Post-Production Workflow: From Timeline to Published Episode

Turn Captured Moments Into Professional Content

The interview is done. You've captured dozens of events. Now what?

This guide walks through a proven post-production workflow that transforms your InterviewCue timeline into polished, professional podcast episodes, videos, or articles.

The Post-Production Promise

What you have: A timeline of timestamped events captured during the interview
What you need: Show notes, chapter markers, edit points, and a published episode
How long: 30-90 minutes depending on complexity
The payoff: Professional output with minimal friction

Let's dive in.

Step 1: Review Process (15-30 minutes)

Initial Timeline Review

Open your post-production timeline and get oriented.

What you'll see:

  • Interview started timestamp
  • Questions you navigated to
  • Events you (and co-hosts) captured
  • Complete chronological view
  • Total interview duration

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of full post-production timeline]

Listen-Through (Optional but Recommended)

Two approaches:

Option A: Full Listen (60-90 minutes)

  • Listen to entire interview
  • Follow along in timeline
  • Verify captured events are accurate
  • Add missed moments
  • Refine timestamps

Option B: Event Sampling (15-30 minutes)

  • Jump to each captured event timestamp
  • Listen to 10-20 seconds around each
  • Verify accuracy
  • Add context if needed
  • Trust your in-the-moment captures

Recommendation: Option B for most interviews. Option A for important flagship episodes.

Refining Events

Common refinements:

Add more detail:

Before: "good quote"
After: "Quote about sustainability being foundation not feature"

Delete duplicates:

  • Co-host and you captured same moment
  • Delete one, keep better description

Add missed moments:

  • Press "Add Event" button
  • Enter timestamp manually
  • Add description
  • Choose event type

Adjust timestamps (quick and easy with inline editing):

  • Click any timestamp directly in the timeline
  • Type new time in MM:SS format
  • Press Enter to save instantly
  • No page reload needed—seamless editing!

Or use audio scrubbing (for precise verification):

  • Upload your interview audio file
  • Click play button next to any timestamp
  • Listen to ±30 seconds around the event
  • Click "Update" to set timestamp to current playback position
  • Perfect for verifying critical moments!

Or use transcript alignment (for batch adjustments):

  • Events initially aligned with original recording
  • Upload final transcript
  • Use alignment tool
  • Timestamps update automatically

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of editing an event]

Step 2: Creating Show Notes (15-30 minutes)

From Highlights to Show Notes

Your highlights (key 3 events) are show notes gold.

Review all highlight events:

04:23 - Highlight: "Beijing childhood story"
12:15 - Highlight: "Quote: sustainability is foundation"
23:45 - Highlight: "Breakthrough recycling technology"
31:10 - Highlight: "Advice for entrepreneurs"

These become your show notes structure!

Show Notes Template

Basic structure:

# Episode Title: [Guest Name - Topic]

## About [Guest Name]

[2-3 sentences from intro]

## Key Highlights

- **The Beijing Story (04:23)** - [Guest] shares the childhood 
  experience that inspired her career in sustainable tech

- **"Sustainability is a Foundation" (12:15)** - Why treating 
  sustainability as an add-on feature misses the point

- **Breakthrough Technology (23:45)** - The recycling innovation 
  that changes everything

- **Advice for Entrepreneurs (31:10)** - What [Guest] wishes 
  she knew when starting out

## Links & Resources

- [Guest's Website](https://...)
- [Company](https://...)
- [Article mentioned](https://...)

## Sponsors

[If applicable]

## Connect with [Guest]

- Twitter: @guest
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/guest

Export Markdown for Head Start

InterviewCue can generate this for you:

  1. Click "Export" button
  2. Choose "Markdown" format
  3. Download file
  4. Open in text editor
  5. Polish and customize
  6. Publish!

What's included:

  • Interview metadata
  • All questions with timestamps
  • All events organized by type
  • Reference links section
  • Basic formatting

Time saved: 60-80% compared to starting from scratch.

Show Notes Best Practices

Do:

  • ✅ Include timestamps for key moments
  • ✅ Pull direct quotes from highlights
  • ✅ Add all reference links
  • ✅ Make it scannable (headings, bullets)
  • ✅ Include guest bio and contact info

Don't:

  • ❌ Make it too long (overwhelming)
  • ❌ Skip timestamps (listeners want to jump)
  • ❌ Forget calls to action
  • ❌ Leave out affiliate/sponsor info
  • ❌ Ignore SEO (use keywords naturally)

Step 3: Chapter Markers (10-20 minutes)

Why Chapter Markers Matter

Benefits for listeners:

  • Skip to topics they care about
  • See what's covered at a glance
  • Share specific sections easily
  • Better listening experience

Podcast apps that support chapters:

  • Apple Podcasts
  • Overcast
  • Pocket Casts
  • Castro
  • Podcast Addict
  • Many others

Your competitive advantage: Most podcasts don't have chapters. You will.

