Audio Formats for Podcasters: MP3 vs AAC vs WAV
For Publishing: MP3 Is Still King
MP3 at 128 kbps (mono) or 192 kbps (stereo) is the podcast industry standard. Every podcast player, every platform (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts), and every device supports MP3 without issues. AAC sounds slightly better at the same bitrate, but MP3's universal compatibility makes it the safer choice for distribution.
For Recording and Editing: WAV
Record and edit your podcast in WAV (uncompressed, lossless). This gives you the highest quality source material to work with. Noise removal, EQ, compression, and other processing work better on uncompressed audio. A 1-hour WAV file at 44.1 kHz/16-bit mono is about 300 MB — manageable for any modern computer.
The Export Settings
Mono voice podcast: MP3, 96-128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, mono. Interview/multi-host: MP3, 128-192 kbps, 44.1 kHz, stereo (if hosts are panned) or joint stereo. Music-heavy podcast: MP3, 192-256 kbps, 44.1 kHz, stereo. Spotify specifically recommends: MP3, 96 kbps for mono speech, 128 kbps for stereo.
Why Mono for Solo Podcasts
A solo voice podcast has no reason to be stereo — there's nothing happening in the stereo field. Exporting in mono cuts file size in half compared to stereo at the same quality. Smaller files mean faster downloads, less bandwidth cost, and a better experience for listeners on slow connections. Most podcast hosting platforms recommend mono for speech-only content.
Loudness Standards
Apple Podcasts requires -16 LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale). Spotify targets -14 LUFS. YouTube targets -14 LUFS. Export your podcast at -16 LUFS with a peak ceiling of -1 dBTP and you'll sound consistent across all platforms. Use a loudness meter in your DAW (Audacity, GarageBand, Adobe Audition) to check before exporting.