Understanding Key PointsRequires Pro
Learn how Time-line Live identifies musical sections and represents them as color-coded Key Points.
Key Points are musical moments automatically detected by Time-line’s machine learning model. They describe the structure, energy flow, and important transitions within a track, providing a common reference language for both operators and show automation.
You can use Key Points to:
- Anticipate important musical moments during a live performance
- Automatically synchronize lighting, visuals, special effects and other show elements
As each track is loaded on the DJ decks, Time-line analyzes its musical structure using a machine learning model running locally on your Mac. It identifies musically significant sections such as builds, drops, breakdowns, and more. Key Points are generated automatically. There is no programming or preparation required.
Genre support
Key Points are currently trained for electronic dance music (EDM). Support for additional genres will be added in future releases.
Color-Coded
To make Key Points easier to recognize during a live show, they are grouped into color-coded categories. Over time, you'll naturally begin to associate each color with a different stage of the music, making it possible to anticipate what's coming with a quick glance — without reading every label or interpreting the waveform.
Building
The music is increasing in tension and moving towards a release.
Main Energy
These are the highest-energy moments of a track.
Sustained
The music maintains energy without actively building or releasing tension.
Lower Energy
The music has reset to a lower-energy section.
Types of Key Points
Time-line currently detects the following musical events:
| Key Point | Definition |
|---|---|
| Drive | A steady, high-energy groove that maintains momentum without actively building or releasing tension. |
| Drive Break | A brief interruption within a Drive section before the groove continues. |
| Build | Tension gradually increases, leading towards a musical release. |
| Rhythmic Build | A Build driven by a repeating rhythmic pattern, such as a snare roll or accelerating percussion. |
| Pre-Drop | A short pause or moment of reduced energy that creates anticipation immediately before a release. |
| Drop | The primary high-energy section of a track where musical tension is released. |
| Fake Drop | A moment where the music intentionally delays the expected release, maintaining tension instead of delivering the Drop. |
| Drop Break | A brief interruption within a Drop that temporarily reduces the energy without actively building or breaking down. |
| Breakdown | A lower-energy section that creates contrast and often prepares the next Build and/or Drop. |
| Outro | The closing section of a track as it winds down towards the end. |
Reading the Key Points panel
The Key Points panel shows both the current and upcoming Key Points for the active track.
The countdown represents the remaining time in the current musical section before the next Key Point begins.
As playback progresses, completed Key Points disappear and upcoming Key Points move to the top of the list.
Using Key Points
Key Points can be used in two ways:
- As a visual guide to anticipate important musical changes during a live performance.
- As triggers for Automations that synchronize lighting, visuals, lasers, special effects and other show elements using OSC or MIDI.
Learn more about Setting up Automations.
Frequently asked questions
No. Time-line Live automatically analyzes tracks as they are loaded onto the DJ decks. No preparation or programming is required.
No. Tracks are analyzed locally on your Mac so an internet connection is not required.
No. Time-line Live analyzes tracks locally on your Mac. Your music is never uploaded to Time-line's servers.
Not at this time. Key Points are generated automatically by Time-line’s machine learning model and cannot currently be edited.
Every track is analyzed individually using Time-line’s machine learning model. Our model has been trained on an extensive catalog of electronic dance music including house, techno, drum & bass, dubstep, and more.
While no detection system is perfect, Key Points are designed to be reliable enough for real-time show operation and automation.
Track analysis failures are extremely rare. If analysis does fail, Time-line Live will notify you and Key Points won't be available for that track. You can still monitor the track and view its waveform as normal.
If you’re using Automations, you can configure a default scene as a fallback so your show systems continue running until the next available Key Point.
Next steps
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