Edit ratio
Edit ratio is the amount of raw recording time relative to the finished episode length, reflecting how much material is cut. A 2:1 ratio means two hours were recorded to produce a one-hour episode.
For example, a team records 90 minutes of conversation and edits it down to a 45-minute episode, giving an edit ratio of 2:1.
Why it matters: edit ratio helps you budget editing time and cost accurately, so you can plan production capacity and forecast cost per episode.
A reasonable edit ratio for a polished interview episode is a few hours of editing per finished hour, with tighter ratios once your format and templates are dialled in.
raw recording length divided by finished episode length
Expressed as a ratio like 2:1; higher means more material was cut.
- Over-editing conversational shows until they lose all natural flow.
- Letting edit ratios balloon because the recording was loose and unfocused.
- Ignoring the ratio entirely, so editing time silently destroys margin.
What is edit ratio?
Edit ratio is the amount of raw recording time relative to the finished episode length, reflecting how much material is cut. A 2:1 ratio means two hours were recorded to produce a one-hour episode.
What is a typical podcast edit ratio?
Lightly edited interview shows often run close to 1.2:1 to 1.5:1, while heavily produced narrative shows can exceed 5:1 because far more raw material is recorded and cut.
Does a higher edit ratio mean a better episode?
Not necessarily. It means more was cut. Tight editing can sharpen a show, but a very high ratio also signals more recording time and editing cost per finished minute.