How to make podcasts with Descript

In this informative session, Ariel and Harmony from Descript guide viewers on how to create podcasts using the Descript platform. They cover the basics of recording, editing, and enhancing audio and video content. The presenters highlight Descript's unique text-based editing feature, which simplifies the editing process, especially for beginners. They also discuss the integration with Squadcast for remote recording and the ability to transcribe, edit, and publish directly from Descript. Additionally, they touch on audio quality enhancement, the use of templates for consistency, and the process of exporting and publishing podcasts to various platforms. The session includes a live demonstration on editing a podcast episode, adding music, using the eye contact AI tool, and creating engaging social media clips from the podcast audio. The presenters also invite participants to join their Discord community for further support and upcoming events.

Takeaways

• 🎙️ **Podcast Creation with Descript**: Ariel and Harmony discuss how to make podcasts using Descript, highlighting its text-based editing feature which is approachable for beginners.
• 🤝 **Community and Networking**: They recap their experience at Podcast Movement Evolutions, emphasizing the importance of networking and staying updated with podcasting trends and technology.
• 🔊 **Sound Quality Enhancement**: The speakers demonstrate how to boost sound quality and edit audio to emulate various tastes, which is beneficial for enhancing podcast listening experience.
• 📱 **Remote Recording**: Descript's acquisition of Squadcast is highlighted, showcasing how users can record high-quality audio and video remotely, a feature that comes free with a Descript account.
• 🎥 **Video Integration**: There is a discussion on the role of video in audio podcasts, addressing common questions about recording video and how it fits into the podcast production process.
• 🎵 **Music and Sound Effects**: The presentation covers how to add music and sound effects to podcasts, using Descript's stock media library and the ability to import custom tracks.
• ✂️ **Editing Techniques**: Tips for editing podcasts are provided, including removing filler words, correcting transcription errors, and using the ignore function for potential bloopers.
• 📈 **Scenes and Templates**: The use of scenes to create dynamic video content and templates to streamline the editing process with consistent branding are explained.
• 📱 **Social Media Repurposing**: The speakers discuss creating shareable clips for social media platforms like Instagram by repurposing podcast audio and adding visual elements.
• 📡 **Exporting and Publishing**: The final steps of exporting the podcast for various platforms, including direct publishing to services like YouTube and Buzz Sprout, are covered.
• 👥 **Collaboration and Q&A**: The session concludes with a Q&A, where the audience's questions about Descript's features, storage limits, and editing best practices are answered.

Q & A

What is the unique feature of Descript that sets it apart from other editing platforms?

The unique feature of Descript is its text-based editing approach, which allows for a frictionless way to record, edit, and collaborate on projects, making it particularly approachable 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, reducing the need for multiple tools.

What is the benefit of recording remotely using Squadcast?

Squadcast, acquired by Descript, allows for remote recording in studio quality with anyone, anywhere, and at any time. It provides separate tracks for each speaker, which adds flexibility during editing and helps with issues like cross talk.

How can users take advantage of free access to Squadcast with their Descript account?

Users with a Descript account can connect their account to Squadcast through the subscription tab in their settings. This allows them to use a higher quality recording platform without needing to pay for other services.

What is the process for creating and editing a podcast project in Descript?

The process involves dragging and dropping files into Descript to start the transcription process, identifying speakers, combining files into a multitrack sequence, and then editing the transcript to refine the content.

How does Descript handle transcription accuracy?

Descript is generally accurate in transcriptions, achieving about 90-95% accuracy. Users can correct any mistakes directly in the transcript, and Descript's glossary feature allows for the addition of names or terms to improve future transcriptions.

What is the purpose of the 'ignore' function in Descript?

The 'ignore' function allows users to temporarily remove parts of the transcript without deleting the underlying audio or video. This feature is useful for creating a rough edit and keeping potential bloopers or alternative takes intact for later review.

How can users create social clips or audiograms from their podcast?

Users can highlight the desired sections of the transcript, copy these highlights, and paste them into a new composition. This new composition can then be edited and exported as a shorter clip suitable for social media platforms.

What are the options for exporting audio from Descript?

