Introduction

Podcasting has grown from a niche hobby into one of the most influential and accessible media forms today. Whether it’s sharing stories, interviewing experts, or educating listeners on niche topics, podcasts offer a unique, intimate way to connect with an audience.

In the past, launching a podcast required expensive equipment and a steep learning curve for audio editing software. But technology has changed that. Now, anyone with a smartphone or a laptop can produce high-quality audio content.

Among the many tools available today, Descript stands out as a revolutionary platform that transforms how podcasters create and edit content. Unlike traditional audio editing software, Descript allows you to edit your podcast by editing its transcript, just like a text document. This innovation lowers the barrier to entry and makes professional-level podcast production achievable for everyone—regardless of experience.

This post will walk you through everything you need to know about creating and editing a podcast using Descript. We’ll explore why Descript is an ideal choice, how to get started, and best practices to streamline your podcasting workflow.

Why Choose Descript for Podcasting?

User-friendly Interface

One of the biggest challenges for new podcasters is grappling with complicated audio editing software. Programs like Audacity, Adobe Audition, or Pro Tools often overwhelm beginners with complex timelines, waveforms, and effects panels.

Descript’s clean and simple interface immediately sets it apart. It presents your audio content as text, making editing as intuitive as working in a word processor. Instead of hunting through audio waveforms, you see the words your speakers actually say. Want to remove an “um” or “uh”? Just delete it like a typo.

At the same time, Descript offers powerful features for advanced users. Multitrack editing, audio effects, and export options give professionals the tools they need without sacrificing simplicity. This makes Descript uniquely suited for creators at any skill level.

Transcription-based Editing

Descript’s core innovation is its transcription-based editing. Once you upload or record audio, it automatically transcribes the content into text. The transcript is fully editable. When you change or delete words in the transcript, the audio changes immediately.

This approach saves hours in editing. For example:

Instead of scrubbing through audio waveforms looking for filler words or long pauses, you see them highlighted in text.
Reordering content means dragging and dropping paragraphs in the transcript instead of cutting and pasting clips on a timeline.
You can easily fix small mistakes by typing the correct words and letting the software generate matching audio.

This method radically simplifies podcast editing by turning it into a process anyone comfortable with text editing can master.

Multi-tool Functionality

Podcast production usually involves juggling several apps—recording software, transcription services, audio editors, publishing tools. Descript brings all these into a single platform. See our guide on Use Descript with Other Tools in a Workflow to learn how to optimize your setup.

Recording: You can record directly inside Descript using your computer’s microphone or an external mic.
Transcription: Descript automatically generates transcripts for audio and video.
Editing: Edit your podcast audio by editing the transcript, or use multitrack audio/video editing tools.
Publishing: Descript integrates with popular podcast hosts and social media platforms for direct publishing.

This all-in-one workflow not only saves time but helps keep all your project files and assets organized.

Collaboration and Cloud Sync

Podcasts often involve co-hosts, guests, producers, and editors. Descript’s cloud-based system allows multiple people to collaborate in real time. You can:

Share projects with team members.
Leave comments and feedback inside the transcript.
Track version history to see who made what changes.

Cloud sync ensures you’re always working on the latest version and reduces confusion caused by email attachments and file version mismatches.

Overdub & AI Tools

Mistakes happen in every recording. Traditionally, fixing them means re-recording entire sections, which can be time-consuming and sometimes impossible if a guest isn’t available.

Descript’s Overdub is an AI voice cloning tool that allows you to type corrections and have them spoken in your own voice. This can be a lifesaver for minor edits:

Fix mispronunciations.
Add missing words or sentences.
Correct factual errors without re-recording.

Alongside Overdub, Descript offers AI tools to automatically remove filler words, reduce background noise, and enhance voice quality. These features help even beginners achieve professional sound quality. Learn more about removing background noise with Use Descript to Remove Background Noise.

Getting Started – Creating a New Podcast Episode

Step 1: Set Up a New Project

Before you dive into recording or editing, set up a new project workspace in Descript. This workspace acts as your podcast episode hub where all files, transcripts, and media live.

Tips for organizing projects:

Use clear, descriptive names for each project and episode.
Group episodes into folders if you produce multiple shows or seasons.
Consider creating a template project with your intro/outro assets, music, and settings saved for reuse.

Well-organized projects keep your workflow smooth and make it easy to find and update files later.

Step 2: Import or Record Your Audio

You can bring audio into Descript in two ways:

Import: Upload pre-recorded audio or video files in formats like MP3, WAV, or MOV. See Use Zoom Recordings in Descript for tips on importing recordings from Zoom.
Record: Use Descript’s built-in recording feature to capture audio directly from your microphone. You can even record video if you plan to create video podcasts or audiograms.

Recording directly in Descript offers a streamlined process: once you finish, the app immediately starts transcribing, and your episode is ready for editing.

Recording tips:

Use a good-quality USB or XLR microphone.
Record in a quiet, echo-free environment.
Monitor your audio levels to avoid clipping.

Step 3: Automatic Transcription

After uploading or recording, Descript quickly generates a transcript. You can select your preferred language and set the transcription quality level (standard or enhanced). Enhanced transcription uses AI to improve accuracy, especially with complex vocabulary or multiple speakers.

Review the transcript and correct any misheard words. Descript’s transcript is editable, so making these corrections early improves editing efficiency.

