Learn Descript in 15 Minutes [Full Tutorial]

Joey /// VP Land
13 Feb 202316:26

TLDRThis tutorial offers a quick 15-minute dive into mastering Descript, a versatile audio and video editing tool. Starting with project creation, it guides through importing files, transcription, and text-based editing. It highlights Descript's unique features like scene creation, templates, and dynamic captions. The video also touches on non-destructive editing, stock media integration, and exporting options, providing a comprehensive starter guide for new users.

Takeaways

  • 🎬 Create a new project in Descript by selecting 'New project' and choosing between video-based or audio-based.
  • 🖥️ The interface includes a composition section for text, a video playback area, scene thumbnails, and settings for selected clips.
  • 📁 Import video files by dragging and dropping them, which automatically starts the transcription process.
  • 📝 Edit videos as easily as editing a text document; cut out unwanted sections by deleting text.
  • ✂️ Use the 'Ignore' (Strikethrough) feature to temporarily remove text without deleting it permanently.
  • 🎥 Add scenes by typing a forward slash or using the slash button to mark sections for different visuals.
  • 📹 Utilize free stock footage, images, GIFs, backgrounds, music, and sound effects available within Descript.
  • 🖌️ Save custom templates for future use by right-clicking on a scene and selecting 'Save as template'.
  • ⏱️ Use the timeline for detailed edits, adjusting clip lengths, and fine-tuning audio and video synchronization.
  • 🔤 Add dynamic captions to videos, customize their appearance, and export videos directly to various platforms or as files.

Q & A

  • What is the first step to start a new project in Descript?

    -The first step is to click 'New project' and choose whether your project will be video-based or audio-based.

  • What does the composition section in Descript act like?

    -The composition section in Descript acts like a text document.

  • How can you import video files into Descript?

    -You can import video files by either clicking 'Add' or dragging and dropping the file into the designated area.

  • What happens when you drop a video file in Descript?

    -When you drop a video file in Descript, it automatically starts transcribing the file.

  • How can you edit a video by editing text in Descript?

    -You can edit a video by adjusting the text in the transcript. Deleting or correcting text in the transcript will automatically make corresponding edits in the video.

  • What is the purpose of adding scenes in Descript?

    -Adding scenes helps to mark the start and end points for specific visuals, making it easier to add B-roll, screen recordings, or other video clips.

  • How can you add new scenes in Descript?

    -You can add new scenes by typing a forward slash (/) at the desired point in the transcript or by clicking the slash button.

  • What resources are available in Descript for enhancing your video project?

    -Descript provides free stock footage, stock images, stock GIFs, backgrounds, music, and sound effects that you can use in your projects.

  • How can you add dynamic captions to your video in Descript?

    -You can add dynamic captions by clicking on the text tool, selecting 'Add captions', and customizing the captions' style, animation, and appearance.

  • What are the options available for publishing a completed video project from Descript?

    -You can publish directly to platforms like YouTube, Buzzsprout, Restream, Wistia, or export the video file to your computer.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Getting Started with Descript

The script introduces the process of using Descript in a 15-minute tutorial. It begins by instructing viewers to create a new project and choose between a video or audio project. The interface is then explained, highlighting the composition area, media options, recording features, and settings for adding text, shapes, and templates. The tutorial emphasizes the ease of importing video files, which are automatically transcribed, and the ability to adjust project settings, such as aspect ratio for different social media platforms.

05:01

📚 Editing Video Content with Text

This paragraph demonstrates the ease of editing video content through text manipulation within Descript. It explains how to cut lines from the video by simply deleting the corresponding text and how the platform automatically updates the video edit in real-time. The script also covers how to incorporate multiple video clips into a single composition, use the 'Ignore' feature to temporarily remove sections without deleting them, and the non-destructive nature of edits, ensuring that the original video files remain intact.

10:03

🎬 Adding Visuals with Scenes in Descript

The tutorial moves on to explain how to add visuals to the video project by creating scenes. Each scene is marked with a forward slash, which helps to organize different visual elements for various sections of the video. The process of adding stock footage or other visual media to specific scenes is detailed, along with how to adjust and scale these visuals to fit the frame. The paragraph also touches on the availability of other media resources like stock images, GIFs, music, and sound effects within Descript.

