Introduction

In today’s fast-paced digital world, video content has become a dominant form of communication. From social media posts to professional presentations, videos engage audiences in ways text alone can’t. But to create videos that truly capture attention, one technical aspect often overlooked is the aspect ratio — the proportional relationship between the width and height of your video frame.

Different platforms favor different aspect ratios. For example, a YouTube video is usually wide and horizontal, while Instagram Stories and TikTok videos are vertical. Using the wrong aspect ratio can lead to poor viewer experience, awkward cropping, or lost engagement.

If you’re new to video editing or want to streamline your process, Descript is a fantastic tool. It combines powerful video and audio editing with an intuitive, text-based interface, allowing creators to edit their videos by editing the transcript. Beyond cutting and trimming, Descript also enables you to change your video’s aspect ratio easily.

This comprehensive guide will teach you how to change the aspect ratio of your video in Descript. We’ll cover the basics of aspect ratios, why they matter, and provide detailed step-by-step instructions on adjusting your video for any platform. Plus, you’ll find tips on resizing, reframing, exporting, and multi-platform publishing — all designed to help your videos look professional and perform their best.

What Is Aspect Ratio and Why It Matters

Before we jump into editing, let’s explore what aspect ratio means and why it’s essential for video creators.

Defining Aspect Ratio

Aspect ratio is the ratio between the width and height of a video frame. It’s expressed as two numbers separated by a colon — for example, 16:9, 1:1, or 9:16. These numbers represent the relative width and height units.

16:9 means the width is 16 units, and the height is 9 units, resulting in a rectangular, widescreen format.
1:1 means the width and height are equal, forming a perfect square.
9:16 is a vertical version of 16:9, with the height longer than the width, ideal for mobile viewing.

Imagine the frame as a container for your video content. Changing the aspect ratio changes the container’s shape, which affects how your content fits and is displayed.

Common Aspect Ratios and Their Uses

Each platform has its preferred aspect ratio based on typical device orientation and user behavior.

16:9 (Widescreen): The standard for most TVs, YouTube videos, Zoom meetings, and many presentations. It’s designed for horizontal viewing and works well on desktop and landscape mobile screens.
1:1 (Square): Very popular on Instagram feeds and Facebook posts. Square videos take up more screen space on mobile feeds than traditional horizontal videos, grabbing attention without requiring rotation.
9:16 (Vertical): The default for mobile-first platforms like TikTok, Instagram Stories, Instagram Reels, Snapchat, and YouTube Shorts. Vertical videos fill the entire mobile screen, creating an immersive viewing experience.

Why Aspect Ratio Matters for Your Videos

Viewer Engagement

Using the right aspect ratio optimizes the viewing experience. For example, watching a horizontal video on TikTok’s vertical feed often means the video is cropped or shows black bars, which can be distracting. When your video fits the screen perfectly, viewers stay engaged longer.

Platform Compatibility

Most social platforms prefer or even require specific aspect ratios. Uploading videos with the wrong aspect ratio can cause automatic cropping, resizing, or even rejection of the upload. This can damage your brand image or reduce your video’s reach.

Professionalism and Branding

Well-framed videos that use the correct aspect ratio look more polished and professional. This subtle detail signals to your audience that you care about quality and understand your platform.

Real-World Example

Think about watching a TikTok video. If it’s uploaded in 16:9, it will appear as a small box in the center with large black bars around it, losing impact. But a 9:16 video fills the screen, making the content immersive and easier to consume — leading to more likes, shares, and follows.

Preparing Your Project in Descript

Before changing your video’s aspect ratio, it’s important to start with a well-organized project in Descript. Here’s how to get started.

Step 1: Launch Descript and Create a New Project

Open Descript on your computer. If you’re new to the platform, sign in or create an account. Click “New Project” on your dashboard to start fresh. Name your project something descriptive related to your video.

Step 2: Import Your Video File

You can import video files into Descript in several ways:

Drag and Drop: Simply drag your video file from your computer folder into the Descript media library.
Import Button: Click the “Import” button, then browse your files to select your video.
Recording: You can also record your screen or webcam directly within Descript if you’re creating new footage.

Once imported, Descript will begin transcribing your video automatically (depending on your settings). This transcript allows you to edit your video by editing the text, making Descript unique and very user-friendly.

Step 3: Organize Your Media and Timeline

Keeping your project organized helps streamline editing later:

Rename your clips for easy reference, especially if you import multiple videos.
Add markers to key moments in your video, like scene changes, important points, or sections to revisit.
Arrange clips on the timeline if you have more than one. You can drag clips to reorder them.
Consider grouping related clips or using folders if your project is complex.

A clean project setup prevents confusion and wasted time during editing.

Changing the Aspect Ratio in Descript

Now the most important part: adjusting your video’s aspect ratio in Descript.

Step 1: Select Your Video Clip

In your project timeline, click the video clip you want to modify. This highlights the clip and activates its editing options.

Step 2: Open the Canvas or Scene Settings Panel

Look at the right side of the screen for the Canvas or Scene settings panel. This is where you control the visual properties of your video canvas.

If you don’t see this panel, you can usually open it from the top menu under View > Show Canvas or by selecting the video clip and looking for the “Properties” sidebar.

Step 3: Locate Aspect Ratio or Canvas Size Controls

Within the Canvas or Scene settings, find the controls for Aspect Ratio, Canvas Size, or similar. Descript often provides presets for common ratios:

16:9
1:1
9:16

There’s also an option to enter custom dimensions if you want to specify exact pixel widths and heights.

Step 4: Choose Your Desired Aspect Ratio

Pick the aspect ratio that fits your target platform:

16:9 for YouTube, presentations, or widescreen displays.
1:1 for Instagram feed posts or Facebook.
9:16 for TikTok, Instagram Reels, or Stories.

If you want a custom size, enter the width and height manually. For example, some platforms like LinkedIn might favor 4:5 (vertical but not fully tall) for posts.

Step 5: Adjust Your Content Within the New Frame

Changing the aspect ratio will likely cause your video content to no longer fit perfectly. Use Descript’s repositioning tools to:

Zoom in or out to fill the frame without cutting off important parts.
Pan left, right, up, or down to center key elements.
Reframe your shot so faces, text, and graphics remain visible.

You can usually click and drag the video preview inside the canvas to reposition, or use sliders in the settings panel.

Visual Tip: Stay Within the Safe Zone

Keep important content — like faces, text, logos, or action — within a “safe zone.” This is an inner area inside your frame where content won’t be cropped or hidden on various devices. Descript may provide guides or you can imagine margins of about 5-10% from each edge as the safe zone.

Resizing and Reframing Your Content

Aspect ratio changes often require tweaking your video content for the best look.

How to Manually Resize Elements

Descript allows you to grab and resize video elements on the canvas by dragging the corners or edges. This lets you scale the video up or down. Be careful not to stretch your footage disproportionately, as this causes distortion.

Cropping vs. Reframing

Cropping literally cuts away parts of the video outside the frame. This can remove details you want to keep.
Reframing adjusts the position and scale of the video content inside the frame to maintain important visuals.

Reframing is usually preferred because it preserves the full image, just displayed differently.

Tips for Portrait and Square Videos

For portrait (9:16) videos, center the main subject vertically and horizontally. Avoid placing key details too close to the edges, since some apps apply additional cropping or UI overlays.
For square (1:1) videos, aim for symmetrical and balanced shots. Center your subject or create visually appealing compositions that fill the square.
Use smooth zoom and pan movements to create dynamic shots without distracting jump cuts.

Exporting Your Video

Once your aspect ratio and framing are perfect, you’re ready to export.

Choosing the Right Export Settings

Match your export resolution to your aspect ratio:

Aspect Ratio	Recommended Resolution (pixels)
16:9	1920 x 1080 (Full HD)
1:1	1080 x 1080
9:16	1080 x 1920
Custom	Enter exact width and height as needed

Higher resolutions ensure sharp videos but result in larger file sizes.

Best Video Formats for Export

For compatibility and quality, export your videos as:

MP4 format, using the H.264 codec, which balances quality and file size.
Avoid uncommon or proprietary formats that might not play on all devices or platforms.

Exporting With Subtitles

Descript makes it easy to add subtitles:

You can burn subtitles directly into the video, making them part of the image.
Alternatively, export subtitle files (SRT or VTT) to upload alongside your video for platforms that support separate captions.

Including subtitles improves accessibility and viewer retention, especially on social platforms where videos autoplay muted.

Tips for Multi-Platform Publishing

Many creators want to post the same video on multiple platforms, each with its own preferred aspect ratio. Descript has great features to help.

Use Templates or Duplicate Scenes

Duplicate your scenes within the project to create different versions.
Adjust each duplicate’s aspect ratio and reframe content accordingly.
This lets you efficiently create landscape, square, and vertical versions from one master video.

Benefits of Batch Producing Content

Saves time — no need to start from scratch for each platform.
Maintains brand consistency — colors, fonts, and style stay uniform.
Tailors content to each platform’s audience and best practices.
Increases reach by expanding your video’s visibility across multiple channels.

Bonus Tip: Use Descript’s Publishing Integrations

Descript offers direct publishing options to platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, or social media, simplifying the workflow even more.

Conclusion

Aspect ratio is a simple but crucial part of video creation. It affects how your audience experiences your content, how well your videos perform, and how professional your brand appears.

With Descript, changing your video’s aspect ratio is straightforward and efficient, even for beginners. By understanding the different ratios, preparing your project well, and carefully reframing your content, you can create videos perfectly optimized for any platform — from widescreen YouTube videos to vertical TikTok clips.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different aspect ratios. Test what works best for your audience and content style. And remember, a well-framed video is a powerful tool for telling your story and growing your reach.

For more tips, tutorials, and advanced editing tricks, check out the official Descript help center or popular video editing courses online.

How to Change the Aspect Ratio of Your Video in Descript