Skip to content

Creating Reports

Learn how to create audio quality reports using Audio Audit. You can analyse podcasts from RSS feeds or upload audio files directly.

Getting Started

There are two ways to create reports in Audio Audit:

  1. Connect to a podcast feed — Analyse the latest episode of an existing podcast and receive reports automatically when new episodes are published.
  2. Upload audio files — Analyse individual audio files before you publish.

Both are on the "Generate Report" card on your Dashboard: a podcast search box at the top and, below it, an area to drop audio files onto. If your role in an Organisation doesn't let you add podcasts or run reports on uploads, the card explains who to ask instead — see Roles and Permissions.

Connecting to a Podcast Feed

The easiest way to analyse podcast episodes is by connecting to their RSS feed.

Adding a Podcast

  1. On your Dashboard, find the "Generate Report" card
  2. Start typing the podcast name in the "Search podcasts or paste feed URL" box and pick it from the suggestions
  3. You can also paste the feed URL instead — useful for private or unpromoted feeds
  4. Audio Audit adds the podcast and analyses the newest episode from its feed

Managing Podcasts

Access podcast settings from Settings → Podcasts. Each podcast in the list has an Auto-check toggle and a "View reports" button; click its name to open its settings.

Adding a Podcast from Settings

  1. Click "Add podcast"
  2. Enter the podcast's Feed URL and click Save. If you paste a Spotify show page instead of a feed, Audio Audit suggests the feed it thinks you mean and asks you to confirm it.
  3. Automatic checking is switched on for new podcasts — change it, and the colour, from the podcast's settings afterwards

Each plan allows a set number of podcasts per workspace (see Billing & Plans). Once you've reached yours, "Add podcast" shows an upgrade panel instead of the form.

Podcast Settings

For each podcast, you can:

  • Edit name and feed URL: Keep information up to date
  • Automatic checking: Analyse new episodes automatically, or pause it
  • Colour: Differentiate podcasts in performance graphs
  • Standard: Choose which standard judges this podcast's reports — "Workspace default" or a specific one

Changing these needs the Manager role on that podcast (or Owner/Admin of the workspace); everyone else sees the settings read-only.

Workspace Context

Podcasts belong to the workspace where they were created. To manage podcasts for a different Organisation, switch workspace — either with the switcher next to the Audio Audit logo, or with the one at the top of the workspace section in Settings (see Organisations and Teams).

Automatic Episode Checking

Automatic checking analyses new episodes as they're published. It's on by default for every podcast you add. To change it:

  1. Go to Settings → Podcasts
  2. Use the Auto-check toggle next to the podcast — or open the podcast and switch "Automatic checking" on or off
  3. Audio Audit checks the feed regularly and analyses each new episode it finds

💡 Tip: Automatic checking spends your workspace's credits — the plan allowance and any top-ups — so keep an eye on usage if you have many active podcasts.

Uploading Audio Files

For one-off analysis or files not in a podcast feed:

Supported Formats

  • MP3 — Most common podcast format
  • M4A — Apple's preferred format
  • WAV — Uncompressed audio
  • FLAC — Lossless compressed audio
  • Maximum file size: 255MB per file

Upload Process

  1. On your Dashboard, go to the "Generate Report" card
  2. Either:
    • Drag and drop one or more audio files onto the upload area
    • Click the area to browse and select files
  3. Audio Audit shows the Total audio length and an Estimated cost in credits
  4. If your workspace has custom standards enabled, the "Check against" control at the top of the Generate Report card shows which standard will judge this upload. It starts on the workspace default; open it to pick another. The same control applies to podcasts you add from the search box, and workspace Owners and Admins can also choose "Create custom standard…" from it (up to 10 custom standards per workspace). When you add a podcast that's new to your workspace, it keeps the standard you chose for its later automatic checks. For a podcast you already have, the choice applies to that one report only.
  5. Click "Upload and analyze" and wait for the upload to complete
  6. Audio Audit begins processing automatically, and after a few seconds the new report appears under "Latest Reports" on the Dashboard

Upload Tips

  • Ensure a stable internet connection for large files
  • Upload the file as you'd publish it — the final, exported version

Processing and Status

Real-time Updates

After starting a report you can open it even before it has completed. You'll see:

  • Estimated time: Based on file duration
  • Score, checks and transcription: Automatically refreshes as processing completes

Processing Stages

  1. File Upload — Transferring audio to Audio Audit servers
  2. Artefact Generation — Creating waveform and extracting metadata
  3. Audio Analysis — Measuring technical characteristics
  4. Transcription — Converting speech to text (if applicable)
  5. Judging — Checking each measurement against the limits in the report's standard, which gives the Passed/Failed verdict and the percentage

What Happens During Analysis

Audio Audit performs comprehensive analysis including:

  • Technical measurements: Bit rate, sample rate, codec analysis
  • Loudness analysis: LUFS and peak levels. RMS loudness is also available as a check, but it's Off in every built-in standard and only runs if your own standard turns it on.
  • Content detection: Silences, chapters, unwanted noises, profanity/swearing, and whether swearing episodes are marked explicit in your feed
  • Metadata extraction: Title, artist, cover art
  • Transcription: Full speech-to-text conversion, with speaker labels where more than one voice is detected
  • Judging: Every check measured against your standard's limits

Managing Credits

Credit Consumption

  • Credits are consumed based on audio duration and on which checks the report's standard runs
  • Every report is billed as at least 10 minutes of audio
  • A report is charged when it completes — one that fails processing isn't charged

See Billing & Plans for the full rules.

Monitoring Usage

Check your remaining credits:

  • Quick view: The Dashboard's "Credits" card shows a usage bar and your balance.
  • Plan view: Settings → Billing and plans displays exact numbers, your current plan and the available plans in case you need to upgrade.

Not Enough Credits

If your workspace runs out of credits:

  1. Current processing will complete
  2. New reports show a "Not enough credits" notice instead of results
  3. You can:
    • Buy a top-up bundle
    • Upgrade your plan
    • Wait for your monthly credits to reset
  4. Then open the report and click "Retry Report"

Best Practices

For Podcast Feeds

  1. Verify the RSS feed URL is correct and accessible
  2. Keep automatic checking on for regular podcasts
  3. Use consistent podcast colours for easy identification
  4. Check feed health on the podcast details page

For File Uploads

  1. Use high-quality source files when possible
  2. Ensure files contain proper metadata
  3. Upload final versions (post-production)
  4. Keep files under the 255MB limit

Optimising Credit Usage

  1. Prioritise important episodes/files
  2. Turn off automatic checking for inactive podcasts
  3. Upload shorter test segments first
  4. Monitor usage throughout the month

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"Podcast not found"

  • Verify the RSS feed URL is correct
  • Ensure the feed is publicly accessible
  • Try adding it via Settings → Podcasts with the feed URL

"Upload failed"

  • Check the file is under 255MB
  • Verify the file is MP3, M4A, WAV or FLAC
  • Ensure a stable internet connection
  • Try a different browser if issues persist

"Processing taking too long"

  • Long episodes (over an hour) take more time
  • Check the Dashboard for status updates
  • Contact support if it's stuck for over 30 minutes

"Not enough credits"

  • Review credit usage in billing settings
  • Buy a top-up or upgrade your plan, then click "Retry Report"
  • Turn off automatic checking temporarily

Getting Help

If you encounter issues:

  1. Check the FAQs for common solutions
  2. Contact support through your Dashboard
  3. Include the report ID for faster assistance

Next Steps

Once your report is ready: