Castup

Brief Overview of Castup

Castup is a podcast editing service designed to handle the post-production workflow for creators, from first-time podcasters to seasoned professionals. The platform operates as a done-for-you solution, combining artificial intelligence with a team of human editors to deliver polished audio and video episodes. The primary problem it solves is the time-consuming and often technical challenge of editing, allowing creators to focus solely on recording their content. By managing tasks like audio cleanup, mistake removal, and the addition of music and effects, Castup provides a streamlined path to achieving professional broadcast quality. The service delivers final, publish-ready files, including details like ID3 tagging, within a 72-hour timeframe, aiming to simplify the entire content creation workflow for podcasters.

Castup Key Features for Content Creators

• Comprehensive Audio Editing: The core service includes a full suite of audio enhancements. Editors clean up audio files, add intros and outros, merge double-ended recordings, manage mic bleed and echo, and trim recordings to create a seamless listening experience.
• Video Podcast Editing: For creators on the Vodcaster plan, Castup provides full video editing services. This allows podcasters to expand their reach by publishing their content on video platforms without needing to learn video editing software.
• AI-Generated Transcripts: As part of the initial process, the service uses AI to generate episode transcripts within 18 hours of file submission. These transcripts can be used for editing direction and can also be purchased as a finalized add-on for publishing on a website or blog.
• 72-Hour Episode Delivery: Castup commits to delivering a final, publish-ready episode within 72 hours of receiving the raw files and editing directions. This quick turnaround helps creators maintain a consistent publishing schedule.
• Dedicated Human Producers and Editors: Every show works with a dedicated producer and a team of professional audio and video editors. This human-first approach ensures that the nuances of editing are handled with creative control and a professional touch, complementing the speed of AI-powered initial processing.
• Publish-Ready File Preparation: The service handles the final details required for publishing. This includes ID3 tagging for audio files, ensuring that metadata like titles and artist information is correctly embedded before delivery.
• Micro Cuts Add-On: For an additional fee, creators can opt for the Micro Cuts service, which meticulously removes filler words such as “uhs,” “ums,” and repeated phrases from the recordings to create a cleaner, more professional-sounding episode.
• Multi Cam Cuts Add-On: This video-specific add-on provides dynamic editing for multi-speaker podcasts. It creates exclusive screen time for each speaker with professional transitions, enhancing the visual appeal of the video episode.
• Content Creation Add-Ons: To help with promotion, Castup offers add-ons for creating audiograms and video clips. These short, shareable assets include verbatim transcripts, graphics, and speaker names, making them ideal for social media marketing.
• Custom Intro/Outro Production: Creators can purchase a one-time add-on to have a custom jingle produced for their show. A music producer works with the creator to compose an intro and outro that fits the podcast's specific vibe.

Castup Target Users & Use Cases

Castup is designed for a wide range of content creators who want to offload the technical burdens of post-production. The service is suitable for both individuals and small teams looking for a reliable editing partner.

• Primary creator types: The service caters to first-time podcasters who need guidance and professional finishing, as well as established podcasters and pros looking to save time and scale their production.
• Experience level: It is accessible to all experience levels, from beginners unfamiliar with editing tools to experts who prefer to focus on content and strategy rather than post-production tasks.
• Specific use cases:
  • Launching a new audio podcast with professional sound quality from the first episode.
  • Expanding an existing audio podcast into a video format (vodcast).
  • Improving audio clarity and flow to attract and retain advertisers.
  • Creating promotional audiograms and video clips for social media platforms.
  • Freeing up time for solo creators who manage all aspects of their show.
  • Ensuring a consistent and fast turnaround for weekly episode releases.
  • Generating verbatim transcripts for blog posts and show notes.
  • Merging separate audio tracks from remote interviews into a cohesive episode.
• Content types: The service primarily supports audio podcasts and video podcasts (vodcasts).

How to Get Started with Castup

The onboarding process is straightforward and service-oriented, designed to integrate into a creator's existing workflow.

1. Upload Raw Recordings: After signing up, the first step is to upload the raw audio or video recordings for a new episode, along with any other materials like intro music or ad reads, to a shared Google Drive folder.
2. Receive AI Transcript: Within 18 hours, Castup uses AI to generate an episode transcript and shares it with the creator. This transcript serves as a guide for the editing process.
3. Provide Editing Direction: Using the transcript or other notes, the creator provides specific instructions on what needs to be edited, cut, or added. This step ensures the creator maintains full creative control over the final product.
4. Editing and Polishing: The Castup team of editors takes over, cleaning up the audio, adding intros/outros, inserting ads, merging recordings, and addressing technical issues like mic bleed and echo.
5. Receive Final Episode: The fully edited, publish-ready episode is delivered within 72 hours, complete with ID3 tagging, ready for the creator to upload to their hosting platform.

Frequently Asked Questions About Castup

How does the Hobbyist plan work? The Hobbyist plan is a pay-as-you-go option. It includes a base fee of $30 per episode, which covers up to 30 minutes of published audio content. For longer episodes, additional edit credits can be purchased at a rate of $1 per minute.

Who is actually doing the editing? Real human professionals handle the editing. While Castup leverages AI to speed up initial processes like transcription, all shows are assigned a dedicated producer and a team of real audio and video editors who perform the detailed editing work.

What add-ons are available with a Castup plan? All plans can be enhanced with several add-ons. These include Micro Cuts for filler word removal, Multi Cam Cuts for video, Episode Transcripts, Audiograms, Video Clips for social media, and a one-time Intro/Outro Production service for custom jingles.

How does Castup provide its editing services? Each podcast is assigned a producer and a team of editors who use professional tools. For audio, they handle everything from cleanup to mixing. For video, the team manages both video and audio editing. The Podcaster and Vodcaster plans include unlimited revisions.

Are taxes included in the pricing? No, the stated prices do not include taxes. Castup collects and remits consumption tax based on the rules and rates determined by the customer's local, state, or federal jurisdiction.

How can I contact the Castup team? You can contact the team directly through the chat bubble on the website. Users can also reach out via direct message on the company's Twitter or Instagram accounts.

Bottom Line: Should Content Creators Choose Castup?

Castup presents a compelling option for podcasters who prioritize content creation and audience engagement over the technical minutiae of post-production. The service is particularly well-suited for solo creators, busy professionals, and anyone new to podcasting who wants to ensure a high-quality output from the start. The primary advantage is its hybrid model, which combines the efficiency of AI for initial processing with the detailed, nuanced work of human editors and producers. This results in a professionally polished, ready-to-publish episode delivered with a quick turnaround.

For creators looking to expand into video or generate promotional assets like audiograms and video clips, the available add-ons provide a convenient, all-in-one solution. By handling everything from audio cleanup and filler word removal to ID3 tagging, Castup effectively removes the post-production bottleneck, making it a valuable service for anyone looking to streamline their podcasting workflow and consistently produce high-quality content.