Day 11: Setting Up Your Master Template

Today we discuss how to setup a master template file you will use for each of your podcast episodes and setting up checklists for yourself to create consistent systems for producing your episodes.

Steps for Skill Mastery:

1. Setup your master template
2. Setup your organization system
3. Setup your checklists

Step 1: Setup Your Master Template

Note: This step is only required for those who will be recording a solo based show and editing their podcast using only Adobe Audition (or equivalent software) and not using Descript for editing. If you will be using Descript for editing, you may skip this step.

Setting up a template saves you time from having to reenter settings or elements of the podcast that will stay the same every episode such as settings, intros, outros, music, etc.

Some things you are going to want inside your master template are:

• Hard Limiter - Hard limiter – Limits the level of noise for all audio
• Match Loudness – ensures all audio tracks sound the same when played through external speakers
• Track Names
• Intros, Outros, & Music Files

There will be a video walkthrough of setting up a template file inside Adobe Audition, but below are the outlined steps you will take.

Steps to Setup Master Template

Open Adobe Audition and create a New “Multitrack Session”

• Click File > New > Multitrack Session

Select a name for your template. Something simple like “Podcast Template”

• Configure your settings for your template:
• Sample Rate: 44100 Hz
• Bit Depth: 16 bits
• Master: Mono

After hitting ok, you should now have a screen that looks like this:

Add the Hard Limiter to your Master Track

• To do this, click into the Master track as shown below.
• Then, go into your Effects Rack
• Click the arrow next to the row 1, as shown below
• Select Amplitude and Compression > Hard Limiter

‍

In the pop-up window for the Hard Limiter settings, adjust the slider bars as shown below for your Hard Limiter.

‍

Next, let’s configure your Match Loudness settings.

• Find the section within Adobe Audition called Match Loudness. It should be in the left sidebar by default, as shown below.
• If it’s not there you can find it through the top navigation menu by going to Effects > Match Loudness. (see below)

Configure your settings to the following:

• Match to: ITU-R BS.1770-3 Loudness
• Target Loudness : -16 LUFS
• Tolerance : 0.5 LU
• Max True Peak Level : -3 dBTP

Now let’s name your template tracks.

By default they will be called Track 1 thru 6 plus your Master Track. Just click on the Track Name and rename the track as you wish. My template has the following tracks:

• Host Track: This is my audio recording from solo and interview episodes
• Guest Track: This is the audio recording of my interview guest
• Standard Intro: For my podcast, I have a standard intro that is on every episode and it doesn’t change. That audio clip in is this track and is saved in the template so I do not have to add it each time.
• Intro Music: The music file for my intro.
• Standard Outro: For my podcast, I have a standard outro that is on every episode and it doesn’t change.
• Outro Music: The music file for my intro.
• Master Track: Nothing gets placed here, it just governs your entire template if you place effects, like the Hard Limiter, on it.

Lastly, let’s add the files like your intro/outro and music files that will remain consistent for each episode. (Yes, you can update them at any time).

Method 1 : Simply drag your files into the Files Panel

Method 2 : Using the top navigation menu. File > Import > File

Method 3 : Using the Import button in the Files Pane.

Once you have imported the files into the Files Pane, you can simply drag and drop them into the appropriate labeled track.

Activity: Setup Your Master Template

If you are just using a recording software like Adobe Audition to do solo episodes, then setup your master template.

‍

Now let's finish setting up the rest of your systems.

‍

‍

Step 2: Setup Your Organization System

Now let’s setup an organization system for you to quickly place episodes and podcast assets so they can be easily found later. Depending on your podcast you may have different folders or organization system, which is fine. What is important is that you have one in place for yourself.

I recommend having this on something like Google Drive so that it is saved online (in case your computer ever crashes) and if you would like to share episodes with guest or someone you may be outsourcing your editing to.

Below is an example folder structure you could create for yourself. Again, make a structure that will fit your show.

‍

Activity: Setup Your Organization Structure

Use Google Drive or another cloud based storage system and setup a file structure for storing the assets of your podcast.

‍

Now let's move to setting up some operational checklists for yourself.

‍

Step 3: Setup Your Checklists

Now let’s create a few checklists for yourself. These checklists will serve you with every single episode that you make. Just as an airline pilot has a check list before taking off, you will have one before creating an episode so that you consistently make the same quality of episode every time.

Below are a sample Pre-Edit checklist (everything that needs to be completed before moving into the editing process), Main Checklist (this checklist is where most of the work will happen), and a Post-Edit checklist (completed once the episode is uploaded to your podcast host).

Sample Pre-Edit Checklist

• Open template and resave as new episode
• Record any episode specific intros/outros
• Create episode title
• Create episode summary
• Define episode # and release date
• Upload all raw files to google drive (intro, outro, interview tracks, recorded audios)

Sample Main Checklist

• Edit audio files
• Export MP3 file
• Add final MP3 file into the episodes Google Drive folder
• Upload to media host (such as Simplecast)
• Set live date & time in media host as XX:XX am/pm
• Add summary in media host
• Add show notes and links in media host
• Create episode graphics using Adobe Illustrator templates
• Upload graphics to episode folder in Google Drive
• Create blog post on website
• Schedule blog post for same time as podcast release

Sample Post-Edit Checklist

• Schedule social media posts
• Schedule email blast to email list (if you have one)
• Double check episode go-live time is correct
• Schedule email to guest including link to blog and graphics

Activity: Setup Your Checklists

We will cover each step in depth throughout the course, but begin drafting a checklist you can follow for you creating and editing episodes.

‍

Each of these items will help you be more proficient at creating your podcast as we move forward.

‍

Skill Lesson Mastered

Demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and skills presented in this lesson by applying it to the above activity. If, and only if, you have a full understanding and have mastered the knowledge and skills presented in this lesson, select the next lesson in the navigation.