Skip to main content
OpenCut supports unlimited tracks of different types, allowing you to layer videos, audio, text, and stickers to create professional compositions.

​
Track types

OpenCut supports four types of tracks:

Video tracks

Contains video and image elements. Supports mute and hide controls.Elements include:
  • Video files (with or without audio)
  • Image files

Audio tracks

Contains audio elements only. Supports mute control.Elements include:
  • Audio files from uploads
  • Audio from library

Text tracks

Contains text elements with customizable styling. Supports hide control.Text elements can be fully customized with fonts, colors, backgrounds, and more.

Sticker tracks

Contains sticker and graphic elements. Supports hide control.Import stickers from the built-in library or upload your own graphics.
Source: apps/web/src/types/timeline.ts:20-53

​
Creating tracks

​
Automatic track creation

The easiest way to create tracks is by adding content:
1

Select content

From the Assets panel, choose a video, audio, text, or sticker element.
2

Drag to timeline

Drag the element to an empty area of the timeline.
3

Drop to create

Drop above or below existing tracks to automatically create a new track of the appropriate type.
A visual indicator shows where the new track will be created. Source: apps/web/src/hooks/timeline/use-timeline-drag-drop.ts

​
Manual track creation

You can also create empty tracks:
  1. Right-click in the track area
  2. Choose “Add Track” from the context menu
  3. Select the track type
Source: apps/web/src/core/managers/timeline-manager.ts:37-41

​
Track management

​
Track controls

Each track has controls displayed in the track label area:
Click the volume icon to mute/unmute all audio in the track:
  • 🔊 Volume icon - Track is audible
  • 🔇 Muted icon (red) - Track is muted
Muting a track affects all elements within it.
Click the eye icon to show/hide all visual elements in the track:
  • 👁 Eye icon - Track is visible
  • 👁‍🗨 Hidden icon (red) - Track is hidden
Hidden tracks are not included in the final render.
Shows the type of content in the track:
  • 🎬 Video track
  • 🔊 Audio track
  • 📝 Text track
  • ⭐ Sticker track
Source: apps/web/src/components/editor/panels/timeline/index.tsx:278-305

​
Reordering tracks

Change the visual stacking order by dragging elements between tracks:
  1. Click and hold an element
  2. Drag vertically to another track
  3. Drop to move the element
Video, text, and sticker tracks stack in visual layers. Higher tracks appear on top of lower tracks in the preview.

​
Deleting tracks

Remove a track and all its contents:
  1. Right-click on the track
  2. Select “Delete track” from the context menu
  3. The track and all its elements are removed
Deleting a track cannot be undone with Ctrl+Z. Elements in the track are permanently deleted.
Source: apps/web/src/core/managers/timeline-manager.ts:44-46

​
Track context menu

Right-click on any track to access these options:
ActionDescription
Paste elementsPaste copied elements to this track at the playhead position
Mute trackToggle mute state for audio tracks
Hide trackToggle visibility for video/text/sticker tracks
Delete trackRemove the track and all its elements
Source: apps/web/src/components/editor/panels/timeline/index.tsx:459-511

​
Working with elements

​
Element properties by track type

Video and image elements support:
  • Duration - Length of the element in the timeline
  • Start time - Position in the timeline
  • Trim start/end - In and out points for the source media
  • Transform - Position, scale, rotation
  • Opacity - Transparency level (0-100%)
  • Blend mode - Compositing mode
  • Muted - Disable audio (video only)
  • Hidden - Exclude from render
Source: apps/web/src/types/timeline.ts:85-102

​
Element visibility and audio

Control individual elements within tracks:
  • Mute element - Select element(s) and use the keyboard shortcut or properties panel
  • Hide element - Select element(s) and use the keyboard shortcut or properties panel
These controls work independently from track-level mute/hide settings. Source: apps/web/src/core/managers/timeline-manager.ts:283-300

​
Track rendering order

​
Visual layering

For video, text, and sticker tracks, the stacking order determines what appears on top:
  • Top tracks render on top of lower tracks
  • Elements with higher opacity are more visible
  • Blend modes affect how layers composite together
Source: apps/web/src/services/renderer/scene-builder.ts

​
Audio mixing

All audio tracks and video elements with audio are mixed together:
  • Audio plays simultaneously from all unmuted tracks
  • Individual element volume controls affect the mix
  • Track-level mute disables all audio in that track
Source: apps/web/src/lib/media/audio.ts

​
Main track

Every scene has one main video track. This track:
  • Determines the project’s base dimensions
  • Appears with a red indicator in development mode
  • Cannot be deleted (must have at least one video track)
Source: apps/web/src/lib/timeline/index.ts

​
Best practices

Organize by content type

Keep similar content on dedicated tracks (e.g., all background music on one audio track, all titles on one text track).

Use track mute/hide

Quickly toggle entire tracks on/off when working on specific parts of your edit.

Layer strategically

Place foreground elements on higher tracks and backgrounds on lower tracks for easier management.

Test audio mix

Use track and element mute controls to isolate and balance different audio sources.

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get started for freeTalk to us