Bryan Entzminger: The Art of Audio Editing
- Matt Cundill
- 5h
- 2 min read
If you’ve ever wondered what actually goes into making a podcast sound polished and professional, this episode delivers a candid look at both the craft and the business of editing.
Bryan Entzminger’s path into podcasting began in 2014—but not before two years of hesitation. Like many creators, he wrestled with perfectionism before finally hitting publish. Inspired by John Lee Dumas and the tight, repeatable format of Entrepreneurs on Fire, Bryan leaned on his music background to enter podcast production. What he quickly discovered, however, was that great audio requires far more than technical skill. Guest preparation, research depth, and structural clarity all play critical roles. That early learning curve ultimately shaped him into the meticulous editor he is today.
The State of Podcasting: Growth, Contraction, and Sustainability
We explored the natural lifecycle of podcasts. Many long-running shows, particularly those launched during the pandemic boom, have quietly wound down after five or six years. What initially felt like explosive industry growth has settled into something more sustainable.
Bryan speaks openly about the business realities behind editing. Relying too heavily on a handful of major clients can create instability. Rather than rebuilding a roster that leaves him overexposed, he describes being in a thoughtful “holding pattern”—evaluating what the next phase should look like.
For independent editors and production companies alike, it’s a reminder that creative careers are also operational businesses.
Tools You Can Use
On the technical front, Bryan outlines his evolution as an editor:
GarageBand — the accessible starting point
TwistedWave — streamlined waveform precision
Hindenburg — his current daily driver for voice-first storytelling
We got into it over traditional waveform editing with transcript-based tools like Descript. While transcript editing can accelerate workflows, automated filler-word removal often damages pacing, removes natural breaths, and strips away emotional nuance. Fixing those automated cuts can take hours—sometimes more time than editing manually from the start.
For Bryan, editing is not just cleanup; it’s performance shaping.
The Tough Stuff: Audio Quality, Plugins, and Loudness Standards
Bryan also shares practical technical insights, including his preferred repair and enhancement tools:
DX Revive
Supertone Clear
When it comes to loudness, he targets –16 LUFS—a pragmatic middle ground that aligns reasonably well with major platforms while preserving dynamics. It’s a small detail that reflects a larger philosophy: standards matter, but so does listening.
He also touches on MP3 encoding specs and why consistent technical delivery builds listener trust.
Experimentation and the Future
Beyond editing, Bryan continues to experiment. The episode explores live audio, video distribution via RSS, and emerging listener-supported platforms such as Fountain and TrueFans.
His lab-style show, Bad Podcast Pitches, functions as a public sandbox—testing new tools, workflows, and ideas in real time.
It’s a fitting extension of his career: curiosity over certainty.
Bryan is also a member of Steve Stewart's Podcast Editor Academy. We had Steve on the Podcast Superfriends last month. You can listen to that episode here or watch it below.
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