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Manage Timeline on Mac

The timeline is where the majority of the video editing process takes place. So, in this tutorial, we are going to learn how to add, adjust, lock and hide video and audio tracks in Filmora timeline panel.

Using the timeline

The Playhead is an indicator that shows you where on the timeline you are currently located and allows you to move through the media files you placed on the timeline. The frame at which the Playhead is positioned is going to be displayed in the Preview window.

Adjust Timeline View

As you hover over the area of the timeline that shows time with your mouse, the pointer is going to change into a two-way arrow. Move the mouse either to the left or the to the right while holding the left-click to zoom in or to zoom out of the timeline.

The Zoom to Fit the Timeline icon is located in the upper right corner of the timeline. Clicking on this icon will enable you to see all the media you’ve added to the timeline within a screen. Alternatively, you can use the zoom slider if you want to adjust the zoom level manually.

Managing Tracks

A track is the part of the timeline where all the media is located. Tracks in Filmora can either hold video or audio files, and you should keep in mind that audio and video clips can never be on the same track.

Add One Track Each Time

In order to create and add a new track you just have to drag and drop audio or video file to a preferred location. Filmora will automatically create a new track for the elements dragged to timeline.

Add multiple tracks at the same time

Click the Manage Tracks icon located in the upper left corner of the panel and a drop-down menu that lets you add new audio and video tracks or delete a track is going to appear on the screen.

Click the Open Track Manager option and then you can add up to 99 video and audio tracks to a project from the Track Manager window. Moreover, the Placement drop-down menu lets you choose how the tracks are arranged.

If you right-click on the section of the timeline below the Manage Tracks icon where the information about tracks is displayed you can access each of these options from the right-click drop-down menu.

Under the Manage Tracks menu, you can increase or decrease the size of the tracks from the Adjust Track Height submenu.

Hide & Lock Timeline

You can click on the Toggle Track Output icon that looks like an eye on a particular track if you want the media invisible. The Toggle Track Output option is depicted as the sound icon on audio tracks and it enables you to mute an entire track.

The lock icon lets you lock all media on a track. Once you look a track, you will not be able to edit, move or change the media files you added to that track.

Organizing the timeline with markers

The Add Marker icon is located in the upper right corner of the timeline and after you click on it, a new marker will be added to the same location on the timeline where you placed the playhead.

Double-click on the marker you created if you want to gain access to the Marker Editor window where you can change the name or the color of the marker or add a comment.

If you would like to add a marker to a video clip you just have to make sure that the clip is selected and click on the Add Marker icon. Creating notes can be useful when working on large projects because you can use them to line up different types of media assets.

Mastering Dual-Timeline Editing with Compound ClipsNEW

Elevate your editing workflow with Filmora's advanced dual-timeline editing function. Designed for complex projects, this feature allows you to manage multiple sequences simultaneously, streamlining your editing process and boosting efficiency. By leveraging Compound Clips as nested timelines, you gain unparalleled flexibility and control.

❶ Understanding Compound Clips and Timeline Tabs

Each Compound Clip you create now functions as its own independent timeline, accessible through a tab system located directly above the main timeline. This allows you to organize complex sequences, effects, or segments of your project into self-contained, editable clips.

• Creating Tabs: When you create a new Compound Clip, it will appear in your project media. Double-clicking the Compound Clip in the media library will open it as a new tab in the timeline area.
• Switching Timelines: Simply click on a tab (e.g., "Main Timeline," "Compound Clip 1") to switch between your main project and any nested sequence for focused editing.

Manage multiple compound clips as tabs above the timeline.

❷ Activating the Dual Timeline View

Unleash the full power of multi-timeline editing by opening two timelines simultaneously. This dual-view setup is perfect for seamlessly moving assets between sequences or comparing different edits.

• How to Activate: Click and hold a Compound Clip tab, then drag it down into the timeline panel. A new timeline view will appear, creating a primary (bottom) and secondary (top) timeline workspace.
• Limitation: You can have a maximum of two timelines open at once.

Drag a tab to create a secondary timeline for a dual-view setup.

❸ Interacting with Dual Timelines

With the dual timeline view active, editing becomes more fluid and intuitive.

• Drag and Drop Clips: Freely drag video or audio clips from the primary timeline to the secondary one, and vice versa. This makes reusing or re-arranging assets across different parts of your project incredibly fast.
• Focus Indicator: The currently active timeline (the one that will respond to keyboard shortcuts and playback commands) is highlighted with a focus frame. The Preview window will always display the content of the active timeline.

❹ Exporting a Specific Timeline

You no longer need to place a compound clip back into the main timeline to export it. Export any sequence directly from its tab.

• How to Export: Right-click on the tab of the timeline you wish to export, or click the three vertical dots icon next to the tab name.
• From the dropdown menu, select "Export Current Timeline". This will open the export dialog, allowing you to choose your desired format, resolution, and output settings for that specific sequence.

Right-click a tab to export only that specific timeline.

❺ Customizing Your Workflow in Preferences

Tailor the multi-timeline behavior to fit your professional needs. Navigate to File > Preferences > Editing to find the following option:

• "Auto-load tab in timeline after creating compound clip": By default, this option is enabled to provide immediate access to your newly created sequence. This means whenever you create a Compound Clip, it will automatically open as a new tab in the timeline. If you prefer a cleaner workspace and wish to open tabs manually, you can disable this option. When disabled, the compound clip will only be created in your project media library, allowing you to double-click to open it as a tab whenever you're ready.

Customize auto-loading behavior for compound clip tabs in Preferences.