Use the Sequence Editor when you need to adjust a single track without affecting the others—like fixing timing or misalignment on one microphone, applying effects to one camera angle, or removing background noise from one speaker. Edits made here apply everywhere the sequence appears in your project, so use it sparingly.
For most editing, work directly from your composition's script or timeline. When you edit from the script, all tracks in your sequence stay aligned.
This article covers:
- How to open the Sequence Editor
- How to adjust individual tracks
- Nudge clips for precise sync adjustment
- How to add tracks to a sequence
- How to include or exclude tracks from the script
New to sequences?
If you're not familiar with how sequences work in Descript, start with our Sequence overview to learn what they are and how they’re used in your composition.
How to open the Sequence Editor
There are two entry points to the Sequence Editor:
-
From the timeline or scene editor: right-click the media and select Edit sequence.
-
From the Project panel: select a sequence and click Edit sequence.
To close the Sequence Editor, click Done in the top-right corner or press Esc.
Adjust individual tracks
Once you've opened the Sequence Editor, you can control track visibility, edit clips and timing, and apply effects to individual tracks.
Note: Sequence edits apply across your project
Edits made in the Sequence Editor apply everywhere the sequence appears in your project. If you've used the same sequence in multiple compositions, changes will update in all of them.
Mute or solo a track
Use the right sidebar to mute or solo individual tracks using the speaker and S icons.
Edit clips and timing
Trim, split, and rearrange clips within each track like you would in the main timeline. Use Blade, Slip, and Range tools to adjust timing and positioning. Learn more about timeline tools.
Nudge clips for precise sync adjustment
For frame-level precision when syncing audio to video, use arrow keys to nudge selected clips in the Sequence Editor. If the delay is consistent throughout a single file, use A/V sync offset instead.
- Open the Sequence Editor and select the clip you want to adjust.
- Press the left or right arrow key to move the clip by one frame.
Use modifier keys for different increments:
| Shortcut (Mac / Windows) | Increment |
|---|---|
| Arrow keys | 1 frame |
Cmd / Ctrl + Arrow |
½ frame |
Shift + Arrow |
5 frames |
Option / Alt + Arrow |
1 second |
Apply effects and adjustments:
From the properties panel in the Sequence Editor, you can apply effects and adjustments to a single track—just like you would in your main composition.
This includes:
- Pan and volume controls
- Volume automation
- Effects (Studio Sound, EQ, etc.)
- Auto-leveling
When you apply these from within the Sequence Editor, they only affect the selected track. Learn more about audio and video effects.
Add tracks to a sequence
Descript supports up to 14 tracks per sequence. To add a new track:
- Open the Sequence Editor.
- Click Add media in the top-right corner.
- Select a file from your library or upload a new one.
- Click Add new track or drag the file into the timeline.
Include or exclude tracks from the script
If a sequence contains multiple audio files of the same recording—or mic bleed across multiple tracks—you may see duplicate transcriptions in your combined script. This can cause issues with script accuracy and speaker labels.
To fix this, choose which tracks are included in the combined script:
- Open the Sequence Editor.
- Select the track you want to include or exclude.
- Click the ··· icon in the top-right corner.
- Select Remove from script or Include in script.