diff --git a/Controls/AudioDock.xaml b/Controls/AudioDock.xaml
index 561d92b..98011b8 100644
--- a/Controls/AudioDock.xaml
+++ b/Controls/AudioDock.xaml
@@ -7,12 +7,14 @@
             BorderBrush="{StaticResource Brush.Outline}" BorderThickness="0,1,0,0">
         <Grid>
             <Grid.RowDefinitions>
-                <RowDefinition Height="*"/>
+                <!-- Master FIRST: during a live session attention is on the preview, so the
+                     master strip sits against it and the bays hang below (creator, 2026-10-30). -->
                 <RowDefinition Height="36"/>
+                <RowDefinition Height="*"/>
             </Grid.RowDefinitions>
 
             <!-- Four bays: MIC | GAME | TRAX | SYNC. Filled in by the bay units. -->
-            <Grid x:Name="Bays" Grid.Row="0" Margin="8,6,8,0">
+            <Grid x:Name="Bays" Grid.Row="1" Margin="8,4,8,6">
                 <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
                     <ColumnDefinition Width="*"/>
                     <ColumnDefinition Width="*"/>
@@ -47,7 +49,7 @@
             </Grid>
 
             <!-- Master strip: always visible, even collapsed — it is the telemetry line. -->
-            <Border x:Name="MasterStrip" Grid.Row="1" Background="{StaticResource Brush.SurfaceContainerLowest}" Padding="12,0">
+            <Border x:Name="MasterStrip" Grid.Row="0" Background="{StaticResource Brush.SurfaceContainerLowest}" Padding="12,0">
                 <DockPanel VerticalAlignment="Center">
                     <TextBlock DockPanel.Dock="Left" Text="MASTER" FontSize="10" FontWeight="SemiBold"
                                Foreground="{StaticResource Brush.OnSurfaceVariant}" VerticalAlignment="Center"/>