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Descript is a company offering an audio word processing platform that enables editor and producers to edit sound files while a writer would edit its lyrics that is headquartered in San Francisco, California and was founded in 2017 by Andrew Mason. Descript was spun-out from Detour and has since developed podcast and audio editing software that allows users to edit audio by editing text.
The software platform allows users to drag and drop audio within an audio recording using text, and the platform also allows users to add music and sound effect in the form of text to audio files. It also offers a timeline editor for users looking to change fades and audio volume of their audio recordings. The Descript audio editing platform allows multiple users to edit sound recordings at once in a text editor, and create notes for other users to see in the text document similar to Google Docs or Microsoft Word.
The Descript transcription platform uses artificial intelligence for audio transcription into text. The company claims their platform can make text transcriptions from audio recordings that are 96% accurate, can detect each unique speaker, and have a 3 minute turnaround time for transcription of a 60 minute audio recording.
The Overdub feature of Descript, which is powered by Lyrebird AI, allows users to make corrections to their audio recordings in their own voice by editing the text transcripts generated by the Descript transcription service. The overdub feature allows users to perform tasks such as doing voiceovers for instructional or marketing videos, create scratch track for temporary audio for video games, animation, and scripted podcasts, and make editorial corrections that blend in with original audio recordings in the speakers own simulated voice. Overdub allows users to choose from a variety of voice performance styles to match their performance style in the audio clips they are editing.
At the time of announcing their series A funding on September 18, 2019 Descript also announced acquiring Lyrebird, a company making audio editing software, for an undisclosed amount of money. The acquisitions helped Descript launch a new product feature called Overdub which allows users to create templates of their own voices they can use to create audio recordings with their own voice based on typed words they enter into the program.
On December 12, 2017 Descript announced raising $5 million in seed funding from Andreessen Horowitz.
On September 18, 2019 Descript announced raising $15 million in series A funding from Redpoint and Andreessen Horowitz. The company plans on using their funding to focus on company expansion and hire more employees.
