Key tool breakdown:
- Enhance Speech: AI-powered noise removal for files under 30 minutes (free) or 2 hours (Premium), with 1-4 hour daily processing limits
- Mic Check: Pre-recording analysis of microphone distance, gain, background noise, and echo with optimization recommendations
- Studio (invite-only): Browser-based recording with transcription editing, remote guest support, and Adobe stock music library access
AI podcast editing software has grown quickly in recent years, and browser-based platforms like Adobe Podcast are part of that shift. Its AI tools launched in 2022 and have since gained traction in the podcasting space.
But is Adobe AI the right choice for your podcast?
Picking the right podcast editing software takes research. This guide covers the Adobe Podcast AI suite — what it is, how to use each tool, and where it falls short. It also covers alternatives if Adobe doesn’t meet your needs.
Table of Contents
- Podcasts and AI: does it make sense?
- What is Adobe Podcast: AI?
- Using Adobe Podcast’s AI tools
- Adobe Podcast: AI tools paid vs free plans
- When to use Adobe Podcast
- Alternatives to Adobe Podcast: Enhance Speech
- Alternatives to Adobe Podcast: Mic Check
- Alternatives to Adobe Podcast: Studio
- The bottom line on Adobe Podcast: AI tools
Podcasts and AI: Does It Make Sense?
Audio AI tools are a new frontier for business podcasters.
Several developments have emerged in recent years, with new AI tools for transcription, basic script writing, and audience profiling.
The main practical benefit is automating repetitive tasks. AI tools reduce the friction of remote recording—they can reduce background noise and compensate for lower-quality microphones, which matters when you’re working with guests who aren’t in a studio.
That said, Adobe Podcast AI tools can’t replace a trained audio engineer.
Some users don’t like the results either. Here are recent reviews:
- “I tried it and thought it made me sound like AI.” – Reddit
- “If you want a more natural and true-to-the-source sound, you need to use stuff like Acon DeVerberate and voice isolate or the equivalents from iZotope.” – Gearspace
- “It ends up making your voice sound robotic. . . like you are a bad text to speech voice. It no longer sounds natural.” – YouTube
Adobe Podcast AI handles basic editing tasks like removing background audio and reducing room tone. More complex work requires a trained ear, which is why it’s best left to podcast production companies.
“Despite the range of interviews, the varying equipment (or lack of) used by guests, unreliable wifi and human idiosyncrasies in speech, TPC never fails to produce a clear final version that makes both my guest and me sound far better than we really are.”
— Katie Brewer, Bandwidth Conversations
So is Adobe Podcast AI a good fit for your needs? Start with the overview below.
What is Adobe Podcast: AI?
Adobe Podcast AI is a free browser-based audio editing suite with three tools: Enhance Speech for noise removal, Mic Check for setup optimization, and Studio for remote multi-track recording. Premium costs $9.99/month.
The suite includes three tools: Enhance Speech for removing background noise and cleaning up voice tracks, Mic Check for determining mic settings and fixing problems before recording, and Studio for recording audio in 16-bit 48k WAV and editing or enhancing with AI.
Using Adobe Podcast’s AI Tools
The Adobe Podcast suite is relatively intuitive. This section walks through each tool step by step.
You’ll need an Adobe account before getting started. If you don’t already have one, go to account.adobe.com and sign up for free.
Enhance Speech
Enhance Speech uses AI algorithms to analyze voice frequencies and noise profiles, then applies spectral subtraction to remove background sounds while preserving vocal characteristics. Processing completes in under 10 minutes.
If your audio files are under 30 minutes long, you can use Adobe’s Enhance Speech for free.
Here’s how to get started with Adobe Podcast Enhance:
- Go to podcast.adobe.com/enhance.
- Upload an audio file under 500 MB and under 30 minutes long. Compatible file formats include .wav, .mp3, .aac, .flac, .ogg, .oga, and .m4a.
- Click ‘enhance’ and wait up to 10 minutes for the audio to process. If you have an Express Premium plan, you can also upload video files, enhance audio files in batches, or adjust the strength of the AI effect.
- Once your audio has finished processing, listen to the enhanced and unenhanced versions to compare the differences.
- Click ‘download’ to download the enhanced .wav file(s).
With the basic plan, you can enhance one hour of audio per day. The Express Premium plan raises that to four hours per day.
You can learn more about Adobe Podcast: Enhance in our complete guide.
Mic Check
Adobe Mic Check evaluates four key recording metrics through a 5-second audio sample: microphone distance, gain levels, background noise, and echo. The AI provides sliding scale visualizations and personalized improvement recommendations.
Six steps to use Adobe Podcast: Mic Check
- Visit podcast.adobe.com/miccheck.
- Click ‘start.’
- If you haven’t already, plug in your podcast microphone. This could be your native computer microphone, a podcast mixer, or a podcast audio interface.