15:05

🔧 Advanced Editing with Templates and the Timeline

This section delves into using templates for quick editing and customizing video styles, as well as saving these custom templates for future use. The script also introduces the Timeline feature, which is essential for fine-tuning edits, adjusting media layers, and ensuring precise synchronization between audio and video. The capabilities of adding dynamic captions, with various customization options, are highlighted, along with the final steps of publishing or exporting the completed video project to different platforms or as a file.

🚀 Finalizing and Sharing Your Descript Project

The final paragraph outlines the steps for publishing or exporting the finished video. Viewers are guided on how to share the composition as a link, publish directly to major platforms, or export the project as a video or audio file. The process of selecting export resolution, quality, and metadata inclusion is explained. The tutorial concludes with an invitation for viewers to ask questions, subscribe for more content, and provide feedback.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Descript

Descript is a multimedia editing tool that allows users to edit videos and audio by editing text. It simplifies the process of content creation by providing an intuitive interface where edits are made directly in the transcript of the media. For instance, if a user wants to remove a segment, they can delete the corresponding text, and Descript will automatically adjust the video.

💡Project

In Descript, a project is a workspace where users can organize and edit their multimedia files. Projects can be video-based or audio-based, and users can easily switch between these types. For example, the video tutorial demonstrates creating a new video project and importing media files into it.

💡Composition

A composition in Descript acts like a text document that represents the structure and content of the media project. It includes the transcript, where users can make edits that will be reflected in the media. The composition is central to the editing process, as seen when the tutorial explains how to edit videos by manipulating text within the composition.

💡Transcription

Transcription in Descript refers to the automatic conversion of audio and video speech into text. This transcription is used to edit the media content by text. For instance, when a video file is uploaded, Descript transcribes the audio so that users can make edits as if they were editing a text document.

💡Scenes

Scenes in Descript are sections of the media marked for specific visual changes or additions. By dividing the content into scenes, users can easily add visuals, such as images or video clips, to designated parts of the project. The tutorial demonstrates this by showing how to add and edit scenes to control what is displayed in each segment.

💡Timeline

The timeline in Descript is a visual representation of the media's playback sequence. It allows for more detailed edits and adjustments to the video and audio clips. The timeline shows layers of media and is useful for fine-tuning edits, as highlighted in the tutorial when discussing how to synchronize audio and video precisely.

💡Dynamic Captions

Dynamic captions are animated subtitles that display spoken text in sync with the media. In Descript, users can add and customize dynamic captions to enhance accessibility and viewer engagement. The tutorial covers how to add these captions and adjust their appearance and animation.

💡Templates

Templates in Descript are pre-designed styles that can be applied to media projects to maintain consistency and save time. Users can use default templates or create custom ones for future use. The tutorial shows how to apply a vertical template style and explains the benefits of using templates for efficiency.

💡Export

Exporting in Descript refers to the process of saving and outputting the final edited media file. Users can export their projects in various formats and resolutions, and directly upload them to platforms like YouTube. The tutorial concludes with a step-by-step guide on how to export a completed project.

💡Stock Media

Stock media in Descript includes freely available images, videos, and audio that users can incorporate into their projects. These resources enhance the visual and auditory elements of a project without requiring users to create their own media. The tutorial demonstrates how to search for and add stock footage to a project.

Highlights

Learn how to use Descript in just 15 minutes.

Create a new project by selecting either video or audio-based project.

Import video files to start editing and transcribing automatically.

Edit videos by editing text, making it as easy as editing a text document.

Automatically transcribe videos and correct text as needed.

Use scenes to organize different visuals and sections within the video.

Add stock footage, images, GIFs, and sound effects directly within Descript.

Use templates to save time and apply custom styles to your videos.

Fine-tune edits using the timeline to adjust video and audio precisely.

Add dynamic captions that animate and highlight words in real-time.

Publish directly to platforms like YouTube, Buzzsprout, Restream, and Wistia.

Export the final video with customizable resolution and quality settings.

Utilize non-destructive editing, allowing you to revert changes anytime.

Incorporate multiple video clips and create seamless edits by copying and pasting text.

Preview and review the transcript for accuracy and clarity before publishing.