Creating Chapter Markers

Use your Segment events (key 4):

00:00 - Introduction
02:15 - [Segment] The Beijing Story
08:30 - [Segment] GreenCircuit's Recycling Approach
15:42 - [Segment] Biggest Misconceptions
23:10 - [Segment] Recent Breakthroughs
31:05 - [Segment] Advice for Entrepreneurs
38:20 - [Segment] Where to Find Sarah

That's your chapter list!

Chapter Naming Best Practices

Good chapter names:

  • "The Origin Story" ✅
  • "Why She Pivoted to B2B" ✅
  • "The Mistake That Changed Everything" ✅
  • "Advice for New Founders" ✅

Bad chapter names:

  • "Part 1" ❌
  • "Question 3" ❌
  • "Segment 4" ❌
  • "Interview Continues" ❌

Make them descriptive and compelling!

Exporting Chapters

InterviewCue supports multiple chapter formats:

CUE Sheet (.cue) - Most versatile

  • Embed in MP3 files
  • Supported by most players
  • Industry standard

Export steps:

  1. Click "Export"
  2. Choose "CUE Sheet"
  3. Download .cue file
  4. Use with your MP3

Embedding chapters in MP3:

Option 1: mp3chaps (command-line)

mp3chaps -i episode.mp3

Reads episode.cue and embeds chapters.

Option 2: Forecast (Mac GUI)

  • Import MP3
  • Import CUE file
  • Export with embedded chapters

Option 3: Podcast Chapters (Web app)

  • Upload MP3
  • Paste chapter timestamps
  • Download with chapters

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of embedded chapter markers in podcast app]

Platform-Specific Requirements

Apple Podcasts:

  • Uses ID3 tags (CHAP frames)
  • Most tools handle this automatically
  • Supports chapter images (advanced)

YouTube (if doing video):

  • Use timestamp comments
  • Or YouTube Studio chapters
  • InterviewCue markdown → paste in description

Spotify:

  • Limited chapter support (coming soon)
  • Show notes with timestamps work

Step 4: Edit Sheet Creation (10-15 minutes)

For Audio Editors

Your audio issue events (key 1) are your edit sheet.

12:34 - Audio Issue: Cough
18:45 - Audio Issue: Phone notification
25:12 - Audio Issue: Audio glitch
33:20 - Audio Issue: Background noise

Share this with your audio editor:

  • They know exactly where to listen carefully
  • Can jump directly to problem spots
  • Saves hours of scrubbing through audio
  • Professional, efficient workflow

Export Formats for DAWs

CSV for Adobe Audition:

  1. Export → "CSV (Adobe Audition)"
  2. Import in Audition: Markers → Import Markers
  3. All events appear as markers
  4. Navigate directly to each

EDL for Video Editors:

  1. Export → "EDL (Edit Decision List)"
  2. Import in Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut
  3. Markers appear on timeline
  4. Edit with precise guidance

MIDI for Logic Pro X:

  1. Export → "Logic Pro MIDI"
  2. Import MIDI file in Logic
  3. Markers appear at exact timestamps
  4. Professional audio production workflow

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot showing markers imported in DAW]

Edit Point Communication

If working with an editor, provide:

  1. Audio file (raw or synced)
  2. Edit sheet (CSV or EDL from InterviewCue)
  3. Chapter markers (CUE sheet)
  4. Highlight list (for "best of" clips)
  5. Instructions (intro music, ad placement, etc.)

Result: Editor has everything they need. No back-and-forth. Faster turnaround.

Step 5: Integrating with Your Editing Workflow

Adobe Audition Workflow

Step-by-step:

  1. Import interview audio into Audition
  2. Export CSV from InterviewCue
  3. Audition → Markers → Import Markers
  4. Browse CSV file, import
  5. All events appear as markers
  6. Jump between markers (Ctrl+M / Cmd+M)
  7. Edit efficiently knowing exactly where issues are

Benefits:

  • Navigate to captured moments instantly
  • See which events are audio issues vs highlights
  • Use markers to guide editing decisions
  • Export final audio with confidence

Adobe Premiere / DaVinci Resolve Workflow

For video podcasts:

  1. Import video into your NLE
  2. Export EDL from InterviewCue
  3. Import EDL into Premiere/Resolve
  4. Markers appear on timeline
  5. Create cuts based on markers
  6. Generate clips from highlights
  7. Export final video

Pro workflow:

  • Use highlight markers for social media clips
  • Use segment markers for chapters
  • Use audio issue markers for cleanup
  • Professional, marker-driven editing

Logic Pro X Workflow

For podcasters using Logic:

  1. Import audio into Logic project
  2. Export MIDI markers from InterviewCue
  3. Drag MIDI file into Logic project
  4. Markers appear at correct timestamps
  5. Edit with full professional DAW
  6. Reference markers throughout process

Descript Workflow

For Descript users:

  1. Import interview into Descript
  2. Use InterviewCue timeline as reference
  3. Mark sections in Descript based on events
  4. Edit transcript and audio together
  5. Export final audio/video

Note: Descript's transcript can also be uploaded back to InterviewCue for alignment!

