Descript Tutorial for Beginners (January 2024 Tutorial)

Video Mastery with Ross
12 Jan 202419:51

TLDRThis tutorial introduces beginners to Descript, guiding them through creating a project in under 20 minutes. It covers the workspace, starting a video project, recording with various settings, and editing with AI tools. The video demonstrates transcription, filler word removal, word gap shortening, and audio enhancement with studio sound. It also explores green screen effects, eye contact features, and scene organization. The tutorial concludes with exporting and publishing the finished video, offering a quick start for new users to Descript's editing platform.

Takeaways

  • 😀 Create your first project in Descript in under 20 minutes with this beginner's tutorial.
  • 📂 Start by navigating to 'New' to create a new project, choosing between video, audio, quick recording, or remote recording options.
  • 🎬 Familiarize yourself with the workspace, including scene thumbnails, transcription section, canvas, and properties panel.
  • 📝 Name your project and begin scripting or recording directly within the transcription section.
  • 🔊 Utilize Descript's AI to transcribe your recordings automatically, and refine the script using AI tools like filler word removal and word gap shortening.
  • 🎥 Use the canvas for editing, where you can preview and adjust the frame of your video.
  • 👨‍💻 Customize your recording settings, including audio source, camera selection, and microphone choice.
  • 🎛️ Apply 'Studio Sound' for a professional audio effect and adjust its intensity to suit your recording.
  • 👁️ Experiment with 'Eye Contact', a beta feature that uses AI to make it appear as if you're looking at the camera.
  • 📑 Split your video into scenes for organized editing and apply effects to individual scenes as needed.
  • 🎨 Add titles and adjust text properties like font, size, color, and alignment to enhance your video.
  • 🔄 Add transitions and sound effects to create smooth scene changes and engaging video dynamics.
  • 📡 Export or publish your completed project directly from Descript, choosing from options like video, audio, or weblink.

Q & A

  • What is the main purpose of the video tutorial?

    -The main purpose of the video tutorial is to teach beginners how to create their first project in Descript within 20 minutes or less.

  • What are the different types of projects one can create in Descript according to the tutorial?

    -According to the tutorial, one can create a video project, an audio project like a podcast, a quick recording similar to a Loom video, or a remote recording for podcast interviews.

  • How is the transcription section of Descript described in the tutorial?

    -The transcription section is described as an area where Descript automatically transcribes added videos, making it look like a Word document.

  • What is the role of the canvas in Descript's editing process?

    -The canvas is the area where editing takes place. It shows the frame that is currently being edited and where the video will preview when played.

  • What feature does Descript offer to automatically edit the audio to sound like it's recorded in a professional studio?

    -Descript offers a feature called Studio Sound, which automatically edits the audio to make it sound like it's recorded in a professional studio.

  • How can users remove filler words from their script using Descript's AI tools?

    -Users can remove filler words by clicking on the 'Actions' button at the top, selecting 'Remove Filler Words', and choosing which types of fillers to remove.

  • What is the 'Eye Contact' feature in Descript and how can it be useful?

    -The 'Eye Contact' feature is a beta feature that uses AI to make it look like the speaker is looking at the camera even when they are not, which is useful for situations like using a teleprompter.

  • How can users adjust the intensity of the Studio Sound effect in Descript?

    -Users can adjust the intensity of the Studio Sound effect by clicking on the layer with the audio, going to the effect settings next to Studio Sound, and changing the intensity percentage.

  • What is the process for adding a sound effect to a transition in Descript?

    -To add a sound effect to a transition, users can go to the media bin, select 'Audio', find the desired sound effect, and position it on the timeline between the two scenes where the transition occurs.

  • How does the tutorial describe the process of publishing or exporting a project in Descript?

    -The tutorial describes the process of publishing or exporting a project by clicking the 'Publish' button at the top right, choosing between 'Export' to save it to the hard drive or 'Publish' to share it online, and then selecting the desired settings and options for the export or publish.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Getting Started with Descript Video Project

This paragraph introduces the tutorial on creating a Descript video project. It begins with accessing the workspace view and creating a new project. The speaker, Ross, guides through selecting the type of project, such as video or audio, and explains the various components of the Descript interface, including scene thumbnails, transcription section, canvas for editing, and properties panel. Ross also demonstrates how to name the project and start a recording with different settings, including camera and audio options.

05:01

🔍 Editing and Refining the Video Script

The second paragraph focuses on editing the recorded video script using Descript's AI tools. It covers removing filler words, shortening word gaps, and adjusting the intensity of the studio sound feature, which automatically edits the audio for a professional sound. The speaker also discusses using the canvas to apply effects like green screen and eye contact, which uses AI to simulate direct eye contact with the camera, and resizing and repositioning video layers.

