What is Descript?
Quick answer
Descript is a video and audio editor where you edit the recording by editing its transcript, like a document. Delete a sentence in the text and it is cut from the video. AI tools such as Remove Filler Words, Studio Sound and the Underlord assistant handle the clean-up.
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Take the free module →Module 2 of the free Turn Talk Into Work: Voice and Meetings AI course, about 6 minutes. No account needed.
Updated · By Robert Breen
Why it matters for a small business
Most office video is talking: a webinar, a client update, a training clip. Editing that on a timeline is slow for anyone who is not an editor. In Descript you drop the file into the script panel, it transcribes it, and you cut, move and fix the video the way you would edit a memo. Its help center says a cut can be undone with Restore removed media.
The AI tools save the tedious part. Remove Filler Words lists every um and uh with a preview, and you choose to delete each one, leave a gap or ignore it. Studio Sound cleans up the audio, Eye Contact and Captions polish a talking-head clip, and Underlord takes plain requests. You export a local MP4 from the Export button. Descript lists a free plan for recording and editing.
In a real lesson: How AI Transcription Works: Speech-to-Text, Speaker Diarization and Themes
The How AI Turns Talk into Text explainer shows why Descript works and where it trips. A recording becomes a transcript with timestamps, and the mistakes cluster on names, numbers and jargon.
In Descript the transcript is the edit, so those mistakes matter twice: once in the captions and once in what you think you cut. Read the client's name and every figure against the audio before you export.
Try this lesson free or read the step-by-step guide.
Common confusions
Text-based editing vs a timeline
A timeline editor cuts video by time. Descript cuts it by the words in its transcript, made with speech-to-text, and the timeline follows.
Removing filler words vs cutting content
Remove Filler Words only deals with ums, uhs and similar words. Cutting a whole sentence or a retake is still your call, made in the script.
Tips
- Fix transcript mistakes on names before you add captions.
- Review the filler word list instead of deleting all at once.
- Watch the export once from start to finish before you post it.
Related terms
More Business terms
Where you use it: free lessons
- How AI Transcription Works: Speech-to-Text, Speaker Diarization and Themes (Stepthrough, 6 min)
AI tools that use it
Frequently asked questions
- How does Descript editing work?
- Descript transcribes your file, and you edit the video by editing that text. Deleting words cuts the matching audio and video.
- Can Descript remove ums and uhs?
- Yes. Open AI Tools, then Remove filler words, review the list and choose what to delete.
- Is Descript free?
- Descript lists a free plan for recording and editing. Check descript.com/pricing for the limits on export and AI tools.