- Click ‘test mic’ and say: “How is my microphone setup and placement?” Be sure to speak for at least five seconds so the AI has time to evaluate your audio quality.
- You should now see four metrics with sliding scales: Distance to microphone, gain, background noise, and echo. The AI lists an acceptable range and shows where your setup falls on the scale.
- On the left, you should see personalized recommendations and links to more information. You can also listen back to your recording to reevaluate the quality.
Keep in mind Adobe Podcast: Mic Check can’t fix your mic setup for you. The AI is only for identifying problems; not necessarily solving them.
Studio
Adobe Podcast Studio is an invite-only browser tool that records multi-track audio at 16-bit 48kHz directly in Chrome. Users can invite remote guests via email, edit through AI-generated transcripts, and access Adobe’s stock music library.
Assuming you get invited, this is how to use Adobe Podcast: Studio:
Assuming you get invited, this is how to use Adobe Podcast: Studio:
- Go to podcast.adobe.com.
- Click ‘new project.’
- Start recording directly in Chrome or upload an audio file. You can also use Mic Check directly in the editor.
- To add a remote guest, click ‘invite guest’ on the top right and enter their email. This lets them join you inside Adobe Podcast without connecting via Zoom or Skype.
- Once you stop recording, you can split your track, add fades, or transcribe your audio into text.
- To edit your podcast, click ‘transcribe’ and wait for the transcription. Then look for areas you want to edit.
- Highlight the text you want to remove and press delete. Adobe Podcast will automatically remove those sections from your audio file.
- You can use Speech Enhance directly inside Adobe Studio to clean up your audio.
- Add background music from the Adobe stock library or upload a WAV file of your own. You can set the track as an intro/outro or use it as background music.
- Download your finished podcast episode or use the ‘share’ button to send it to a colleague.
Adobe Podcast Studio is only available in English and only for those using Chrome.
Adobe Podcast: AI tools Paid vs Free Plans
With the paid plan (Express Premium), you unlock expanded features for both tools. Prices start at $9.99 USD, with a 30-day free trial available.
Whether Premium is worth it depends on your publishing cadence. If you publish weekly audio or video podcasts, it’s likely a worthwhile investment. If your schedule is irregular or your episodes run under 30 minutes each, the free plan may be sufficient.
Check out our in-depth article on podcast analytics to learn more about the benefits of creating a consistent release schedule for your podcast.
When to Use Adobe Podcast
Adobe Podcast’s AI tools suit podcasters who aren’t familiar with traditional DAWs (digital audio workstations) such as Reaper. You can edit podcasts directly from your browser, with no need to pay for or install large editing programs.
Adobe Podcast is a reasonable fit if you’re new to podcasting, you’re not recording in a dedicated studio, or you’re working with a tight budget.
It’s less suitable if you’re recording longer episodes, you can’t wait on a Studio invitation, or you need more hands-on editing tools.
If those limitations are a concern, the alternatives below are worth reviewing.
Alternatives to Adobe Podcast: Enhance Speech
Adobe Podcast AI tools are a reasonable starting point, but they may not scale well as your show grows. Here are a few alternatives, starting with Enhance Speech substitutes.
Adobe Audition
Adobe Audition is a traditional DAW (digital audio workstation) you can use to enhance audio files. Unlike Adobe Podcast, it isn’t free. It does include tools to remove background noise and enhance speech, and it can automatically repair damaged files.
Adobe Audition is more complex than Adobe Enhance. If you’re not comfortable with traditional audio software, it may not be the right fit.
Learn more about Adobe Audition in our user guide.
Audacity
Audacity is an open-source DAW for experienced audio engineers. It’s compatible with all major operating systems (including Windows, MacOS and Linux), and integrates with hundreds of third-party plugins, including some for enhancing audio.
Some of the most popular AI plugins you can use to enhance speech in Audacity are:
- Noise Suppression
- NVIDIA Broadcast
- Whisper Transcription
Because Audacity is more complex than Adobe Enhance, it may take time to learn effectively.
Descript Podcast Software
Descript offers podcast editing software with support for audio enhancement. There are two different tools you can use to do this quickly: the Free Voice Enhancer, or Studio Sound.
You can use Descript’s free plan to enhance podcast audio, although keep in mind your options are limited at best. If you want to edit audio more than 10 minutes long, you need to upgrade to the next tier up (starting at $12 per user per month).
Our guide provides a full breakdown of Descript’s tools.
Alternatives to Adobe Mic Check
If you need another way to check your mic setup before recording, Descript is worth considering.
Descript Podcast Software
In addition to its audio enhancement tools, Descript includes built-in features for checking your microphone setup. Clicking the ‘record’ button lets you select equipment, choose microphones and headsets, and test audio before going live.
Descript doesn’t provide acceptable input ranges the way Adobe Mic Check does. If you want a clear read on whether your audio quality is up to standard, professional podcast editors are a more reliable option.
