How to Record Your Screen and Webcam in Descript

Descript has a built-in recorder for screen, camera, and microphone. The big advantage is that whatever you record arrives already transcribed and ready for text-based editing. This guide covers setting up a clean recording for a tutorial or demo video.

What you need

• Descript installed (the recorder is in the desktop app)
• Screen recording permission granted to Descript in your OS settings
• A microphone, and a webcam if you want a talking-head overlay
• The window or app you plan to demo, open and ready

Step 1: Open the recorder

From the project view, click Record. Choose what to capture: screen, camera, both, or audio only. For a tutorial, pick Screen plus Camera so you get a webcam overlay in the corner.

Step 2: Check your mic level

Select the correct microphone and watch the input meter while you talk normally. Aim for the meter to bounce in the middle, not pinning to the top (which clips) or barely moving (too quiet). Good levels here save you cleanup later.

Step 3: Record and stop

Hit Record, wait for the countdown, then walk through your demo. Speak clearly so the transcript comes out accurate. When done, stop the recording with the toolbar button or the keyboard shortcut shown in the recorder.

Step 4: Edit the recording as text

Your recording drops straight into the editor with a transcript. Now you can delete mistakes, remove filler words, and trim dead air by editing text, exactly like an imported clip.

Result: a five minute software walkthrough captured with screen, webcam, and mic in one shot, already transcribed and ready to tighten up without ever opening a separate recorder.