhelmed by all the editing options, then Adobe Podcast Studio is a great way to test the waters. It gets you recording, adding music, and exporting your episode — in a very short amount of time.
If you would like to see how it all works, I’d recommend checking out our YouTube video which walks you through it!
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
What are your thoughts on Adobe Podcast Studio? Does its user-centric approach resonate within the podcasting community? Share your insights in the comments below!
I love keeping you all informed about the latest advancements in podcasting tools, both groundbreaking and those requiring further refinement. As always, feel free to reach out if you require assistance in crafting a high-quality podcast for your brand.
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