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This is a welcome tool indeed. Question: how would you describe how you're different to Descript?

diminikolaou 3y ago
Descript is an excellent "podcast editing" tool, but is not a "podcast creation" / text-to-speech first platform. It offers "Overdub", but they suggest limited use of it (replacing 1-2 words), not full podcast creation. The quality of the text-to-speech model they use is not at the same level as the ElevenLabs model we are using, so I think someone would struggle to create an engaging podcast using Overdub. I'd also think that this is not a direction that Descript would be heading to, as they have built a successful business as a "podcast editing" platform and catering to "podcast creation" would be a significant change. In addition to this, given that we are a "podcast creation" platform rather a "podcast editing" platform, we have focused on integrating functionality that allows users to go end to end in creating a podcasts. Examples: publishing a podcast (RSS), generating a video automatically, providing a shareable podcast page, autotranslating the podcast to other languages and a lot more.
- hdivider 3y ago
  Thanks, makes sense! Have you thought about targeting Substack-based podcasts also? Given how substack podcasters likely wouldn't need the publishing part.
  - diminikolaou 3y ago
    For substackers that don’t have a podcast, only have a written format, this tool has given them great leverage as they can easily provide more value to their audience by giving them an audio version. There’s over 100 of those on the platform currently. For substackers that already have a podcast, that’s a separate question. Ultimately it depends on if they think that they can use the time the put in for the recording and editing process to some other creative process and use Wondercraft for generating the audio. Haven’t seen that many existing Substack podcasts for this use case to become that prevalent.

Descript is an excellent "podcast editing" tool, but is not a "podcast creation" / text-to-speech first platform. It offers "Overdub", but they suggest limited use of it (replacing 1-2 words), not full podcast creation. The quality of the text-to-speech model they use is not at the same level as the ElevenLabs model we are using, so I think someone would struggle to create an engaging podcast using Overdub. I'd also think that this is not a direction that Descript would be heading to, as they have built a successful business as a "podcast editing" platform and catering to "podcast creation" would be a significant change. In addition to this, given that we are a "podcast creation" platform rather a "podcast editing" platform, we have focused on integrating functionality that allows users to go end to end in creating a podcasts. Examples: publishing a podcast (RSS), generating a video automatically, providing a shareable podcast page, autotranslating the podcast to other languages and a lot more.

hdivider 3y ago
Thanks, makes sense! Have you thought about targeting Substack-based podcasts also? Given how substack podcasters likely wouldn't need the publishing part.
- diminikolaou 3y ago
  For substackers that don’t have a podcast, only have a written format, this tool has given them great leverage as they can easily provide more value to their audience by giving them an audio version. There’s over 100 of those on the platform currently. For substackers that already have a podcast, that’s a separate question. Ultimately it depends on if they think that they can use the time the put in for the recording and editing process to some other creative process and use Wondercraft for generating the audio. Haven’t seen that many existing Substack podcasts for this use case to become that prevalent.