Saturday, August 26, 2023

Descript : making a quick video?

I've recently had a corneal graft, my second. The original graft was over 25 years ago and it was failing relatively quickly. Thus the need for a replacement graft. As a reference, I had painted the same brush a few times over the past year. I'm still in the recuperation phase and have to take it easy which includes limiting time on the computer.


In the ever-evolving landscape of video editing software, Descript has emerged as a promising contender, luring creators with its innovative approach to simplifying the editing process. I decided to dive in and see whether it truly lived up to the hype. Perhaps it could save me precious computer and therefore eye strain time.

The standout feature that initially caught my attention was Descript's automatic transcription capability. This unique functionality allows you to transcribe your videos into text, essentially transforming them into editable documents. The allure of being able to edit videos as effortlessly as word processing documents was undeniable. Moreover, the software offered a free trial, giving me the perfect opportunity to explore its offerings.

One of the immediate benefits I experienced was the ability to effortlessly eliminate verbal hiccups like "umms" and awkward pauses. Descript's features allowed me to easily identify and remove these moments, making the editing process not only smoother but also enjoyable. This aspect of the software lived up to its promise of quick and intuitive editing.

However, as with any tool, there were challenges that arose as I delved deeper into my video editing journey. My primary struggle revolved around incorporating scanned paintings and overlaying them onto the video. Descript introduced a concept called "scenes" for this purpose, which was a unique approach not commonly found in other video editing platforms. While the idea was intriguing, I found that achieving the level of control I desired over these scenes required a more intricate understanding of the software's mechanics.

When it came to incorporating additional graphics, titles, and other visual elements, my progress was stalled. I struggled to find the small icons for tools, which  I had not used before and on a screen layout that was not familiar. The process turned into a frustrating challenge, demanding better eyesight and a steeper learning curve than I had anticipated.

Despite my minor struggles, it got the video above produces in a couple of hours. I can't dismiss the potential that Descript holds. The software's approach to script-based editing is undeniably a game-changer, particularly for creators seeking a quicker and more fluid way to edit their videos. As for the complexities of adding intricate graphics and titles, I've come to realize that these challenges may be conquered with time and dedicated learning.

PS Another admission, I use ChatGPT to summaries my original three short typo filled paragraphs into a blog post, and it gave me 10 paragraphs! I've cut out a lot and removed some over-hyped claims, but it reads well so there you have it an AI chat bot commenting on an AI based transcription tool


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