How to Edit YouTube Videos 10x Faster with Descript: Beginners step-by-step tutorial

Introduction

Editing your YouTube videos doesn't have to take forever! Let me show you how you can edit 10 times faster, even as a complete beginner. For the last five years, I've struggled to stay consistent on any platform because editing felt like such a chore. I tried Premiere Pro and got super overwhelmed, tried iMovie but it just wasn’t really good, and I couldn't pay for a professional editor because I was a brand new entrepreneur. Then, literally last week, I came across a brand new tool that has allowed me to take my editing time from 8 hours down to about 30 minutes. In the last week, I have recorded and edited six long-form YouTube videos, which is unheard of! The best part is that you don't need to be any good at editing—if you can edit text, you can actually edit your YouTube videos too. So let me show you exactly how you can do that too.

Step 1: Cutting Your Raw Footage

Cutting your raw footage into a first acceptable draft can be a time-consuming task, especially when you're new to editing. This is where Descript comes in, as it has AI features that can automatically handle this for you and speed up the editing process.

1. Sign Up and Create a New Project: Once you sign up for Descript, you will be in the project view. Click on "New Project" and select "Video Project."
2. Upload or Record Your Footage: You can upload footage from your phone or camera, or record directly into Descript using the "Record" option.
3. Automatic Transcription: Descript will automatically transcribe your recording. This transcription allows you to quickly edit your footage just like you would edit a text document.
4. Remove Retakes with AI: Descript's AI can remove all the retakes and unnecessary portions of your footage.
5. Shorten Word Gaps: Utilize Descript’s feature to shorten word gaps to keep your video concise.
6. Studio Sound: Even if you don’t have a great microphone, Descript’s Studio Sound feature can drastically improve your audio quality.

Step 2: Enhancing Video Engagement

Once your raw footage is edited, you can make your video more engaging with several features in Descript:

1. Color Adjustments: Increase the contrast, saturation, and exposure to make your video look better.
2. Zoom Cuts: Keep the viewer's attention by adding zoom cuts. This can easily be done by selecting the part of the video and adjusting the zoom level.
3. B-Roll: Add b-roll footage from Descript’s free stock media library.
4. Speed Adjustments: Speed up parts of your video to maintain viewer engagement without affecting the clarity of your message.
5. Text and Captions: Add text captions and emphasize key points in your video.

Step 3: Publishing and Repurposing

After editing, you can quickly publish your video and repurpose the content for other platforms.

1. Publish to YouTube: Descript allows you to publish directly to YouTube. You can log in to your YouTube account from within Descript and upload your video with relevant metadata.
2. Generate YouTube Descriptions and Chapters: Use Descript's AI to create SEO-optimized descriptions and chapters for your YouTube video.
3. Repurpose Content: Use the "Repurpose" feature to create YouTube shorts or other clips to drive traffic to your main video.

Conclusion

Descript makes it incredibly easy to edit your YouTube videos quickly, even if you're a complete beginner. Its AI features and straightforward interface dramatically reduce the time needed for video creation. If you're eager to make consistent and engaging content without spending hours editing, Descript might just be the tool you need.

Keywords

• YouTube video editing
• Descript
• Video editing AI
• B-roll
• Studio sound
• Zoom cuts
• Color adjustments
• Speed adjustments
• YouTube descriptions
• Publish to YouTube

FAQ

Q1: What is Descript?

A1: Descript is an AI-powered tool that simplifies video editing by allowing you to edit video and audio just like a text document. It also offers features like automatic transcription, Studio Sound for audio enhancement, and direct publishing to platforms like YouTube.

Q2: How does Descript automate the video editing process?

A2: Descript uses AI to automatically transcribe your footage, remove retakes, shorten gaps between words, and even improve audio quality with its Studio Sound feature. This significantly reduces the time required for editing.

Q3: Can I add effects like zoom cuts and b-roll with Descript?

A3: Yes, Descript allows you to easily add effects like zoom cuts and b-roll. You can also adjust color settings and add captions to make your video more engaging.

Q4: How can I publish my video to YouTube using Descript?

A4: You can publish directly to YouTube from within Descript. You'll need to log in to your YouTube account through Descript and fill in the necessary details before uploading your video.

Q5: Does Descript help with creating SEO-optimized descriptions and chapters for YouTube?

A5: Yes, Descript's AI can generate SEO-optimized descriptions and chapters for your YouTube videos, making it easier for your content to be discovered.

By following these steps and tips, you'll be editing YouTube videos at lightning speed, even if you're completely new to video editing.