How to Edit Video with Descript: The Text-Based Approach That Finally Makes Sense

I’ve tried to teach people Premiere Pro. Their eyes glaze over the moment I mention “timelines” and “keyframes.” Within 20 minutes, they’ve decided video editing isn’t for them.

Then I showed someone Descript. They edited their first video in 15 minutes. No training. No YouTube tutorials. Just deleting sentences from a transcript like they were editing a Google Doc.

How to edit video with Descript is genuinely different from traditional video editing. You edit text, and the video follows. Delete a sentence from the transcript, and that section disappears from your video.

The quick answer: Import your video, let Descript transcribe it (takes a few minutes), then edit the transcript like a document. Delete words to cut footage. Rearrange paragraphs to rearrange clips. Click “Remove Filler Words” to automatically cut every “um” and “uh.” Export when done. If you can use Microsoft Word, you can use Descript.

Here’s how it works.

What is Text-Based Video Editing?

Traditional video editors like Premiere Pro or Final Cut work with timelines. You drag clips around, scrub through footage, and make cuts by eyeballing waveforms. It works, but there’s a learning curve.

Descript flips this completely. When you import a video, it automatically transcribes everything. Then you edit the video by editing the transcript. Delete a sentence? Gone from the video. Rearrange paragraphs? Your video follows suit.

If you can edit a Google Doc, you can edit in Descript. That’s not marketing hype. It’s genuinely how the tool works.

How to Edit Video with Descript: Getting Started

Here’s the basic workflow for anyone new to Descript:

Step 1: Create a project. Go to descript.com, sign up for a free account, and create a new project.

Step 2: Import your video. Drag your video file into the project. Descript will automatically transcribe it. This usually takes a few minutes depending on length.

Step 3: Edit the transcript. Once transcription is complete, you’ll see your video alongside a text transcript. To remove a section, just highlight the words and delete them. The corresponding video footage disappears too.

Step 4: Use the filler word remover. Click “Remove Filler Words” and Descript automatically finds and removes all your “ums,” “uhs,” and “you knows” in one click.

Step 5: Export. When you’re happy with the edit, export your video in your preferred format and resolution.

This tutorial walks through the basics:

Why Descript Works for Non-Technical Users

I’ve tried teaching people traditional video editing. The timeline view alone loses most beginners. Layers, tracks, keyframes, rendering. It’s a lot.

Descript removes that friction. Everyone knows how to edit text. You’ve been doing it since grade school. So when someone says “just delete the sentence where I rambled,” you can literally do exactly that.

This makes Descript ideal for:

Podcasters who need to clean up interview audio without learning audio engineering.

YouTubers whose content is primarily talking-head style.

Educators creating course content or tutorials.

Marketing teams repurposing webinars and demos into shorter clips.

Anyone who’s ever said “I wish editing video was as easy as editing a Word doc.”

The AI Features That Actually Help

Beyond text-based editing, Descript packs in AI tools that solve real problems:

Filler Word Removal

One click removes all your verbal tics. “Um,” “uh,” “like,” “you know.” It saves hours of manual editing and makes your content sound more polished.

Studio Sound

Recorded in a room with echo? Background noise from traffic? Studio Sound uses AI to clean up your audio and make it sound like you recorded in a professional studio. It’s surprisingly effective.

Eye Contact Correction

If you were reading notes while recording and your eyes kept drifting, Descript’s AI can adjust your gaze to look directly at the camera. Slightly uncanny if overused, but helpful for quick fixes.

Underlord AI

Descript’s newest feature is an AI assistant that can edit your video based on natural language instructions. Tell it to “tighten up the intro” or “add captions” and it handles it. Still evolving, but promising.

What Descript Doesn’t Do Well

This wouldn’t be an honest guide without the limitations:

Complex visual editing. If you need motion graphics, color grading, or intricate visual effects, Descript isn’t the tool. It’s built for spoken content, not cinematic productions.

Large projects can lag. Multi-hour recordings or projects with lots of media can slow down. For major productions, traditional editors handle scale better.

Transcription isn’t perfect. It’s good, maybe 95% accurate for clear audio. But accents, technical jargon, and poor audio quality will need manual corrections.

The free plan is limited. You get one hour of transcription and basic features. Serious use requires a paid plan starting at $12/month.

Descript Pricing

Here’s what you’re looking at:

Free: 1 hour of transcription, basic editing, watermarked exports.

Hobbyist ($12/month): 10 hours of transcription, no watermark, higher quality exports.

Creator ($24/month): 30 hours of transcription, all AI features including Studio Sound and filler word removal.

Business ($40/month): Unlimited transcription, team features, priority support.

For most individual creators, the Creator plan hits the sweet spot.

Common Questions About Descript

How does Descript text-based video editing work for beginners?

You import a video, Descript transcribes it, and then you edit by modifying the transcript. Delete words to remove video segments. Copy and paste to rearrange. It’s intuitive because you already know how to edit text.

Can I use Descript for podcasts?

Yes, and it’s excellent for this. Audio-only editing works the same way. Many podcasters use Descript specifically for cleaning up interviews and removing dead air.

What’s the easiest way to edit video using Descript?

Import your video, let it transcribe, then read through the transcript and delete anything you don’t want. Use the filler word remover for a quick polish. Export. You can have a clean edit in minutes.

Is Descript better than Premiere Pro?

Different tools for different jobs. Premiere Pro is more powerful for complex visual editing. Descript is faster and easier for spoken content. Many creators use both: Descript for the initial rough cut, Premiere for final polish.

Is Descript Worth Trying?

If your content is primarily spoken (podcasts, tutorials, interviews, talking-head videos), Descript is worth a serious look. The text-based editing approach genuinely removes friction that stops many people from creating video content.

Start with the free plan. Import a short video you’ve been meaning to edit. See if the workflow clicks for you. For most people who struggle with traditional video editors, it’s a revelation.

For more AI tools that simplify creative work, check out our Start Here page. If you’re interested in other content creation tools, our AI Video Creation Guide and AI Writing Assistant Guide cover related territory.