## Where to Find It

Click the **folder icon** in the left sidebar to open the Media Library. On mobile, tap the **film strip icon** in the bottom navigation bar.

![Media Library panel showing your uploaded videos and photos](/img/help/gs-media-library.png)

## Browsing Your Media

The Media Library shows all the videos and photos you have uploaded to your ReelVids account. Each file appears as a thumbnail preview so you can quickly identify your content.

- **Videos** show a thumbnail from the first frame
- **Photos** show the image itself
- Scroll through the list to find the media you want to use

## Filtering and Searching

At the top of the Media Library, you can:

- **Filter by type** — switch between showing all media, videos only, or photos only
- **Search by name** — type in the search box to find a specific file by its name

> **Tip:** Use the filter buttons to narrow down your media when you have a large library. Searching by name is the fastest way to find a specific file.

## Adding Clips to the Timeline

There are several ways to add media to your video:

### Click to Add
1. Simply click on any video or photo in the library
2. The clip is automatically added to the end of your timeline on the main video track

### Drag and Drop
1. Click and hold on a clip in the library
2. Drag it onto the timeline
3. Drop it at the exact position you want
4. A ghost preview shows where it will land

### Adding Multiple Clips
You can click several clips in a row to add them all to the timeline in sequence. Each one is placed after the last.

## Missing Media

If a file referenced by your project has been deleted from your account, you will see a **"Media removed"** placeholder in the timeline instead of the actual clip. You can:

- **Replace** it with a different video or photo
- **Remove** it from the timeline entirely

When you open a project with missing media, an alert will list all the missing items so you know what needs attention.

> **Note:** The Media Library only shows files from your ReelVids account. To use new media, upload it through the ReelVids dashboard first, then return to the editor.

Browse, search, and add your media files to the timeline.

Using the Media Library

## Where to Find It

The **Timeline** is the horizontal workspace at the bottom of the editor. It is always visible and is where you arrange and organize all your content.

![The timeline area with tracks, clips, and the playhead](/img/help/tl-timeline-area.png)

## What Is the Timeline?

Think of the timeline as a visual storyboard laid out from left to right. Time flows from left (the beginning of your video) to right (the end). Everything you see on the timeline — clips, music, overlays — plays in order from left to right when you hit play.

## Understanding Tracks

Tracks are the horizontal rows that hold your content. Each track type holds a different kind of media:

- **Visual Tracks (V1, V2, V3...)** — Hold your video clips and photos. V1 is the primary track. Additional tracks let you layer content.
- **Audio Tracks (A1, A2...)** — Hold background music and audio clips. The waveform shows you the shape of the sound.
- **Overlay Tracks (OV1, OV2, OV3)** — Hold text overlays, image overlays, and title cards that appear on top of your video.

![Track icons on the left panel](/img/help/tl-left-panel.png)

The track icons on the left panel show you which type each track is at a glance.

## The Playhead

The **Playhead** is the vertical line running from top to bottom of the timeline. It marks the current playback position — whatever the playhead is on is what you see in the preview area.

- **Drag the playhead** left or right to scrub through your video
- **Click anywhere on the time ruler** to jump the playhead to that moment

## The Time Ruler

The **Time Ruler** runs along the top of the timeline and shows time codes (like 00:05, 00:10, etc.). Click any point on the ruler to jump directly to that moment in your video.

## Zoom Controls

![Timeline control bar with snap, zoom, and fit buttons](/img/help/tl-control-bar.png)

In the timeline control bar you will find zoom tools:

- **Zoom In (+)** — See more detail on a smaller section of time
- **Zoom Out (-)** — See more of your video at once, with less detail
- **Fit Button** — Automatically zooms to fit your entire video on screen

> **Tip:** Use the **Fit** button whenever you want to see everything at a glance. It is one of the most useful controls in the editor.

## Snap Toggle

The **Snap** toggle (magnet icon) in the control bar turns snapping on or off:

- **On** — Clips magnetically snap to nearby edges, beat markers, and the playhead as you drag them. This helps with precise alignment.
- **Off** — Clips move freely without snapping, giving you complete manual control.

