Spext Docs: “Like Google Docs, but for podcast editing”
Around a year back, we asked 100+ podcast editors, “If you had a magic wand, what would you build for your podcast editing workflow? The answer was astonishingly clear — “A transcript that plays audio in sync. And our team can collaborate on it.”
While recording a conversation is easy, editors have to spend hours looking at waveforms to edit every “umm”, every filler word and awkward silence. More importantly, the conversation has to restructured as an engaging story which means cutting the conversation in sections, arranging them in a narrative structure, taking feedback from “fresh ears” and finally overlaying sound effects/ music.
This early feedback before publishing can improve the quality of the episode. In many ways, audio storytelling process is similar to writing a blog. But imagine doing it in a software like this:
The blue waveforms are the recording. Aren’t words better than waveforms to structure the story? No wonder, users wanted a “A transcript that plays audio in sync.”
With developments in Web Audio API, we knew we could build a powerful browser based podcast editor. That is exactly what Spext 3.0 was — you could edit the “umms” and awkward silences with the autogenerated transcript, not the waveforms.
So, with Spext 3.0, we could finally check the box
✅ A transcript that plays audio in sync.
The next challenge was the “Our team can collaborate on it” bit. Most software today is online, collaborative & real time. But podcast editing software has not made that jump because the browser has not been powerful enough to handle large audio files. Until today.
INTRODUCING SPEXT 4.0
With Spext Docs, we are bringing podcast editing to the web. Spext 4.0 is now the world’s first browser based podcast editor that supports real time collaboration & multiuser editing support.
To start collaborating,
1. Just share the “Spext Doc” with your team/ listeners
2. When your team-mates join, you will see their location in the Spext Doc and what they are doing in real-time.
3. Not only can they comment but they can also edit the document with you in real time. All changes are reflected instantly across all users.
4. A short video shows these collaboration features in detail
We have been working hard for almost 2 years, but we can now happily say,
✅ A transcript that plays audio in sync.
✅ Team can collaborate on it.
The entire experience is so seamless that it feels like magic. We know it will reduce the barriers to audio creation and many stories that were untold, will find their way to eager ears around the world. Can’t wait to hear what you create.
