> ## 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.

# The Window

> One window holds the whole project: the track list on the left, the timeline in the middle, the Plugin Strip along the bottom and the Inspector on the right. Press ⌘1 or ⌘2 to switch the Inspector's tabs.

## The areas

<video src="/videos/the-window-areas.mp4" poster="/videos/the-window-areas.jpg" aria-label="The Gridshift window, its areas outlined one after another: toolbar, track list, timeline, Plugin Strip, Inspector and transport bar" title="The Gridshift window, its areas outlined one after another: toolbar, track list, timeline, Plugin Strip, Inspector and transport bar" muted loop playsInline preload="none" />

* **Toolbar.** The project title with its cover on the left, the **Dynamics Mode** button and the two Inspector tab buttons on the right. Right-click it for **Customize Toolbar…**.
* **Track list** (the Sidebar) on the left. Your tracks on top, the Returns and the Master pinned below. See [Tracks](/tracks/tracks.md).
* **Timeline** in the middle: tracks top to bottom against a ruler of bars and beats. See [Clips](/arrange/clips.md) and [Focus Mode](/edit/focus-mode.md).
* **Plugin Strip** along the bottom: the selected track's effects as cards. `⌘3` puts the keyboard there, `⌘0` back on the timeline. See [Plugin Strip](/sounds/plugin-strip.md).
* **Inspector** on the right: one tab at a time, with the **Info Bar** at its foot.
* **Transport bar**, floating across the window's bottom edge: metronome, record, play, loop and the position in bars and beats and in minutes and seconds.

## The Inspector

<video src="/videos/inspector-tabs.mp4" poster="/videos/inspector-tabs.jpg" aria-label="Command 3, 4 and 5 show the Instruments, Effects and Project tabs; Command 1 brings back the track" title="Command 3, 4 and 5 show the Instruments, Effects and Project tabs; Command 1 brings back the track" muted loop playsInline preload="none" />

Click a tab in the toolbar above the Inspector, or press `⌘1` or `⌘2`. `⌘1` brings back the selected track.

| Tab | Key | Shows |
| - | - | - |
| **Tracks** | `⌘1` | The selected track, section by section |
| **Project** | `⌘2` | The project's title, cover, key, tempo, comments and versions |

Files from your disks come in from the Finder or the [Sample Library](/library/sample-library.md). Plugins are loaded from the Command Palette ([Load Instruments and Effects](/sounds/load-instruments-and-effects.md)) and sorted in `Settings ▸ Plugins` ([Plugin Categories](/sounds/plugin-categories.md)). While an automation clip is open in Focus Mode, `⌘1` and `⌘2` switch that clip between drawing and LFO instead ([Automation Clips](/edit/automation-clips.md)).

## The Tracks tab

The top row holds the track's icon, name, **M** and **S**. Double-click the name to rename it; right-click it for **Color**, where **Inherit** gives a track inside a group the group's color. If the track's plugins add delay, a **Latency** row under the name shows the total in milliseconds, which is compensated automatically.

<video src="/videos/inspector-mute.mp4" poster="/videos/inspector-mute.jpg" aria-label="Shift M and Shift S light up the Mute and Solo buttons in the Inspector's top row" title="Shift M and Shift S light up the Mute and Solo buttons in the Inspector's top row" muted loop playsInline preload="none" />

Press `⇧M` or `⇧S`, or click **M** or **S** in the top row, to mute or solo the track.

Below the top row, the sections follow the signal:

| Section | On | Page |
| - | - | - |
| **Sample** or **Instrument**, with **MIDI Effects** above an instrument | Sample and instrument tracks | [Load Instruments and Effects](/sounds/load-instruments-and-effects.md), [Sample Editor](/samples/sample-editor.md), [Sampler](/samples/sampler.md), [MIDI Effects](/sounds/midi-effects.md) |
| **Warp** | Tracks with a sample | [Time Stretching](/timing/time-stretching.md) |
| **Mix** | Every track except automation | [Track Mix](/mix/track-mix.md) |
| **Group Mix** / **Master Mix**, **Monitor** | Groups / the Master | [Group and Master Mix](/mix/group-and-master-mix.md), [Monitor Profiles](/mix/monitor-profiles.md) |
| **Incoming Sends** | Returns | [Sends and Returns](/mix/sends-and-returns.md) |
| **Ducking** | Tracks something ducks | [Ducking](/mix/ducking.md) |
| **Sends** | Sample, instrument and group tracks, once the project has a Return | [Sends and Returns](/mix/sends-and-returns.md) |
| **Grid**: **Chord Track**, **Octave**, **Project Groove** | Sample and instrument tracks | [Chord Track](/sounds/chord-track.md), [Instrument Presets](/sounds/instrument-presets.md), [Groove](/timing/groove.md) |
| **Automation** | Tracks that automation lanes control | [Automation](/mix/automation.md) |

With the built-in Sampler, the Instrument card shows the sample with **Key** and **Poly** rows; click it, or press `⌥X`, to open the Sampler. On a sample track, drag the waveform in the **Sample** section onto the timeline for a clip of the whole sample, or right-click it for **Change Sample…**, **Reveal in Finder**, **Convert to Instrument Track** and **Remove Sample**. Group, Return and Master tracks put **Mix** right under the name. Right-click the empty area below the last section for **Add Ducking** and **Add Return Track**.

## The Project tab

The **Project** tab has six sections: **Info** (cover, title and [collections](/projects/projects.md)), **Audio** (the project's sample rate), **Key & Scale** and **Grid** ([Tempo, Key and Time Signature](/projects/tempo-key-meter.md)), [Comments](/projects/comments.md) and [Versions](/projects/versions.md).

## The project title

Click the project title in the toolbar for **Key & Scale** and **Grid** in a popover, from any tab. The line under the title reads tempo and key, for example `172 BPM · E Minor`, and then the loaded version (`v3`) or `edited` once you change something.

## The Info Bar

The bar at the foot of the Inspector names the control under the pointer and says what it does. It is on by default; press `?` or run Command Palette → **Info Bar On/Off** to hide or show it.


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