Descript allows users to export their audio as a WAV file or an M4A file. Additionally, for video projects, users can export a video version and an audio-only version.

How can users add music or sound effects to their podcast in Descript?

Users can add music or sound effects by searching the stock media library or uploading their own files. These can be added to specific scenes or the entire project, and features like ducking can be used to ensure the music does not overpower the speech.

What are the benefits of using templates in Descript?

Templates in Descript allow users to save time by applying a consistent style across multiple projects. They can be used to quickly add captions, logos, progress bars, and other design elements to a project.

How can users publish their podcast directly from Descript?

Descript offers a publish tab that allows users to directly publish their podcast to platforms like YouTube or BuzzSprout. This feature streamlines the process by eliminating the need to download and manually upload the podcast to a hosting platform.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Introduction to Non-Chicken Nuggets and Descript Podcast Tutorial

The video begins with a humorous discussion about chicken nuggets made to taste like non-chicken nuggets. It then transitions into an introduction of a podcast tutorial with Descript. Ariel and Harmony, members of the community team at Descript, discuss their experiences at Podcast Movement Evolutions, a conference for podcast creators. They highlight the importance of the event for networking and staying updated with podcasting trends and technology. They also talk about Descript's features, including its text-based editing and the integration with Squadcast for remote recording.

05:02

🎤 Unique Features of Descript and Remote Recording with Squadcast

Harmony explains what sets Descript apart, particularly its text-based editing feature that simplifies the podcast editing process. They delve into the details of recording remotely using Squadcast, which Descript acquired, and how it allows for high-quality studio recordings with guests from anywhere. They also guide viewers on how to connect their Descript account to Squadcast and mention the availability of webinars and resources for learning more about the platform.

10:04

📂 Organizing Projects and Editing Workflow in Descript

The paragraph covers the initial steps in preparing for a podcast, including considering gear, recording setup, and collaboration. It emphasizes the importance of organizing files and creating a folder structure in Descript. The speaker demonstrates how to import audio files from Squadcast into Descript, combine them into a multitrack sequence, and edit the transcript. It also touches on the benefits of having each speaker on a separate track for easier editing and managing cross talk.

15:04

✂️ Editing Techniques and Collaborative Features in Descript

The paragraph discusses various editing techniques available in Descript, such as deleting unwanted sections, using the 'ignore' function to temporarily remove parts for review, and the collaborative aspect of tagging teammates for feedback. It also covers how to correct transcription errors, use the transcription glossary to improve accuracy, and edit the sequence for a smoother final product. Additionally, it explains how to use the sequence editor for more detailed audio editing.

20:06

🎶 Adding Music and Sound Effects to Enhance the Podcast

The focus of this paragraph is on post-production enhancements for the podcast. It covers how to add music and sound effects to a podcast using Descript's stock media library. The video demonstrates adding music tracks, adjusting the timing, and using the ducking feature to ensure the music doesn't overpower the speakers. It also shows how to add sound effects, like a 'ding,' to emphasize certain parts of the podcast.

25:06

📈 Techniques for Creating Dynamic Video Content

This section discusses techniques for making video content more dynamic. It covers the use of scenes to create discrete segments in the video, allowing for visual changes. The paragraph also explains how to use the 'add scenes by active speaker' feature to automatically switch between speakers, creating a more engaging viewer experience. It touches on the ability to manually adjust camera angles and layering to include reactions or additional speakers in the scene.

30:07

📝 Utilizing Templates for Efficient Video Editing

The paragraph introduces the concept of using templates in Descript to save time and maintain consistency across multiple projects. It explains how to create a template by adding captions, logos, and other elements to a scene and then saving it for future use. The video also shows how to apply these templates to streamline the editing process and ensure a uniform look and feel across different episodes or videos.

35:08

🚀 Exporting and Publishing Podcasts with Descript

The final paragraph covers the process of exporting and publishing podcasts. It explains the difference between publishing directly to platforms like YouTube or Buzz Sprout and exporting the file for manual upload. The video also discusses the various file formats that can be exported, such as WAV and M4A, and addresses the question of whether templates can be used for audio-only projects, confirming that they are primarily designed for video content.

