manual/include/insert-remove-time.html

<h2>Insert Time</h2>

<p>
  The <dfn>Insert Time</dfn> window allows to insert blank space in the timeline,
  on the selected track(s). It is accessed through the <kbd class="menu">Track
   &gt; Insert Time</kbd> menu.
</p>

<figure>
  <img width="50%" src="/images/insert-time.png" alt="The Insert Time window">
  <figcaption>
    The Insert Time window
  </figcaption>
</figure>

<p>
  The Insert Time window not only allows to set the time inserted, but also
  some fine-tuning options:
</p>

<table class="dl">
  <tr>
    <th>Insert Time starting at:</th>
    <td>
      Sets the point in the session where the time will be added. By default,
      it is the playhead's position
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th>Time to insert:</th>
    <td>Duration of the blank space inserted</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th>Intersected regions should:</th>
    <td>
      A choice as to what happens to regions that exists at the Insert Time set
      above. See below.
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th>Apply to all the track's playlists</th>
    <td>
      As a track can have multiple 
      <a href="@@understanding-playlists">playlists</a>, the insertion can
      happen either only on the active playlist or on all the playlists of this
      track.
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th>Move markers</th>
    <td>
      As a <a href="@@working-with-markers">marker</a> can be
      <kbd class="option">locked</kbd>, this option and the two subjacent ones
      allow to shift the time position of those markers.
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th>Move tempo and meter changes</th>
    <td>
      The <a href="@@tempo-and-meter">tempo and meter</a> markers, that can be
      used to change the tempo along the session, can also be shifted in the
      process. Though, moving the tempo markers while e.g. keeping the MIDI
      regions unaffected can create oddities.
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>

<p>
  Both the two time fields have a useful context menu, that allows to copy/paste
  the time and change the display among one of the <a href="@@editing-clocks">clock
  modes</a>. The Insert Time field also has two options to <kbd class="menu">Set
  from Playhead</kbd> (to get the insertion time from the playhead, which is what
  happens by default) and <kbd class="menu">Locate to This Time</kbd> which moves
  the playhead to the time field value, useful if the field has been manually edited
  to better visualize the insertion point.
</p>

<p>
  The "Intersected regions should" dropdown allows to select what happens to
  regions that cross the insertion position:
</p>

<table class="dl">
  <tr>
    <th><dfn>stay in position</dfn> <em>(default)</em></th>
    <td>
      The crossed regions are not affected by the time insertion. Only regions
      after the insertion point are moved.
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th><dfn>move</dfn></th>
    <td>The crossed regions are shifted in time.</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th><dfn>be split</dfn></th>
    <td>
      The crossed regions are split, and the section after the time insertion
      point is shifted in time.
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>

<p>
  This last mode allows a <em>brute force</em> insertion, creating a blank space
  in all the selected tracks, and replacing multiple operations.
</p>

<p class="note">
  Note: One interesting option is, if a range selection (created with in <a href="@@toolbox">
  Range Mode</a>) exists, it is used as the default parameters in the window, instead
  of the playhead, for both the start time and duration.
</p>

<h2>Remove Time</h2>

<p>
  The <dfn>Remove Time</dfn> window, accessed through the <kbd class="menu">Track
   &gt; Remove Time</kbd> menu, is very similar to the previous, and its options
   are very similar. Only the <em>"Intersected regions should"</em> option is not present.
</p>

<p>
  The range selection note above can be especially useful in this context.
</p>