Module 2: the Timeline [⭐ Pro]

⭐ This article revolves around a Pro feature.

The Timeline is a Sequencer module that allows you to program a chain of actions at specific times. The playback of sequences can thus be automated.

The waveform of an audio file can be used to set up action cues on a sound.

Check out the Sequencer video tutorial below for a brief introduction to the Timeline and then the written instructions after it for more details.

(created with HeavyM 2.12)

Overview of the Timeline

Tracks

The Timeline is divided into multiple components. At the center, 3 tracks are stacked up and follow the same time line:

• at the top, the time track, where the playhead runs and that indicates the time.
• in the middle, the cue track, where cue labels appear. Cues are this little flags that allow you to program automatic actions that are triggered when the playhead reaches them. Their behavior is detailed later in this article.
• at the bottom, the audio track, where the audio waveform is displayed when an audio file is added on the Timeline.

This center part of the Timeline can be scrolled horizontally (using the scrollbar, a mousewheel click & drag, or by holding [Shift] while scrolling vertically) and is zoomable using a simple vertical scroll or the dedicated buttons (see next paragraph).

Playback controls

On the left, the playback controls allow you to start and make the playhead progress.

•  Play/Pause, the button has 3 states:
   
  
  • indicates that the timeline is neither playing, nor paused: the playhead doesn't progress and if it moved manually, cues that it passes are not activated. If the button is clicked, the Timeline starts playing.
  •  indicates that the timeline is playing: the playhead progresses along the time track and triggers cues it passes. If the button is clicked, the timeline pauses.
  •  indicates that the timeline is paused: the playhead doesn't move and the timeline holds. The master opacity of the output is set to the value set in the timeline settings (see below). If the button is clicked, the timeline resumes playback.
• Stop: stops the timeline completely, places the playhead at 00:00:00.000, resets the Play/Pause button and switches the rendering to Blackout (no sequence playing).
  

• Previous/next cue: places the playhead on the closest next cue before/after its current position. If the timeline was stopped, then the playhead is simply moved and stays put. Otherwise, playback continues and if the target cue is a "Play" action, it is triggered.
• Playhead position: indicates the position of the playhead on the time track. The playhead can be moved manually by giving it a new position in the input field, by sliding it on the time track, by clicking on a position on one of the tracks, or using the keyboard arrow keys (by 1ms).

Toolbar

On the right, the toolbar allows you to access tools and parameters of the timeline:

• Adjust height: allows you to expand/reduce the height of the Timeline. I can either have a minimal height or take up half of the total height of the Sequencer (or all of it if the Sequences module is hidden.)
• Settings:
  • Timeline length: determines the length of one timeline loop. When the playhead reaches the end, it starts back from the beginning.
    Note: if the timeline length is reduced, all cues that were in a part that got cut are placed at the end.
  • Override master opacity when paused: this setting determines the value that temporarily overrides the current value of the master opacity of the output when the timeline is paused.
  • Audio file and associated buttons: indicates the name of the imported audio file if there's one on the timeline and gives you the possibility to delete or replace it.
  • Scroll follows playhead: when this option is checked, the scroll automatically adapts in order to keep the playhead in the view.
• Add cue: allows you to add a cue at the position of the playhead by choosing an action from the dropdown menu. Actions are detailed in a later paragraph.
• Add audio: allows you to choose and audio file from your computer. The file will be added on the timeline with its waveform, from 00:00:00.000.
•  Zoom: allows you to zoom/unzoom on the timeline tracks. The minimum zoom level is reached when the whole length of the timeline fits in the view. It's also possible to zoom with the mouse wheel.
  
  

Using cues to program actions

What's a cue?

A cue is an object of the timeline used to send a signal that triggers an action related to sequence playback. It takes the form of a little flag positioned at a precise time on the timeline, activated when the playhead reaches its position during playback.

Adding a cue

There a multiple ways to add a cue, you can:

• Drag & drop a sequence directly on the cue track to create an associated "Play" cue at a precise timestamp.
  
• Use the associated button in the toolbar of the timeline and choose an action. The new cue will be placed at the current position of the playhead.
• Right-click on the cue track and choose an action to add a cue at a precise timestamp.
• Double-click on the cue track to add a "None" cue, that only serves as a marker at a precise timestamp.
• Copy/Cut/Paste an existing one by selecting it and using the right-click menu or common shortcuts. Copies will be placed at the current position of the playhead.

Selecting a cue

When a cue is added, it automatically becomes selected. Otherwise, you just have to click on a cue label to select it and click on an empty space of the cue or audio track to deselect it.

Note: only one cue can be selected at a time.

Editing a cue

When a cue is selected, its settings appear in the related panel on the right. Here's a list of a cue's parameters and its actions in particular:

• Name: the name of the cue, written on its tag.
• Color: the color of the cue in the timeline (7 possible)
• Timestamp: the position of the cue on the timeline. In the case where multiple cues hold the same exact position, only one will be activated.
• Action: 
  • Play: unfolds a dropdown that lists all existing sequences and a "Blackout" option. The "Play" action triggers the broadcast of the targeted sequence, as if it were clicked in the sequences module and became the played sequence. This action doesn't alter the progression of the playhead.
    
    Note: if the chosen option is "Blackout", the action is equivalent to clicking on an empty cell of the sequences module (no sequence playing).
  • Pause: stops the playhead at the cue position and puts the timeline on hold. The output of the currently playing sequence (or blackout) is not interrupted, but it's possible to give a temporary master opacity value to the output in the timeline settings.
    
  • Stop: stops the playhead and places it at 00:00:00.000. The timeline is stopped and the rendering is blacked out (no sequence playing).
    
  • Jump to: unfolds a dropdown that lists all existing cues and a "Start" option. The "Jump to" action makes the playhead jump to the position of the targeted cue, as if it were double-clicked. This action moves the playhead, which continues its run from this point (the "Start" option defines the 00:00:00.000 position).
    Note: if the targeted cue has a "Play" action, then it is triggered.
    
  • None: doesn't trigger any action and doesn't alter the progress of the playhead, it can only be used as a reference.
    

Note: if an object targeted by an action is deleted, then the associated cue(s) directly becomes inactive and serves as a marker until the object is recovered or the action changed manually.

Deleting a cue

To delete a cue, simply click on its label and use [Delete/Backspace] or Right-click -> Delete.