Descript is an all-in-one software system for editing videos, audio, recording screens, and transcribing. While many tools are available with similar functionality, they are often too complex.
People from diverse professions have been creating podcasts, YouTube channels, and conducting interviews. If you are not from a media background, learning a complex tool or hiring a professional may seem daunting.
But what if editing a media file or transcribing an interview was as simple as editing a Google doc? Here's how you can do it with Descript.
Pricing Plans
The company offers four unique plans, Free, Pro, Creator, and Enterprise, which are billed monthly or annually. We will discuss the features of the Free plan, which allow you to record a screen, comment on a project, and collaborate with others. You can also transcribe three hours of recordings.
Getting Started
Navigate to Descript's official website and click Get Started for free. You can either sign up using a Google account or with email credentials. Install the software on your computer, and then you can access the local or the cloud version in your browser.
Download: Descript for Mac and Windows | Web-version
Understanding the Layout
As soon as you launch the software, the Drive View appears, displaying all of your files and workspaces. You can invite collaborators to access your personal files in the My Workspace folder. Comparatively, the files in Drive Workspace are accessible by everyone on your team.
On the screen, you can view the files in a selected workspace. Double-click a file to open it or click the three dots next to the filename to remove, delete, or rename it in the Drive View.
You can start a new screen recording or create a new project by clicking the New option on the top right. The Composition screen opens where you can add and edit media files.
The left sidebar has all the media files that are part of the project. You can perform multiple actions by right-clicking the file name. The selected media file opens in the central area for editing.
The right panel enables you to alter the composition, script speed, mute the track. To learn about other functionalities, visit the Descript Help page or its YouTube channel. Let's create a transcription project.
Creating a New Project
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In the Drive View, click New>Project.
- Enter the name and click Create Project.
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Choose or drag and drop the audio file. While the software process the files, you can select the number of speakers in the transcript and enter their names. Select the Unsure option if you don't have these details, and click Done. You can add the names of interviewers and interviewees later.
- After the transcription is complete, you can edit and enhance the script.
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Click the plus icon above the editor to view the actions you can perform on the track.
- You can click D to dub over a piece of audio by adding your own voice or selecting the in-built male and female voices.
- Add a marker at a specific timestamp.
- Leave a comment on file for other collaborators.
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The timeline of the track is displayed in the bottom panel. To trim a part of the audio, click the Blade icon. To traverse the track, use the arrow icon.
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To equalize or compress the video, click the Add Effect button in the right panel.
You can learn more about creating a transcript and other workflows on the YouTube channel. Instead of recording your interviews, if you prefer transcribing in real-time, then try the Google Translate service.
Importing a Transcript
Sometimes if the audio is complicated or unclear, you can get it transcribed by a third party. This transcript can be imported and synced with your audio file by following these steps:
- Choose or add an audio file into the project sidebar.
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Select the audio file and click More Options > Import Transcript.
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Paste the transcription script and format it if required. Click Sync.
- Drag your audio to the Composition screen. You can see the synced transcript.
Recording a Screen
You can record your screen on Descript and share it with others. There is no Camera option available for Windows users.
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In the Drive View, click New > Screen. It shows the screen recorder setup and the camera view in a circular form.
- Configure the recording setup and click Start screen recording.
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In the new window, follow the instructions to begin the recording.
- To stop the recording, click the red record button on the side of the screen. In the center, you will find both the recording and transcript.
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Share the recording via a link.
- You can also open it for editing by clicking the Open Project button in the bottom left of the screen.
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You can add comments and modify the file. The editing options for a screen recording are similar to the ones for transcribing.
If you use Zoom or Loom to record your screen, you can transfer them to Descript for transcribing. Descript automatically detects the recording link and allows you to add it to a project when you copy it from Zoom.
Transcription Options
The software enables you to transcribe a file in two ways.
- AI-based: The software transcribes the file with a 95% accuracy rate, and you can make further edits to the output.
- White-Glove: You can request a human to transcribe the file. This service costs $2 per minute.
Is Descript Worth Using?
The free version is sufficient for users who want to transcribe sparingly. It is easy to use, and having a cloud-based version means you can access your files at any time.
This software comes with a lot of learning resources. It contains recent updates, explanatory videos, and tips. As an affiliate partner, you can also earn money.
The free version of Descript offers limited features that might not convince you to invest in the software. You can try out the Pro version for free, which has more functionalities, but is only available for a limited time.
Now that you have learned a fair bit about the software, go ahead and create your first project.