ad
ad

Cristi Cotovan Q&A | October 23, 2024

Education

Introduction

Hello everyone! This is Cristi, and I’m delighted to have you join me today. If you're tuning in, feel free to share where you’re from in the chat. I’m currently based in the UK, and it’s 7 PM here. Today, we’re hosting a live show a bit later than usual, but hopefully, this later hour works better for some of you.

Don't hesitate to ask your questions in the chat! I received a few in advance from members of the Media Makers Club, which you can still join if you’re interested—details will be on the screen throughout our session. The Media Makers Club features access to a variety of courses, downloadable resources, and Q&A engagements like today’s.

Technical Check

Before diving into the questions, please let me know if you can see and hear me clearly by commenting in the chat.

These calls typically revolve around questions related to Descript, Camtasia, Riverside, podcasting, video editing, social media clips, AI tools, and creating transcriptions or social media content. So, if there's something specific you’d like to know, feel free to ask!

Initial Questions

Let’s start by addressing some inquiries I received earlier from a few members of the Media Makers Club.

Question 1: Opening Project Links in the Desktop Version of Descript

One common question is how to ensure that project links always open in the desktop version of Descript instead of the web version. To change this setting, follow these steps:

  1. Open Descript and go to your drive view.
  2. Click on your avatar (profile picture) at the top.
  3. Select Settings.
  4. Under the General section, scroll down to find the option that reads "open links to projects in the desktop app." Turn this on.

However, there is a glitch that I've experienced: if Descript isn’t already open on your computer when clicking the link, it will launch the desktop app but may not open the project. I usually recommend making sure Descript is open before clicking any project links to avoid this issue.

Question 2: Importing YouTube Videos into Descript

Another question is about how to get a video or a segment from a YouTube video into the Descript project editor. Here’s how you can do that:

  1. In your Descript project, navigate to the Files area.
  2. Click on the Import Files icon, then select Import from URL.
  3. Paste the link to the YouTube video you want to import. Descript will then download the video into your project.

To add this video clip to your composition, drag it into the timeline. If you want to transcribe this video, right-click on the video file in the timeline and select Transcribe File. You can choose the language, and Descript will transcribe the video for you.

For those looking to take only a portion of a YouTube video, it’s best to create a separate composition first, identify the segment you need, then copy and paste that into your main project.

Responding to Live Chat Questions

I’ll be checking the chat for questions as we go. One question asks about using an iPhone as a webcam to record in the Descript app on PC. Currently, this isn’t natively possible unless you have software that enables it. For Mac, Apple has the Continuity Camera feature, which allows seamless use of an iPhone as a webcam. However, for Windows users, I recommend recording separately or using a tool that can create a webcam from your phone.

New Features in Descript

I also want to quickly highlight a recent update that was introduced in Descript with version 100: the translation feature. You can now not only translate a composition into different languages but also change the voice used in dubbing.

  1. Select the text you want to translate.
  2. Right-click and choose Translate from the dropdown.
  3. You can choose the target language and select the desired AI voice.

Be aware that limitations on dubbing may apply depending on your subscription plan, and changes made to the original composition will not reflect in the translated version after translation is completed.

Conclusion

I appreciate each of you for taking the time to join me today! If you have any questions for future sessions or want to learn more about Descript and various podcasting tools, make sure to sign up for my newsletter to stay updated.

Keywords

  • Descript
  • YouTube import
  • Translation feature
  • Webinar
  • Podcasting
  • Media Makers Club
  • Dubbing
  • AI voice

FAQ

Q1: How do I ensure that project links in Descript open in the desktop app?
A1: Go to your avatar in Descript, click on Settings, navigate to the General section, and enable the option "open links to projects in the desktop app."

Q2: How can I import a YouTube video into my Descript project?
A2: Click on the Files area, select Import Files, and choose Import from URL. Paste the YouTube link and let Descript download the video into your project.

Q3: Can I use my iPhone as a webcam for recording in Descript on PC?
A3: Currently, it’s not natively supported without specific software. For Mac users, Continuity Camera allows using an iPhone as a webcam, but for PC, you may need to record separately and import the video.

Q4: What’s new in the latest version of Descript?
A4: Version 100 introduced a translation feature that allows you to translate compositions and change the dubbing voice using AI voices, with some limitations imposed by your subscription plan.

Feel free to reach out if you have further questions or topics to discuss next time!