diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/components/PlayerControls.tsx b/packages/studio/src/player/components/PlayerControls.tsx
index 5df14ed537..dd32c1342c 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/components/PlayerControls.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/components/PlayerControls.tsx
@@ -9,10 +9,8 @@ import { Tooltip } from "../../components/ui";
 import { ShortcutsPanel } from "./ShortcutsPanel";
 import { SpeedMenu } from "./SpeedMenu";
 import { useSeekBarDrag, resolveSeekPercent } from "./useSeekBarDrag";
-import { useState } from "react";
 
 export { resolveSeekPercent };
-type TimeDisplayMode = "time" | "frame";
 
 /* ── Icon sub-components ─────────────────────────────────────────── */
 
@@ -369,7 +367,8 @@ export const PlayerControls = memo(function PlayerControls({
   const outPoint = usePlayerStore((s) => s.outPoint);
   const setInPoint = usePlayerStore.getState().setInPoint;
   const setOutPoint = usePlayerStore.getState().setOutPoint;
-  const [timeDisplayMode, setTimeDisplayMode] = useState<TimeDisplayMode>("time");
+  const timeDisplayMode = usePlayerStore((s) => s.timeDisplayMode);
+  const setTimeDisplayMode = usePlayerStore.getState().setTimeDisplayMode;
 
   const progressFillRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const progressThumbRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
@@ -428,10 +427,11 @@ export const PlayerControls = memo(function PlayerControls({
 
   return (
     <div
+      // No own background/border: the transport blends into the preview
+      // panel's surface — buttons carry their own chrome.
       className="px-4 py-2 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-2 gap-y-1"
       aria-disabled={disabled || undefined}
       style={{
-        borderTop: "1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.04)",
         paddingBottom: "calc(0.5rem + env(safe-area-inset-bottom))",
       }}
     >
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ export const PlayerControls = memo(function PlayerControls({
       >
         <button
           type="button"
-          onClick={() => setTimeDisplayMode((m) => (m === "time" ? "frame" : "time"))}
+          onClick={() => setTimeDisplayMode(timeDisplayMode === "time" ? "frame" : "time")}
           disabled={disabled}
           className="font-mono text-[11px] tabular-nums flex-shrink-0 w-[118px] text-left transition-colors disabled:pointer-events-none hover:opacity-80"
           style={{ color: "#A1A1AA", cursor: "pointer" }}
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/components/TimelineClip.tsx b/packages/studio/src/player/components/TimelineClip.tsx
index 4fc3b8a4fe..79abf1c39b 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/components/TimelineClip.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/components/TimelineClip.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { memo, type CSSProperties, type ReactNode } from "react";
 import type { TimelineElement } from "../store/playerStore";
 import { defaultTimelineTheme, getClipHandleOpacity, type TimelineTheme } from "./timelineTheme";
 import type { TimelineEditCapabilities } from "./timelineEditing";
+import { isAudioTimelineElement } from "../../utils/timelineInspector";
 
 interface TimelineClipProps {
   el: TimelineElement;
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ export const TimelineClip = memo(function TimelineClip({
     isHovered ? "is-hovered" : "",
     isDragging ? "is-dragging" : "",
     showDefaultText ? "" : "is-micro",
+    isAudioTimelineElement(el) ? "is-audio" : "",
   ]
     .filter((className) => className.length > 0)
     .join(" ");
@@ -72,7 +74,8 @@ export const TimelineClip = memo(function TimelineClip({
     bottom: clipY,
     borderRadius: theme.clipRadius,
     zIndex: isDragging ? 20 : isSelected ? 10 : isHovered ? 5 : 1,
-    cursor: capabilities.canMove ? "grab" : "default",
+    // Regular cursor over clips (CapCut-style, user preference) — no grab hand.
+    cursor: "default",
     transform: isDragging ? "translateY(-1px)" : undefined,
   };
 
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/components/TimelineEmptyState.tsx b/packages/studio/src/player/components/TimelineEmptyState.tsx
index 64d0d33b30..2f0a8acf8e 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/components/TimelineEmptyState.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/components/TimelineEmptyState.tsx
@@ -37,7 +37,9 @@ export function TimelineEmptyState({
             style={{ position: "absolute", left: GUTTER + s * 14 }}
           >
             <span className="text-[9px] text-neutral-600 font-mono tabular-nums leading-none mb-0.5">
-              {`${Math.floor(s / 60)}:${(s % 60).toString().padStart(2, "0")}`}
+              {`${Math.floor(s / 60)
+                .toString()
+                .padStart(2, "0")}:${(s % 60).toString().padStart(2, "0")}`}
             </span>
             <div className="w-px h-[5px] bg-neutral-700/40" />
           </div>
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/components/TimelineRuler.tsx b/packages/studio/src/player/components/TimelineRuler.tsx
index 73416fd003..1eb8b51440 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/components/TimelineRuler.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/components/TimelineRuler.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import { memo } from "react";
 import type { TimelineTheme } from "./timelineTheme";
 import { GUTTER, RULER_H, formatTimelineTickLabel } from "./timelineLayout";
+import { usePlayerStore } from "../store/playerStore";
+import { secondsToFrame } from "../lib/time";
 import type { MusicBeatAnalysis } from "@hyperframes/core/beats";
 
 interface TimelineRulerProps {
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@ export const TimelineRuler = memo(function TimelineRuler({
   theme,
   beatAnalysis,
 }: TimelineRulerProps) {
+  const timeDisplayMode = usePlayerStore((s) => s.timeDisplayMode);
   const beatTimes = beatAnalysis?.beatTimes ?? [];
   const beatStrengths = beatAnalysis?.beatStrengths ?? [];
 
