Add and import content to the Time Editor

The Time Editor lets you add Maya ASCII (.ma)/Maya Binary (.mb) files, audio files, FBX files, and sets. New clips are created on first empty track, if one exists, otherwise, a new track is created.

There are multiple ways to bring animation into the Time Editor to edit. You can:

• Add content to the Time Editor if it is already loaded in Maya. (See Add Maya scene animation to the Time Editor)
• Import content to load a .ma, .mb, or .fbx file to use with the Time Editor. (See Import animation into the Time Editor.
• Drag animation from the Content Browser or middle-drag fron the Outliner into the Time Editor.

When you add content to the Time Editor using File > Add Animation from Scene Selection > , the Add Animation to the Time Editor options appear, letting you specify the animation length and attributes you want to add. You can also add .fbx files with multiple takes into the Time Editor. See Import multiple FBX animation takes in the Time Editor.

Time Editor Animation Sources are any keyed attributes driven by animation curves. An Animation Source is created any time you have keyed animation in your Maya scene.

Important: When you bring animation into the Time Editor, there must first be an object to which you want to add animation already in the Maya scene. If no animation is loaded in the scene, import ma, .mb, or .fbx animation files into Maya for use in the Time Editor. (This process is described in Import animation into the Time Editor.)

Quick Start Tips

The Time Editor Quick Start Tips appear each time you open the Time Editor in a new Maya session. They are included so you can get up and running with animation in the Time Editor quickly. The first two graphics are interactive, and you can click them import content into Maya to use with the Time Editor or add content that is already in the Maya scene. The third reminds you that you can drag files from the Content or file browsers.