Descript is a collaborative audio and video editor that includes features like transcription, screen recording, publishing, full multitrack editing, and even offers AI tools. The holy grail of a podcaster, the editing tool allows its users to not only record, edit, and mix, but also transcribe audio. Descript offers both an online web solution and a desktop app and added benefits include remote recording and fill room delete, as well as overdub for editing functionality. The screen recording feature instantly transcribes audio, and Descript provides a web link that allows collaborators to access comments and edits when it comes to group work. The overdub feature allows users to create a text-to-speech model of their voice, which can be published as audiograms for a variety of purposes, including social media marketing.
Pricing
Descript offers a free plan for screen recording, but with a limited edition offer and transcription is limited to one use. The company's Creator plan, at $12 per month, unlocks unlimited projects, screen recording, ten hours of transcription per month, and watermark-free video export. For those who probably need more than a basic editing tool, Descipt's Pro plan costs $24 per month, offers everything the Creator plan offers, but extends the transcription limit to 30 hours per month. This jack also unlocks the overdub function. There's another plan, called Enterprise, that offers everything the other plans have, with the addition of onboarding and training, billing, single sign-on (SSO), and a feature to manage security patching. Descript also offers discounted rates for corporate clients, students, educators, and non-profit organizations.
Screen recording functions
One feature that sets Descript apart from many other
podcast is their interactive tutorial project that includes a series of quick lessons to help users get the most out of the collaborative editor. This includes tutorials on audio and video editing, screen recordings, or transcription of meeting notes. To get started with Descript, the platform asks users to download the software and create an account. The registration process is followed by a short survey designed to gauge how the platform will be used. As for the screen recording tool, Ctrl + Shift + 2 allows users to start and stop recording. It not only captures video from the desktop, but also from web cameras. The screen recorder appears as a separate window from the main description editor application.
Create a new project in Descript that you can share with others to work on
Edit and transcribe
With the editing tool, the user can remove unwanted sounds like "ums" and "ahs" from screen recordings with a single click. Regarding transcription errors produced by Descript, once the desired audio is imported, there is a glossary to which frequently used words can be added so that the software recognizes it in the future. However, it is not as useful for audio files that have already been transcribed before putting certain words or names in the glossary; the user will still have to manually modify each error. That being said, this tool significantly reduces the time it normally takes to manually transcribe audio, and even more so once you get used to all the keyboard shortcuts. In terms of measuring transcription accuracy, using Descript's use of Google Cloud's Speech-to-Text technology, we'd compare it to Amazon Polly or Balabolka's free software. Once you've created a new project, Descript's video/audio drag and drop isn't your only option. There is also the option to record audio in Descript, which the software can simultaneously transcribe. It will give you the option to add inline notes, comments, and speaker tags when a new voice is introduced to the recording.
Competitors
Descript boasts that it offers a whole new way of working with audio, unlike similar platforms like Audacity, GarageBand, or Adobe Audition. By our own admission, we should agree. Among those listed above, Descipt presents an almost fairly complete package, on all fronts. Even the free Descript plan allows you to create and edit the basics, which for some is more than enough.
Overdub
Only users of a Descript Pro plan or an Enterprise account will have access to Custom Overdub Voices. This is because downloading existing recordings to train your Voice Overdub requires manual verification of voice identity. For voice identity verification purposes, Pro users must read the Descript training script to ensure that the voice being created belongs to the user. Overdubbing is listening to a pre-recorded passage and recording new audio over it, which makes tracking through the mix much smoother. In some ways, it resembles the multiple tracking features found in audio editing tools like Adobe Audition. In order for Descript Pro users to qualify for Overdub training, they must record a consent statement and Overdub master training script (for at least 10 minutes). This is to pass the voice verification process, so please don't share your Pro or Company account with your friends and family, it just won't work.
Description Overdub function
Final verdict
Descript works well, it's easy to use, and the user interface is neat, well-designed, and clear to understand. When it comes to data protection, the company claims to store user information on its servers to enable offers like live collaboration and full project history. Descript promises that your personal data will not be used for marketing purposes. What would improve this tool would be the availability in several languages, not only in English. The transcription element, like other transcription software, would also benefit from the ability to automatically remove errors from already transcribed text once the corrected word is added to the provided glossary. English-speaking podcasters, print journalists, and students - this might be the tool for you!