u/Iggy_1994

Hi everyone,

I’m working through the Fairlight Audio Guide in DaVinci Resolve and I’m trying to understand the practical difference between Show Audio Track Layers and Timeline Layered Audio Editing.

I understand that Show Audio Track Layers lets me visually see the stacked audio layers inside a track.

What I’m confused about is Timeline > Audio > Layered Audio Editing.

In the tutorial, we are working with layered music clips on the same track and creating a crossfade between a top clip and a lower clip. I expected that maybe layered audio editing had to be enabled for this to work.

But when I tested it, even with Timeline Layered Audio Editing turned off, and with Show Audio Track Layers turned on, I was still able to create the same mirrored crossfade between the upper and lower clips.

So my question is:

What exactly does Timeline Layered Audio Editing change in practical terms?

Does it affect how clips behave when they are moved/overlapped/recorded into layers, rather than whether existing layered clips can be shown or crossfaded?

In other words, what is the real differentiating factor between:

1. Showing audio track layers
2. Having Timeline Layered Audio Editing enabled
3. Creating crossfades between clips in those layers

I’m trying to build the correct mental model, because right now it seems like crossfades between layers can still work even when Timeline Layered Audio Editing is disabled.

Thanks.

I’m working on an After Effects video shot with a vinyl player. When the needle drops and the music starts, I want the background/books area to transform into a space/galaxy insert video.

My layer setup is roughly:

• Layer 1: isolated books/background area
• Layer 2: isolated vinyl player
• Layer 3: space footage underneath

When I turn off Layer 1, the space footage shows through while the player stays visible. What I want now is for the books/background layer to flicker on and off a few times before fully disappearing — almost like an old TV signal glitching before a new program comes on.

Conceptually, I want it to feel like: the needle drops, music starts, the normal books background glitches a few times, then it “transfers” into space.

I’m thinking of doing the basic flicker with opacity keyframes on the isolated books layer, but I’m curious what effects or workflow would help sell the quick TV/glitch/flash transition. For example: exposure flashes, glow, turbulent displacement, RGB split/chromatic aberration, blur, blocky distortion, light streaks, etc.

What effects or approach would you suggest to make this feel like a quick glitchy transition into another world, without making it look too overdone?

Layer 1

Layer 2

Layer 3