Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital content creation, audio and video editing tools have become essential. Whether you’re producing podcasts, videos, or any other form of media, the ability to edit quickly and efficiently while maintaining professional quality is a must. This is where Descript stands out. Descript is an all-in-one audio and video editing platform that transforms traditional editing methods by allowing you to edit audio and video as simply as editing text. It’s intuitive, fast, and packed with features that save creators valuable time.

One feature that sets Descript apart is Overdub — a breakthrough AI voice cloning tool. Overdub allows users to create a digital clone of their voice or other approved voices, enabling text-to-speech generation that sounds natural and human. Instead of re-recording audio to fix mistakes or add new content, creators can simply type what they want, and Overdub will generate the voice audio to match.

This feature isn’t just about convenience; it opens up creative possibilities. Imagine being able to add new narration without stepping into a recording booth, or having multiple distinct voice personas in your project without hiring voice actors. Overdub also ensures consistency in narration, which is crucial for long podcasts or video series.

This detailed guide will walk you through what Overdub is, how to set it up, and how to use it effectively to change voices in your Descript projects. Whether you are a podcaster wanting to correct a slip-up, a video editor adding character voices, or a content creator aiming for consistent narration, this guide is designed for you.

What Is Overdub?

Definition and Purpose

Overdub is an advanced AI-powered voice cloning tool integrated into Descript’s platform. It works by creating a synthetic voice model based on recordings you provide. Once trained, this model can generate speech audio from typed text that sounds like the original speaker.

The key idea behind Overdub is to make audio editing as easy as editing text. Instead of recording again, creators simply fix typos or add content in the transcript, and Overdub generates the new audio seamlessly.

Benefits of Using Overdub

The benefits of Overdub are numerous and impactful for content creators:

Fix Mistakes Without Re-recording: Imagine finishing a podcast episode only to realize you mispronounced a word or forgot a sentence. Traditionally, you’d have to re-record entire sections or splice clips, which can be tedious and imperfect. Overdub eliminates this hassle by letting you just correct the transcript, and it generates the audio fix instantly.
Create Different Voice Personas: Overdub enables creators to produce multiple characters or narrators within a project without hiring additional voice talent. For example, a podcaster telling a story with multiple characters can assign distinct voices to each by creating or using different Overdub voice models or stock voices.
Maintain Consistency in Narration: Keeping the same voice tone and quality throughout episodes or video series is challenging, especially if recording sessions happen on different days or in different environments. Overdub ensures a consistent voice sound and style, making your content sound polished and professional.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Voice cloning technology comes with responsibility. Descript has built-in safeguards and guidelines to prevent misuse:

You can only create an Overdub voice model of yourself or someone who has given you explicit written consent. This prevents unethical cloning or impersonation.
When submitting voice training recordings, Descript requires verification to ensure authenticity.
Users should always be transparent with their audience if synthetic voices are used, especially in sensitive or commercial content.

These measures help maintain trust and respect for voice ownership and copyright laws.

Setting Up Overdub in Descript

Setting up Overdub might seem technical, but Descript’s user-friendly process makes it approachable. Here’s a detailed walk-through:

Step 1: Create a Descript Account

If you’re new to Descript, start by creating an account. You can go to Descript’s signup page and register using your email or Google account.

Account types and pricing:

Descript offers a free plan with limited features, including a small amount of Overdub credit.
To fully unlock Overdub and other advanced features, you’ll need a paid subscription (Creator, Pro, or Enterprise plans).

Having a paid plan is highly recommended if you plan to use Overdub extensively.

Step 2: Access Overdub

After logging in, navigate to the Overdub section in your Descript dashboard. This is where you’ll manage your voice models and training process.

Step 3: Record Your Voice Model

Descript provides a built-in script to record your voice for training the AI model. The script is carefully designed to cover a wide range of phonetics and speech patterns to help the AI understand the nuances of your voice.

Tips for recording your voice model:

Choose a quiet environment: Background noise reduces model quality. Try to record in a room with minimal echo and no interruptions.
Use a quality microphone: Even mid-range USB microphones like the Blue Yeti or Audio-Technica AT2020 can produce good results.
Speak clearly and naturally: Use your normal speaking voice and avoid over-exaggeration. Consistency in tone and volume helps.
Record in one session if possible: This keeps the voice tone uniform.
Follow the script carefully: The more accurate your recording, the better the voice clone will sound.

Step 4: Wait for Approval

Once you submit your voice recordings, Descript reviews them for quality and verifies identity to ensure compliance with ethical standards.

The approval process can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on volume and quality of submission.

Once approved, your Overdub voice is ready to use in your projects.

How to Change Voices in a Project

Now that your voice model is ready, it’s time to apply it in your work.

Step 1: Open Your Project

Start by opening an existing project or importing new audio or video files into Descript.

Descript automatically transcribes the audio into text, enabling text-based editing. This is the core innovation that makes voice editing so easy.

Step 2: Edit the Transcript

You can now edit the transcript directly. Add new sentences, fix typos, or completely rewrite sections. This text editing directly affects the audio.

For example, if you want to add a missing sentence, just type it into the script where needed.

Step 3: Apply Overdub Voice

Select the text you want to convert into speech using Overdub.

Click on the text block.
Choose Overdub from the options.
Select your custom Overdub voice or another voice from your account.

Descript will generate audio from the text using the selected voice, seamlessly inserting it into your timeline.

Step 4: Preview and Adjust

Play back the changes to check how natural the new audio sounds.

You can tweak pacing, volume, and pronunciation. For example, if a word sounds off, you can adjust the spelling or add phonetic hints to improve clarity.

Overdub also supports SSML tags (Speech Synthesis Markup Language), allowing advanced users to control pauses, emphasis, and tone.

Using Stock Voices (Optional)

Besides custom Overdub voices, Descript offers a library of professional stock voices.

What Are Stock Voices?

These are pre-trained AI voices that can be used immediately without training. They cover a range of genders, accents, and styles, making them perfect for:

Adding secondary characters.
Using a neutral narration voice.
Testing how different voices sound before committing to training a custom model.

Switching Between Voices

In your project, you can select text and choose between your Overdub voice and any stock voice from the library.

This flexibility allows you to create rich audio experiences with multiple distinct voices in a single project.

Tips for Using Stock Voices

Mix and match: Use your custom voice for main narration and stock voices for characters.
Experiment with styles: Some voices are more formal, others casual, or even cartoonish — use this to add personality.
Balance use: Don’t overuse synthetic voices in emotional or intimate content, as they may lack subtlety.

After finalizing your edits, it’s time to export and distribute your content.

Exporting Your Final Audio or Video

Descript supports multiple export formats, including:

Audio: MP3, WAV, AAC, etc.
Video: MP4, MOV.

Choose the format that best fits your platform or use case. For podcasts, MP3 is common. For YouTube videos, MP4 is standard.

Descript integrates with several platforms, allowing you to publish your work directly:

Upload videos to YouTube or Vimeo.
Publish podcasts to hosting platforms like Anchor.
Share audio clips to social media or messaging apps.

This built-in sharing functionality saves time and keeps your workflow smooth.

Tips & Best Practices

To get the most out of Overdub and create high-quality voice edits, keep these tips in mind:

Record voice models in optimal conditions: Avoid noise and interruptions.
Use natural speaking style: Overdub works best when capturing your authentic voice.
Break long sentences into shorter ones: Short sentences reduce robotic-sounding speech.
Review generated audio carefully: AI-generated voices are good but sometimes need small tweaks.
Use phonetic spellings or SSML: If Overdub mispronounces words, adjust text accordingly.
Don’t rely solely on synthetic voices for emotional content: Synthetic voices may lack emotional depth or subtlety.
Experiment and practice: The more you use Overdub, the better you’ll understand how to craft scripts that sound natural.

Conclusion

Overdub in Descript transforms how creators edit and produce audio and video content. Changing voices, fixing mistakes, or adding narration no longer requires time-consuming re-recordings or hiring multiple voice talents. By training your own voice model or leveraging stock voices, you gain a powerful creative tool that saves time and expands your storytelling possibilities.

This guide has shown you how to set up Overdub, apply it in your projects, use stock voices, and export your finished work. With a bit of practice and experimentation, you can take your content to the next level of professionalism and creativity.

For further learning, explore Descript’s official tutorials, community forums, and help center. The future of audio editing is here — and it’s easier, faster, and more flexible than ever.

How to Change Voices in Descript: A Step-by-Step Guide Using Overdub