The 28 ways we made Descript easier and better at Season 6

Descript
14 Jun 202405:30

TLDRDescript's Season 6 update introduces Underlord, an AI assistant for editing, along with 28 enhancements to the user interface, including a redesigned look, improved navigation, and more accessible AI actions and templates.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 Descript has released a new version with a fresh look and feel.
  • 📚 Insertion menus have been consolidated into a single right sidebar for easier access.
  • 🔧 Properties are now organized under 'Scene' and 'Layer' tabs for clearer control.
  • 📺 Captions have been moved to a dedicated sidebar and apply to the entire composition by default.
  • ✂️ Composition navigation has been improved for quicker switching between compositions.
  • 🎛️ The canvas selection toolbar now includes more properties, reducing the need for the layer properties tab.
  • 🎙️ The recorder has been relocated to the sidebar for easier integration into scripts.
  • 📂 File previews are enhanced, showing a large popover for easier selection and dragging into compositions.
  • 🖌️ Adjustments to multi-scene layers are now simpler, allowing changes to apply to the current scene or the entire layer.
  • 🤖 AI actions are now more visible in the new Underlord sidebar, with a more user-friendly interface.
  • 📐 Template and layout management has been overhauled, with layouts swapping layers instead of adding new ones.

Q & A

  • What is the headline feature of the new version of Descript?

    -The headline feature of the new version of Descript is called 'Underlord', an AI assistant that automates many aspects of the editing process.

  • How many quality of life improvements were made in Descript's Season 6 update?

    -There were 28 quality of life improvements made in Descript's Season 6 update.

  • What has changed in Descript's interface to make it more user-friendly?

    -Descript has a new coat of paint, moved insertion menus to a single right sidebar, and split properties between 'Scene' and 'Layer' tabs for easier access and less obstruction.

  • How have captions been improved in the new version of Descript?

    -Captions are now in their own sidebar, and when clicked, they apply to the whole composition by default.

  • What is the new feature for composition navigation in Descript?

    -Composition navigation has been improved with the ability to quickly switch between compositions in the app bar or via the project sidebar.

  • What changes have been made to the recorder in the new Descript update?

    -The recorder has been moved to the sidebar, allowing users to insert a recording into the script as a new layer or replace the selection by clicking in the script.

  • How has the file preview experience been enhanced in Descript?

    -The file preview now shows in a large popover, making it easier to find the desired part of the file and drag it into the composition.

  • What is the new feature for changing the scope of selection for layers that span multiple scenes?

    -It's now easier to change the scope of selection for layers that span multiple scenes, allowing users to decide whether changes apply to the current scene or the entire layer across all scenes.

  • How have AI actions been made more accessible in the new Descript update?

    -AI actions that used to be hidden in a search box are now laid out in the new Underlord sidebar, with a nicer UI featuring buttons and other controls.

  • What changes have been made to templates and layouts in Descript's Season 6 update?

    -Templates and layouts have been redesigned with improvements such as remembering the selected template on a per-project basis, swapping layers instead of adding new ones when switching layouts, and making it easier to save new layouts to templates.

  • What is the redesigned timeline feature in the new Descript update?

    -The timeline has been fully redesigned with numerous small improvements, resulting in a cleaner and easier-to-use interface.

  • How has the workflow for speaker detection and labelling been improved in Descript?

    -Speaker detection is now automatic when transcribing a file, and users can change a speaker label by selecting a range and editing it directly.

  • What is the new selector feature for swapping between different editor layouts?

    -A new selector has been added for swapping between different editor layouts, providing users with more flexibility and control over their workspace.

  • How have notifications been improved in the new Descript update?

    -Notifications for activities such as file uploading, transcribing, and effect processing have been improved for better user awareness and interaction.

  • What is the change made to marker navigation in the new Descript update?

    -Marker navigation has been moved to be alongside other transport controls, streamlining the user's workflow.

  • What is the final change mentioned in the Descript update?

    -The final change mentioned is the removal of the home button from other menu controls and its placement as a separate, more prominent feature.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Major Update: Descript's New Features and Design

Descript has released a significant update, introducing an AI assistant called Underlord that automates much of the editing process. Alongside this headline feature, the platform has seen 28 quality of life improvements, enhancing the user experience. The redesign includes a fresh coat of paint, a streamlined sidebar for easier access to insertion menus, and a split between scene and layer properties. Captions are now managed in a dedicated sidebar, and composition navigation has been improved. The canvas selection toolbar and recorder have been relocated to the sidebar for convenience, and file previews have been enhanced for easier access. Layers spanning multiple scenes can now have their selection scope adjusted, and AI actions are more accessible in the new Underlord sidebar. The user interface for these actions has also been improved, with a more intuitive design. Popular AI effects are now more easily accessible, and templates and layouts have been reworked for better project management. The timeline has been redesigned for a cleaner, more user-friendly experience, and the script editor has been updated with a friendlier empty state and improved scene boundaries. Speaker detection is now automatic, and the workflow for merging speaker labels has been enhanced. Additionally, a new selector for editor layouts has been introduced.

