> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.gridshift.studio/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Focus Mode

> Edit a clip in detail directly inside the timeline — it expands inline instead of opening a separate window, so your arrangement stays visible.

**Focus Mode** expands a single clip inline in the timeline for detailed editing, so you stay in context with your arrangement visible.

The timeline has three vertical zoom levels: **Compact** (`⌥↑`) drops all tracks to minimal height for an arrangement overview, **Normal** is the default track height, and **Focus** (`⌥↓` or double-click a clip) expands a single clip for detailed editing. Exit Focus Mode with `Escape` or `⌥↑`; your zoom and scroll position is restored automatically.

While in Focus Mode, move to an adjacent clip on the same track without exiting — `Tab` / `⇧Tab` step to the next / previous clip, and `→` / `←` do the same.

## Audio Focus Mode

<Frame>
  <img alt="Audio clip in Focus Mode showing the waveform" lightAlt="Audio clip in Focus Mode showing the waveform" darkAlt="Audio clip in Focus Mode showing the waveform" src="https://mintcdn.com/kern/QnBE5YO0LRtSM84L/images/screenshots/focus-audio-light.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=QnBE5YO0LRtSM84L&q=85&s=afdaeac6f8cba94591aabb90e34221a2" className="dark:hidden" width="3024" height="1964" data-path="images/screenshots/focus-audio-light.png" />

  <img alt="Audio clip in Focus Mode showing the waveform" lightAlt="Audio clip in Focus Mode showing the waveform" darkAlt="Audio clip in Focus Mode showing the waveform" src="https://mintcdn.com/kern/XSzLBjBqAp3STeCO/images/CleanShot-2026-06-06-at-20.58.56@2x.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=XSzLBjBqAp3STeCO&q=85&s=758ba8b5d9a414e8daaa884878802992" className="hidden dark:block" width="4024" height="2264" data-path="images/CleanShot-2026-06-06-at-20.58.56@2x.png" />
</Frame>

The track expands to show a detailed waveform of the clip. Transient detection and marker editing live in the [Sample Editor](/features/sample-editor) — open it via a click on the inspector waveform preview or `⌥X`.

### Slice playback

Letter keys trigger slices between transient markers. `Z` and `X` switch between pages of slices when there are more slices than keys.

```text theme={null}
Upper row:   Q W E R T Y U I O P
Middle row:  A S D F G H J K L
Lower row:   [Z] [X]  C V B N M
             ↑ page   ↑ first slice
```

The Inspector provides playback options: slices play in full, and you can apply a decay time across all slices.

## MIDI Focus Mode

<Frame>
  <img alt="MIDI clip in Focus Mode showing piano roll with notes" lightAlt="MIDI clip in Focus Mode showing piano roll with notes" darkAlt="MIDI clip in Focus Mode showing piano roll with notes" src="https://mintcdn.com/kern/QnBE5YO0LRtSM84L/images/screenshots/focus-piano-roll-light.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=QnBE5YO0LRtSM84L&q=85&s=903ffc7d1785018f3287796febbe1689" className="dark:hidden" width="3024" height="1964" data-path="images/screenshots/focus-piano-roll-light.png" />

  <img alt="MIDI clip in Focus Mode showing piano roll with notes" lightAlt="MIDI clip in Focus Mode showing piano roll with notes" darkAlt="MIDI clip in Focus Mode showing piano roll with notes" src="https://mintcdn.com/kern/XSzLBjBqAp3STeCO/images/CleanShot-2026-06-06-at-21.00.13@2x.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=XSzLBjBqAp3STeCO&q=85&s=cd9e840489cb49e894b90c4ace74ec06" className="hidden dark:block" width="4024" height="2264" data-path="images/CleanShot-2026-06-06-at-21.00.13@2x.png" />
</Frame>

An inline piano roll grid appears inside the track lane. Musical Typing is active — play notes from your computer keyboard in real time. See the [Musical Typing](/shortcuts/musical-typing) page for the full keyboard layouts.

### Create and delete notes

Hold `⌘` and click on an empty area to create notes. The behavior mirrors clip creation on the timeline:

| Context          | Result                                     |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| No note selected | Creates a new note at the clicked position |
| Note selected    | Stamps a duplicate of the selected note    |

Drag after clicking to set the note duration. Right-click a note to delete it. Right-click and drag to erase multiple notes.

## Automation Focus Mode

Double-click an automation clip to edit automation curves inline. See [Automation](/features/automation) for the full editing reference.

## Focus Bar

A floating bar appears at the top of the focused clip. Its contents depend on the clip type:

| Clip Type  | Control                                   | Range                             |
| ---------- | ----------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- |
| Audio      | Gain slider                               | -24 dB to +12 dB                  |
| MIDI       | Velocity slider                           | 0–127 (applies to selected notes) |
| Automation | Draw / LFO mode toggle and shape controls | —                                 |

### Clip picker

The bar leads with a **clip picker** — a shade swatch plus a badge counting how many clips are linked together. Open it to switch the focused clip to another one on the track (each row shows a live mini-preview) or to **Unlink** so the clip stops sharing its body. Press `Escape` once to close the picker, again to exit Focus Mode. See [Linked Clips](/features/linked-clips) for the full model.

## Shortcuts

The keys for entering, exiting, and navigating Focus Mode are below. The [Focus Mode Shortcuts](/shortcuts/focus-mode) reference has the complete grid — piano-roll note editing, audio-slice triggers, and automation-curve editing.

| Action                       | Shortcut             |
| ---------------------------- | -------------------- |
| Enter Focus Mode             | `⌥↓` or double-click |
| Exit Focus Mode              | `Escape` or `⌥↑`     |
| Compact zoom                 | `⌥↑`                 |
| Focus next / previous clip   | `Tab` / `⇧Tab`       |
| Move to next / previous clip | `→` / `←`            |
| Open Sample Editor           | `⌥X`                 |
| Split clip at all transients | `⌘⇧E`                |