Step-by-Step Guide

How to Use Descript for Podcast Editing (2026 Guide)

Edit a podcast episode in Descript by editing text — remove filler words, silences, and mistakes without touching a timeline.

⏱ PT20M 📊 Intermediate 📅 Updated May 2026
What you'll need
1
Import your audio file

Click 'New Project', drag in your audio or video file, and wait for Descript to transcribe it. Transcription takes roughly 1 minute per 10 minutes of audio.

2
Review and correct the transcript

Read through the auto-transcription and fix any errors. Click a word to hear the corresponding audio. Accuracy is usually 90–95% for clear audio.

💡 Tip: Correct speaker names first — Descript uses them throughout the project. Click any name and select 'Rename Speaker'.
3
Remove filler words automatically

Go to Actions → 'Remove Filler Words'. Descript highlights every 'um', 'uh', 'like', and 'you know'. Preview before deleting — some fillers aid natural flow.

4
Delete silences in bulk

Use 'Remove Silence' to automatically cut pauses over 0.8 seconds. This alone cuts most podcast episodes by 10–15% with no manual work.

5
Edit mistakes by editing text

Find a mistake in the transcript, select the words, and press Delete. The audio is cut at that point. No need to scrub a waveform.

💡 Tip: Use the keyboard shortcut Shift+Delete to add a small fade on the cut, preventing audio pops.
6
Use Overdub to fix mispronunciations

Descript can clone your voice (requires 10 minutes of training audio). Type a corrected word and Overdub generates it in your voice, seamlessly replacing the original.

7
Export the final episode

Export as MP3 at 128kbps for voice-only podcasts. Enable 'Studio Sound' (AI noise removal) before exporting to clean up background noise.

Pro Tips
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