Audio trimming — Verify the result

Worked example

To verify a trimmed export, read the duration and size shown beside the player, then compare the start and end with your written times by ear.

For a 10 to 40 second selection the duration should read about 0:30, and the size should match 30 seconds of 16-bit PCM: roughly 5.3 MB at 44.1 kHz stereo or 5.8 MB at 48 kHz. A 60-second file means the whole source was exported, and 40 seconds means the clip still sits 10 seconds after the start of the timeline, with the gap included.

Then play the downloaded file from the first sample. A podcaster should hear the first word of the teaser begin cleanly, with no earlier word fragment and no long dead air before it. Skip to the last five seconds: the final word should finish without a click, and the room tone should not run on for several seconds.

The mistake that catches people is trusting the waveform on screen while the playhead was still at an old position. Press stop, return to the start and play the exported file in the on-page player once, then open the download in a separate player to be sure the file you saved is the one you heard.

A last check on level and channels: if the original had speech on both sides, both sides should still be present, and the loudest word should not sound crunchy. If you changed track volume or added an effect, compare against the untouched original at the same listening volume.

60 s source; select 10–40 s

30 s intended selection

Differences of a few hundredths of a second from your typed times are normal at normal zoom levels; whole seconds are not.