When I started my first podcast back in 2019, I had no budget, no team, and no clue what I was doing. I thought doing everything myself was the only option. And at that time, it was. Editing is the hardest part, as it was time-consuming and difficult to learn all by myself.
As my show grew, I started helping others with their podcasts too. Eventually, I built a podcast production business and launched Seven Million Bikes Podcasts.
One of the most common questions I hear from podcasters today is: Should I hire a podcast editor, or should I keep editing myself?
It’s a good question, and the answer depends on your goals, your budget, and your time. In this post, I’ll share the 7 most important things I’ve learned about hiring (or not hiring) a podcast editor.
1. Time is Money
Editing takes time. A lot of it. Even a short 15-minute episode could take hours to clean up. A longer one? Easily 3–4 hours or more.
When I was doing everything myself, I missed deadlines more than once. I planned to publish on Thursday mornings, but sometimes I just couldn’t get it done in time. Editing was taking too long.
Eventually, I realized something important: I was spending time doing something that someone else could do better and faster.
Think about it like this:
- If your kitchen starts flooding, do you watch YouTube videos and try to fix it yourself?
- Or do you call a plumber and get it sorted quickly?
Podcast editing is the same. It’s a skill, and when you hire someone, you’re not just buying their time—you’re buying back your time.
2. Editing is a Skill
Anyone can open up a program and start cutting out “ums” and “uhs,” but good editing goes far beyond that.
- It makes your episode flow naturally.
- It removes awkward pauses and background noise.
- It balances sound levels between speakers.
- It adds intros, outros, ads, or music at the right moments.
I once spent 15 minutes just fixing 5 seconds of audio. That might sound crazy, but those 5 seconds mattered. The goal is to make your podcast sound smooth, like a real conversation that just works.
Bad editing is noticeable. Good editing feels invisible.
3. Sound Quality is Everything
Here’s something I always say: Audio quality is more important than content quality.
I know that’s a bold statement, but think about it—no matter how great your message is, if your mic sounds like you’re in a wind tunnel, no one is going to listen.
Stats show that on YouTube, 50% of people leave within the first 30 seconds. Podcasts hold people longer, but not much if your audio is bad. If your sound is bad, listeners drop off quickly.
When people press play, the first thing they notice is your sound. That’s your first impression.
A good editor helps make sure:
- The audio is clear and balanced.
- Background noises are removed.
- The episode sounds professional, even if you recorded it in your bedroom.
If you want to invest less time in editing, then invest more in your equipment and the space! Hiring a podcast studio is a good idea when you have the technical setup ready with high-end gear. If you’re in Ho Chi Minh City, don’t hesitate to contact me for studio options.
4. You’re Paying for an Expert
Just like hiring a plumber or electrician, when you pay an editor, you’re paying for experience.
I’ve worked with podcast editors who could fix tricky problems in minutes. They’d seen it all—bad guest audio, weird file formats, volume mismatches—and they knew how to handle it fast.
There’s a story I love about an IT guy who charged a big fee to fix something in 5 minutes. When the client asked why it cost so much, he replied, “You’re not paying for the 5 minutes. You’re paying for the 10 years it took me to learn how to do it in 5 minutes.”
That’s what a good editor brings. Experience. Speed. Peace of mind.
5. Not All Editors Are the Same
This is important to remember: Not all editors are equal.
I’ve seen it many times. Someone hires a cheap editor from Fiverr, only to end up with poor quality work or missed deadlines. Even worse, they might have to spend extra time fixing those mistakes themselves.
When you’re working with a good editor, it should feel like they’re part of your team. That’s what we aimed for at Seven Million Bikes. We created WhatsApp or Messenger groups with clients, so we could stay in touch, answer questions quickly, and fix anything on the fly.
You don’t want to chase down your editor every week. You want someone who’s responsive, reliable, and understands what you want.
6. Price vs. Quality
One question I often heard was: Why do some editors charge so much more than others?
I used to wonder the same thing. I once looked for RGB bulbs for our studio. They all looked the same online, but the prices were completely different. Some were $2, others were $30. The difference? Quality.
Cheap bulbs didn’t last long. Some were weak or unreliable. And I realized podcast editors are the same. You can absolutely find cheaper editors. But most of them won’t offer the same level of service, quality, or support.
At Seven Million Bikes Podcasts, we charge premium prices. That was because we provide\:
- Personal service
- Short-form video content included
- Great-sounding audio
- Monthly coaching calls
We do more than just cut audio. We helpe your whole podcast grow.
Pay cheap, get cheap.
7. When You Shouldn’t Hire an Editor
I’ll be honest—if you simply can’t afford an editor, that’sokay.
For most of my early podcasting career, I couldn’t either. I did everything myself. I used GarageBand at first, then switched to Descript, which made editing way easier.
If you were doing it yourself, I always recommended:
- Use Descript
- Learn how to edit well
- Don’t over-rely on AI tools (they often sound bad)
It took time, but you could do it. And when your budget grew, you could always hire help later.
Conclusion – Hiring a podcast editor or not?
Should you hire a podcast editor?
If you have the budget, want to save time, and care about sound quality, the answer is probably yes. But if you’re just starting out, and you truly can’t afford one right now, that’s okay too. I did it all myself for years.
Just remember: your audio is your first impression. Bad sound turns people away fast, no matter how good your content is.
Whether you decide to do it yourself or work with an expert, I hope these 7 reasons gave you something to think about. And if you’re ever ready to outsource and grow your podcast faster, I’d love to help. Contact me for a free consultation.
