How to Use Descript: A No-BS Guide to Text-Based Video Editing

Descript is one of those tools that actually delivers on its promise: edit video and audio by editing text. No timeline scrubbing. No frame-by-frame adjustments. Just delete words from a transcript and the corresponding video disappears. It's genuinely different from traditional video editors like Premiere or Final Cut.

If you're here because you just downloaded Descript and have no idea where to start, I've got you covered. This guide walks through everything from your first project to exporting a polished video.

Already know about Descript's features but need pricing info? Check out our Descript pricing breakdown or full Descript review.

What Descript Actually Does

Descript combines audio editing, video editing, screen recording, and transcription into one platform. The key differentiator is text-based editing—you edit your media by editing the transcript, which automatically updates the corresponding audio and video.

The AI-powered features automate tedious tasks like generating transcripts, removing filler words, and even identifying different speakers automatically. Advanced functions like multi-track recordings and speaker identification happen in the background, so you don't need to know a lot to get started.

Here's what you can do with it:

Getting Started: Your First Descript Project

Step 1: Download and Sign Up

Head to Descript's website and download the desktop app. It's available for both Mac and Windows. Note that there's no mobile app—Descript is desktop-only.

The free plan gives you 1 hour of transcription and basic editing features. It's enough to test the waters, but honestly, you'll burn through that hour pretty fast just playing around. The free plan exports are watermarked, and video resolution is capped at 720p.

Step 2: Create a New Project

When you open Descript, you'll land in the Drive View—think of it like your file manager for all your projects. From here, you can see all your projects, quick recordings, and manage your workspaces.

To start a new project:

Step 3: Import or Record Your Media

You have two options: import existing files or record directly in Descript.

To import: Drag and drop your file into the Script editor, or click the + icon and select File. Descript supports various file formats including MP3, WAV, MP4, and MOV. The maximum file size on the free plan is 1GB.

To record: Click the Record button to open the Record panel. You can record audio only, video (webcam), or screen recordings. Descript even has a built-in teleprompter you can use while recording.

Once your file is imported, Descript automatically starts transcription. This takes a few minutes depending on file length—split files longer than 15 hours into smaller segments before uploading to prevent performance issues.

The Basics of Text-Based Editing

This is where Descript gets interesting. Once your transcript is generated, you edit video like you'd edit a document.

Deleting Content

See a section where you rambled? Highlight the text and hit delete. The corresponding audio and video disappears. It's that simple.

Cutting Scenes

For more precise control, use the split tool. Position the playhead where you want to cut, then press Command+E (Mac) or Ctrl+E (Windows). Click on unwanted segments and delete them.

Rearranging Content

Cut and paste text to reorder your video. The audio and video follow the transcript.

Correcting the Transcript

The AI transcription is good but not perfect. Click on any word to correct mistakes. This doesn't change your audio—it just fixes the text for captions or reference.

Using the Timeline

Text-based editing handles most tasks, but sometimes you need the timeline for finer control.

The timeline shows your audio waveforms and video tracks. You can:

The Properties panel on the right side lets you adjust everything in a scene or layer—position, size, effects, and more.

Descript's AI Features (The Good Stuff)

Descript's AI tools are accessible through the "Underlord" button in the top right corner. These features are what make Descript worth using over traditional editors.

Studio Sound

This is Descript's professional-grade audio restoration. It removes background noise, room echo, and enhances voice quality with one click. The intensity slider goes from 0-100, but pro tip: leaving it at 100% can make audio sound unnatural with weird artifacts. Start around 75% and adjust from there.

Remove Filler Words

Automatically removes "um," "uh," "like," repeated words, and other verbal crutches. You can review what it wants to remove before committing.

Eye Contact

This AI effect adjusts your gaze so it appears you're looking directly at the camera, even if you were reading from a script. It works best with single-person videos where your face is clearly visible and well-lit. If you wear glasses, softer angled lighting helps reduce glare.

Eye Contact is non-destructive—toggle it on or off anytime. Note: it only works with one person in frame. Group videos won't apply the effect.

AI Green Screen

Remove or replace your video background without an actual green screen. Enable it and swap your background with an image or stock clip. Great for hiding messy offices.

Shorten Word Gaps

Automatically removes silences and dead air to tighten up your pacing.

Edit for Clarity

The AI suggests parts of your content to remove for better flow.

Underlord Chat

This is Descript's AI co-editor. You can chat with it to repurpose content, refine edits, or generate new content. It uses GPT-4o under the hood, so if you're familiar with prompting chatbots, you'll feel right at home.

Adding Captions, B-Roll, and Other Elements

Captions

Descript automatically generates captions from your script. Open the Captions panel in the sidebar, choose a style, and customize colors, fonts, and positioning to match your video.

Stock Media

Need b-roll footage, music, or sound effects? Descript has a built-in stock media library. Add shapes, text, images, and other visual elements directly from the editor.

Templates

Start with pre-built templates for common formats—YouTube videos, social clips, podcasts—or save your own layouts for consistency across projects.

Screen Recording in Descript

Descript includes a standalone screen recorder for capturing tutorials, demos, or presentations. You can record your screen, webcam, or both simultaneously.

The built-in teleprompter displays your script while recording. It scrolls automatically as you speak (or manually if you prefer), and the teleprompter window never appears in your final recording.

For more options, check out our guides to free screen recording software and best screen recording tools.

Exporting and Sharing Your Project

When you're ready to share, Descript gives you several options:

Local Export: Save to your device in formats like MP4, MP3, WAV, or GIF. Export resolution depends on your plan—free is limited to 720p, paid plans go up to 4K.

Publish Link: Generate a hosted version of your project with a shareable URL. Viewers can leave timestamped comments directly on the video—useful for collecting feedback without switching tools.

Platform Integrations: Export directly to YouTube, HubSpot, and other platforms without downloading first.

The publish option uses Descript's servers to render your video, which is the fastest way to share. Click Publish in the top right, configure your settings, and you'll get a URL to send around.

Descript Pricing: What You Actually Pay

Descript has multiple pricing tiers. Here's what they cost (annual billing):

The free plan is honestly pretty limiting—you'll hit the 1-hour transcription cap quickly just testing features. If you're serious about using Descript, plan on at least the Hobbyist tier.

Additional transcription hours can be purchased at $2/hour if you need more than your plan includes.

For a full breakdown, see our Descript pricing guide.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Descript

Use Keyboard Shortcuts

Press ⌘K (Mac) or Ctrl+K (Windows) to open the Search Actions feature. Type what you want to do, and Descript will help you find the right feature or execute commands.

Version History is Your Friend

Nothing is permanent in Descript. Use Version History to restore earlier versions of your project if you make a mistake.

Don't Over-Process Audio

Studio Sound at 100% can sound artificial. Start at 75% and adjust based on your source audio quality.

Collaborate Like Google Docs

Share projects with teammates who can view, comment, or edit based on permissions you set. Projects sync to the cloud automatically—you can even share with people who don't have Descript accounts.

What Descript Doesn't Do Well

Let's be honest about the limitations:

Bottom Line: Should You Use Descript?

If you're making podcasts, YouTube videos, social content, or screen recordings, Descript is genuinely useful. The text-based editing approach is faster than traditional timeline editing for most spoken-word content, and the AI features (especially Studio Sound and filler word removal) save real time.

For complex visual projects with lots of effects, motion graphics, or multi-camera setups, you'll probably want a traditional editor. But for everything else? Descript is worth trying.

Try Descript Free →

Looking for alternatives? Check out our guides to free video editing software and best video editing software for more options.