Importing audio and Hindenburg sessions

Audio files

Choose File ▸ Import Audio… (⇧⌘I), or drag audio files onto the window. A track appears for each file straight away and its waveform fills in as the audio is prepared. A long import shows its progress; wait for it to finish before you save or close.

PodEditor never changes your original files. It makes its own converted copy inside the project, so you can move or delete the originals afterward. If a project’s audio ever goes missing, see Troubleshooting.

You can also start from the file: choose PodEditor in Finder’s Open With, or drop audio on the Dock icon. See the Quick Start.

Sample rate

A project runs at 44.1 or 48 kHz. New projects start at the rate in Settings ▸ General (48 kHz by default, because most recordings arrive at 48 kHz).

If imported audio is at a different rate, PodEditor asks before converting it:

• The project is empty: you can switch the project to the incoming rate (Use 48 kHz for This Project) or convert the audio. The rate offered is whichever of 44.1 and 48 kHz covers most of the audio by length.
• The project already has audio: its rate is fixed, so the choice is to resample or cancel.
• A file at any other rate, such as 32 kHz, is always converted.

Cancel leaves the project exactly as it was, and undo takes back an import including a rate change. The status bar shows the rate and is a menu that switches an empty project.

Stereo files

If a file has two channels, PodEditor measures it and asks whether to split it into two tracks or blend it into one. Choose split for a recording with one speaker on each side, such as a two-person call. The measured suggestion is already selected. If you chose blend and change your mind, Track ▸ Split Stereo to Two Tracks splits it again from the original file; PodEditor asks you to locate that file if it cannot find it.

Leveling on import

While Level audio as it comes in is on in Settings ▸ Editing (the default), imported clips are brought to a common speech level. Turn it off to keep the recording’s own level. See Effects and leveling.

Hindenburg sessions

Choose File ▸ Import Hindenburg Session… and pick the session’s .nhsx file. PodEditor brings in its tracks, clips, fades and volume changes, and markers as a new project.

A Hindenburg session keeps its audio in a separate folder next to the session file, and macOS only lets PodEditor read what you choose. PodEditor explains this and then opens a window; choose the audio folder it names and click Allow Access. Then pick where to save the new project.

The original session is not changed. Check the result by playing it: PodEditor reads what Hindenburg wrote, and anything Hindenburg stores that PodEditor has no equivalent for is not carried over. See From Hindenburg for how the two apps compare.