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Working with Beats
Learn how to create, edit, and organize story beats in EmberBoard.
What is a Beat?
A beat is a single moment or scene in your story. Each beat contains:
- Title - Brief description
- Scene Heading - Location and time (optional)
- Script - Dialogue and action
- Image - Storyboard frame
- Duration - How long the beat plays
Think of beats as the building blocks of your storyboard.
Creating Beats
Method 1: Quick Create with B Key ⚡ (Fastest)
- Press B anywhere (no need to click first!)
- A new beat appears after the current/playing beat
- Script input is automatically focused - just start typing!
Perfect for: Rapid brainstorming sessions where you want to capture ideas quickly.
Method 2: Double-Click
- Double-click anywhere in the Node View
- A new beat appears at that location
- Script input is automatically focused - start typing immediately!
Method 3: Drag & Drop Images
- Drag one or more images from your file explorer
- Drop them onto the Node View
- Beats are created automatically in a grid layout
- Script input focuses on the last created beat - add descriptions!
Method 4: Paste Images from Clipboard
- Copy an image (screenshot, browser image, etc.)
- Press Ctrl + V in NodeBeat
- A new beat is created with your image
- Script input is automatically focused - describe the scene!
Method 5: Duplicate Existing (Alt + Drag)
- Click a beat to select it
- Hold Alt key
- Drag the beat to a new location
- Release to create a duplicate
Tip: This copies everything (image, script, duration) which is perfect for creating variations or similar scenes.
Selecting Beats
Single Selection
- Click any beat to select it
- Properties Panel updates to show that beat's details
Multi-Selection
- Shift + Click to add beats to selection
- Shift + Drag box around multiple beats (box selection)
- Selected beats have a blue highlight
With multiple beats selected you can:
- Delete them all at once
- Move them together
- Change their colors simultaneously
Editing Beat Properties
When a beat is selected, the Properties Panel shows:
Title
- Brief name for the beat (e.g., "Opening Shot", "Hero Arrives")
- Shows on the beat node in Node View
- Appears in timeline and exports
Scene Heading (with Smart Suggestions ✨)
Enter screenplay-style headings like INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
Smart Autocomplete:
- Start typing - Get fuzzy-matched suggestions as you type
- Double-click - See all presets and your history
- Arrow keys (↑/↓) - Navigate suggestions
- Enter - Select highlighted suggestion
- Escape - Close suggestions
Built-in Presets:
- INT. LOCATION - DAY
- INT. LOCATION - NIGHT
- EXT. LOCATION - DAY
- EXT. LOCATION - NIGHT
History Tracking: EmberBoard remembers your last 50 unique scene headings across all projects, so frequently used locations are always one click away!
Example workflow:
- Type "int k" → See "INT. KITCHEN - DAY" suggestion
- Press Enter → Heading filled in
- Next time: Double-click → Your "INT. KITCHEN - DAY" appears in history
If left blank, no scene heading is included.
Script
- Write dialogue, action, or description
- Supports Fountain syntax for formatting
- Use the Script Window for larger text area
- Can be edited in Properties Panel or Script Window
Duration
- Set how long the beat plays in frames
- + button - Add 1 frame
- - button - Remove 1 frame
- Or type exact duration
- Format:
seconds:frames(e.g.,02:12= 2 seconds, 12 frames at 24fps)
Node Color
- Choose from 10 preset colors
- Or use custom color picker
- Great for color-coding scene types:
- Red = Action
- Blue = Dialogue
- Green = Establishing shots
- Yellow = Key moments
Reordering Beats
In Node View
Horizontal position = Timeline order
- Click and drag a beat left or right
- Other beats automatically adjust
- Timeline updates to match
Tip: Use the minimap to see beat positions at a glance.
Visual Organization
You can arrange beats vertically for organization without affecting timeline order:
- Same horizontal position = same timeline placement
- Vertical stacking keeps related beats together visually
The Beat Shelf
The Beat Shelf is a storage area for beats you want to keep but not show in the timeline.
Moving to Shelf
Method 1: Double-click a beat in Node View
Method 2: Toggle "On Shelf" checkbox in Properties Panel
Beats on the shelf:
- Don't appear in timeline
- Don't appear in playback
- Are excluded from exports
- Can still be edited
Restoring from Shelf
Method 1: Double-click a beat in the shelf
Method 2: Click the ↓ button on shelf item
The beat returns to the timeline after the currently selected beat.
Why Use the Shelf?
- Alternate versions - Try different approaches
- Deleted scenes - Keep for reference
- Future beats - Plan ahead without cluttering timeline
- Backup copies - Save a version before major changes
Deleting Beats
Single Delete
- Select a beat
- Press Delete or Backspace
- Confirm if prompted
Multi-Delete
- Select multiple beats (Shift + Click)
- Press Delete
- All selected beats are removed
Tip: Consider moving beats to the shelf instead of deleting them. You might want them back later!
Undo and Redo
Made a mistake? No problem!
- Ctrl + Z - Undo last action
- Ctrl + Shift + Z - Redo
EmberBoard remembers your last 50 actions.
Best Practices
Start with Structure
- Create all your beats first (just titles)
- Arrange them in order
- Then add images and script
This helps you see the big picture before getting into details.
Use Descriptive Titles
Good: "Hero enters cave", "Villain reveal", "Chase begins"
Bad: "Beat 1", "Scene 2", "Shot 3"
Descriptive titles make it easier to navigate large projects.
Color Code Strategically
Create a color system that works for you:
- By scene type (action, dialogue, transition)
- By location (INT vs EXT)
- By character focus
- By importance (A-plot, B-plot, C-plot)
Group Related Beats Vertically
While horizontal position determines timeline order, use vertical space to group related beats:
- All "Act 1" beats at top
- All "Location A" beats together
- Alternate versions stacked