How do I export podcast clips?
Unspool Studio exports clips as video with animated AI-generated subtitles — optimized for every major social platform. Choose your aspect ratio, pick a color palette and font, and download a ready-to-post MP4 in seconds. You can also export transcripts in five formats for show notes, blog posts, and accessibility. No manual conversion or editing required.
What export formats does Unspool Studio support?
Unspool Studio supports two main export types: video clips with animated subtitles and transcript text. Video is the primary format for social media distribution. Transcript export gives you the text for repurposing across written channels.
Video clip with animated subtitles
Export an MP4 video that combines the audio with animated transcript text overlaid as captions. The AI-generated transcript becomes your subtitles automatically — no manual captioning required. The Gravitas template provides a polished look with podcast artwork, episode info, and karaoke-style word highlighting.
This format is built for:
- Instagram Reels and TikTok — short-form vertical video with captions
- YouTube Shorts — bite-sized podcast content
- LinkedIn and X — professional and square formats for feeds
- Accessibility — viewers can read along with the audio
Why this matters: On most platforms, the majority of video is watched without sound. AI-generated subtitles mean your clips are accessible by default, without hours of manual captioning.
Transcript text
Export the transcript of your clip or full episode in five formats:
- Plain text (.txt) — Clean text for blog posts, emails, and show notes
- Markdown (.md) — Formatted text for CMS platforms and documentation
- HTML (.html) — Web-ready formatted text
- SRT (.srt) — Industry-standard subtitle format for video platforms
- WebVTT (.vtt) — Web subtitle format for HTML5 video players
Transcript exports include options to toggle speaker labels (on by default) and timestamps (off by default; automatic for SRT/VTT).
What export settings can I customize?
Aspect ratio
Choose based on your target platform:
- 9:16 (vertical) — Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Snapchat
- 16:9 (landscape) — YouTube, LinkedIn, website embeds
- 1:1 (square) — X/Twitter, Facebook, email newsletters
Vertical performs best for mobile-first audiences. Landscape suits professional and longer-form content. Square is the safest all-purpose choice.
Color palette
16 color palettes — 8 dark mode and 8 light mode — control the background, caption text, and active word highlight color. Dark options include Midnight, Peach, Ocean, Ember, Sage, Violet, Gold, and Slate. Light options include Paper, Cream, Sky, Rose, Mint, Lavender, Sand, and Fog.
Caption font
5 font presets for subtitle styling:
- Sans-serif: Inter, DM Sans
- Serif: Playfair Display (default), Instrument Serif, Georgia
Each font previews in its own typeface in the selector so you can see exactly how it looks before choosing.
Export mode
- Individual clips — Export one clip at a time as a standalone video
- Reel (concatenated) — Combine multiple clips from your canvas into a single continuous video — perfect for highlight compilations or longer-form content
What's the best way to maximize engagement?
Use 9:16 vertical for mobile platforms and 16:9 for YouTube and LinkedIn. The AI suggests clips pre-selected for strong hooks and complete thoughts — these outperform manually created clips on social. Clips can be as short as 10 seconds or longer if the moment calls for it; under 60 seconds tends to work well across most platforms. Subtitles are included automatically in all video exports, which is critical since most viewers watch without sound.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can I export a podcast clip?
Video export takes seconds. The AI has already transcribed the audio and generated subtitles before export begins, so there's minimal processing between selecting your settings and downloading the MP4.
Do I need to add captions manually?
No. The Gravitas template includes animated captions by default using your AI-generated transcript. Words highlight in real-time as they're spoken (karaoke-style). You can edit transcript text before exporting if you spot errors, but most clips are ready to export unchanged.
Can I export the same clip in multiple formats?
Yes. Export the same clip as video in different aspect ratios (9:16, 16:9, 1:1) and download the transcript in any of the five text formats — all from the same clip on your canvas. This makes it easy to repurpose one moment across multiple platforms.
What's the best export format for Instagram Reels and TikTok?
Use video export with 9:16 (vertical) aspect ratio. Captions are included automatically. Most viewers watch without sound, so the animated subtitles are essential for engagement.
Can I combine multiple clips into one video?
Yes. Use the Reel export mode to concatenate multiple clips from your canvas into a single continuous MP4. Select the clips you want to include and export them as one video — great for episode highlight reels or content compilations.
What transcript formats are available?
Five formats: plain text (.txt), Markdown (.md), HTML (.html), SRT subtitles (.srt), and WebVTT (.vtt). You can include or exclude speaker labels and timestamps depending on your use case.
Related: Create Your First Clip | Editing Clips