Gaetan Harris: Sound Design Tips for Audio-First Podcasts
It's been a long time since I've spoken with Gaëtan Harris, founder of Syrup Sound, to talk about working in radio at Power 97 with me in Winnipeg to becoming one of Canada's most respected podcast sound designers. Gaëtan shares how an early fascination with This American Life inspired him to move to Vancouver, where he eventually joined Pacific Content alongside Steve Pratt and Dan Misener to help create award-winning branded podcasts.
We talked about the technical side of podcast production and the creative philosophy behind great audio. We explore what separates a polished listening experience from a rushed edit, and why the smallest details can make the biggest difference.
Things like...
- Why mouth clicks matter more than most podcasters realize
- How Pacific Content created branded podcasts that felt like compelling stories instead of advertisements
- Where independent producers can find affordable sound effects and music libraries
- The strengths—and limitations—of AI audio cleanup tools like Adobe Podcast Enhance
- Why Gaëtan has remained committed to audio-first podcasting, even as the industry races toward video
You can reach out to Gaëtan on LinkedIn or check out his offerings on his company's website, Syrup Sound.
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