Understanding the Timeline
A timeline is a horizontal time-based area divided into layers. Each layer holds cues that define what plays, when it plays, and how it behaves. Media cues carry images, video, audio, and compositions; control cues play, pause, and stop timelines; output cues send messages to external systems; variable cues drive show variables; marker cues annotate moments for navigation and show-calling. Everything that plays during a show originates from cues on timelines.
A show contains multiple timelines, each handling a different part of the production. The Timelines panel lists all timelines. Their order in the panel sets the stacking priority when multiple timelines contribute content to the same display area.
The Timeline Window
Opening a timeline (by double-clicking it in the Timelines panel) reveals the Timeline window — the primary editing interface for that timeline's content. The window is divided into several functional areas:
Time Ruler. The horizontal ruler across the top of the cue area shows the time scale in HH:MM:SS.mmm format. Click anywhere on the ruler to jump the playhead to that position. The ruler's notch density adjusts automatically based on the current zoom level, always providing readable time references regardless of how far you are zoomed in or out.
Playhead. The cursor on the time ruler marks the current playback position. During playback the playhead advances in real time. When stopped, it shows the last position. Drag the playhead to scrub through the timeline. The playhead position also appears numerically in the top bar.
The playhead line style shows the Click Jumps to Time toggle state. A solid line means Click Jumps to Time is on: selecting a cue jumps the playhead to the cue's start. A dotted line means it is off: selecting a cue does not move the playhead. Toggle it with Ctrl+T.
Layer Headers. The left panel shows one row for each layer in the timeline. Layer headers display the layer name (or an auto-generated name like "Layer 1" if unnamed), key-and-fill indicators when enabled, and highlight the currently active layer. Click a layer header to make it the active layer. See Working with Layers for the full layer editing guide.
Cue Area. The main body of the window shows cues as horizontal bars on their layers. Each cue's horizontal position and width represent its start time and duration. Drag cues to reposition them in time or across layers. Drag their edges to resize them. The cue area supports rubber-band selection, Ctrl+click to toggle individual cues, and Shift+click to extend the selection.
Transport Controls. The bottom-left corner of the Timeline window contains the transport controls: Play, Pause, and Stop buttons that control the timeline's playback state. These correspond to the three playback states described in the Playback section below.
Jump Button. A button in the top bar jumps the view back to the playhead when it is scrolled off-screen, or jumps the playhead to the last starting position when it is already visible.
Blind Edit Button. The slashed-eye button in the top bar enters blind edit mode. See Blind Edit Mode.
Zoom Controls. The bottom bar has zoom in, zoom out, and zoom-to-fit buttons. Press Numpad + to zoom in and Numpad − to zoom out. Press Ctrl+0 to zoom to fit. The zoom level is remembered per timeline.
Minimap. A compact overview strip at the bottom of the window showing the entire timeline duration at a glance. The visible portion of the timeline is highlighted, giving you spatial context when zoomed in to a small section. Click the minimap to jump the viewport to a different part of the timeline.
Top Bar. Displays the current cue information fields and a countdown display. When a cue is selected, its name and timing details appear here. When you hover over a cue, the top bar shows the media name, start time, duration, and cue ID for quick reference without needing to open properties.
Navigation and Scrolling
The Timeline window supports several navigation methods:
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| Mouse wheel | Scroll horizontally through the timeline |
| Ctrl + mouse wheel | Jump the playhead by 100 ms increments |
| Ctrl + Shift + mouse wheel | Jump the playhead by 1000 ms increments |
| Up / Down arrow | Move the active layer up or down |
| Left / Right arrow | Select the previous or next cue on the active layer |
| Home | Scroll to the start of the timeline |
| End | Scroll to the end of the timeline |
| Numpad * | Scroll the view back to the playhead if it is off-screen; otherwise move the playhead to the last start position |
| T | Open the time edit popup for numeric time entry |
| Ctrl+Shift+T | Open the Insert/Delete Time dialog. Add or remove time at the playhead, with options to adjust cue durations and tween point positions |
| Click on ruler | Jump the playhead to the clicked position |
During playback, the viewport scrolls to keep the playhead visible.
Zoom
Zoom controls how much of the timeline is visible at once.
- Numpad + zooms in (doubles the magnification).
- Numpad − zooms out (halves the magnification).
- Ctrl+0 zooms to fit. With cues selected it fits the selection, otherwise the whole timeline.
