Convert to AI speech

Descript's Convert to AI speech feature turns the original recorded audio in your script into an AI Speaker's voice and leaves your original video in the composition. This feature works on a single video or audio track; multi-track sequences aren't supported.

This workflow is only for script sections that still contain your original recorded audio. If a section is already AI speech, reassign the speaker label to another AI Speaker to change the voice instead.

Convert recorded audio to AI speech

We recommend converting your script track to AI speech as early as possible in your workflow. Compositions with more edits, b-roll, and layers are more likely to see unexpected behavior when you convert.

  1. In the Script Editor, click the speaker label for the recorded section you want to change.
  2. Choose a new voice to replace the existing audio. Select one of your own custom AI speakers from the list or Browse stock AI speakers to choose one of Descript's built-in voices.
  3. Re-select the speaker label, then click Convert to AI speech from the menu.
  4. If that speaker is labeled elsewhere in your composition, choose whether to convert just this section or all places in the whole composition where that speaker label appears.
  5. Click Convert to AI speech to confirm.

Descript generates the new voice and replaces your original script audio with the new voiceover track; your video layer is moved into the layer lane with the original audio muted.

convertToAISpeech_script.png

The new generated voiceover may not perfectly match the timing of the original content.

Convert to AI speech doesn't adjust anything to fit your video; it only converts the original audio to AI speech. The new voiceover can run longer or shorter than your original recording, especially in compositions with long gaps or silence. 

Convert a selection to AI speech

To convert a specific range instead of a whole section:

  1. In the Script Editor, select the script text you want to convert to AI speech.
  2. From the hover menu, select the More options button, then choose Convert to AI speech from the dropdown.
  3. Choose an AI Speaker, then confirm.

Descript converts only the selected range and leaves the rest of your script as-is.

Troubleshooting

  • An avatar layer moved behind your preserved video. Drag the avatar layer back above the video in the layer lane to restore the original order. Learn more about adjusting layer order.
  • Some converted paragraphs didn't start generating AI speech. Toggle playback to trigger generation for any leftover sections.