Descript Deleted Every 'Um' Without Re-recording

My podcast intro was littered with 'um' and 'you know,' and re-recording felt heavier than the episode. Descript let me edit the transcript and watch the audio follow, cutting filler by deleting words.

The overdub feature filled a missed word in my own voice, which felt like magic until I overdid it and the guest sounded synthetic. The lesson: fix the obvious stuff, leave the human mess where it's charming.

It also sped up my editing. Instead of waveforms, I read. Cutting a sentence is deleting a line. For someone who finds audio editing intimidating, that shift from visual to textual is the unlock.

One caution: over-polishing makes an interview sound like a hostage reading a statement. I keep a few natural hesitations now, because too clean reads as edited in the worst way.

If 'um's stop you from publishing, let Descript handle them. The transcript is the timeline; use it, don't fear it, and your episodes finally ship.