The zoom level persists per timeline. Switching between timelines restores each one's last zoom setting.
Selection and Editing Contexts
The Timeline window uses context-sensitive editing — the available operations change depending on what is currently selected. There are four editing contexts:
| Context | What Is Selected | Available Operations |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | Nothing selected, or the timeline background | Global timeline operations: insert/delete time, add layers, timeline properties |
| Cues | One or more cues | Move, resize, copy, delete, group into composition, set cue properties |
| Effects | Tween segments within a cue | Edit tween timing, interpolation, and target values |
| Tween Points | Individual tween control points | Fine-tune individual keyframe positions and values |
Keyboard shortcuts and right-click menu options change based on the active context. For example, the Delete key removes cues when in Cue context but removes tween points when in Tween Points context.
Cue Hover Info
When you hover over a cue on the timeline, the top bar displays a summary of that cue's key details:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Media Name | The name of the media asset assigned to the cue |
| Start Time | The timeline time when the cue begins |
| Duration | The total length of the cue |
| Cue ID | The unique identifier for the cue (useful for external protocol integration) |
This hover information provides quick identification without needing to select the cue or open its properties panel.
Cue Overlaps
When two cues on the same layer overlap, both show a white striped pattern. Move the cues apart until the pattern disappears.
Not every overlap is flagged. A media cue overlapping a non-media cue (control, output, marker, or variable) does not show the striped pattern.
Two media cues do not show the pattern when the later cue has a fade-in and the earlier cue has a fade-out, forming a cross-fade.
Disabled Cues
Disable a cue to exclude it from playback without deleting it. Disabled cues show a grey striped overlay. To disable a cue, set its condition to Disabled — see Conditional Cues.
Disabling cues is useful during rehearsal and development — you can keep alternate versions or test content on the timeline without affecting playback.
Cue Types
WATCHOUT has five cue types, each with a different purpose:
| Cue Type | Purpose | Has Duration | Article |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media Cue | Plays images, video, audio, or compositions on the stage | Yes | Adding Media Cues |
| Control Cue | Plays, pauses, or stops timelines, with optional jump targets | No (acts at start) | Control Cues |
| Marker Cue | Annotates a moment for navigation, show-calling, or as a named jump target | No (point in time) | Marker Cues |
| Output Cue | Sends TCP, UDP, or HTTP messages to external systems | No (acts at start) | Output Cues |
| Variable Cue | Drives show variable values from the timeline | Yes | Variables and Variable Cues |
DMX over Art-Net is not a separate cue type. It is an option on a media cue. See Art-Net Fixture Cues.
Place a media cue by dragging an asset from the Assets window onto the timeline. Add other cue types from the timeline right-click menu. Every cue lives on exactly one layer.
Cue Right-Click Menu
Right-click one or more selected cues for cue operations:
- Find Asset selects the cue's asset in the Assets window.
- Move opens a dialog to move the selected cues.
- Effect adds or removes effects.
- Trim sets the cue start or end to the playhead position. See Adjusting Timing.
- Reset restores In-Time, Duration, or size to the original value.
- Group Cues into Composition and Ungroup Cues. See Compositions.
- Copy ID copies the cue's identifier for external protocol use.
Layers
Layers are the vertical tracks that hold cues. Their order sets the compositing order: Layer 1 (topmost) renders in front of the rest. New timelines start with 10 layers; compositions start with a minimum of 3. See Working with Layers for properties, naming, key and fill, and layer operations.
Playback
A timeline is always in one of three playback states:
| State | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Run (Play) | The playhead advances in real time. Cues run as the playhead reaches them. Content renders on the displays. |
| Pause | The playhead freezes at its current position. Content at the current time stays visible but does not advance. |
| Stop | The playhead returns to the start of the timeline. No content from this timeline renders. |
Use the transport controls in the Timeline window or the Timelines panel to change playback state. Playback can also be automated via Timeline Triggers and Expressions or commanded by Control Cues on other timelines.
Each timeline holds its own playback state. Different timelines run, pause, and stop independently at the same time — one can loop a background while another holds a paused look and a third waits, stopped.
Time is displayed in HH:MM:SS.mmm format throughout the interface.
The Timelines Panel
The Timelines panel lists all timelines in the current show and provides an overview of their status. The panel is organized as a tree table that supports folders for grouping related timelines.
