How to make podcasts with Descript

Descript
2 Apr 202460:35

TLDRThis tutorial podcast by Descript explores the process of creating podcasts using their platform. Hosted by Ariel and Harmony, the podcast covers recording remotely with Squadcast, a Descript-acquired remote recording tool, and the unique text-based editing approach of Descript. They discuss enhancing audio quality, organizing files, editing projects, and adding music and sound effects. The hosts also touch on exporting audio for various platforms and offer tips for podcasters, including a live demonstration of Descript's features and a Q&A session to address audience queries.

Takeaways

  • 🎀 Descript is a versatile tool for podcast creation, offering both text-based and timeline editing options.
  • πŸ–₯️ Descript supports video editing, making it possible to create dynamic video podcasts.
  • πŸ”„ The 'ignore' function allows you to remove unwanted parts without permanently deleting them.
  • πŸ—‚οΈ Proper organization of files and folders in Descript is crucial for managing projects efficiently.
  • πŸ’¬ The transcription feature helps in editing by turning spoken words into text that can be easily modified.
  • πŸ“ˆ Descript's 'actions' menu offers features like filler word removal and shortening word gaps for smoother audio.
  • πŸŽ₯ You can add scenes in Descript to visually segment your video, enhancing the viewing experience.
  • πŸ”Š Adding music and sound effects is straightforward, with options to fade in/out and adjust volume levels.
  • πŸ“ Templates in Descript save time by allowing you to apply pre-designed layouts and effects consistently.
  • πŸš€ Export options in Descript include direct publishing to platforms like YouTube or exporting audio files for other uses.

Q & A

  • What is the main focus of the podcast movement Evolutions conference?

    -The main focus of the podcast movement Evolutions conference is to bring together individuals, creators, and businesses involved in podcasting to network, understand new trends, and explore new technology in the podcasting landscape.

  • What unique feature does Descript offer for podcast editing?

    -Descript offers a text-based editing feature, which allows users to edit audio and video as if they were editing a Word document, making it approachable and frictionless, especially for beginners.

  • How does Descript help consolidate tools for creators?

    -Descript serves as a one-stop shop where creators can store all their media, record, edit, collaborate, build design assets, and publish from the same platform.

  • What is the significance of Descript acquiring SquadCast?

    -The acquisition of SquadCast by Descript allows users to record video and audio in studio quality with anyone, anywhere, and at any time, providing a dedicated remote recording platform within their Descript account.

  • How does Descript assist with remote recording?

    -Descript assists with remote recording by integrating with SquadCast, which allows users to record remotely with high-quality audio tracks for each speaker, making the editing process more flexible and efficient.

  • What are the benefits of using the 'Ignore' function in Descript?

    -The 'Ignore' function in Descript allows users to temporarily remove parts of the audio or video without deleting it, which can be useful for creating a rough edit or saving bloopers for later use.

  • How can Descript users take advantage of the transcription glossary?

    -Users can add names, acronyms, and terms to the transcription glossary to improve the accuracy of transcriptions. Once added, Descript will use this glossary for future transcriptions, reducing the need for manual corrections.

  • What is the purpose of the 'Actions' tab in Descript?

    -The 'Actions' tab in Descript provides various editing tools such as removing filler words, shortening word gaps, and creating highlights for repurposing content. It streamlines the editing process by offering quick access to these functions.

  • How can users create and use templates in Descript?

    -Users can create templates by customizing elements like captions, logos, and progress bars within a scene. Once set up, these templates can be saved and applied to other projects for consistency and efficiency.

  • What are the options for exporting and publishing podcasts in Descript?

    -Descript allows users to either publish directly to platforms like YouTube or Buzz Sprout, or to export the audio and video files to upload to a hosting destination of their choice.

  • How can Descript be used to enhance video podcasts with additional elements like music and captions?

    -Descript enables users to add music, captions, and sound effects to their video podcasts. It also offers features like ducking to automatically adjust music volume during speech and the ability to create jump cuts for a more dynamic viewing experience.

Outlines

00:00

πŸ— Introduction to Chicken Nuggets

The speakers introduce chicken nuggets made from chicken but designed to taste like non-chicken (vegan) nuggets. They discuss improving sound quality and the overall taste and appeal of these nuggets. Ariel and Harmony welcome viewers to the 'How to Make Podcasts with Descript' session, sharing their experiences at Podcast Movement Evolutions in Los Angeles. They emphasize the importance of networking and staying updated on podcasting trends.

