Customizing the Timeline

As with the rest of Liquid Edition, the Timeline is highly customizable, which allows you to set up the Timeline tracks to suit your own particular workflow. You can rename tracks to create more logical aliases than those assigned at start up and during the edit process. You may also find it useful to change the height of tracks, particularly when you're working with audio files, because doing so allows you to see the wave form a little better. You may also want to reduce the height of each track in order to fit more tracks onto the screen.

To rename tracks

• Right-click the track and select Rename from the pop-up menu (Figure 1.63). A small outline box appears around the name into which you can type up to 31 characters (Figure 1.64).
  
  

  Figure 1.63. Selecting Rename to rename a track. It's that easy.

  

  
  

  Figure 1.64. Up to 31 characters can now be entered.

  

  
  

Tip

• Clicking the New Sequence button in the top right corner of the interface will reset the names and heights back to their default values.

To change track heights

Do one of the following:

• To expand a clip, place the cursor over the bottom track line and drag it downward (Figure 1.65).
  
  

  Figure 1.65. Drag a track to make it bigger…

  

  
  
• Right-click the track and select Track Height from the pop-up menu (Figure 1.66). Then choose the height of your choice.
  
  

  Figure 1.66. … or right-click and use one of the preset values.

  

  
  

To save a Timeline template

1.	Click the Sequence Menu icon in the upper-right corner of the interface.
2.	Select Save Timeline As Template from the drop-down menu (Figure 1.67). Figure 1.67. The Sequence Menu options.
3.	Browse to a folder where you want to keep this and give it a unique name before you save (Figure 1.68). Figure 1.68. Save your Timeline template with a unique name.

Tip

• Saving a Timeline template only saves those options that are available when you click the drop-down menu called Timeline, found at the top of the interface.

TemplatesWhat Are They Good For?

Liquid Edition has three different templates (four if you include the keyboard mapping), which can be somewhat confusing for the beginner. To help smooth away this worry, I've condensed the three main templates, their function, and where they can be accessed into this easy-to-read sidebar.

• Timeline template: Saves only track heights, track names, and the position of any sub or matte tracks.

  Racks, Folders, and buttons are not saved in this template.

  The Timeline template is accessed via the Sequence Menu icon in the upper-right corner of the interface.

• Project template: Creates a template that includes the Racks and Folders and any material placed inside these folders and on the Timeline. It also saves the track names and heights.

  Timeline buttons are not saved.

  A Project template can be saved by selecting File > New > Save As Template.

• User Templates: This is the only way to save the position and customization of the toolbar buttons.

  To create a User Template you must create a new user. To do this:

  • Close Liquid Edition and select to log on as a different user from the Exit dialog (Figure 1.69).
    
    

    Figure 1.69. Logging on as a different user leads to…

    

    
    
  • Create a new user (Figure 1.70) and give it a logical, unique name (Figure 1.71); then click OK.
    
    

    Figure 1.70. … the Create New User screen.

    

    
    

    Figure 1.71. Here you can give your user a unique name.

    

    
    

  Once a new user has been created, you will be presented with the User login screen every time you open Liquid Edition.