I have a long clear coat scratch and i can't feel it but can definitely see it. Can i just buff it out with compound or do i need to sand it down?

 

Always try buffing first.

If that fails, only then try wetsanding with a very high grit and follow with more buffing.

 

As already mentioned, the golden rule of defect removal is *always use the least aggressive method first*.

Start by simply machine polishing the area, then inspect your results. Proceed with aggressiveness as needed. Keep in mind you can take baby steps in between polishes and compounds by simply switching up pad types, amount of pressure, number of passes, etc.

OEM paint is exceptionally thin. I would not recommend sanding unless you fully understand the potential consequences.