# What is text-based video editing?

> Text-based video editing lets you cut video by deleting words in its transcript. See how it works, a worked time-saving example and which tools offer it.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-08
- **Category**: Video editing
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-glossary/text-based-video-editing

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Text-based video editing lets you cut a video by deleting words from its transcript. The editor removes the matching video and audio for you.

## How it works

1. The tool turns the speech into a transcript, with a time for each word.
2. You delete, move or copy words in the text.
3. The tool cuts the video to match.

## A worked example

Say a 45-second take has 12 filler words ("um", "uh"), and each lasts 0.4 seconds.

12 x 0.4 = **4.8 seconds**

45 − 4.8 = **40.2 seconds** after you delete them from the transcript. You never touch the timeline.

## Tools that offer it

| Tool | How it works |
|---|---|
| Premiere Pro | Text-Based Editing, included with the subscription. Filter the transcript for Filler words or Pauses and delete them |
| Descript | Core feature: edit the transcript to edit the video |
| DaVinci Resolve | Listed as a Studio edition addition |
| Kapwing | "Trim with Transcript" |

Premiere Pro is now called Adobe Premiere. Adobe says captions should be made from the final edited sequence, because Text-Based Editing does not support the captions workflow. Facts are from each maker's pages (checked 3 Nov 2026).

Marxx's [AI video editor](/features/ai-video-editor) cuts by transcript. Its assistant can also remove silences and filler words. We make Marxx.

## Where it falls short

Check that the tool transcribes your language. Descript lists Hindi as beta, and its filler-word detection works on English transcripts only. Fix transcript mistakes first, or you may cut the wrong words.

To compare the two ways of working, see [text-based editing vs timeline editing](/compare/text-based-editing-vs-timeline-editing).

## FAQ

### Is text-based editing only for talking videos?

It works best on speech: UGC, interviews and voiceovers. For music and motion edits you still use the timeline.

### Can I edit by text in Hindi?

It depends on the tool. Check its language list before you build a workflow on it.

### What else can I do with the transcript?

Make captions, find a line fast and cut a rough version quickly. See [rough cuts](/glossary/rough-cut).

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