@@ -38,27 +41,13 @@ export const TimelineRuler = memo(function TimelineRuler({
 
   return (
     <>
-      {/* Grid lines (major ticks + beat lines) — behind the tracks (background).
-          Opaque track rows hide them; only the beat dots show on tracks. */}
+      {/* Background SVG — beat lines only; major-tick gridlines removed so only
+          the ruler's own small ticks mark intervals (no full-height lines). */}
       <svg
         className="absolute pointer-events-none"
         style={{ left: GUTTER, width: trackContentWidth, zIndex: 0 }}
         height={totalH}
       >
-        {major.map((t) => {
-          const x = t * pps;
-          return (
-            <line
-              key={`g-${t}`}
-              x1={x}
-              y1={RULER_H}
-              x2={x}
-              y2={totalH}
-              stroke={theme.tickMinor}
-              strokeWidth="1"
-            />
-          );
-        })}
         {showBeats &&
           beatTimes.map((t, i) => {
             const x = t * pps;
@@ -79,41 +68,58 @@ export const TimelineRuler = memo(function TimelineRuler({
           })}
       </svg>
 
-      {/* Ruler. The bar fills the full panel width (canvas is min 100% wide);
-          calc(100% - GUTTER) equals trackContentWidth when zoomed in and extends
-          past the content when zoomed out. Ticks stay at composition coordinates. */}
+      {/* Ruler — sticky so the timestamps stay visible while the tracks scroll
+          vertically. Opaque background (plus the gutter corner block) so clips
+          scrolling underneath don't bleed through; z-index sits above the track
+          rows and drag overlays but below the playhead (z 100). */}
       <div
-        className="relative overflow-hidden"
-        style={{
-          height: RULER_H,
-          marginLeft: GUTTER,
-          width: `calc(100% - ${GUTTER}px)`,
-          background: theme.gutterBackground,
-          borderBottom: `1px solid ${theme.rulerBorder}`,
-        }}
+        className="sticky top-0 flex"
+        style={{ height: RULER_H, width: GUTTER + trackContentWidth, zIndex: 70 }}
       >
-        {minor.map((t) => (
-          <div key={`m-${t}`} className="absolute bottom-0" style={{ left: t * pps }}>
-            <div className="w-px h-2" style={{ background: theme.tickMinor }} />
-          </div>
-        ))}
+        <div
+          className="sticky left-0 z-[12] flex-shrink-0"
+          style={{
+            width: GUTTER,
+            // Ruler corner uses the panel surface — same as the ruler strip itself.
+            background: theme.shellBackground,
+            borderRight: `1px solid ${theme.gutterBorder}`,
+          }}
+        />
+        <div
+          className="relative overflow-hidden"
+          style={{
+            height: RULER_H,
+            width: trackContentWidth,
+            // Ruler background = panel surface (#0A0A0B) — no bottom border,
+            // no tick lines (CapCut-style clean ruler, labels only).
+            background: theme.shellBackground,
+          }}
+        >
+          {minor.map((t) => (
+            <div key={`m-${t}`} className="absolute bottom-0" style={{ left: t * pps }}>
+              <div className="w-px h-2" style={{ background: theme.tickMinor }} />
+            </div>
+          ))}
 
-        {major.map((t) => (
-          <div key={`M-${t}`} className="absolute top-0" style={{ left: t * pps }}>
-            <span
-              className="absolute font-mono tabular-nums leading-none whitespace-nowrap"
-              style={{
-                color: theme.tickText,
-                left: 5,
-                top: 5,
-                fontSize: 10,
-              }}
-            >
-              {formatTimelineTickLabel(t, effectiveDuration, majorTickInterval)}
-            </span>
-            <div className="w-px" style={{ height: RULER_H, background: theme.tickMajor }} />
-          </div>
-        ))}
+          {major.map((t) => (
+            <div key={`M-${t}`} className="absolute top-0" style={{ left: t * pps }}>
+              <span
+                className="absolute font-mono tabular-nums leading-none whitespace-nowrap"
+                style={{
+                  color: theme.tickText,
+                  left: 5,
+                  top: 5,
+                  fontSize: 10,
+                }}
+              >
+                {timeDisplayMode === "frame"
+                  ? secondsToFrame(t)
+                  : formatTimelineTickLabel(t, effectiveDuration, majorTickInterval)}
+              </span>
+              <div className="w-px" style={{ height: RULER_H, background: theme.tickMajor }} />
+            </div>
+          ))}
+        </div>
       </div>
     </>
   );
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/components/timelineTheme.ts b/packages/studio/src/player/components/timelineTheme.ts
index 4ddfa352d4..b9d7f827bf 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/components/timelineTheme.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/components/timelineTheme.ts
@@ -43,10 +43,15 @@ const TRACK_STYLE: TimelineTrackStyle = {
 };
 
