Descript includes visual and audio effects you can apply to scenes, sequences, and layers. Effects are managed in the Properties panel and apply at the scene or layer level depending on your selection. Use the Effects section to apply, adjust, or remove them. See the full list of available effects.
This article covers how to
- Add an effect to a scene
- Add an effect to a layer
- Apply effects to tracks in a sequence
- Adjust scene or layer effects
- Remove or disable an effect
The panel is context-aware and updates based on what you have selected—showing either scene-level or layer-level options. If the effect options you expect aren’t visible, check which item is selected in the Layer list. Learn more about how the Properties panel works.
Add an effect to a scene
- Select the scene you want to apply the effect to:
- If nothing is selected, the Properties panel defaults to the scene where your playhead is located.
- You can also manually select a scene by clicking the thumbnail in the script panel or selecting a scene from the timeline.
- Open the Properties panel, then scroll to the Effects section.
- Click the + button, then choose the effect you'd like to apply. It will appear with its default settings.
Add an effect to a layer
- Select the layer in the scene editor or from the Layer list in the Properties panel.
- With the layer selected, scroll to the Effects section and click the + button.
- Choose a Visual effect or Audio effect, depending on the layer type. The effect will appear with default settings.
Apply effects to tracks in a sequence
In multitrack sequences, effects are applied the same way—using the Properties panel in the Sequence Editor.
- Open your sequence in the Sequence Editor.
- Select a track, then click the + button in the Audio Effects section.
- Adjust effect settings just like you would in the main editor.
Visual effects in a sequence can also be added and adjusted from the Properties panel, just like in the main editor.
Adjust scene or layer effects
Once an effect is added, it appears in the Effects section of the Properties panel when a scene or layer is selected.
- Click the sliders icon to expand the effect controls (only shown for adjustable effects).
- Drag a slider or enter a specific value to adjust settings.
- Some effects include preset configurations. Click the Effect settings menu (•••), then use the preset dropdown to apply a default look.
Select a preset from the Effect settings menu
Remove or disable an effect
Effects can be toggled off or removed entirely from a scene or layer.
- To temporarily disable an effect, toggle the switch next to the effect name in the Effects section. This preserves your settings but hides the effect.
- To remove the effect:
- Click the Effect settings menu (•••) next to the effect name.
- Select Remove effect.