Simple Copy-Paste Workflow

No fancy integrations? No problem:

  1. Open post-production timeline
  2. Copy event list (select all, copy)
  3. Paste into text editor
  4. Reference while editing in any tool
  5. Jump to timestamps manually

Still saves huge amounts of time!

Step 6: Social Media Content Creation (10-20 minutes)

Identifying Clips

Your highlight events (key 3) are social media gold.

Best clip criteria:

  • 30-90 seconds long
  • Self-contained thought
  • Doesn't need context
  • Compelling or controversial
  • Emotionally engaging

Review highlights:

04:23 - "Beijing childhood story" → 45 seconds → ✅ Perfect
12:15 - "Sustainability quote" → 15 seconds → ✅ Great
23:45 - "Technical explanation" → 90 seconds → ⚠️ Maybe (might be too technical)

Creating Clips

Video podcast workflow:

  1. Use highlight timestamps to find moments
  2. Extract clips in your video editor (30-90 sec)
  3. Add captions (CapCut, Descript, etc.)
  4. Add branding (intro/outro)
  5. Export square or vertical format
  6. Schedule for social media

Audio podcast workflow:

  1. Extract audio clips at highlight timestamps
  2. Create audiograms (Headliner, Wavve, etc.)
  3. Add captions to waveform video
  4. Export for social
  5. Post with quote as text

Time saved: Knowing exact timestamps eliminates searching through hour-long files.

Quote Graphics

Pull quotes from highlight events:

  1. Review highlight descriptions
  2. Find quotable moments
  3. Create quote graphics (Canva, Figma)
  4. Post with guest attribution
  5. Tag guest for amplification

Example:

"Sustainability isn't a feature—it's a foundation."
— Sarah Chen, GreenCircuit CEO

Step 7: Share with Team (5 minutes)

Collaborative Review

Use InterviewCue's share feature:

  1. Post-production timeline → Click "Share"
  2. Generate secure link
  3. Share with:
    • Audio editor
    • Video editor
    • Producer
    • Content team
    • Guest (optional)
  4. They view read-only timeline
  5. Everyone on same page

Benefits:

  • No need to export and email
  • Always up-to-date (live link)
  • Read-only (can't accidentally change)
  • Secure (unique URL, revocable)

Team Feedback Loop

Effective collaboration:

  1. Share timeline with team
  2. Team reviews asynchronously
  3. Feedback via Slack/email/comments
  4. Implement changes in InterviewCue
  5. Re-export updated materials
  6. Repeat if needed

Pro tip: Use specific timestamps in feedback ("At 12:15, consider...") for clarity.

Step 8: Final Exports (5-10 minutes)

What to Export

For publication:

  • ✅ CUE sheet (chapters for MP3)
  • ✅ Markdown (show notes draft)
  • ✅ CSV or EDL (if working with editors)

For archive:

  • ✅ JSON (full data backup)
  • ✅ PDF (printable timeline)

For team:

  • ✅ Share link (collaborative review)

Export Checklist

Before publishing:

  • [ ] Show notes written and formatted
  • [ ] Chapter markers embedded in MP3
  • [ ] Audio edited (issues removed)
  • [ ] Intro/outro music added
  • [ ] Sponsor reads inserted
  • [ ] Final audio exported
  • [ ] ID3 tags filled (title, guest, description)
  • [ ] Cover art added
  • [ ] Uploaded to podcast host
  • [ ] Social media clips created
  • [ ] Quote graphics ready

Complete Workflow Timeline

Realistic Time Estimates

Total post-production time: 2-4 hours

Breakdown:

Task Time Can Skip?
Timeline review 15-30 min No
Show notes 15-30 min No
Chapter markers 10-20 min Yes
Audio editing 60-120 min No
Social clips 10-20 min Yes
Final export 5-10 min No
Upload & schedule 10-15 min No

With InterviewCue: 2-3 hours for professional output
Without InterviewCue: 4-6 hours for similar quality
Time saved: 2-3 hours per episode

