Timeline Editor

The Device Timeline Editor provides a professional arrangement view where devices are managed as horizontal tracks with visual clips. It supports audio trimming, time-stretching, MIDI sequencing, and automation splines.

1. System Overview & Device Tracks

The timeline automatically generates tracks for active project devices. Each track displays the device type prefix, ID, and name (or audio clip name).

Supported Device Types

2. Navigation & Basic Controls

Timeline Navigation

Global Shortcuts

• Spacebar: Play / Stop playback.

• Ctrl/Cmd + L: Toggle global looping on/off.

• Delete / Backspace: Delete selected clips (Hold while clicking).

3. Clip & Track Management

Selection & Movement

Track Context Menu (Right-Click)

• Select Device: Highlights the object in the 3D world.

• Open MIDI Editor: Only available if the device contains MIDI data.

• Edit Sampler/Emitter: Opens the specific device settings panel.

• Play/Stop Device: Triggers or kills playback for that specific track.

• Delete Track: Removes the track from the timeline.

4. Clip Editing & Time-Stretching

Trimming (Edge Handles)

Every clip has left and right handles for resizing:

1. Left Edge (Trim Start): Changes the starting offset. For audio, this moves the start point within the file. For MIDI, it offsets the note start.

2. Right Edge (Trim End): Changes the duration. Audio cannot exceed the original file length; MIDI has no length limit.

3. Minimum Length: All clips have a hard minimum length of 1/16th beat.

Pitch & Time-Stretching (Audio Only)

Available for Sampler [S#] tracks only. Note: The edge handle turns Yellow/Orange when in stretch mode.

[!NOTE]

Pitch Constraints: Pitch ranges from 0.25 (4x slower/longer) to 4.0 (4x faster/shorter).

5. Automation & Spline Tracks

Devices with Automator components in Spline Mode generate a sub-track directly below the parent, labeled ↳ [Parent Name].

1. Create Node: Double-Click empty space to add a node. If clicked between existing nodes, its 3D position is interpolated.

2. Move Node: Drag the spline clip to change its execution beat.

3. 3D Interaction: Clicking a spline clip highlights the corresponding node in the 3D workspace.

4. Insertion Logic: Nodes are automatically placed at the beginning, end, or middle of the sequence based on the beat-time clicked.

6. Playback & Grid Settings

Grid & Snapping

Use the header dropdowns to adjust the timeline resolution.

Interface Features

• Loop Bar: Located at the top. Drag edges to resize or the center to move the loop. Snaps to the current subdivision.

• Auto-Follow: When enabled, the view scrolls automatically to keep the playhead visible.

• Undo/Redo Support: Tracks all clip actions, including creation, deletion, dragging, resizing, and pitch stretching.

7. Technical Notes & Performance

• Waveforms: Audio waveforms are cached per clip to ensure smooth performance.

• Visibility: Devices with ID = 0 or Inactive/Cut devices are automatically hidden from the timeline.

• MIDI vs Audio: Audio clips show waveforms and support pitch stretching. MIDI clips show note data and open the MIDI Editor on double-click.

• Persistence: All clip positions, trim offsets, and pitch values are saved and restored upon project load.

Key Features

Sequencer Controls

Keyboard shortcut: Spacebar

Recording Spatial Automation

1. Arm Record.

2. Press Play.

3. Grab any device and move it in the scene—the path is recorded frame-by-frame (the device’s tail turns red).

4. Release the device; it now plays back the recorded movement on every loop.

5. Grab and move again to overwrite the existing path.

6. Disengage Record to prevent further changes.

Quick-Start Tutorial

1. Add devices Create a few Samplers and/or Tickers (ensure a Ticker’s Sequenced switch is on).

2. Set tempo & length Adjust BPM and Sequence Length to taste.

3. Position triggers Click in each lane; Ctrl-click to grid-snap. Change Subdivision if you need finer resolution.

4. Play Press Play (or P) to hear the loop.

5. Automate movement Enable Record, move devices, then release. Their motion now repeats in perfect sync.

Tips & Best Practices

• Keep Automate off while arranging to avoid unexpected motion.

• Use high subdivisions (e.g., 1/16 or 1/32) for intricate rhythmic patterns.

• Short loops (1–2 bars) are great for testing ideas; extend later for longer phrases.

• Spatial automation is tempo-independent—record at any speed, then change BPM freely.

The Sequencer is the backbone of Audiocube’s performance workflow—master it, and complex, evolving soundscapes become effortless.