Timeline

The timeline is the core workspace in Plinken — arrange audio, video, MIDI, text, and automation regions across tracks to build your project. Time flows left to right with tracks stacked vertically.

Tracks

Tracks are horizontal lanes that hold regions. Each track has a stable ID (0–127) and a type that determines what content it can hold.

Track Types

Type	Description
Audio	Holds audio regions referencing WAV/AIFF assets
MIDI	Holds MIDI note regions routed to instruments
Video	Holds video regions for compositing
Automation	Holds CC automation curves linked to a parent node
Text	Holds text regions for lyrics, captions, and cue notes
Bus	Group bus for mixing multiple track outputs

Track Properties

Property	Type	Default	Description
`id`	u8	—	Unique track ID (0–127)
`name`	string	`"Track N"`	Display name
`track_type`	enum	`Audio`	Track content type
`mute`	bool	`false`	Silence the track output
`solo`	bool	`false`	Isolate this track for monitoring
`arm`	bool	`false`	Arm for recording
`input_active`	bool	`false`	Enable live input monitoring
`freeze`	bool	`false`	Render to audio for lower CPU usage
`lock`	bool	`false`	Prevent accidental region edits
`is_mono`	bool	`false`	Mono channel mode (default: stereo)
`volume`	f64	`1.0`	Output level (0.0–2.0)
`pan`	f64	`0.0`	Stereo position (−1.0 left to +1.0 right)
`height`	u32	—	Track height in pixels
`color`	u32	—	Track color
`input_routing`	u8	`0`	Audio input routing index
`output_routing`	string	`"stereo-out"`	Output destination (`"stereo-out"`, `"bus-1"`..)
`instrument`	PluginRef?	`None`	Instrument plugin for MIDI tracks
`effects`	PluginRef[]	`[]`	Effect plugin chain
`latency_samples`	u32	`0`	Plugin-reported latency for delay compensation

Track Commands

Command	Description	Shortcut
`track:add`	Create a new track	—
`track:delete`	Delete a track and its regions	—
`track:rename`	Rename a track	—
`track:reorder`	Move a track to a new position	—
`track:select`	Select a track	—
`track:select-next`	Select the track below	↓
`track:select-prev`	Select the track above	↑
`track:toggle-mute`	Toggle mute	—
`track:toggle-solo`	Toggle solo	—
`track:toggle-record`	Toggle record arm	—
`track:toggle-input`	Toggle input monitoring	—
`track:toggle-freeze`	Toggle freeze	—
`track:toggle-lock`	Toggle lock	—
`track:toggle-mono`	Toggle mono/stereo	—
`track:set-volume`	Set track volume	—
`track:set-pan`	Set track pan	—
`track:set-instrument`	Set instrument plugin	—
`track:add-effect`	Add effect to chain	—
`track:remove-effect`	Remove effect from chain	—
`track:reorder-effect`	Reorder effect in chain	—
`track:set-input-routing`	Set audio input routing	—
`track:set-output-routing`	Set output routing	—
`track:add-send`	Add a group send	—
`track:remove-send`	Remove a group send	—
`track:set-send-level`	Set group send level	—
`track:set-aux-send`	Set FX aux send level	—

Lua Examples

-- Add a new audio track
pl.cmd("track:add", { name = "Vocals", type = "audio" })

-- Mute track 2
pl.cmd("track:toggle-mute", { track_id = 2 })

-- Set volume to 80%
pl.cmd("track:set-volume", { track_id = 1, volume = 0.8 })

-- Pan hard left
pl.cmd("track:set-pan", { track_id = 1, pan = -1.0 })

-- Add an effect plugin
pl.cmd("track:add-effect", {
  track_id = 1,
  plugin_id = "com.fabfilter.Pro-Q-3",
  format = "AU"
})

-- Arm track for recording
pl.cmd("track:toggle-record", { track_id = 1 })

Timeline State

The timeline module manages view state for scroll, zoom, and snapping.

Timeline Parameters

Parameter	Type	Description
`scroll_x`	f64	Horizontal scroll position
`scroll_y`	f64	Vertical scroll position
`zoom_x`	f64	Horizontal zoom (0.1–100.0)
`zoom_y`	f64	Vertical zoom (0.1–10.0)
`snap_mode`	enum	Snapping behavior
`track_header_width`	u32	Track header panel width (100–400 px)

Subpages

Introduction — Playback, navigation, zoom, snap, and resolution
Regions — Moving, splitting, copying, and editing regions
Automation — Recording and editing automation curves