10:02

📑 Customizing Video Scenes and Adding Titles

This paragraph delves into the process of customizing video scenes, including splitting the video into scenes, applying settings to individual scenes, and adding titles. The speaker explains how to add a title within a specific scene, change text properties like font, size, alignment, and color, and how to adjust the background color of the video. The paragraph also touches on managing video layers and the timeline for a refined video edit.

15:04

🎥 Adding Transitions and Sound Effects

The final paragraph discusses adding transitions and sound effects to enhance the video. The speaker demonstrates how to apply a 'cross zoom' transition and adjust its settings for a smoother scene change. They also show how to add a 'whip whoosh' sound effect to the transition for a more dynamic video experience. The paragraph concludes with a brief mention of the publishing process, including exporting the video to a hard drive or publishing it online via various platforms.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Descript

Descript is a video and audio editing software that simplifies the editing process through its user-friendly interface and AI-powered tools. In the context of the video, Descript is the main subject, as the tutorial is focused on teaching beginners how to use the platform to create and edit video projects efficiently.

💡Workspace view

The workspace view in Descript refers to the initial layout users see when they open a project. It includes various sections such as scene thumbnails, transcription, canvas, and properties panel. The script mentions the workspace view as the starting point for any project, highlighting its importance in organizing and navigating through the editing process.

💡Transcription

Transcription in the video script denotes the process by which Descript automatically converts spoken words in a video into text. This feature is crucial for editing, as it allows for easy navigation, searching, and manipulation of the spoken content within the video, as illustrated when the video creator discusses editing the recorded script.

💡Canvas

The canvas in Descript is the area where the actual video editing takes place. It is where users can see the frame they are currently working on and preview the video as they make changes. The script describes the canvas as an essential part of the editing process, allowing for visual adjustments and effects application.

💡Properties panel

The properties panel in Descript is a section that displays and allows manipulation of the properties of the currently selected element in the video project. Although initially empty, as mentioned in the script, it becomes active once elements such as video or audio are added to the project, enabling detailed adjustments.

💡Scene

A scene in the context of the video refers to a distinct segment or part of the video project. The script explains how to add, name, and manipulate scenes, which is vital for organizing the video into coherent and manageable parts, each with its own settings and effects.

💡Studio Sound

Studio Sound is a feature within Descript that automatically edits the audio to give it a professional studio-quality sound. The script describes how to toggle this feature on and adjust its intensity, demonstrating its role in enhancing the audio quality of the video project.

💡Green screen

The green screen effect, as mentioned in the script, is a technique used in video editing where a green background is replaced with another video or image. Descript allows for the application of this effect easily, as shown when the video creator applies it to the webcam layer.

💡Eye contact

Eye contact is a beta feature in Descript that uses AI to make it appear as if the person in the video is looking directly at the camera, even when they are not. This feature is beneficial for creating a more engaging and direct connection with the audience, as discussed in the script.

💡Transition

A transition in video editing is a visual effect that signifies the passage from one scene to another. The script describes adding a 'cross zoom' transition to make the shift between scenes smoother and more visually appealing.

💡Publish

Publishing in Descript is the final step where users export their finished video or share it online. The script outlines the process of publishing to a WebLink, which is Descript's cloud service, or exporting the video to the user's hard drive, and also mentions the option to publish to platforms like YouTube.

Highlights

Learn to create your first project in Descript in under 20 minutes.

Start a new project by selecting 'new' and choosing a project type like video or audio.

Familiarize with the workspace view, including scene thumbnails, transcription section, canvas, and properties panel.

Name your project and begin scripting or adding media.

Record your project using options like camera, audio only, or screen and audio.

Adjust settings for computer audio, camera, display, microphone, and AI speaker.

Automatic transcription occurs after recording, facilitated by Descript's AI.

Utilize AI tools to correct transcriptions, such as removing filler words and shortening word gaps.

Explore the studio sound feature for professional audio editing.

Apply effects like green screen and eye contact using Descript's AI capabilities.

Resize and reposition layers in the canvas for precise video editing.

Use the timeline to navigate through different parts of your video project.

Adjust audio effects like studio sound intensity and compressor settings for optimal sound quality.

Edit the transcript to refine your video by cutting unnecessary parts and using the ignore function.

Create scenes to organize your video into smaller, manageable units.

Add titles and customize text properties like font, size, and color within a scene.

Set background colors and adjust layer opacity to achieve the desired video appearance.

Add transitions between scenes for a smooth video flow.

Incorporate sound effects from Descript's media bin to enhance your video.

Export or publish your finished project to share it online or save it to your computer.