Timeline
The Timeline fires macros frame-accurately from timecode. Any timecode FrenschPress sees can drive it: incoming MTC on USB 1 or USB 2, Art-Net timecode, LTC via the USB host dongle, or its own MTC Master.
Open Timeline in the left navigation. The page needs a wide view and is hidden on narrow phone displays.
Setting up your first timeline
- Open Timeline and create a new timeline with ＋.
- Enter a Name, choose the Frame Rate that matches your source and set Timeline Start.
- Put the playhead where you want the cue and choose ＋ Cue at Playhead.
- Assign a macro to the cue in the Macro column.
- Check the cue from the Actions column. The macro runs immediately.
- Choose Save Timeline. The display changes to
No unsaved changes. - Turn on Enable Cue Playback. The indicator reads Armed and the cues now fire from timecode.
Layout
| Area | Contents |
|---|---|
| Toolbar | Timeline selector, name, Timeline Start, Frame Rate, Enable Cue Playback |
| Live strip | Current timecode, source, sync state, Play/Pause/Stop and zoom |
| Ruler & track | Time ruler, playhead and draggable cue markers |
| Cue table | Every cue of the active timeline with all its fields |
Multiple timelines
You can create several timelines and arm them independently.
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Timeline (dropdown) | Selects the timeline to edit. Armed timelines are marked with ●. |
| ＋ | Creates a new timeline |
| Delete | Deletes the current timeline |
| Name | Display name (max. 80 characters). OSC and the Stream Deck also accept it as a selector. |
| Timeline Start | Editor start position (HH:MM:SS:FF). Stop returns the playhead here. Cue times remain absolute positions. |
| Frame Rate | 24 fps, 25 fps or 30 fps — accepts 29.97 DF |
Arm / disarm
The Enable Cue Playback switch with its Armed / Disarmed indicator decides whether this timeline's cues execute. While disarmed, the switch reads Disabled — cues will not execute.
The arm state is saved immediately, independently of unsaved cue edits. You can therefore arm a timeline mid-show without accidentally committing a half-finished edit. The display distinguishes live saved cues from unsaved changes.
You can also arm and disarm from:
- OSC:
/fpress/timeline/arm,/fpress/timeline/disarm,/fpress/timeline/arm_all,/fpress/timeline/disarm_all. See OSC Control. - Stream Deck: tools menu →
TIME CODE→TIME LINE. See On-deck tools.
Cues
| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| On | Enables or disables a single cue without deleting it |
| Timecode | Position HH:MM:SS:FF, frame-accurate. Checked against the timeline's frame rate. |
| Label | Free display name for the cue |
| Macro | Assigned macro |
| Color | Marker colour on the track (default #ffb300) |
| Actions | Test and delete |
Creating a cue
- ＋ Cue at Playhead creates a cue at the current playhead position.
- With the clock stopped, click the ruler or an empty area of the track to place the playhead before adding a cue. While running or externally paused timecode supplies the position, the playhead follows that clock.
- Drag markers on the track for rough placement. Then enter the exact position in the Timecode field.
Assigning a macro
Macro assignment uses the same picker and the same Quick Create and Multi-Step workflows as button mapping in Custom Mode. Pick an existing macro from the library or create a new one on the spot.
Testing a cue
The Actions column fires a cue immediately, with no timecode running. Use it to check assignments while you build the show.
Live operation
| Readout | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Timecode | Currently received position |
| Source | Active timecode source, Waiting when nothing is arriving |
| Sync | Unlocked until the timeline has locked to the incoming TC |
| Zoom | Display resolution (− / ＋) |
The playhead follows the running timecode across the track. Cues from other armed timelines are shown too, so you can see overlaps. When cues overlap, an overlap warning appears above the track.
Play, Pause and Stop
These three buttons control the internal MTC Master:
- Play starts from the playhead at the selected timeline's frame rate. After Pause, Play continues from the paused position.
- Stop ends the master and returns the editor to Timeline Start.
When an external source supplies the timecode, the transport buttons are disabled. Operate that source instead.
Play can output timecode and fire cues in every suitably armed timeline. Turn off Enable Cue Playback while you only edit. Test still runs the assigned macro directly.
Frame rates
Cue playback is designed for 24, 25 and 30 fps.
Incoming 29.97 DF locks to a 30 fps timeline and is read as nominal 30 fps. This matches common show-console behaviour, but it is not true drop-frame arithmetic. For frame-exact work over long running times, use an integer frame rate.
If an armed timeline's frame rate does not match the incoming rate code, that timeline is not executed.
Show safety
Timeline playback is protected against the disturbances that typically occur in a show:
| Situation | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Initial lock | Cues before the lock point are not fired retroactively |
| Repeated frames | A cue fires exactly once per pass |
| Short frame gaps | Skipped cues are caught up on the next valid frame |
| Rewind / large seek | Cue states are reset so cues can fire again |
| Stale timecode | If TC stops arriving, playback stops instead of free-running |
| Frame rate mismatch | The timeline is ignored rather than firing at wrong positions |
In addition:
- Concurrent editing: if someone has changed the saved version in another browser, your save is rejected. Reload the current version before you continue.
- Saved timelines survive a restart.
- Timelines are part of backup and restore and are reset by a factory reset.
Saving
| Readout | Meaning |
|---|---|
No unsaved changes | What you see matches what is stored |
| Save Timeline | Writes the timeline and its cues to the device |
The arm switch takes effect immediately; everything else only on Save Timeline. During a running show you can move cues calmly and commit the new version when you are ready.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Cues don't fire | The timeline is Disarmed | Turn on Enable Cue Playback |
| Cues don't fire although the timeline is armed | The frame rate doesn't match the incoming timecode | Set the timeline's Frame Rate to match the source |
| A single cue doesn't fire | The cue is disabled in the On column, or the change is not saved | Turn on On, choose Save Timeline |
Sync stays at Unlocked, Source shows Waiting | No timecode is arriving | Check the source and cabling, see Timecode overview |
| Play, Pause and Stop are disabled | An external source supplies the timecode | Operate the transport on the source |
| Saving is rejected | The version was changed in another browser | Reload the page and make your changes again |
| Timeline is missing from the navigation | The display is too narrow | Use a wider window or another device |