05:03

🔔 Enhanced User Experience: Notifications and Controls

The second paragraph of the script highlights further improvements in user experience, focusing on notifications and control enhancements. Notifications for activities such as file uploading, transcribing, and effect processing have been improved for better user awareness. Marker navigation has been repositioned alongside other transport controls for a more intuitive workflow. Additionally, the home button has been separated from other menu controls, simplifying the interface. These updates aim to streamline the user's interaction with the platform, making it more efficient and user-friendly.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Descript

Descript is a software platform designed for audio and video editing. In the context of the video, it is highlighted as having undergone a major update. The platform is noted for its user-friendly interface and integration of AI capabilities to assist with editing tasks, making it a central theme of the video's message.

💡Underlord

Underlord is a new feature introduced in Descript, described as an AI assistant. It is designed to automate many aspects of the editing process, thereby enhancing the user experience by reducing manual effort. This feature is a key highlight of the video, showcasing Descript's commitment to leveraging AI for improving productivity.

💡Quality of life improvements

This term refers to the minor yet significant updates and refinements made to Descript to enhance user experience. These improvements, while not major new features, collectively contribute to making the platform more delightful and easier to use, as mentioned in the video.

💡Insertion menus

In the video, insertion menus are mentioned as being moved to a single right sidebar. This change is part of the redesign aimed at making it easier for users to find and access these tools without them obstructing the main workspace, thus improving workflow efficiency.

💡Properties

Properties in Descript refer to the settings and attributes that can be adjusted for different elements within a project. The video discusses how these properties are now organized into 'scene' and 'layer' tabs, allowing for more intuitive control over project elements.

💡Captions

Captions in the context of Descript are textual overlays that accompany audio or video content. The video script mentions that captions now have their own sidebar, making it easier to apply them to the entire composition by default, which is a significant improvement for accessibility and content clarity.

💡Composition navigation

This refers to the ease with which users can switch between different compositions within Descript. The video highlights improvements in this area, allowing for quicker navigation and management of multiple projects, which is crucial for efficient editing.

💡Canvas selection toolbar

The canvas selection toolbar is a feature in Descript that provides access to various properties of the selected layer. The video mentions that this toolbar now includes more properties, reducing the need to constantly open the layer properties tab in the sidebar.

💡Recorder

The recorder feature in Descript allows users to record audio directly into the script. The video script notes that this feature has been moved to the sidebar, making it more accessible and allowing for easier integration of recordings into the project.

💡File preview

The file preview experience in Descript has been improved, as described in the video. Users can now view files in a large popover, making it easier to locate and drag relevant parts into their compositions, which is particularly useful for handling long files.

💡AI actions

AI actions in Descript are automated processes powered by artificial intelligence that assist with editing tasks. The video script mentions that these actions are now more prominently displayed in the Underlord sidebar, making them easier to access and use, which is a significant enhancement for users looking to leverage AI in their projects.

Highlights

Descript has released a major new version with a headline feature called Underlord, an AI assistant for editing.

28 quality of life improvements have been made in addition to the new features.

A new coat of paint refreshes the Descript interface.

Insertion menus have been consolidated into a single right sidebar for easier access.

Properties are now split between 'Scene' and 'Layer' tabs for better organization.

Captions have their own sidebar and apply to the whole composition by default.

Improved composition navigation allows for quick switching between compositions.

The canvas selection toolbar now includes access to more properties.

The recorder has been moved to the sidebar for easier recording insertion.

File preview experience has been enhanced with a larger popover for easier file handling.

Changing the scope of layer selection across scenes has been simplified.

AI actions are now more accessible in the new Underlord sidebar.

The UI for AI actions has been improved with a more user-friendly design.

Popular AI effects are added to the Underlord sidebar for easier access.

Templates and layouts have been significantly revamped for better user experience.

Descript now remembers the selected template on a per-project basis.

Layouts now swap layers instead of adding new ones for a more slide-deck-like experience.

Old templates with annotations or overlays have been moved to elements for clarity.

A new, redesigned timeline offers a cleaner and more user-friendly interface.

Empty states for new projects and compositions have been made more friendly.

Speaker detection is now automatic during transcription, simplifying the process.

Changing speaker labels and merging them has been improved for better workflow.

A new selector allows for easy switching between different editor layouts.

Notifications for activities like file uploading and transcribing have been improved.

Marker navigation is now integrated with other transport controls for better access.

The home button has been separated from other menu controls for easier navigation.