To move layers (video and audio tracks) up or down in Premiere Pro, you can easily adjust their stacking order in the Timeline panel.
Here's how:
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Select the Selection Tool: Ensure the "Selection Tool" is active. You can activate it by pressing V on your keyboard. This is the standard arrow cursor.
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Select the Clip: In the Timeline panel, click on the clip (the layer) that you want to move. This will highlight the clip.
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Drag and Drop: Click and hold the selected clip, then drag it vertically to the desired track. Release the mouse button to drop the clip into the new track. The clip will now be on a different layer.
Important Considerations:
- Video Track Order: Video tracks are stacked from top to bottom. The top track is visible over the tracks below it. Moving a video clip to a higher track makes it appear in front of the clips on lower tracks.
- Audio Track Order: The audio tracks are mixed together, and the order typically doesn't affect the final output unless you have specific routing or effects applied to individual tracks. However, moving audio clips allows you to better organize your audio within the timeline.
- Locking Tracks: Make sure the track you are trying to move a clip to is not locked. A locked track will have a lock icon visible in the track header. You can click the lock icon to unlock it.
- Snapping: Premiere Pro's snapping feature (enabled/disabled via the "S" key) can make it easier to align clips when moving them.
By using the Selection tool and dragging the desired clip up or down within the timeline, you can efficiently manage the layering and arrangement of your video and audio elements in Premiere Pro.
