Kdenlive/Manual/Timeline

Timeline

Timeline pane

The timeline is the central part of Kdenlive. It is made of 4 different areas (see screenshot).

• 1 - Track resizing icon. These 2 icons allow you to increase or decrease the height of the tracks. They allow the track height to be adjusted to half the default height or double the default height. The default height of tracks can be configured in Kdenlive's Settings dialog.

• 2 - Timeline ruler. This shows the time in frames or in hh:mm:ss notation. The area highlighted in green is called the selection zone, and is useful if you want to render only a part of your project. Left-clicking in the timeline ruler will move the timeline cursor and seek to that position. The Timeline ruler context menu allows you to manage Guides.

• 3 - Track header. This box shows some options for a track. First is the track name (Video 2 in the screenshot). That name can be changed by simply clicking in it. Below are icons to Lock the track (prevent adding / removing clips), Mute the track , and Hide video from this track. Right clicking in the track header will give you a context menu allowing to manage (add / delete) tracks.

• 4 - The track itself, this is where you can drop your clips.

Split Audio/Video

Since version 19.04.0

Since version 19.04.0 the way timeline tracks work has changed. Each track is now either audio or video, and will only accept audio and video clips respectively. When dragging an AV clip from the project bin in the timeline, the clip will be automatically split, the video part going on a video track, and the audio part on an audio track.

The separation of audio/video is important for implementing same-track-transitions.

Timeline Cursor/Position Caret/Playhead

This indicates the position we are displaying in the Project Monitor. You can scroll the position by dragging the Timeline cursor (a.k.a Position Caret or Playhead).

Beginning with version 0.9.4, dragging the timeline cursor will play the audio of the clip (a.k.a. Audio Scrubbing). This feature only works if you have checked Use Open GL for video display in Settings -> Configure Kdenlive -> Playback.

Tracks

The timeline is made of tracks. There are two kinds of tracks: audio and video. The number of tracks is defined when creating a new project in the Project Settings Dialog. Adding a clip in timeline can be achieved by dragging it from the Project Bin or the Clip Monitor. More about tracks see Menu Tracks

Resizing tracks

Since version 19.04.0

Tracks can be individually resized. (Holding down Shift makes all video or audio tracks change in height simultaneously.)

Switch live between two different layout modes (Mixed or Split).

Configurable thumbnails for each track

Since version 19.04.0

You can choose to display between In frame, In/Out frames, All frames or No thumbnails.

Disabling individual clips

Since version 19.04.0

Individual clips can be disabled while still in the timeline but with no audio and no video – (works for all clip types). Right-click on the clip and choose Disable clip or Enable clip.

See also

• QuickStart-Timeline

• Editing

• Grouping

• Guides

• Right Click Menu

• Time Line Menu

• ← Clip Management
• ↑ Back to menu ↑
• Editing →