 export const defaultTimelineTheme: TimelineTheme = {
+  // Near-black card surfaces: the panels sit dark while the shell canvas
+  // between them is a step LIGHTER (#18181B), so the gaps read as visible
+  // seams around dark cards (CapCut-style).
   shellBackground: "#0A0A0B",
   shellBorder: "rgba(255,255,255,0.05)",
   rulerBorder: "rgba(255,255,255,0.16)",
-  rowBackground: "#0B0C0F",
+  // All track lanes use a single uniform color — one step lighter than the panel
+  // surface (#0A0A0B) so lanes are visibly distinct from the ruler/shell.
+  rowBackground: "#101014",
   rowBorder: "rgba(255,255,255,0.06)",
   gutterBackground: "#0E0F12",
   gutterBorder: "rgba(255,255,255,0.10)",
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/components/useTimelinePlayhead.ts b/packages/studio/src/player/components/useTimelinePlayhead.ts
index 7fd6786b07..c24203377a 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/components/useTimelinePlayhead.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/components/useTimelinePlayhead.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useRef, useCallback, useEffect, useLayoutEffect } from "react";
-import { liveTime, usePlayerStore, type ZoomMode } from "../store/playerStore";
+import { liveTime, type ZoomMode } from "../store/playerStore";
 import { useMountEffect } from "../../hooks/useMountEffect";
 import { getPinchTimelineZoomPercent } from "./timelineZoom";
 import {
@@ -117,21 +117,9 @@ export function useTimelinePlayhead({
   useMountEffect(() => {
     const unsub = liveTime.subscribe((t) => {
       if (!playheadRef.current || durationRef.current <= 0) return;
-      const playheadX = getTimelinePlayheadLeft(t, ppsRef.current);
-      playheadRef.current.style.left = `${playheadX}px`;
-      const scroll = scrollRef.current;
-      if (
-        scroll &&
-        !isDragging.current &&
-        usePlayerStore.getState().isPlaying &&
-        shouldAutoScrollTimeline(zoomModeRef.current, scroll.scrollWidth, scroll.clientWidth)
-      ) {
-        const edgeMargin = scroll.clientWidth * 0.12;
-        if (playheadX > scroll.scrollLeft + scroll.clientWidth - edgeMargin)
-          scroll.scrollLeft = playheadX - scroll.clientWidth * 0.15;
-        else if (playheadX < scroll.scrollLeft + GUTTER)
-          scroll.scrollLeft = Math.max(0, playheadX - GUTTER);
-      }
+      // Playback deliberately does NOT scroll the viewport to chase the playhead —
+      // the user's scroll position is theirs; the playhead may run off-screen.
+      playheadRef.current.style.left = `${getTimelinePlayheadLeft(t, ppsRef.current)}px`;
     });
     return unsub;
   });
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/styles/studio.css b/packages/studio/src/styles/studio.css
index 05bd0b90b1..99ebd0cd27 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/styles/studio.css
+++ b/packages/studio/src/styles/studio.css
@@ -141,6 +141,22 @@ body {
   opacity: 1;
 }
 
+/* Audio clips read as a distinct kind — a persistent violet tint vs the teal-
+   accented visual clips — so the audio zone at the bottom is visually separate
+   at a glance (the timeline's kinds: visual on top, audio below). */
+.timeline-clip.is-audio {
+  background-color: rgba(167, 139, 250, 0.16);
+  border-color: rgba(167, 139, 250, 0.4);
+}
+
+.timeline-clip.is-audio.is-hovered {
+  background-color: rgba(167, 139, 250, 0.24);
+}
+
+.timeline-clip.is-audio.is-dragging {
+  background-color: rgba(60, 52, 84, 0.96);
+}
+
 .timeline-clip.is-hovered {
   background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.09);
 }
@@ -158,9 +174,20 @@ body {
 }
 
 .timeline-clip.is-dragging {
+  /* Solid background so the picked-up clip reads clearly while dragging — audio
+     clips (waveform drawn on a separate layer) would otherwise look transparent. */
+  background-color: rgba(38, 42, 52, 0.96);
   box-shadow: 0 8px 24px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
 }
 
+/* Keep the white selection outline while dragging (a plain box-shadow alone gets
+   overridden by .is-dragging's drop shadow, so re-state both together). */
+.timeline-clip.is-selected.is-dragging {
+  box-shadow:
+    0 0 0 1.5px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.85),
+    0 8px 24px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
+}
+
 .timeline-clip[data-active].is-selected.is-dragging {
   box-shadow:
     0 0 0 1.5px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.85),