40:11

🤝 Wrapping Up and Inviting Viewers to Join the Community

The video concludes with a Q&A session where questions from the chat are addressed. The hosts encourage viewers to join their Discord community for ongoing support and engagement with other Descript users. They also highlight the availability of office hours with the Descript team for additional help and guidance. The paragraph ends with a reminder of the offer for a free month of Descript Pro and an invitation to future events and live sessions.

Keywords

Podcast

A podcast is a digital audio program that a user can download to listen to. It is a series of episodes that are often thematically similar and can be subscribed to by listeners. In the script, the main theme revolves around creating podcasts with Descript, which is a tool for editing and producing podcast content.

Descript

Descript is a software platform that provides audio and video editing tools. It is highlighted in the script as the primary tool for making podcasts, emphasizing its text-based editing feature that allows for an easy and approachable way to edit audio and video content.

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 high quality with guests from anywhere.

Transcription

Transcription is the process of converting spoken language into written form. Descript uses transcription to turn audio from podcasts into text, which can then be edited for clarity and content. This feature is central to the podcast editing process described in the script.

Multitrack Editing

Multitrack editing is a method of editing audio or video material where multiple tracks or layers of sound or images are manipulated independently. Descript simplifies this process with a text-based interface, allowing users to edit multiple speaker tracks as if they were editing a document.

Speaker Identification

Speaker identification is the process of recognizing and labeling different speakers in a multitrack recording. This is important for clarity and organization during the editing process. In the script, Descript's transcription process includes identifying different speakers to separate their tracks.

Scenes

In video editing, a scene refers to a series of continuous action filmed under the same conditions. Descript allows users to create scenes by adding a slash in the text, which helps in structuring the video and can be used to apply different visual or audio elements, like music or captions.

Audio Effects

Audio effects are modifications to the sound that can enhance or alter the listening experience. Descript provides various audio effects such as 'ducking', which lowers the music volume during speech, and 'Studio Sound', which enhances speech and removes background noise.

Templates

Templates in Descript are pre-designed layouts or settings that can be applied to a project for consistency and efficiency. They are used to apply consistent styling, such as captions and logos, across multiple scenes or episodes of a podcast.

Exporting

Exporting is the process of converting the final edited podcast into a format that can be shared or distributed, such as MP3 for audio or MP4 for video. Descript allows users to export their podcasts directly to various platforms or to download them for manual upload.

Discord

Discord is a communication platform that Descript uses to engage with its community. In the script, it is mentioned as a place where users can join for support, updates, and to participate in events like office hours with Descript staff.

Highlights

Descript is a text-based editing platform that makes podcast production approachable, especially for beginners.

Harmony, a Customer Success Manager at Descript, explains the platform's one-stop solution for media storage, recording, editing, collaboration, and publishing.

Descript acquired Squadcast, enabling users to record remotely with high-quality audio and video.

Users can connect their Descript account to Squadcast for free, eliminating the need for other paid recording services.

Descript's transcription feature is accurate, with the ability to correct and train the AI for specific terms like names and acronyms.

The platform allows for easy editing of podcasts, including deleting, ignoring, and correcting parts of the transcript.

Ariel, a community team member at Descript, discusses the use of the 'ignore' function to keep potentially useful bloopers or comments.

Collaborative features let team members tag each other for notes and decisions within the editing process.

Descript enables the creation of social clips or audiograms from the main podcast content for repurposing on social media.

The 'add scenes by active speaker' feature automatically adjusts the video to focus on the person who is currently speaking.

Templates in Descript can be customized and saved for quick application across different projects.

Users can export their final podcast as a video file or an audio-only format like MP3 or WAV.

Descript integrates with podcast hosting providers like Red Circle and Buzz Sprout for direct publishing.

The platform offers a free month of Descript Pro with the code 'pod April' for new users or those on the free plan.

Office hours with Descript team members are held regularly on Discord, offering additional support and community interaction.

Descript's AI tools, like the eye contact feature, can be applied to enhance the video quality and viewer engagement.

Static images or b-roll can be added to audio-only podcasts to create visual content for social media platforms.

The sequence editor in Descript allows for precise editing of audio tracks, making it easy to remove unwanted sounds or spaces.