Panel Columns
| Column | Shows |
|---|---|
| Name | Timeline name, with lock icon and auto-run indicator |
| Status | Current playback state (Run, Pause, Stop) |
| Time | Current playhead position |
| Countdown | Live countdown to the next marker cue that has a countdown enabled |
| Play / Pause / Stop Expression | Trigger expressions assigned to automate playback |
| ID | The timeline's unique identifier |
Working with the Panel
- Double-click a timeline to open its Timeline window.
- Drag timelines up and down to reorder them. This changes their stacking priority (see Stacking Order).
- Right-click for options: Add Timeline, Add Folder, Collapse All Folders, Copy ID.
- Timeline rows show status icons: a lock icon for locked or hands-off timelines, a start-arrow icon for auto-run timelines, and a stacking indicator for timelines set to Always on Top.
Timeline Folders
Folders organize timelines into logical groups. A folder has a name, color, and position in the panel. Folders can be nested within other folders. Timelines inherit their parent folder's color if they have no color of their own. Use folders to group timelines by scene, department, or function — for example, "Act 1", "Overlays", "Lighting Control".
Timeline Properties
Every timeline has properties that control its behavior and identity:
| Property | Purpose | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Identifies the timeline in the panel and throughout the interface | Auto-generated |
| Duration | The total length of the timeline's cue sequence | Determined by cue content |
| Color | A color tag for visual identification in the Timelines panel | None (inherits folder color) |
| Auto Run | When enabled, the timeline begins playing automatically when the show is loaded | Off |
| Stacking | Controls inter-timeline compositing: Timeline Order (default) or Always on Top | Timeline Order |
| Lock State | Controls editing and playback restrictions (see Lock States below) | Unlocked |
| Play / Pause / Stop Expressions | Expression rules that automate playback state changes based on variable values | None |
The Duration field accepts a unit letter after the number: s for seconds, m for minutes, h for hours. Enter 90s, 2m, or 1h.
Lock States
Timelines support three lock states that provide progressively stronger protection:
| State | Icon | Editing | Playback Control |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlocked | Open lock | Allowed | Allowed |
| Locked | Closed lock | Blocked | Allowed |
| Hands Off | Hand icon | Blocked | Blocked |
- Unlocked is the normal working state — the timeline can be edited and controlled freely.
- Locked prevents all editing (moving cues, changing properties, adding or removing content) but still allows playback control — you can play, pause, and stop the timeline.
- Hands Off is the strongest protection level. The timeline cannot be edited, and it cannot be played, paused, stopped, or scrubbed from the Producer interface. This is intended for timelines that must not be disturbed under any circumstances during a live show.
Clicking the lock icon on a timeline in the Timelines panel cycles through the three states: Unlocked → Locked → Hands Off → Unlocked.
Use Hands Off for critical timelines during a live performance — safety messaging, emergency overlays, or synchronized background sequences that must run undisturbed. Hands Off prevents accidental operator interaction with the timeline entirely.
Auto Run
When Auto Run is enabled, the timeline automatically enters the Run (play) state when the show file is opened. This fires once at show load and does not re-trigger if the timeline is subsequently stopped. Auto Run is independent of trigger expressions — a timeline can have both Auto Run and expression-based triggers.
Auto Run is indicated by a start-arrow icon on the timeline's row in the Timelines panel.
Stacking Order
When several timelines cover the same display area, stacking order decides which renders in front: Timeline Order (panel order) or Always on Top. Within a timeline, the per-cue mode (By Layer or By Z) and layer order apply first. See Stacking Order for the full hierarchy.
Marker Cues
Marker cues are zero-duration annotations that produce no output. They serve as show-calling signposts, countdown and count-up timers, and named jump targets for control cues. See Marker Cues.
Compositions
A composition is a nested timeline that appears on its parent as a single media cue, with its own layers, cues, and timing. It is a reusable asset, so editing it updates every instance. See Compositions.
Triggers and Expressions
Each timeline has Play, Pause, and Stop expression slots. When an expression's value changes to non-zero, that action fires, so playback can respond to show variables without operator input. See Timeline Triggers and Expressions.
Common Issues
For timeline playback problems (will not play or pause, content not visible, wrong stacking order, unexpected jumps, Auto Run), see Timeline and Cue Issues → Timeline Playback.
Related
- Adding Media Cues — placing content and setting cue properties
- Working with Layers — the vertical layer structure and compositing order
- Stacking Order — how cues and timelines layer on the Stage
- Cues Window — view and edit every cue across all timelines