Timeline Editor Guide

Overview

The Timeline Editor is Loki Studio's video editing workspace. It supports multi-track audio, clip extraction, LUFS loudness normalization, and caption integration - all with professional keyboard shortcuts.

Loading Videos

Load a Single Video

1. Click Load Video(s)
2. Select your video file
3. The video info display will show: filename, size, and detected audio tracks

Load Multiple Videos

You can load multiple videos for batch processing or concatenation:

1. Click Load Video(s)
2. Select multiple files (Ctrl+Click or Shift+Click)
3. Videos will be queued for processing

Import EDL

Import Edit Decision Lists from other software:

1. Click Import EDL
2. Select your .edl file
3. Cut points will be automatically marked on the timeline

Video Playback

The Timeline Editor uses GStreamer for hardware-accelerated playback:

Playback Controls

• Play/Stop: Start or stop playback
• Timeline Scrubbing: Click anywhere on the timeline to jump
• Frame Thumbnails: Visual preview along the timeline strip

Display Information

• FPS Display: Current frame rate (top-left corner)
• Timestamp: Current time / Total duration (HH:MM:SS format)
• Final Duration: Calculated output duration after cuts

Marking Cuts

The Timeline Editor uses industry-standard mark in/out for defining clips:

Working with Cuts

1. Navigate to your desired start point
2. Press I (or click Begin) to mark the start
3. Navigate to your desired end point
4. Press O (or click End) to mark the end
5. The cut region appears on the timeline
6. Click a cut to select it, then press Del to remove

AutoCut (Voice-Based)

Automatically find and mark cut points based on spoken words:

1. Enter a word or phrase in the Cut Word field
2. Click Analyze for Cut Word
3. The AI will find all instances of that word in the transcript
4. Cut points are automatically marked at each occurrence

Audio Track Management

Manage up to 4 audio tracks with full control:

Track Controls

• Enable/Disable: Toggle track on/off
• Volume Slider: Adjust per-track volume in dB
• M (Mute): Silence this track
• S (Solo): Listen to only this track
• CC: Use this track for closed captions
• Lock: Prevent accidental changes

Karaoke Highlighting

Enable karaoke-style word highlighting for captions. Words are highlighted as they're spoken, perfect for accessibility and engagement.

LUFS Loudness Normalization

Ensure your audio meets YouTube's loudness standards with integrated LUFS analysis.

What is LUFS?

LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) is the industry standard for measuring perceived loudness. YouTube normalizes all audio to approximately -14 LUFS. Learn more in our LUFS Audio Guide.

Using LUFS Analysis

1. Click Analyze to measure your audio's loudness
2. View the measurements:
   • Integrated: Overall average loudness
   • Range: Dynamic range (difference between quiet and loud)
   • True Peak: Maximum signal level
3. Select your Target (-14.0 LUFS for YouTube)
4. Click Auto to apply the suggested gain adjustment

Auto Balance (Voice Dominant)

For multi-track audio with voice and game audio:

1. Click Auto Balance (Voice Dominant)
2. The system will automatically:
   • Prioritize voice track clarity
   • Reduce game/background audio volume
   • Normalize overall output to -14 LUFS

Closed Captions

The Timeline Editor supports real-time caption preview:

Enable Captions

1. Ensure your video has been transcribed (see Transcription Guide)
2. Click the CC toggle to show captions
3. Select the caption source track from the dropdown

Caption Styling

Configure caption appearance in Application Settings > Captions:

• Style: Sliding Window, One Word Pop, Full Segment
• Font size and max width
• Colors for highlight, pending, and spoken words
• Position and padding

Waveform Display

The Heimdall module generates visual waveforms for audio tracks:

• See audio levels at a glance
• Identify loud/quiet sections visually
• Helps with precise cut placement

Output Settings

Configure Output

• Output Path: Set destination folder and filename
• Browse: Select output directory
• Clear Cache: Remove temporary processing files

Render Final Video

1. Configure all your settings (cuts, audio levels, etc.)
2. Set your output path
3. Click Render Final Video
4. Wait for processing to complete

Keyboard Shortcuts

The Timeline Editor supports professional editing shortcuts:

See the complete list in our Keyboard Shortcuts Reference.