Interface Layout
Gridshift’s interface has four main areas: the Sidebar, the Timeline, the Inspector, and the Plugin Strip.
Sidebar
The sidebar on the left provides tabbed access to different panels:| Tab | Shortcut | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Tracks | ⌘1 | Hierarchical track list |
| Browser | ⌘2 | Browse and preview samples from favorite folders |
| Instruments | ⌘3 | Available Audio Unit instruments |
| Effects | ⌘4 | Available Audio Unit effects |
| Project | ⌘5 | Artwork, tasks checklist, version history |
Timeline
The timeline is the central workspace. All tracks are stacked vertically with a beat/bar ruler at the top. This is where you arrange, edit, and record clips. There is no separate editing window — double-click a clip to enter Focus Mode for detailed editing inline.Inspector
The inspector panel on the right shows details for the selected track — name, color, volume, pan, effects chain.Plugin Strip
The Plugin Strip sits at the bottom of the window and shows every effect plugin on the selected track as a card. Each card displays a scaled-down preview of the plugin interface with controls for bypass, metering, and dry/wet mix. Click a card to expand it to full size.Transport Bar
A floating transport bar at the bottom provides playback controls: play, stop, record, loop toggle, and the current playhead position. The tempo and time signature are also accessible here.Track Types
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Sample | Tied to a single audio file. One sample per track. |
| Instrument | Hosts an Audio Unit plugin and receives MIDI input. |
| Group | Organizes tracks and acts as an audio bus for its children. |
| Master Bus | Final output. All audio flows through here. |
| Listen Bus | Monitoring bus that holds effects ignored on bounce. Configured per output via Monitor Profiles. |
Next Steps
Timeline Editing
Arranging, editing, and clip operations
Focus Mode
Inline audio and MIDI editing
Keyboard Shortcuts
Full shortcut reference
Command Palette
All available commands