The timeline is the area in Video Editor where you can see and arrange your video, audio, image, and text elements.
Elements and tracks
After you add video, image, audio, or text element to the project, it is added to a separate track. Each track displays the added element as a small thumbnail with its content (video or image frames, audio waveform, or text).
You can have several elements of one type in one track (for example, several audio elements or several text elements). But you cannot have different types of elements in one track.
Timeline snapping
The snapping feature helps to easier align the elements with one another. When dragging the yellow handles of an element, you can snap to the edge of another element.
By default, the snapping feature is always enabled when you start working on your project.
To toggle the feature on or off, you can do one of the following:
- Click the Timeline Settings icon and toggle Snapping on or off.
- To temporarily toggle the feature on or off while dragging the yellow handle of an element, press and hold down Ctrl (on Windows) / ⌘ Command (on Mac). After releasing the key, the previous state will be restored.
Ripple editing
Ripple editing is a helpful video editing mode that helps you keep the gaps between the project elements when removing, trimming, or bulk resizing them.
By default, the ripple editing feature is always disabled when you start working on your project.
To toggle the feature on or off, click the Timeline Settings icon and toggle Ripple editing on or off.
Change timeline scale
To zoom in or out in the timeline, at the top right of the timeline bar, use the Zoom Out, Zoom In, or Fit to Screen icons.
Select elements
To perform any actions for a specific element, click its thumbnail in the timeline (use the Shift key to select multiple elements). The selected elements are outlined in yellow.
Change timing
Each element in the project has specific start and end timestamps. The element appears or is heard in your video within that timeframe.
To change the timing of an element, select its thumbnail in the timeline, and then do one of the following:
- In the timeline, drag the element to the new place without changing its duration, or drag the yellow handles of the element to change both the timing and duration.
- In the element's settings section, click the Timing tab and set the start and end timestamps manually.
Change duration
Each element in the project has a certain duration. The element appears or is heard in your video for as long as it lasts in the timeline.
The longest or the far-right element in the timeline determines the overall project duration. You can see the total duration at the mid-top of the timeline.
To change the duration of an element, select its thumbnail in the timeline, and then do one of the following:
- In the timeline, drag the yellow handles of the element to specify the required duration.
- In the element's settings section, click the Duration tab and enter the required duration or select one of the duration presets. Use the -/+ buttons to gradually decrease or increase the value.
You can shorten the duration of video and audio elements, but you cannot make them longer than their original length. If you need your audio or video elements to repeat, duplicate them.
Organize elements
To organize your timeline, you can move the elements from one track to another. Each element can be in a separate track, or you can have the same type of element (video, audio, image, or text elements) in one track.
To move the elements within one track or to another track, click, and then drag the element to the new position. Use the yellow indicators to choose where to place the element.
Split elements
To divide or split an element into two or more parts, select its thumbnail in the timeline, and then do the following:
- Drag the playhead (the white vertical line in the timeline) to select the desired split point.
- At the top-left of the timeline bar, click the Split icon or press s on your keyboard.
Note: When you split an element, it is not physically split. Rather, part of the element after or before the split point becomes not visible. If you drag the yellow handles of the new elements, you can make the hidden parts visible again.
Remove gaps
To remove gaps between the elements in one track after deleting or adding new ones, do one of the following:
- Select and drag the element until it snaps to the edge of another element.
- Select the gap, and at the top-left of the timeline, click the Delete icon.
Duplicate elements
To make a copy of an element, select its thumbnail in the timeline, and then do one of the following:
- At the top-left of the timeline, click the Duplicate icon.
- Press d or Ctrl + c, Ctrl + v / ⌘ Command + c, ⌘ Command + v on your keyboard.
Reorder elements
The order of the tracks in the timeline determines the visibility of the video, image, and text elements in the video. The elements located in the top tracks of the timeline overlap the elements located in the underneath tracks.
To change the order of the element, select the element, and then do one of the following:
- Click and drag the selected element to the new position.
- At the top-left of the timeline, click the Bring Forward or Send Backward icons to move the selected element up or down.
- Press Ctrl + ↑ / ⌘ Command + ↑ or Ctrl + ↓ / ⌘ Command + ↓ on your keyboard.
Delete elements
To delete an element from the project, select its thumbnail in the timeline, and then do one of the following:
- At the top-left of the timeline, click the Delete icon.
- Press Delete or Backspace on your keyboard.