Interface tour

The standard layout has a header, Library sidebar, workspace and footer. Layout → Customize and save layouts… can hide Library, move or resize the Inspector and save named layouts. See Interface layouts.

Header

The backend is also named in Settings → Performance → Render backend. Software means no Metal device was available.

Library sidebar

When visible, the Library uses a fixed sidebar width. Top to bottom:

1. Search clips field — matches names case- and diacritic-insensitively.
2. Filter rows, each with a live count: All clips, Favorites, Recent, Video, Images, Audio, Shaders. The last row's internal filter key is Generators even though it is labelled Shaders.
3. Import media button.
4. Shader browser button — opens the Source Browser on the shader page.
5. Collections — sorted, with member counts. Each row's context menu offers Add selected clip and Delete collection; New collection creates one.
6. Composition size with its gear button, then Open set, Save set and Help buttons.

See Library and collections.

Workspace

Clip matrix

The left header is Layers, with a Groups button. Column trigger buttons across the top are numbered 01, 02, … . The matrix includes layer rows and group headers; collapsing a group hides descendant rows while playback continues. See Layer groups.

Expanded layer rows show a chevron, editable name, FX, S (Solo), M (Mute) and opacity. The chevron or context menu's Compact layer / Expand layer changes row height; the compact row keeps name and FX while hiding the expanded S/M/opacity block. The context menu also offers Layer effects…, Clear layer, Move up and Move down.

Column width is 96 points and is not a user setting. The whole matrix scrolls when a set has more layers or columns than fit.

Performance bar

Sits between the matrix and monitors: Clip transport, Quantize, the selected layer's Transition and Duration, Zero duration, Layer controls, and Master opacity. The A/B crossfader is in the Master inspector's Layer tab. See Tempo, Link and quantization.

Resize divider

The horizontal divider is labelled Layer area height; double-click restores automatic sizing. Vertical Inspector dividers change its width from 25…55%; double-click restores 39%. See Interface layouts for persistence and named presets.

Preview, Inspector, Output

The standard order is Preview, Inspector, Output. Layout customization can put the Inspector on the left or right; Preview and Output share the remaining width equally.

• Preview monitor — a single clip, auditioned. Title has an Inspect clip button; its empty state reads Use a clip's eye to preview. Independent audition is unmapped; a qualifying sole live layer can mirror final program output, including mapping/master processing and blackout. See Preview behavior.
• Inspector — scoped editing surface. See below.
• Output monitor — the final program image. Title offers a Fullscreen menu of displays, Open windowed output / Close output, Save output snapshot and Output settings.

Banks and status row

Banks label, one tab per visible bank, an Add bank icon button, the status line, and an N import notes button when there is anything to report. The status line is where nearly every operation reports its outcome — read it first when something seems not to have happened.

Footer

Left to right: Shortcuts, tempo − / numeric field / + / Tap, Previous clip, Pause / resume, Next clip, the tempo readout, Enable input (or Disable input), Auto BPM, Resync, Blackout, REC, and the timecode.

Inspector, by scope

The Inspector is a scoped editor. Choose Clip, Layer or Master; every panel below then edits that scope only.

Numeric fields commit on Return, when they lose focus, or when the view disappears. Unparseable text draws a red stroke with the help Enter a number between LO and HI.; commit values are clamped into the control's range.

Note the asymmetry with Effects: that tab additionally has an explicit commit control, while the Transform tab does not.

Tile interactions

Modifier flags are captured at mouse-down, so a modifier click never triggers anything by accident.

Sheets and windows

Parented to the console: Output settings, Performance shortcuts help, Import report, Composition structure editor, Media manager, Source browser, Settings, error alerts and the New collection alert.

The separate clean output window is titled ULTIMATE VJ — Output.