Speechify Studio vs. Descript

Two prominent contenders in the AI video and audio editing space, Speechify Studio and Descript, offer distinct approaches to cater to the diverse needs of users. As we delve into this ultimate guide and comparison between Speechify Studio and Descript, we explore their features to determine the best platform for your next project.

Speechify Studio vs. Descript: A brief overview

• Best dubbing: Speechify Studio ↓ Jump to review
• Best voice cloning: Speechify Studio ↓ Jump to review
• Best video editing: Speechify Studio ↓ Jump to review
• Best AI transcription: Speechify Studio ↓ Jump to review
• Best video generator: Speechify Studio ↓ Jump to review
• Best AI voice overs: Speechify Studio ↓ Jump to review
• Best web interface: Speechify Studio ↓ Jump to review
• Best commercial use policy: Speechify Studio ↓ Jump to review
• Best customer support: Speechify Studio ↓ Jump to review

What is Speechify Studio?

Speechify Studio is a comprehensive AI audio and video editing suite offering features such as AI-powered voice overs, video editing, video avatars, dubbing, transcription, and voice cloning. This versatile platform caters to content creators seeking efficient and advanced tools for enhancing their multimedia content creation. Whether it’s generating natural-sounding voices, seamlessly editing videos, or experimenting with high-quality voice cloning, Speechify Studio stands out as an innovative solution in the realm of AI-driven multimedia editing.

What is Descript?

Descript is a multimedia editing platform that empowers users to seamlessly manipulate audio and video content through a text-based interface. Descript has gained popularity for its user-friendly video editing and automatic transcription approach to editing, allowing individuals, such as podcasters and other content creators, to edit media files as effortlessly as editing text documents.

Speechify history

Founded in 2016 by Cliff Weitzman, Speechify emerged as a text to speech software driven by the founder’s personal experience grappling with dyslexia during his college years. In 2023, the company marked a significant expansion by introducing Speechify Studio, an AI suite featuring video editing, transcription, voice cloning, and avatar and voice generation functionalities to provide an all-in-one solution for content creators.

Headquartered in Saint Petersburg, Florida, Speechify has garnered support from various investors, including Adjacent, G9 Ventures, and Streamlined Ventures, raising an undisclosed amount in funding. The company’s current valuation stands at an impressive $99 million. Led by Cliff Weitzman as the Co-founder and CEO, the executive team includes Tyler Weitzman as Co-founder, President, and Head of AI, Simeon Kostadinov as Chief Operating Officer, and Chaitu Aluru as Chief Product Officer and Head of Audiobooks.

Descript history

Founded in 2017 by Andrew Mason, the former CEO of Groupon, Descript has become a trailblazer in the audio and video editing industry. Headquartered in San Francisco, the company has raised an impressive $100 million in funding, with major contributions from notable investors like OpenAI Startup Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, Redpoint Ventures, and Spark Capital. Individual investors include industry influencers such as Naval Ravikant, Casey Neistat, and Ev Williams.

Descript was initially founded as an audio tour production tool for Detour to make it easier for anyone to record and edit audio for Detour. However, Descript evolved to make all audio and video editing more beginner-friendly, unlike other tools that have a learning curve. The company’s leadership team, spearheaded by CEO Andrew Mason, also includes key members in finance, people management, engineering, and marketing, reflecting a robust foundation for Descript’s continued success in reshaping the landscape of multimedia editing.

How Speechify Studio works

Speechify Studio leverages cutting-edge artificial intelligence and speech synthesis technology as well as machine learning algorithms to offer an advanced AI audio and video editing suite featuring AI voice overs, customized voice cloning, AI-powered video editing, AI avatars, 1-click dubbing, and automatic transcription. Users can seamlessly integrate lifelike synthetic voices, refine videos, and experiment with voice cloning, making Speechify Studio a comprehensive and versatile toolkit to enhance multimedia content creation.

How Descript works

Descript allows users to manipulate audio and video content through a text-based interface, simplifying the audio and video editing process. The platform gained popularity for its automatic transcription feature, converting spoken words into editable text. This user-friendly design makes editing media files, such as video and audio files, as straightforward as editing text documents, appealing to podcasters and content creators seeking an intuitive and quicker solution for their editing needs.

Free trial

Speechify Studio and Descript recognize the importance of allowing users to explore their platforms before paying, and both offer free versions. By testing out their free trials, users can experience the capabilities of each platform firsthand, helping them make informed decisions based on their specific needs and preferences before committing to a premium pricing plan.

