When I started learning video editing nearly 15 years ago, it was anything but easy. I bought Final Cut Pro X for £200, which felt like a huge investment at the time. The software was powerful, but the learning curve was steep. I struggled my way through menus, timelines, and endless tutorials.
Sound familiar?
It wasn’t until I left teaching and started working in video full-time that I really got the hang of it. Now, I edit on Adobe Premiere Pro, and I can fly through edits without thinking. But that’s only because I use it every single day.
I know that’s not your reality.
You work in marketing, PR, or communications, juggling a dozen different roles—video editor, social media manager, copywriter, event organiser, and more. You need to create video content, but you don’t have the time (or the computing power) to master professional editing software.
For years, smartphone editing apps were a great solution. Quick, simple, and designed for social media. But editing on a tiny phone screen has its limitations. And high-end tools like Premiere Pro or Avid still feel out of reach when you only edit occasionally.
AI Video Editing for Marketers & Comms: Is Descript the Right Tool for You?
That’s where Descript comes in. It’s part of a new wave of video editing tools that bridge the gap—combining powerful editing features with simplicity, so you don’t need to be an expert. CapCut (originally a smartphone app) has expanded to desktop. Canva has introduced video editing. And Descript? It’s leading the way in AI-powered, browser-based editing that makes video as easy as editing a Word document.
It’s not the only answer. Like every tool, Descript has its limitations. It’s great for quick edits, social media clips, and repurposing content—but it won’t replace professional editing software for high-end projects. And sometimes, smartphone editing is still the fastest, most efficient option when you’re creating content on the go.
The key is knowing which tool is right for you, your workflow, and your budget. Descript might be exactly what you need—or just one tool in your kit. Here are five ways it can speed up your video editing process.
How Descript Makes Video Editing Easy: 5 Ways to Speed Up Your Workflow
1. Edit Video Like a Word Document: Text-Based Video Editing Made Easy
If you can edit a Word doc, you can edit video in Descript. Instead of scrubbing through timelines and cutting clips manually, you edit text, and the video updates automatically. It’s perfect for quick edits—trimming mistakes, cutting filler words, or removing whole sections in seconds.
This means:
- Non-editors can create professional-looking videos
- Faster turnaround for social media, internal comms, and marketing content
- No need for advanced editing software
2. Auto-Generated Transcripts: Boost Video SEO and Accessibility
Descript auto-generates a transcript for every video. This makes adding captions easy—just export an SRT file for YouTube or LinkedIn. Captions improve accessibility, engagement, and SEO.
Why this matters:
- More people watch videos with captions (especially on mute)
- SEO boost—search engines can crawl your transcript
- Repurpose content—turn your video into a blog post or social media quotes
3. Fix Bad Audio with AI Voice Enhance
Bad audio ruins good video. If your CEO recorded a video on their phone without a mic or you grabbed some quick interviews in a noisy event, Descript’s AI Voice Enhance can remove background noise and boost voices.
Of course, you should always aim for good audio at the source—use a mic when you can. But this tool can save bad recordings and make them usable.
- Clearer voices, even in noisy environments
- Studio-quality sound from basic recordings
- More polished and professional content
4. Create Social Media Clips: Repurpose Long-Form Video with AI
Long-form content is great—but short-form gets the clicks. Descript’s AI Underlord can automatically find the best moments in a podcast or video and pull out short clips.
- Ask AI to select 3 x 30-second clips—perfect for Reels, TikTok, or LinkedIn
- Easily repurpose YouTube videos into bite-sized highlights
- For podcasts, create short audiograms with animated waveforms
5. AI-Powered YouTube Descriptions & Chapters: Save Time on Video SEO
I’m sure you know what it’s like. You’ve finally got an edit you’re happy with. It’s been approved by management. You’re all revved up to share it with the world and move on with your life.
Then you realise there’s another endless list of tasks to complete to optimise your video for publishing. You need an SEO optimised description for YouTube, relevant hashtags for instagram, a quippy caption to accompany your video on X.
Descript can do it for you. AI Underlord can:
- Write YouTube video descriptions (SEO-friendly!)
- Generate chapter markers for easier navigation
- Create social media captions and posts to promote your content faster. Less time writing, more time creating.
Why Descript is a Game-Changer
- It’s web-based—no need for a powerful computer, just good WiFi
- It makes video editing accessible—perfect for marketers and comms pros
- AI tools simplify the process—but they’re just one part of the workflow
Of course, Descript isn’t the only tool making video easier. Other great AI-powered options include:
– Synthesia (for AI-generated video avatars)
– Canva (now has simple video editing features)
– Veed.io (AI-powered video editing & captions)
AI won’t replace human creativity—but it can speed things up, making video content easier than ever.
Video creation with AI: bespoke video training for your team
I cover all of this and more in my AI for Video Creation training, where I break down the best tools for marketing, comms, and business storytelling. If you want to create video faster and smarter, let’s chat!
