Guide
Find a line in hours of interviews.
Somebody said it, and you know it was good. Type the words you remember and go straight to the take.
In short: Add your interview folders to Sift and switch to Spoken search. Sift transcribes the speech on your computer and searches the words across every clip. Results show the quote in context with its timecode, and you can play just that moment before using it.
No editor needed. Sift works on its own as a desktop app on Mac and Windows: search, preview, build Selects and share footage by link without opening an editor. The editor panels are optional.
The problem
Ten interviews, six hours each, and the producer says “use the part where she talks about the flood.” You can scrub, or you can wait for a transcript, or you can search.
Three ways to do it
| Scrub and take notes | Send out for transcripts | Spoken search in Sift | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | Slow, every time | Wait for the turnaround | Search once indexing is done |
| Cost | Your time | Per minute of audio | Included in the license |
| Finds paraphrases | Only what you remember | Only if you read it all | Matches the words you type; try synonyms |
| Footage leaves your computer | No | Usually yes | No |
Premiere and Resolve can also search transcribed dialogue in imported media. Sift’s difference is that it covers every drive you add, not just the open project.
Tips for better results
- Search a few distinctive words rather than a whole sentence, or put an exact phrase in quotes.
- Try the way other people might have said it. Search finds words, not meaning.
- Search a name as spoken words to find where someone is mentioned.
- Review the surrounding context before choosing a match. Transcripts can mishear names and technical terms.
What it won’t do
Spoken search finds moments; it isn’t a transcript editor, and you can’t export a transcript as a document yet. It doesn’t search for sounds such as applause or music. Language is detected automatically and has been tested most on English.
Step by step.
- Add the interview folders
Point Sift at the drives or folders where the interviews live. It transcribes the speech as it indexes.
- Switch to Spoken
Choose Spoken in the search bar.
- Type the words
A few distinctive words, or a phrase in quotes.
- Play the moment
Hear just the matched audio from the result, then open the clip, save it to Selects or send it to your editor.
Questions
Does it work offline?
Searching works on your computer. Setup needs internet to download the search models, and Sift checks your license and for updates.
Is the audio uploaded?
No. Transcription runs on your computer.
Which languages work?
Sift detects the spoken language automatically. It has been tested most with English, so try a short sample of your language during the free trial.
Can it tell who is speaking?
No. It finds words, not speakers. Combine it with People to find clips of a named person.
Updated 2026-10-22
Keep reading.
Try it on your own footage.
Free for 3 days or 25 searches. No card. Then $99 a year for one computer, Mac or Windows. Everything in Sift, including the optional editor panels and one free link to share footage.