Best Practices Summary

Review Process

Do:

  • ✅ Review timeline same day if possible
  • ✅ Add detail to captures while memory is fresh
  • ✅ Verify timestamps are accurate
  • ✅ Delete unnecessary duplicates

Don't:

  • ❌ Wait weeks to review (memory fades)
  • ❌ Skip timeline review entirely
  • ❌ Over-edit event descriptions
  • ❌ Obsess over perfection

Show Notes

Do:

  • ✅ Use highlights as structure
  • ✅ Include timestamps
  • ✅ Add all reference links
  • ✅ Make it scannable

Don't:

  • ❌ Write a novel
  • ❌ Skip timestamps
  • ❌ Forget guest info
  • ❌ Ignore SEO basics

Chapter Markers

Do:

  • ✅ Create descriptive names
  • ✅ Use segment markers
  • ✅ Embed in final MP3
  • ✅ Test in podcast app

Don't:

  • ❌ Use generic names ("Part 1")
  • ❌ Skip chapters (competitive advantage!)
  • ❌ Forget to embed
  • ❌ Ignore platform requirements

Editing Integration

Do:

  • ✅ Export appropriate format for your tool
  • ✅ Import markers into DAW
  • ✅ Use markers to guide editing
  • ✅ Share edit sheet with editors

Don't:

  • ❌ Edit without timeline reference
  • ❌ Manually hunt for events
  • ❌ Skip the export step
  • ❌ Reinvent the wheel

Advanced Workflows

Batch Processing

If you record multiple interviews per week:

Monday-Wednesday: Record 3 interviews Thursday: Batch review all 3 timelines (90 min) Friday: Batch create show notes (60 min) Weekend/Next Week: Audio editing and publishing

Benefits:

  • Context switching minimized
  • Efficiency gains
  • Clearer head for each task

Template-Driven Workflow

Create templates for:

  • Show notes structure
  • Social media posts
  • Email announcements
  • Blog post format

Use InterviewCue markdown export as starting point, fill in template.

Time saved: 30-50% on content creation.

Delegation Workflow

If working with a team:

You:

  1. Review timeline (10 min)
  2. Add any missing highlights
  3. Share with team

Audio Editor:

  1. Reviews shared timeline
  2. Imports markers into DAW
  3. Edits based on events
  4. Returns final audio

Content Manager:

  1. Reviews timeline
  2. Creates show notes from highlights
  3. Generates social clips
  4. Schedules posts

You:

  1. Final review
  2. Approve and publish

Total your time: 30 minutes!

Tools Integration

Compatible Tools

Audio Editing:

  • Adobe Audition (CSV import)
  • Logic Pro X (MIDI markers)
  • Pro Tools (EDL/markers)
  • Audacity (manual, but works)

Video Editing:

  • Adobe Premiere (EDL)
  • DaVinci Resolve (EDL)
  • Final Cut Pro (marker import)

Transcription:

  • Descript (two-way workflow)
  • Otter.ai (transcript → InterviewCue)
  • Rev.com (transcript → InterviewCue)

Social Media:

  • Headliner (audiograms from timestamps)
  • Wavve (audiograms)
  • CapCut (clips with captions)

Troubleshooting Common Issues

"I Captured Too Many Events"

Solution:

  • Delete obviously redundant ones
  • Filter by type (show only highlights and segments)
  • Focus on what matters for publishing
  • Keep audio issues for editor

"I Didn't Capture Enough"

Solution:

  • Listen through and add missed moments
  • Use "Add Event" button
  • Enter timestamp manually
  • Better than nothing!

Prevention: Capture liberally during interviews.

"Timestamps Are Wrong After Editing"

Solution:

  • Upload final transcript
  • Use alignment feature
  • Review confidence scores
  • Apply alignment

Prevention: Plan for alignment from the start.

"Team Doesn't Understand Timeline"

Solution:

  • Share this documentation!
  • Do a quick screen-share walkthrough
  • Provide examples
  • Use consistent naming conventions

Success Metrics

Measure your post-production efficiency:

  • ⏱️ Time from recording to publish (goal: < 48 hours)
  • 📊 Post-production hours per episode (goal: < 3 hours)
  • ✅ Percentage of episodes with chapters (goal: 100%)
  • 📝 Show notes quality (goal: comprehensive + timestamps)
  • 📱 Social clips created per episode (goal: 3-5)

Track over time. You'll get faster and better!

Related Documentation

Final Thoughts

Post-production doesn't have to be painful.

With InterviewCue, you've already done the hard work during the interview—capturing the moments that matter. Now it's just about organizing, polishing, and publishing.

Follow this workflow. Refine it for your needs. Ship great episodes.

You've got this! 🎬✨