## Scrolling and Navigating

- **Mouse wheel** — Scroll the timeline horizontally to see different parts of your video
- **Pinch gesture** (touch devices) — Zoom the timeline in or out
- **Swipe** (touch devices) — Scroll through the timeline

## The Render Bar

Above the tracks, you will notice a thin bar. This is the **Render Bar** — it shows which sections of your video have been pre-rendered for smooth preview playback. Blue sections are ready to play; gray sections are still processing.

Navigate the timeline — tracks, zooming, scrolling, and the playhead.

Timeline Basics

## Where to Find It

The editor layout is the main screen you see whenever a project is open. Everything you need is organized into distinct areas.

![The full ReelCut Studio editor interface](/img/help/el-editor-main.png)

## The Header Bar

![Header bar with project name, auto-save, tokens, help, and close](/img/help/el-header-bar.png)

The **Header Bar** runs across the top of the editor:

- **ReelCut Studio logo** and **project name** on the left — click the name to rename your project
- **Auto-save indicator** — shows "Auto-saved 2 minutes ago" so you know your work is safe
- **Token balance** — displays your available tokens (the coin icon). Click it to purchase more tokens.
- **? Help button** — opens this help panel you are reading right now
- **X Close button** — exits the editor (your work is saved automatically)

## The Left Sidebar

![Sidebar icons for switching between editor panels](/img/help/gs-sidebar.png)

The left sidebar has icon tabs that switch between different panels:

- **Media Library** (folder icon) — browse and add your uploaded videos and photos
- **Overlays** (layers icon) — add text, images, and title cards on top of your video
- **Project Settings** (gear icon) — configure project-level options like layout mode
- **Export** (download icon) — render and download your finished video
- **Settings** (layout icon) — theme, alignment guides, and snap options

> **Note:** Only one sidebar panel can be open at a time. Clicking a new icon closes the current panel and opens the new one.

## The Preview Area

![Preview area and playback controls](/img/help/gs-preview-and-timeline.png)

The **Preview Area** takes up the center/top of the editor. It shows a live preview of your video at the current playhead position. Below the preview, you will find the **Playback Controls**:

- **Play/Pause** button — start or stop playback
- **Time display** — shows the current time position in your video
- **Playback settings** (gear icon) — access loop, mute, and auto-play options

## The Timeline

![Timeline area with tracks, clips, and playhead](/img/help/tl-timeline-area.png)

The **Timeline** occupies the bottom of the editor. This is where all your clips, audio, and overlays are arranged in order:

- **Video tracks** (V1, V2, etc.) — hold your video clips and photos
- **Audio tracks** (A1, A2) — hold your background music
- **Overlay tracks** (OV1, OV2) — hold text and image overlays
- **Time ruler** — shows time codes across the top
- **Playhead** — the vertical line showing where you are in the video
- **Control bar** — zoom, snap toggle, tempo sync, and fit button

## The Right Panel (Clip Settings)

![Clip settings panel with fill mode, scale, and position controls](/img/help/cs-clip-settings-panel.png)

When you click a clip on the timeline, a settings panel appears showing options for that specific clip — fill mode, scale, position, and more. On desktop, this docks below the preview. On mobile, it opens as a tab.

## Mobile Layout

On phones and tablets, the bottom of the screen shows a condensed navigation bar with icons for switching between the library, timeline, clip settings, and export panels. The layout adapts to smaller screens automatically.

> **Tip:** Panels are designed to work together. For example, selecting a clip automatically opens its settings, and opening the library panel temporarily hides the clip settings until you close it.

A tour of the editor interface — where everything is and what it does.

Using the Media Library

Where to Find It

Browsing Your Media

Filtering and Searching

Adding Clips to the Timeline

Click to Add

Drag and Drop

Adding Multiple Clips

Missing Media

Related Articles

Getting Started

Working with Clips

Timeline Basics

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