Timeline

The Timeline lets you arrange clips on a timecode-synced track and play them back frame-accurately. Use it for pre-programmed shows where every clip triggers at a precise moment, synced to music, video, or an external timecode source.

Think of it as a sequencer for your laser show. You place clips on tracks, set fades, automate parameters over time, and let the timeline drive everything when the show runs.

Timeline vs Cues

Modulaser has two ways to assign clips to output groups: Cues (live triggering with BPM/beat sync) and Timeline (frame-accurate timecode playback). Only one can be active at a time.

When you switch between them, the previous controller stops and all output group assignments clear. Timeline auto-plays when activated. Cues requires you to hit play.

Time Sources

Timeline can run from two timing sources:

Internal: Uses your computer's clock. You get play, pause, seek, and loop controls. Good for rehearsing or running shows without external gear.

SMPTE (LTC): Reads timecode from an audio input. Modulaser decodes the LTC signal and locks playback to the incoming timecode. Frame rate is auto-detected, or you can set it manually.

LTC Signal Status

When using SMPTE input, the signal goes through three states:

• No Signal: No audio device connected
• Searching: Waiting for valid timecode frames (500ms timeout)
• Locked: Receiving valid timecode, playback follows the signal

If the signal drops, the timeline jam-syncs: the internal clock keeps the show running from the last decoded frame so audio, clips, and recording don't stall. Two settings in the Timecode tab tune this:

• Freewheel: How long to keep running before pausing (default 500ms, max 2000ms).
• Keep running on loss: When enabled, jam-sync continues indefinitely and transport never pauses.

When LTC returns, the position snaps back to the master.

Frame Rates

Timeline supports four frame rate standards:

Drop-frame timecode displays with a semicolon separator (e.g. 01:00:32;15) and skips frame numbers 0 and 1 at the start of each minute, except every 10th minute. This keeps the timecode aligned with real clock time at 29.97 fps.

Typical LTC Show Setup

In many professional setups, the backing track outputs LTC alongside audio. A common convention is to start each song at a different hour: 01:00:00:00 for song 1, 02:00:00:00 for song 2, and so on. The system auto-switches content based on the hour.

The Editor

The timeline editor shows one track per output group.

Adding Clips

Drag a clip from the library onto a track. The clip's duration is auto-detected from the source (for sequences) or falls back to the configured default. When BPM grid mode is active, the default is 4 bars.

Only one clip can occupy a given output group at any frame. If clips overlap, earlier clips are trimmed or removed.

Clip Interactions

Fades

Each clip can have a fade-in and fade-out. The fade ramps the clip's opacity from 0 to the group's base opacity (fade-in) or back to 0 (fade-out).

Set fades through the right-click context menu with presets (0.25s, 0.5s, 1s, 2s, 5s) or drag the fade handles directly on the clip.

Fade durations are clamped to at most half the clip's total length. Seeking, stopping, or looping clears active fades for an instant cut.

Snapping

Snapping is on by default (magnet icon in the top bar). Clips snap to:

• The playhead position
• Other clip edges (start and end)
• Ruler ticks (timecode mode) or beat grid positions (BPM grid mode)

Hold Shift to temporarily invert snap behavior. Hold CmdCtrlCmd/Ctrl during a drag to force bar-level snapping (minimum 4-beat grid).

BPM Grid Mode

Click the metronome icon in the top bar to switch the ruler from timecode ticks to a beat/bar grid. Bar numbers are shown at adaptive intervals based on the zoom level. When BPM grid mode is active, all snap targets use the beat grid instead of timecode ticks.

Zoom and Navigation

Keyboard Shortcuts

See the Timeline section of the keyboard shortcuts page for transport, nudging, and clip editing keys.

Playback Lock

When Lock Clip Playback is enabled, active clips on the timeline have their internal playback locked to the timecode position. This means:

• ILDA/SVG sequences: The frame position follows the timecode exactly, so scrubbing the timeline scrubs the sequence.
• Lissajous and other shapes: Elapsed time is overridden by the timecode position.

When a clip goes inactive, the lock clears and it resumes its own playback. This is useful for keeping animated sequences perfectly in sync with music or video.

Automation

Timeline supports parameter automation using keyframe curves. You can automate any clip parameter, macro link, or global output setting over time.

Adding Keyframes

Open the automation panel (bottom-right of the timeline editor). Parameters are organized by output group, then grouped into collapsible sections (Macros, oscillators, color, transform, and so on), plus a Global section for speed, blackout, and strobe.

Each parameter row has a diamond to add a keyframe at the playhead, a value input, and previous/next arrows to seek between keyframes. Section headers show a small diamond when any parameter inside has keyframes.

To add a keyframe:

• Click the diamond icon next to a parameter to place a keyframe at the playhead
• Double-click on a lane to add a keyframe at that position
• Drag or type a value in the parameter row to set the value at the current playhead

Editing Keyframes

Curve Types

Right-click a keyframe to pick the curve used between it and the next keyframe. Eight curves are available: Linear, Hold, Ease In, Ease Out, Ease In/Out, Exponential, Logarithmic, and S-Curve.

Values hold beyond the first and last keyframe: the first keyframe's value extends backward, the last extends forward.

How Automation Applies

Automation generates override values that are applied during playback without changing the clip's base parameter values. If you also control a parameter with MIDI or OSC, the external controller modifies the base value; both can coexist.

When you switch away from the Timeline controller, all automation overrides clear.

Audio Track

Timeline supports an optional audio track for reference playback. Audio clips (WAV, MP3, etc.) are positioned on the timeline like regular clips but play through your system audio output instead of laser. This is useful for previewing your show against the music during editing.

MIDI and OSC Control

The Play/Pause and Stop transport controls support MIDI and OSC control learn. Map them to physical buttons on your controller for hands-free transport during a show.