Choose one of three approaches. The steps for that option appear below.
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You select passages in the media-linked transcript. Descript comments; you write the final list.
Correct the transcript
Highlight candidates
Get AI commentary
Write the selects list
Use: You
Open the permitted recording in Descript and correct speaker labels and quoted words in the linked transcript.
Check recording consent, plan access and rights; do not delete, reorder or publish media for this task.
Use: You
Play the recording and highlight candidate passages; comment with the theme or rule, timecode and reason.
Listen to each candidate with context; mark unclear audio instead of guessing; do not change meaning.
Use: Descript
Ask Underlord for a second commentary-only opinion on a candidate passage's proposed inclusion, with no media edits.
What to paste into the tool
Comment on whether this selected passage supports the supplied story beat or numbered editing rule. Quote the relevant words and flag missing context. Do not edit, delete, rearrange or publish media. Do not invent timecodes or factual corrections.
Use: You
Write the selects list in a separate sheet: timecodes, short quotes, themes, reasons and unclear-audio flags; replay every listed passage.
Check quotes and timestamps against playback; treat AI suggestions as unchecked and decide every keep and cut; factual claims need independent checking. Total intended selection duration to fit three minutes without promising an exact final cut.
ChatGPT proposes the first candidates. You check every quote and timecode, choose and write the list.
Prepare the transcript
Propose the candidates
Choose and check
Use: You
Have ready: the permitted full transcript with source timecodes and the three-minute edit brief; do not select candidates first.
Check the transcript is complete and timecodes are present.
Use: ChatGPT
Give the full transcript and brief; ask for candidate excerpts with original timecodes, verbatim quotes and proposed themes.
What to paste into the tool
From the supplied transcript propose candidate answers for the edit brief. For each candidate, quote the words, keep the source timecode and suggest a theme. Mark missing timecodes as not stated in the transcript. Do not invent words or claim the proposed list is final.
Use: You
Rank and trim to fit 3 minutes, then play each timecode in the footage to confirm quote and speaker.
Check each quote is verbatim, the timecode matches and the speaker is right; trimming must not change meaning.
Gemini drafts beats, then candidate answers and a selects table. You fix rows, check footage and approve.
Get ready
Draft beats and selects
Fix the rows
Approve the list
Use: You
The brief and the transcript.
Use: Gemini
Upload the brief for 4 to 6 story beats, then the transcript for up to 3 answers per beat and a selects table.
What to paste into the tool
Task: Beat sheet. From this edit brief, propose 4 to 6 story beats for a 3-minute edit. For each beat give the question it should answer and a target length in seconds. The target lengths must add to about 180 seconds. Task: Selects table. First, for each beat list up to three answers from the transcript that fit it, with the timecode as written and the quote copied word for word; write NONE where nothing fits and mark passages that look garbled. Then draft the selects table: one row per beat with your top candidate, its timecode, quote, theme, why chosen, unclear-audio flag, and a verdict of accept or fix per row.
Use: You
Fix the flagged rows, then play each kept timecode in the footage and confirm quote, speaker and unclear-audio flags.
Check beats cover the story, target lengths add to about 3 minutes; quotes are verbatim, timecodes match footage, meaning unchanged.
Use: You
Approve the selects list for the edit.
Approve only when every kept row is right.
Best when: You want selection tied to playback, AI comments only
What it does: Descript comments; you select and write the list
Strong at: Selections compare against the recording before deciding
Limit: Ranking and timecode accuracy unproven; check by playback
Free plan: Yes, limited (60 media minutes a month)
Best when: You want AI first candidates and will check everything
What it does: ChatGPT proposes; you check, choose and write
Strong at: Selection and ranking stay with the editor
Limit: Full transcript may exceed plan limits; check access first
Free plan: Yes
Best when: The edit has a planned shape answers must fit
What it does: Gemini drafts; you confirm, fix and approve
Strong at: Candidates are searched against beats you confirmed
Limit: Every quote, timecode and verdict needs checking
Free plan: Yes
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Every quote is checked word for word against the transcript.
Every timecode is played in the footage.
Reviewer checks that trimming preserves meaning.
Check the result against your original inputs. Approve it before sharing or acting.