05:02

πŸŽ™οΈ Overview of Podcast Movement Evolutions

Ariel and Harmony recap the Podcast Movement Evolutions conference, explaining its purpose in bringing together podcast creators and businesses. They discuss the event's significance, various sessions, and Ariel's participation in multiple panels. Harmony shares insights into Descript's community events, including a successful coffee hour at the conference. They encourage viewers to join the Descript Discord for updates on future events and begin their presentation on using Descript for podcast creation.

10:04

πŸ“ Creating and Editing Projects in Descript

The speakers outline the webinar's agenda, focusing on Descript's unique text-based editing approach. Harmony demonstrates connecting Descript accounts to Squadcast for remote recording, emphasizing the benefits of using Squadcast over other platforms like Zoom. The session proceeds with a detailed demonstration of creating and editing a project in Descript, covering transcription, speaker identification, and multi-track sequencing.

15:04

πŸ” Editing and Ignoring Sections

Harmony explains how to edit transcripts by highlighting and ignoring unwanted sections, preserving the original audio for potential future use. The collaborative aspect of Descript is highlighted, showing how users can leave comments and collaborate on edits. The demonstration covers various editing techniques, including removing filler words, shortening word gaps, and using the transcription glossary for accuracy.

20:06

🎨 Highlighting and Repurposing Clips

The speakers showcase how to highlight and repurpose specific sections of a transcript for creating social clips or audiograms. They demonstrate copying highlights into new compositions and adjusting video elements within Descript's canvas. The process includes resizing, repositioning, and layering video elements for a dynamic visual presentation.

25:06

🎢 Adding Music and Sound Effects

Harmony introduces adding music to a Descript project, utilizing the stock media library for background tracks. She explains how to manipulate the timeline for precise audio placement and demonstrates using the ducking feature to balance music and speech. The session includes adding sound effects, such as a ding for transitions, and fine-tuning their placement within the timeline.

30:07

πŸ“· Using Scenes and Templates

The speakers discuss the importance of scenes in structuring video content and demonstrate adding scenes by active speaker for a dynamic viewing experience. Harmony explains creating and applying templates to streamline the editing process, emphasizing the efficiency of setting up templates before adding multiple scenes.

35:08

πŸ“¦ Exporting and Publishing

The session concludes with a detailed guide on exporting and publishing projects from Descript. Harmony explains the options for direct publishing to platforms like YouTube and Buzzsprout, as well as exporting files for manual upload to other hosting services. The flexibility of exporting both video and audio-only versions is highlighted, catering to different podcasting needs.

40:11

❓ Q&A Session

The Q&A session addresses various viewer questions, including handling large projects with multiple tracks, applying eye contact AI tools, and adding static images to audio-only podcasts for video creation. Harmony and Ariel provide practical tips and insights, ensuring viewers have a comprehensive understanding of Descript's capabilities.

45:12

πŸ“… Office Hours and Community Engagement

Ariel and Harmony remind viewers about Descript's office hours and the active Discord community, encouraging participation for ongoing support and engagement. They highlight the benefits of joining the community for accessing events, webinars, and direct assistance from the Descript team. The session ends with an invitation to join the Discord and participate in upcoming office hours.

50:12

πŸ”§ Troubleshooting and Best Practices

The speakers provide troubleshooting tips for common issues in Descript, such as handling performance with long projects and stitching together audio after edits. They emphasize best practices for maintaining project organization and ensuring efficient editing workflows. The importance of understanding Descript's features and utilizing community resources for support is reinforced.

55:15

πŸŽ‰ Conclusion and Final Remarks

The session wraps up with final remarks, thanking viewers for their participation and engagement. Ariel and Harmony reiterate the key points covered, including Descript's unique features, remote recording capabilities, and community support. They encourage viewers to continue exploring Descript and take advantage of the free month offer with the provided code.

00:15

πŸ“’ Closing Statements

Ariel and Harmony conclude the webinar by expressing gratitude to the audience, support team, and community. They highlight the continuous support available through Discord and office hours, inviting viewers to stay connected for future updates and events. The session ends on a positive note, emphasizing the value of community engagement and collaboration.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Podcast

A podcast is a digital audio program that a user can download to listen to. It is often episodic and can be about a wide range of topics. In the script, the main theme revolves around creating podcasts with Descript, a platform that facilitates the recording, editing, and publishing of podcasts.

πŸ’‘Descript

Descript is a software platform that provides tools for podcasting, including recording, editing, and transcription services. It is highlighted in the script as the main tool for creating podcasts, emphasizing its text-based editing feature which differentiates it from other platforms.

πŸ’‘Remote Recording

Remote recording refers to the process of recording audio or video from different locations simultaneously. In the context of the script, Descript acquired Squadcast, a remote recording platform, which allows users to record in studio quality with anyone, anywhere, and at any time.

πŸ’‘Transcription

Transcription is the process of converting spoken language into written form. Descript uses transcription to turn podcast audio into text, which can then be edited for clarity and content. The script mentions the high accuracy of Descript's transcription service and the use of a glossary to improve it.

πŸ’‘Editing

Editing in the context of the script refers to the process of revising and refining a podcast recording. This includes cutting out unnecessary parts, correcting mistakes, and improving the flow of the content. Descript's text-based approach to editing is a core focus, making it accessible for beginners.

πŸ’‘Multitrack Editing

Multitrack editing is the process of working with multiple layers or tracks of audio in a project. Descript allows for multitrack editing by identifying different speakers and placing them on separate tracks, which can be edited individually for a more polished final product.

πŸ’‘Scenes

In video podcasting, a scene refers to a distinct segment of the video where there is a visual change. The script discusses adding scenes to mark points where changes in visuals or audio, such as music, occur, which can enhance the viewer's experience.

πŸ’‘Audio Effects

Audio effects are modifications to the sound that can enhance or alter the audio in a podcast. Descript offers various audio effects like 'ducking', which lowers the volume of music when speakers are active, and 'Studio Sound', which improves speech clarity and reduces background noise.

πŸ’‘Templates

Templates in Descript are pre-designed layouts or structures that users can apply to their projects for consistency and efficiency. They can include styled captions, logos, and other visual elements. The script mentions using templates to save time and maintain a uniform look across episodes.

πŸ’‘Exporting

Exporting is the process of converting the final edited podcast into a format that can be shared or uploaded to a hosting platform. Descript allows users to export their podcasts as audio files (like MP3 or WAV) or publish directly to platforms like YouTube or Buzz Sprout.

πŸ’‘Discord Community

The Discord community mentioned in the script is a platform where Descript users can interact, ask questions, and get support. It is a place for collaboration and engagement with other users and the Descript team, which hosts regular office hours for additional assistance.

Highlights

Descript is a platform that allows for text-based editing of audio and video content, making it approachable for beginners.

Harmony, a customer success manager, discusses the acquisition of Squadcast by Descript, enabling high-quality remote recording.

Descript offers a one-stop solution for media storage, recording, editing, collaboration, and publishing.

The platform provides free access to Squadcast for Descript account holders, eliminating the need for additional recording services.

Descript's transcription feature is highly accurate, typically achieving 90-95% accuracy.

Users can edit audio and video as easily as editing a Word document, thanks to Descript's unique approach.

The platform supports the creation of templates for streamlined editing and consistent branding across multiple projects.

Descript enables the addition of music, sound effects, and captions to enhance the production value of podcasts and videos.

The 'ignore' function allows editors to tag portions of the transcript for potential future use without deleting them.

Descript's 'Scene by Scene' editing allows for dynamic video content by automatically focusing on the active speaker.

Users can export their final projects in various formats, including video and audio-only files, for different hosting platforms.

The platform offers a 'ducking' feature that automatically adjusts background music levels during speech.

Descript's AI-powered 'Eye Contact' tool enhances video by adjusting the speaker's eye contact to appear more natural.

Harmony demonstrates how to add a static image to an audio-only podcast, creating an 'audiogram' suitable for social media.

Descript's transcription glossary helps improve accuracy by training the AI to recognize specific terms, names, or acronyms.

The platform allows for detailed editing of audio with options to remove filler words, silence, and even background noises.

Descript facilitates collaboration with features that notify team members of changes and allow for real-time feedback.

Users can publish directly to platforms like YouTube and BuzzSprout from within the Descript platform.