Background:

I'm a video editor transitioning from Premiere Pro to Descript. I produce both podcast-style interviews and short-form scripted theatrical content, both requiring multicam editing with 3+ camera angles plus separate audio tracks.

Current Problem:

When using create_sequence to combine multiple synced camera files, the automatic sync often fails. When this happens, there are no manual tools to correct the sync, making multicam workflows impossible without pre-syncing in external NLEs.

Specific Issues:

No Manual Sync Adjustment

When automatic sync fails, there's no way to manually adjust individual track offsets

Cannot drag tracks in timeline to align them (unlike Premiere Pro)

No numeric offset input fields

No Sync Refinement Tools

Cannot see waveform comparison between tracks

No visual feedback on sync confidence/quality

No "re-analyze sync" button to retry with different parameters

Sequence Workflow Limitations

Individual tracks within a sequence aren't accessible for timing adjustments

Cannot temporarily view/solo individual angles for sync verification

Playback triggers all tracks simultaneously, making manual sync impossible

Missing Sync Point Detection

Should detect clapperboard audio spikes automatically

Should allow manual marking of sync points (like Premiere's "Mark Clip" feature)

Requested Features:

Priority 1: Manual Sync Controls

Ability to adjust individual track start offsets (in frames or seconds)

Visual waveform overlay for comparing audio tracks

Numeric input fields for precise offset adjustment

Ability to drag tracks horizontally in timeline for visual alignment

Priority 2: Improved Automatic Sync

Sync confidence indicator (percentage or quality score)

Option to retry sync with different sensitivity settings

Automatic detection of clapperboard/slate audio spikes

Manual sync point marking (user clicks sync frame on each clip)

Priority 3: Better Sequence Workflow

Ability to expand/collapse sequence to see individual tracks

Solo/mute individual tracks within sequence for verification

Scrub playback without auto-playing all tracks

Visual indicators showing which tracks are in/out of sync

Use Cases This Would Enable:

Scripted Content: Multi-camera theatrical scenes with separate audio recorder (common in indie film production)

Podcast Interviews: Multiple camera angles with dedicated audio interface

Live Events: Concert footage, panel discussions, conferences with multiple cameras

Educational Content: Instructor + screen capture + close-up camera

Why This Matters:

Descript's text-based editing is revolutionary, but multicam sync is a fundamental video editing capability. Every professional NLE (Premiere, Resolve, Final Cut, even free tools like Resolve) has robust multicam sync tools.

Without these features, Descript cannot be used for professional multicam workflows, forcing users to:

Pre-sync in external NLEs (defeating Descript's "all-in-one" value proposition)

Abandon Descript for multicam projects entirely

Adding these features would make Descript viable for a much broader range of professional video production, not just podcast editing.

Technical Feasibility:

These features already exist in other NLEs and are technically straightforward:

Waveform analysis algorithms are mature technology

Manual offset adjustment is basic timeline functionality

Visual waveform comparison is standard in audio editing tools

Business Impact:

This would unlock Descript for:

Film/video production professionals

Corporate video teams

Educational content creators

Live event videographers

Anyone shooting multicam content