Alternatives to Adobe Studio
If Adobe Studio doesn’t meet your needs, a full DAW is a better option. Two worth considering:
Descript Podcast Software
Descript is a strong alternative to both Adobe Enhance and Mic Check, and it also offers features Adobe Studio doesn’t. You can build AI voice clones, generate text-to-speech, and create green screen effects for podcast videos.
Those features come at a cost. If you’re not at that stage of podcast production, a simpler alternative may make more sense.
Hindenburg PRO
Hindenburg PRO is an audio editor specifically for the spoken word. It’s primarily used for audiobooks and narration, although it’s also a favorite among B2B podcasters.
You won’t get any AI tools with Hindenburg PRO, but you can still edit audio from a transcript like Adobe Podcast. It also offers video support if you’re publishing to distribution platforms like YouTube.
The drawbacks? Some users feel Hindenburg PRO isn’t a fit for granular editing, but this largely depends on your workflow and use case. There’s a 30-day free trial available so you can test it for yourself.
Check out our full guide to the Hindenburg PRO here.
The Bottom Line on Adobe Podcast: AI Tools
Adobe Podcast’s AI tools sit at a rare intersection between accessibility and functionality. Even if you don’t have much knowledge of audio editing, you can still accomplish basic tasks with the help of Adobe Podcast AI.
For podcasters looking to extend their content strategy beyond audio enhancement, RightBlogger’s AI-powered repurposing tools complement Adobe’s audio features by automatically generating written content from your polished episodes; turning one recording session into multiple content pieces across different platforms.
That said, AI tools aren’t a silver bullet for successful podcasts. Complex edits require the work of a professional podcast editor. Plus, podcast AI can’t audit, promote, market, or publish your podcast on hosting platforms.
But The Podcast Consultant can.
“I’m amazed with how TPC uses AI to handle episodes where I’m using the Zoom file instead of my microphone because of some sort of issue.”
— Steve Curley, Investors First Podcast (CFA Orlando / 55 North Private Wealth)
We are a full-service podcast production company serving both new and established podcasts. We offer a holistic approach to podcasting so you can spend more time creating and less time editing.
If you’d like to learn more about our approach to podcast production, or if you’re interested in past case studies for our clients, we invite you to book a discovery call today.
- Adobe Podcast Enhance: How It Works and When to Use It — Deep dive on the Enhance Speech tool
- Adobe Audition Review for Podcasters — When to upgrade to a full DAW
- Descript for Podcast Editing — How Studio Sound compares
- Hindenburg PRO Review — Spoken-word-focused alternative
- The Ultimate Guide to Podcast Editing Software — Compare all major DAWs
- Audio Editing Best Practices for Podcasters — TPC’s professional editing standards
- Cloud Recording 101 — Pairs with Adobe Podcast Studio for remote sessions
- Save Your Cloud Recordings — Backup strategies for remote recordings
Frequently Asked Questions About Adobe Podcast AI Tools
What are the three Adobe Podcast AI tools and their main differences?
Adobe Podcast AI includes three distinct tools: Enhance Speech removes background noise and improves voice clarity in pre-recorded files; Mic Check analyzes your recording setup in real-time and provides optimization recommendations; and Studio (invite-only) enables browser-based recording with remote guests, transcription editing, and Adobe’s stock music library. Enhance Speech and Mic Check work on existing files, while Studio handles the recording process itself.
Is Adobe Podcast AI completely free to use in 2026?
Adobe Podcast offers free access to all three tools with limitations. The free tier includes: Enhance Speech processing for 1 hour daily (30-minute files, 500MB max), full access to Mic Check with no restrictions, and Studio access after receiving an invitation (2 project downloads per day, 30 minutes each). The Premium plan ($9.99/month or $99.99/year) extends Enhance Speech to 4 hours daily processing with files up to 2 hours and 1GB, adds batch uploads and video support, and removes Studio download limits.
How does Adobe Podcast AI compare to hiring a professional podcast editor?
Adobe Podcast AI provides one-click enhancement ideal for beginners and occasional podcasters, while professional editors offer nuanced audio treatment, compliance review, and strategic content guidance. AI tools work best for basic noise removal but can produce artificial-sounding results according to recent user reviews of V2. Professional services like The Podcast Consultant combine technical expertise with financial services industry knowledge, including compliance-conscious editing and ROI-focused content strategy that DIY tools cannot replicate.
What are the main limitations of Adobe Podcast AI’s free tier?
Free tier constraints include: Enhance Speech limited to 1-hour daily processing with 30-minute maximum file length (problematic for longer interviews or panel discussions), Studio requires invitation and limits downloads to 2 projects daily, no batch processing for multiple files, no video format support, and no adjustment controls for enhancement strength. Financial advisors producing weekly 45-minute episodes would exceed free tier limits and need Premium or professional services.