Dubbing

Speechify Studio stands out in the dubbing arena with its one-click instant translation feature, allowing users to seamlessly translate videos into any language. In contrast, Descript currently only offers dubbing in English and does not support language translation at this time. This limitation may influence users who require multilingual dubbing capabilities for their content.

Voice cloning

Speechify Studio simplifies the voice cloning process, requiring users to speak into their laptops for just 30 seconds and press record to create a new voice clone in real time. On the other hand, Descript takes just a few seconds longer, promising users that they will be able to create their new voice clone in 60 seconds. While both platforms provide a quick and efficient voice cloning experience, Speechify Studio only requires half of the time.

Video editing

Speechify Studio excels in the video editing department, offering a larger variety of AI video editing features and a full video editing suite. Descript, however, only provides some video editing features, including stock footage, transitions, screen recording, eye correction, and green screen functionality. If content creators need a more extensive video editor, Speechify Studio is the way to go.

AI transcription

Both Speechify Studio and Descript recognize the importance of transcription in subtitle and caption content creation. Speechify Studio supports transcription in over 100 languages, providing a broad range of options for users. Descript, while also offering transcription, limits its language support to 22 languages. Users requiring a specific language for transcription may need to consider this difference.

Video generator

Speechify Studio’s AI Generator allows users to create custom video AI avatars, offering a unique and creative element to content creation. In contrast, Descript does not currently provide AI video generation or AI avatars. For content creators wanting to incorporate custom AI elements into their content, Speechify Studio is the clear winner in this category.

AI voice overs

While both Descript and Speechify Studio offer AI voice overs, Descript does not publicly list how many AI voices it offers. Descript also only offers English voices. However, Speechify Studio stands out with a remarkable selection of over 200 different voices across various languages and accents. Additionally, Speechify Studio produces natural-sounding speech that closely mimics human voices. The human-like voices generated by Speechify’s AI voice generator are so convincing that they become indistinguishable from authentic human speech. If realistic voices and authenticity are crucial factors in your search, Speechify Studio emerges as an excellent choice.

Web interface

Speechify Studio is browser-based and user-friendly, making it easily accessible from any device, including Android, iOS, Mac, Windows devices, and any browser from Chrome to Safari. This cross-platform compatibility allows progress to be saved for convenient workflow continuity. Descript requires users to download their desktop app for full features and its web-based editor is still in Beta and less beginner-friendly. Users seeking accessibility and ease of use may find Speechify Studio’s browser-based interface more convenient.

Commercial usage

Speechify Studio allows for the commercial use of all content created on the platform, providing flexibility for businesses and content creators. Descript, while permitting commercial use for AI voices and stock AI voices, comes with certain restrictions, particularly regarding approved stock footage. Users must carefully check Descript’s terms if considering commercial use for specific content.

Customer support

Speechify Studio boasts comprehensive customer support, including phone support, email, live chat, and a self-serve help center with tutorials. Descript offers email and live support on weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, with no phone support. Live chat is also only available via Descript’s app. However, Descript also offers a self-serve help center. Users may weigh the importance of different support channels based on their preferences and needs.

Comparing Speechify Studio vs. Descript side-by-side

Speechify Studio vs. Descript: The winner is Speechify Studio

Speechify Studio is the clear winner over Descript, particularly for those looking for dubbing, video editing, AI avatars, multilingual voice overs, and excellent customer service.

The platform’s lifelike text to speech voice over functionality, coupled with advanced voice cloning, AI dubbing, AI transcription, video editing, and video generation features, sets it apart.

Whether you’re creating audiobooks, podcasts, video games, social media content, tutorials, e-learning modules, or other creative projects, Speechify Studio’s especially ideal for beginner content creators, providing a high-quality and cost-effective solution for all of your needs.

Try Speechify Studio for free today and level up your content creation projects.

FAQ

What is the difference between on-premise and open-source?

On-premise refers to software or systems that are installed and run on the premises of a company or individual, while open-source denotes software with a source code that is freely available and can be modified or redistributed by users.

What is the best text to speech?

While there are many text to speech (TTS) platforms, such as WellSaid Labs, Murf.AI. NaturalReader, LOVO, and Play.ht, Speechify offers the most lifelike voices on the market, allowing you to transform any text into speech, including docs, social media posts, web pages, physical documents, and many other formats. Speechify even offers a Google Chrome integration.

How can I voice over audiobooks for Amazon?

You can create a captivating audiobook to list on Amazon by using Speechify Studio.

What is the best text to speech API?

Speechify offers the most human-like voices through its API.