Editing Your Podcast

Text-based Editing

Once you have a clean transcript, editing becomes straightforward:

Removing filler words: Descript highlights filler words (“uh,” “um,” “like”) so you can delete them with a single click or automatically remove all instances.
Cutting unwanted content: Select and delete entire sections of audio by removing paragraphs or sentences in the text.
Rearranging content: Drag and drop transcript segments to reorder them, and your audio rearranges automatically.
Inserting new content: Type new sentences directly in the transcript and use Overdub to generate the audio.

This process makes editing as simple as editing a blog post or document, a huge shift from traditional timeline-based editing.

Multitrack Editing

Podcasts often involve multiple participants recorded on separate tracks, or sound effects layered under speech. Descript supports multitrack editing, allowing you to:

View and edit multiple audio channels separately.
Sync audio from different speakers to fix timing issues.
Adjust volume and panning per track.
Add music beds, intros, and outros.

This flexibility lets you polish complex episodes with multiple audio elements while maintaining the simplicity of transcript editing.

Overdub Feature

Overdub’s AI voice cloning requires a brief voice training process where you provide sample audio. Once set up, you can:

Type corrections in the transcript, and the AI will generate matching audio in your voice.
Use Overdub sparingly to avoid unnatural-sounding edits.
Always disclose to guests or listeners when AI-generated voice is used, respecting transparency and ethics.

Overdub saves significant time by avoiding re-recording and studio sessions, especially helpful for remote podcast creators.

Studio Sound & Audio Cleanup

Descript’s Studio Sound feature uses AI to clean and enhance audio quality. It can:

Remove background hums, keyboard clicks, and static noise.
Reduce echo or reverb from less-than-ideal recording spaces.
Balance voice levels for a smooth, consistent sound.

For podcasters without access to professional studios, Studio Sound is a game-changer—turning rough home recordings into broadcast-quality audio with a single click.

Adding Music, Effects, and Visuals

Importing Media Files

Good podcasts use music and sound effects to add energy and polish. Import intro music, jingles, or sound effects to:

Create an engaging opening and closing.
Emphasize key moments.
Smooth transitions between segments.

Descript supports drag-and-drop imports from your local files or stock music libraries.

Layering Audio and Controlling Volume

Once your media files are in place, layer them with your dialogue tracks. Descript allows precise control over each layer’s volume. Useful features include:

Fade-ins and fade-outs: Gradually introduce or end music or effects for smooth transitions.
Ducking: Automatically lower music volume when dialogue starts, then raise it when speech pauses.
Crossfades: Seamlessly blend cuts to avoid jarring audio jumps.

These tools help create a professional and pleasant listening experience.

Creating Audiograms or Video Versions

Podcasts today aren’t just audio—they thrive on social media where video dominates. Descript lets you create:

Audiograms: Short videos featuring animated waveforms synced to audio, ideal for Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Full video episodes: Combine audio with video recordings or visuals, export with captions, and publish to YouTube or other platforms.

Visual content boosts discoverability and engagement by appealing to viewers who prefer video or need captions.

Exporting and Publishing Your Podcast

Export Options

Descript offers flexible export formats:

MP3: Standard for podcast audio distribution.
WAV: High-quality audio for archiving or professional use.
Video formats (MP4): For video podcasts or social media clips.

You can customize export settings for bitrate, sample rate, and file quality depending on your needs.

Publishing Directly

Descript integrates with hosting platforms like Buzzsprout, Libsyn, and Anchor. From within Descript, you can:

Upload episodes directly to your hosting provider.
Schedule releases.
Publish video content to YouTube or social platforms.
Integrate Descript with Zapier: Automate your workflow by connecting Descript to thousands of other apps like Google Drive, Slack, Trello, and more. Set up automatic tasks like sharing new episodes or archiving files—no coding required.

This reduces the steps between finishing your edit and getting your episode live.

Creating Show Notes and Transcripts

Show notes improve SEO and help listeners decide whether to listen. Descript can automatically generate:

Episode summaries: Short descriptions based on your transcript.
Transcripts: Perfect for accessibility and repurposing content into blog posts or social media.

Including transcripts and notes makes your podcast more discoverable and inclusive.

Tips for a Better Workflow

Script your episodes in advance: Having a clear outline or script keeps recordings focused, reducing filler words and editing time.
Use templates for intros/outros: Save your branding elements in templates to speed up production.
Create reusable assets: Store frequently used music, transitions, and sound effects in your project library for easy access.
Collaborate with guests or editors: Share projects within Descript to get real-time feedback, edits, or guest input. See Which Tools or Platforms Can Be Connected with Descript? for ideas.
Leverage keyboard shortcuts: Descript offers shortcuts for common actions, speeding up your workflow.
Regularly back up projects: While Descript uses cloud sync, it’s wise to export backups to avoid data loss.

Conclusion

Descript is redefining podcast creation and editing by making professional audio production accessible to all. Its unique transcription-based editing, AI tools like Overdub, and all-in-one workflow simplify complex tasks and save podcasters valuable time.

Whether you’re launching your first episode or managing a growing podcast network, Descript offers the tools to produce high-quality content efficiently. Its collaboration features make teamwork seamless, while its audio cleanup and editing capabilities ensure your podcast sounds polished.

Ready to take your podcasting to the next level? Try Descript’s free trial today and discover how easy it can be to create, edit, and publish your podcast—all in one place.

How to Create or Edit a Podcast Using Descript