Join a Descript Room

When you receive a Descript Room link, you'll walk through a few quick setup steps before joining the session. Use this checklist to configure your camera and microphone, optimize your recording quality, and understand what to expect during and after your recording. Learn more about Descript Rooms.

Hosting a Room?

This guide is specific to non-host participants. For host-specific steps, see Create a Room and invite participants to learn about creating sessions and managing participants.

This article covers:

Join a Descript Room

When you open a Room link, you'll see the pre-join screen where you can configure your equipment before entering.

Pre-join screen in Descript Rooms showing camera and microphone setup options
  1. Select your camera: Choose your camera and resolution. Click the camera icon to join without video.
  2. Select your microphone: Pick a mic for clear audio. Click the mic icon to join muted.
  3. Select your speakers: Choose your output device (speakers or headphones).
  4. Headphones or speakers: Let Descript know which you’re using. This controls echo cancellation.
    • Yes (headphones): Echo cancellation disabled
    • No (speakers): Echo cancellation enabled
  5. Enter your display name: Descript uses this for speaker labels.
  6. Click Join: Once ready, click Join to enter the Room.

If the host has enabled a waiting room, you'll see a hold screen until they admit you. Otherwise, you'll enter the Room immediately.

Recording quality checklist

Use a supported browser

Use Chrome, Edge, Arc, Firefox, Safari, or Opera on desktop or laptop. Avoid mobile browsers.

Check your internet connection

For best results, use a wired connection if possible. If using Wi-Fi, stay near your router and close unnecessary apps or tabs.

Test your speed at fast.com (click “Show more info” to view upload speeds):

  • Minimum: 10 Mbps upload/download
  • Recommended: 20 Mbps upload/download
  • For 4K recording: 30 Mbps upload minimum
Tip: If your connection is unstable, consider joining with your camera off to save bandwidth.

Record in a quiet, well-lit space

Find a quiet, well-lit area with minimal background noise. If there’s unavoidable noise, enable Background noise reduction under Settings > Audio. Learn more about Descript Room settings.

Use an external mic and camera (if available)

External equipment offers better quality than built-in hardware. Sit directly in front of the camera and speak clearly into the mic.

Check your audio levels: Watch the VU meter while speaking—your voice should reach about 75% (white area touching yellow, not red).

VU meter in Descript Rooms showing ideal audio levels

During your session

Check your network health

Open the People tab to see your network status. Green means your connection is stable.

People panel in Descript Rooms showing network health indicators

Adjust settings if needed

Click your profile icon in the upper right to access audio, video, and general settings. Learn more about Descript Room settings.

Pin a participant

You can pin any participant to keep them displayed prominently in your view. When you pin someone, they'll stay on your main screen regardless of who is speaking. This works with both Gallery view (grid layout) and Speaker view (active speaker layout).

To pin a participant: Click the 3-dot menu on their video tile, then select Pin. You can also access this option from the People sidebar.

Pin participant option in the Descript Rooms interface

After recording ends

Wait for your upload to complete

After recording ends, wait until the upload confirmation appears before closing the tab.

You can leave the call once recording stops, but on the next screen, wait until uploads finish. If something goes wrong, visit the Descript Rooms recovery link: web.descript.com/recovery.