Overdub
Descript's Overdub is a natural-sounding text-to-speech generator that allows users to create high-quality TTS models of their voice or sel...
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What is Overdub?
Descript Overdub is an AI voice cloning and text-to-speech feature that lets you create a digital model of your own voice or use Descript’s stock AI voices. It is designed to make editing spoken audio as simple as typing, so you can insert missing words, fix mistakes, and make mid-sentence changes without re-recording.
The tool is positioned as part of Descript’s collaborative audio/video editor, so Overdub works alongside transcription, screen recording, publishing, captions, and other AI editing features. Descript says Overdub can blend into real recordings by matching tonal characteristics on both sides of an edit, which makes it especially useful for patching dialogue naturally.
Overdub is also built for flexibility: users can create multiple voices for different recording setups or performance styles, and trusted collaborators can be allowed to generate audio with an Overdub Voice. Descript also offers stock voices for users who want voiceovers without cloning their own voice.
It is aimed at creators, podcasters, video editors, teams, and anyone who needs to correct or generate spoken audio quickly. Descript’s site emphasizes that Overdub is useful when you want broadcast-quality speech synthesis, fast edits, and workflow integration rather than a standalone voice generator.
Overdub pricing
Pricing model: Paid
Overdub is free on all Descript accounts. Free and Creator accounts can use an Overdub trial with voices limited to 1,000 common words, while Pro account voices get unlimited vocabularies. Descript also says Pro accounts get unlimited Overdub vocabulary, and the Overdub voice feature is presented as included within the broader Descript app rather than sold as a separate standalone product.
Overdub pros
- Creates a voice clone from your own voice
- Offers ultra-realistic stock AI voices
- Lets you correct recordings by typing
- Matches tonal characteristics in mid-sentence edits
- Supports multiple Overdub voices
- Allows trusted collaborators to generate audio
- Integrated into a full audio/video editor
- Works with transcription-based editing
- Useful for fixing missing words in recordings
- Avoids re-recording in the studio
- Broadcast-quality 44.1 kHz speech synthesis
- Available on free Descript accounts
- Unlimited Overdub vocabulary on Pro
- Useful for podcasts and video content
- Pairs with captions and publishing tools
- Fits collaborative team workflows
Overdub cons
- You can only clone your own voice
- Free and Creator vocabularies are limited to 1,000 common words
- Unlimited vocabulary requires Pro
- Not a standalone voice tool
- Best for speech inserts, not long-form narration
- Requires learning the Descript workflow
- Voice quality depends on available training audio
- Collaborator access must be explicitly trusted
- May not suit users who only need simple TTS
- Pricing details for voice usage can be plan-dependent
Frequently asked questions about Overdub
What is Overdub in Descript?
Overdub is Descript’s AI voice cloning and text-to-speech feature. It lets you create a model of your own voice or choose from stock AI voices, then generate speech by typing text into your project. Descript presents it as a way to correct, insert, or replace spoken words without going back into the studio.
Can I clone any voice I want?
No. Descript says Overdub is privacy-first and that you can only clone your own voice. That means the feature is intended for your personal voice or a voice you are authorized to use, not for impersonating other people.
Is Overdub free?
Yes, Overdub is free on all Descript accounts. Free and Creator accounts have a trial version of Overdub, while Pro accounts get unlimited vocabulary for their Overdub voices. Descript also notes that the free and Creator plans have a vocabulary limit of 1,000 common words.
What is the vocabulary limit on lower plans?
On Free and Creator accounts, Overdub voices have vocabularies of 1,000 common words. Descript says that if you type words outside that vocabulary, the tool will not have the full range available to Pro users. Pro voices have unlimited vocabularies.
How do I create an Overdub voice?
Descript says you can create an Overdub voice either by reading its script or by using existing audio. The newer workflow lets you read a short Voice ID statement and upload audio of yourself, and the Overdub algorithm builds the voice from that material. The script method still works too.
Can Overdub be used in the middle of a sentence?
Yes. Descript specifically says Overdub can blend into real recordings and match the tonal characteristics on both sides of an edit. That makes it useful for mid-sentence fixes where the replacement needs to sound natural in context.
Can I create more than one Overdub voice?
Yes. Descript says you can create multiple Overdub voices, and it removed the limits on Overdub voice licenses. That is useful if you record in different environments, such as Zoom and a studio, and want separate voices for each setup.
Can teammates use my Overdub voice?
Yes, if you allow trusted collaborators to do so. Descript says you can let trusted collaborators generate audio using your Overdub Voice, which makes the feature useful for team workflows while keeping access controlled.
What kinds of projects is Overdub best for?
Overdub is best for projects where you need fast spoken-audio fixes or voiceovers inside an editing workflow. Descript highlights use cases like correcting recordings, adding missing words, creating voiceovers for video, and working with podcasts and collaborative content production.
How does Overdub fit into Descript overall?
Overdub is one part of Descript’s broader collaborative audio/video editor. It sits alongside transcription, screen recording, captions, publishing, filler-word removal, and other AI features, so it is designed for people who want to edit media by editing text and managing the whole creation workflow in one place.