How do I edit podcast clips?
Unspool Studio's AI suggests clips that are designed to be export-ready — timing, captions, and length are all set automatically. When you want to adjust, the transcript-based editor gives you word-level control: drag boundary handles to change timing, click to preview, edit text inline for clean subtitles. No waveform, no timecodes — just the transcript.
How do AI-suggested clips work on the canvas?
After transcription, the AI analyzes the entire episode and suggests the most shareable moments — strong quotes, key insights, compelling exchanges, and emotional beats. Each suggestion appears as a clip card on the canvas with:
- Timing already set — Natural start and end points selected by the AI
- Captions generated — The transcript becomes your animated subtitles automatically
- Length optimized — Suggestions target the 30–90 second range that performs best on social media
- Content type labeled — Each clip is tagged as Quote, Insight, Story, Debate, or Funny
- Scores ranked — Hook strength and viral potential help you prioritize
What is the canvas workspace?
The canvas is your visual workspace where clips appear as interactive cards. Drag cards to reposition them, click to open in the editing panel, and preview with one-click audio playback. Use it to organize clips for a content calendar, compare segments side-by-side, or batch-create clips for a campaign. Every change saves automatically.
How do I adjust clip timing?
Click on a clip card to open it in the right panel. The transcript shows your clip's text with boundary handles — thin vertical grippers at the start and end of the clip:
- Drag the start handle left or right to change where the clip begins
- Drag the end handle to change where the clip ends
- Handles snap to word boundaries for precise timing — no need to think in timecodes
- Click any word in the transcript to play from that point and preview how the clip sounds
- Press spacebar to play/pause at any time
The clip updates in real-time as you drag. When you're happy with the boundaries, the change saves automatically.
How do I edit transcript text?
Click into any word in the transcript to edit it. This is useful for:
- Fixing transcription errors (proper nouns, technical terms)
- Cleaning up filler words for cleaner subtitles
- Adjusting punctuation and formatting
Note: Text edits update the subtitle overlay in video exports — the audio stays unchanged. Edits persist on the clip and sync across the canvas and Agent views.
How do I search within a transcript?
Use the search bar in the panel header (or press Cmd+K) to find specific words or topics. Search highlights matches in the transcript with navigation arrows to jump between results — useful for finding the exact moment you want to clip.
How do I batch-create content from one episode?
Pick multiple AI-suggested clips from a single episode and export each in the aspect ratio that fits its platform — 9:16 for TikTok/Reels, 16:9 for YouTube, 1:1 for X. Compare clips side-by-side on the canvas, group by theme, and schedule across platforms. You can also combine multiple clips into a single Reel (concatenated video) for longer highlight compilations.
Working with multiple clips on the canvas
You can create as many clips as you want on a single canvas:
- Content campaigns — Extract 5–10 clips from one episode for a full week of social posts
- Side-by-side comparison — Compare different segments to pick the strongest one
- Reel creation — Select multiple clip cards and press Enter to create a concatenated reel
Canvas management
- Rename — Click the canvas title in the breadcrumb navigation at the top to rename it
- Autosave — Changes save automatically as you work
- Delete — Remove a canvas from the overflow menu (three dots icon)
- Keyboard shortcuts — Press
?to see all available shortcuts
What makes a great podcast clip?
Great clips lead with a strong hook in the first 3 seconds, convey one clear idea, have no dead air, and stand alone without extra context. Length depends on the moment — clips can be as short as 10 seconds. The AI selects clips using all these criteria. When creating clips manually, select transcript segments that hit these same marks.
How do I make podcast clips for social media?
Transcribe the episode, pick from AI-suggested clips (or select your own segments), and export in the correct aspect ratio for each platform. The AI handles finding the best moments, generating captions, and identifying speakers. See Export Formats for platform-specific guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to edit AI-suggested clips before exporting?
Most AI-suggested clips are export-ready with optimized timing, generated subtitles, and social-friendly length. You have full control to fine-tune if you want — drag boundary handles, edit text, change export settings — but many users export suggestions directly.
How many clips can I create from one episode?
As many as you need. The AI typically suggests 3–5 clips per episode, and you can create additional clips by selecting transcript segments manually. Batch creators commonly extract 5–10 clips per episode for a full week of social content.
Can I reorder or organize clips on the canvas?
Yes. Drag clip cards anywhere on the canvas to arrange them however you like — by posting schedule, theme, topic, or platform. The canvas is a freeform workspace with no fixed grid.
What's the fastest way to create a week of social content from one episode?
Transcribe, review the AI-suggested clips, and export each in the right aspect ratio for its platform. With 5 suggestions per episode, you can have a week's worth of content ready in 10–15 minutes. Use the Reel export mode to combine clips into longer compilations.
What keyboard shortcuts are available?
Press ? on any canvas to see all shortcuts. Key ones: spacebar to play/pause, Cmd+K to search, Cmd+Z to undo, Enter to create a clip from selection or reel from selected clips, and Backspace to delete selected items.
Related: Create Your First Clip | Export Formats