Markers are a pivotal feature in MixStage™, allowing users to pinpoint specific locations within an audio project timeline. They're instrumental in highlighting areas for review, noting changes, or synchronizing sound elements.

To insert a marker at the current position in your timeline, simply click the 'Drop Marker' button or press the 'Return' key on your keyboard. This action signals the app to place a marker at the current playhead position, serving as a reference point for your editing process.

Upon dropping a marker, you have the option to annotate it with comments. This feature is particularly useful for providing context or instructions for future reference. After selecting to drop a marker, a text box will appear where you can type your comment. Press 'Return' to confirm the comment, or if you prefer to proceed without adding annotations, press 'Return' again to simply drop the marker without comments.(pressing “down arrow” on your keyboard, drops the current colored marker.)

Adjacent to the 'Drop Marker' button, you'll find a selector tool that provides eight different marker categories, each representing a specific audio component. You can click to select a category or use the number keys (1-8) for quick selection. Here's what each marker represents:

1. Dialog: Marks points for spoken content.

2. Music: Identifies segments where music is introduced or altered.

3. Foley: Highlights sound effects reproduced for motion pictures.

4. FX: Denotes special audio effects.

5. BG: Marks background sounds or ambient noise.

6. VO: Indicates voice-over sections.

7. ADR (Automated Dialog Replacement): Marks points where dialog has been re-recorded post-production.

8. Generic: A versatile marker for any general notes not covered by the specific categories.

To streamline your workflow, familiarize yourself with the keyboard shortcuts for quick marker selections, and regularly update marker comments to reflect current notes for you or your team. The clear categorization helps maintain an organized workspace, ensuring each sound element is easily identifiable during the mixing process.