What is Descript?
Descript is a revolutionary all-in-one editor that fundamentally changes how audio and video are created. It works like a word document: when you import media, Descript automatically provides a highly accurate transcript. From there, you can edit your video or podcast simply by editing the text. Deleting a sentence in the transcript removes the corresponding clip from the timeline. It’s that simple.
Beyond its core text-based editing, Descript is packed with powerful AI features. "Studio Sound" can make amateur recordings sound professionally produced with one click. "Overdub" lets you clone your voice to fix errors without re-recording. And it automatically removes filler words like "um" and "uh," saving creators countless hours of manual work.
Who is Descript for?
Descript is an essential tool for anyone who works with spoken-word audio or video content and wants a faster, more intuitive editing workflow than traditional timeline-based software.
Podcasters
To transcribe, edit, and master podcast episodes with unmatched speed and ease.
Video Creators & YouTubers
For editing interviews, vlogs, and tutorials by simply editing the transcript.
Marketers
To create and edit webinars, testimonials, and promotional videos quickly.
Researchers & Journalists
For transcribing interviews and easily finding key quotes and soundbites.
Main Features of Descript
Text-Based Video Editing
Edit video and audio by simply editing the automatically generated transcript.
Automatic Transcription
Fast and highly accurate transcription with speaker labels for collaborative work.
Overdub & Voice Cloning
Correct audio mistakes or add new words by typing them with a realistic clone of your voice.
Studio Sound
A one-click audio enhancement feature that removes noise and polishes voice quality.
Pros and Cons
✅ Pros
- Revolutionary text-based editing workflow is incredibly fast
- Powerful one-click features like Studio Sound and filler word removal
- Excellent, highly accurate transcription service
- Overdub for correcting audio is a game-changer
- All-in-one tool for recording, editing, and publishing
❌ Cons
- Requires a desktop application (not fully web-based)
- Can be resource-intensive on older computers
- Not ideal for complex, cinematic, or multi-cam video editing
- Generous free plan, but key features require a subscription
Descript Tutorial - Getting Started
Step 1: Create a project and add files
Download and open the Descript app. Start a new project and simply drag & drop your audio or video file into it.
Step 2: Get your automatic transcript
Descript will automatically start transcribing your file. Choose to identify speakers if there are multiple people.
Step 3: Edit the text
Read through the transcript. To remove a mistake, simply highlight the word or phrase and press delete. The audio/video will be cut automatically.
Step 4: Use AI features
Go to the 'Actions' menu to automatically remove filler words. Select the audio track and enable 'Studio Sound' to enhance the quality instantly.
Step 5: Publish or export
Once your edit is complete, click the 'Publish' button to export your final video or audio file in your desired format.
💡 Pro Tips
- Use the keyboard shortcut (often 'W') to correct words in the transcript while the audio plays.
- Train Overdub with your voice early on. It's incredibly useful for fixing small errors later without re-recording.
- Use 'Templates' to save your brand settings (like intros, outros, and lower thirds) to speed up future projects.
- Create 'Compositions' to manage different parts of a large project, like an intro and the main interview, separately.
Frequently Asked Questions about Descript
Descript is primarily used for editing podcasts and videos. Its standout feature is text-based editing, where you get an automatic transcript of your recording, and any edits you make to the text (like deleting a word or sentence) are automatically reflected in the audio and video timeline.
Descript is not a direct replacement but a different workflow. For podcasters and content creators focused on spoken-word content, Descript is often much faster and more intuitive than traditional editors like Audacity or Premiere Pro. However, for complex, cinematic video editing or multi-track music production, traditional editors still offer more granular control.
Overdub is Descript's AI voice cloning feature. After training it on your voice, you can type new words or sentences directly into your transcript, and Descript will generate the audio in your own voice, making it seamless to correct mistakes or add new content without re-recording.