Key Takeaways:
- Text-based video editing lets you trim, rearrange, or delete footage by editing the transcript.
- With the right tools, cutting tangents, creating clips, or reorganizing scenes becomes as simple as deleting words.
- Riverside is a leading platform that offers fast, accurate transcription and intuitive editing.
If you haven’t tried text-based editing yet, you’ll soon see why it’s a game-changer for content creators, podcasters, and video marketers.
Just like editing a Word document, you can edit a video by highlighting and deleting lines in the transcript. The corresponding video segment disappears automatically.
Below is a step-by-step guide to get you started.
What Is Text-Based Editing?
Also known as transcription-based editing, this method uses the video’s transcript as the primary editing interface. It’s especially effective for interviews, webinars, and talking-head videos where spoken content dominates.
Instead of navigating a complex timeline, you simply edit the text. When you delete a sentence, the matching video frame is removed. The process is intuitive, requires no prior video‑editing experience, and saves hours of manual trimming.
The first tool to popularize this workflow was Descript (2017), but many users found its performance inconsistent. Riverside has since emerged as the most reliable alternative, offering lightning-fast transcription and a robust editing suite.
For a deeper dive into how Riverside compares with Descript, see our full comparison article.
| Text-Based Editing | Waveform-Based Editing | |
|---|---|---|
| Editing Interface | ✅ Editable transcript; edit like a document. | ❌ Visual timeline with audio waveforms and video tracks. |
| Editing Method | ✅ Modify text to cut, rearrange, or delete content. | ❌ Manually cut and arrange clips on the timeline. |
| Speed & Efficiency | ✅ Rapid edits; delete or move sections by editing text. | ❌ Time-consuming; requires precise navigation and cuts. |
| Navigation | ✅ Search for specific words to find your place in the video. | ❌ Manually navigate through footage to find specific moments. |
| Ease of Use | ✅ Intuitive; no prior video editing experience needed. | ❌ Steeper learning curve; familiarity with editing tools required. |
| Learning Curve | ✅ Minimal; you probably already do it every day. | ❌ Moderate to high; understanding of timelines and keyframes necessary. |
How to Edit Video with Text Using Riverside
Ready to try text-based editing for yourself? Riverside makes it fast, free, and straightforward.
- Log in or sign up for a Riverside account.
- Record or import footage: click Record or Import.
- Open the editor: select your recording, then click New edit. The transcript appears on the left.
- Navigate the transcript while watching the video. Use the search bar to jump to specific sections.
- Edit the transcript: highlight unwanted text and click the trash icon to delete. The video portion disappears instantly. To undo, click the strikethrough text and select Restore.
- Additional actions via the toolbar: + Add visuals or chapters, Correct transcription errors, Mute speakers, Delete clips, Create new edit, or Comment for collaboration.
- With the three‑dot menu, choose Keep only this to isolate a segment or use Cut, copy, paste, duplicate to reposition sections.
- Automate cleanup with Riverside’s AI tools: remove pauses and filler words with a single click.
- Export your finished video and transcript. Both are saved to your dashboard.
That’s it—text-based editing with Riverside is that simple. Sign up today and experience the difference.
Best Text-Based Video Editing Software to Try
Automatic transcription and text-based editing are rapidly gaining popularity, but not all tools deliver the same level of quality. Below are the most reliable options.
Riverside
Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $19/month.
Riverside combines high‑quality recording, real‑time transcription, and a suite of AI editing tools—all in one platform. It also offers a mobile app and live‑streaming capabilities.
Key Features:
- High‑Quality Recording: 4K video and 48kHz audio per participant, recorded locally for consistent quality.
- Fast, Accurate Transcription: Supports 100+ languages.
- Intuitive Navigation: Speaker detection, chapter creation, and keyword search.
- Automatic Syncing: Cut and move sections while audio and video stay in sync.
- Captions & Subtitles: Generate from the transcript effortlessly.
- AI Clean‑Up: Remove silences and filler words automatically.
Adobe Premiere Pro
Pricing: $22.99/month (Creative Cloud).
Adobe’s text-based editing adds a powerful feature set for users already in the Premiere ecosystem. It offers frame‑by‑frame control, multi‑camera editing, and advanced effects.
Key Features:
- Comprehensive Editing Suite: Effects, color grading, multi‑camera, and more.
- Automated Transcription: Accurate transcription of any footage.
- Keyboard Shortcuts: Navigate and edit quickly using standard text shortcuts.
- Captions & Subtitles: Directly create from the transcript.
CapCut
Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $9.99/month.
CapCut offers a simple, free option for text-based editing. Its transcript editor allows you to delete or reorder clips by moving words.
Key Features:
- Instant Transcription: Supports 100+ languages, though accuracy varies with audio quality.
- Filler‑Word Removal: Click to eliminate ums, ahs, and pauses.
- Auto Captions: Generate customizable subtitles directly from the transcript.
Vimeo
Pricing: Standard plan at $28/month (text-based editing available).
Vimeo provides an all‑in‑one solution for recording and editing, though it’s limited to English transcription and lacks multi‑track editing.
Key Features:
- Automatic English Transcription.
- AI‑Driven Filler‑Word & Silence Removal.
- Mobile Editing: Available on iOS and Android.
FAQs About Text-Based Editing
How do I edit a video with text?
In a text‑based editor, select the portion of the transcript you want to trim, then delete it. The matching video frame disappears instantly. You can also cut, copy, and paste text to reorder sections.
Can a video be converted to text?
Yes. Riverside automatically generates a transcript after recording. The transcript can be used for captions, subtitles, or editing.
Is text-based editing faster?
Absolutely. Key benefits include:
- Faster Navigation: Search or highlight words instead of scrolling a timeline.
- Instant Edits: Deleting text removes video in seconds.
- Lower Skill Barrier: Editing a document is familiar to everyone.
- Streamlined Workflow: AI tools handle silences and filler words with a click.
How can I use text-based editing for free?
Both Riverside and CapCut offer free tiers that include text-based editing. Explore the options listed above to find the tool that best fits your needs.