Use the Split button to divide your timeline into cleaner, editable chunks. You can split scenes, trim layers, or isolate sections of audio or video for fine-tuned editing.

Where to find the Split button

The Split button appears at the top center of the timeline, to the right of the Record button. It's visible in both collapsed and expanded timeline views.

How Split works

The behavior of the Split button depends on your current selection in the timeline:

• If there's no specific layer selected: Splits the current scene at the playhead. This affects all layers and creates a new scene.
• If a specific layer is selected: Splits only that layer within its current scene. Hold Shift or use Shift + S to split a media layer into separate clips.

Why split a media layer?

Splitting a layer into clips lets you fine-tune adjustments to just one clip within the layer — like cutting out silence, applying effects to a specific section, or adjusting volume at one moment without changing the entire layer.

Advanced timeline tools

To access the Selector, Range, Hand, and Slip tools, you'll need to first toggle on Advanced timeline tools from the Timeline Settings menu. Once enabled, they’ll appear alongside Split at the top of your timeline. Learn more about timeline tools.

When will this feature be available?

The Split button is currently available as a Labs feature. You can opt in by enabling it from your Labs settings in Descript. Once fully rolled out, it will be turned on for all users by default.