Note-taking during meetings is officially a thing of the past. Recording your Zoom meeting is one thing. Having an AI-powered transcription unfold in real-time, as the meeting progresses, is quite another. Like, The Thing of Dreams.
Meet Descript, an all-in-one software program for audio transcription, podcasting, audio and video editing, and—the focus of this tutorial—screen recording. When you configure just a few settings, every word uttered by every participant in your meeting will be recorded and transcribed simultaneously. This tutorial will show you how.
Why Descript?
Check out the tutorial below to see Descript in action and read the steps that follow. You’ll learn how to set up Descript for remote recording using Zoom’s high-fidelity recording mode to remotely record guests and generate a live transcription.
The Basics
Descript’s multitrack recording feature records a separate track for every participant in your remote meeting. Once the meeting ends, Descript automatically creates a combined transcript that allows you to make edits to each participant’s individual track.
Here are a few key features Descript offers:
- automatic transcription with industry-leading accuracy (95%) in just minutes
- white-glove human transcription service with 99% accuracy for $2/minute and delivery in 24 hours on average
- safe and secure technologies to ensure your data is private and protected
- a video word processor, allowing you to edit your video by editing your text
- relative affordability ($12–$24 a month if you pay annually)
You can try out Descript by activating a free trial, which includes three hours of transcription, full audio and video editing, unlimited screen recordings, 1,000 words of overdub technology, and studio sound effects. Buy monthly access by subscribing to a Creator plan at $15/month or a Pro plan at $30/month or purchase an annual plan to receive a 20% discount.
How to Create a Remote Audio Recording With Descript and Zoom
1. Create a New Project in Descript
From the Home screen, click +New and then select Project from the dropdown menu.
Enter a title for your project and click Create Project.
2. Launch Zoom and Open Preferences
Launch Zoom and connect with your guest. Ask your guest to click on zoom.us in the menu bar and select Preferences from the dropdown menu.
3. Configure Zoom Settings
Click on Audio in the sidebar on the left.
Select Low under Suppress background noise.
Under Music and Professional Audio, check the boxes Show in-meeting option to enable “Original Sound” and High-fidelity music mode. Uncheck the box Echo cancellation. Have everyone who is attending the meeting, including the host, configure their Zoom settings the same way.
4. Configure Descript Settings
Click out of Settings in Zoom and switch over to Descript. At the top of the Descript window, click on the Microphone icon, followed by the Recording Settings (gear) icon.
Select your microphone from the dropdown menu. Check the box next to Transcribe recording so that automatic transcription will occur in real time once your Zoom recording begins.
Click on the Track Label and type in your name in the speaker label box. Tap Return.
To add a new track for a meeting participant, click on the Plus + icon. Then type in their name in the speaker label box.
Next, click on the Input Source dropdown and select Computer audio.
If you receive a pop-up notification that the output settings of third-party applications might have to be changed, click OK. Complete the last two steps for each meeting participant.
5. Test Record
Click on the red Record icon.
Then open your Zoom window again and click on the Mute dropdown menu. In the Audio Settings, select Descript Loopback Audio. Descript recommends using headphones to monitor input levels so that high-pitched audio feedback between your computer speakers and microphone doesn’t occur.
6. Let the Meeting Begin!
After completing these steps, you will see a transcription being generated, as well as an audio recording progressing of both you and your meeting participants.
Enjoy Simultaneous Recording and Transcription
Descript provides a pretty mind-blowing service, one that gobbles up way too much time done the old-fashioned way. With just a little focus, learn your way around Descript and how it functions with Zoom, and in no time you’ll be enjoying the ease of simultaneous recording and transcribing.
Keep Learning About Descript
Here are a few more free tutorials and resources to help you study Descript:
