Segments and compilations

Timeline structure lets Cove organize part of a source without exporting a new media file for every use. Choose the representation based on whether you need source evidence, a derived view, a reusable video identity, or an ordered playback collection.

Choose the right representation

Use	Choose	Why
Preserve a point or range exactly as a user, provider, or analyzer supplied it	Raw segment	It retains source, confidence, payload, and original boundaries.
Present a cleaned-up range composed from stored inputs	Segment	A display profile can select, merge, hide, or restyle raw segments without rewriting them.
Give a parent-video range its own reusable media record and metadata	Sub-video	It behaves as a child video while reusing the parent source.
Play whole videos or ranges in a chosen order	Compilation	The group owns the sequence while member media keeps its identity.

What this enables

Raw and derived segments make the rest of the library more expressive:

• you can tag a moment, not just a whole file
• you can track who appears when
• you can build compilations without duplicating media
• you can turn internal structure into something the rest of the app can search and reuse

The stored-versus-derived split is most useful when you want both explainability and a cleaner browsing surface. Sub-videos and compilations then reuse those meaningful ranges without duplicating source media.

Use compilations when:

• you want a chosen sequence
• you want to reuse existing media rather than duplicate files
• a group already expresses the collection you want to play

When to adopt timeline structure

You do not need segments on every item. They pay off most when:

• timing matters
• performer occurrence matters
• tags need to be contextual
• you want reusable sub-videos
• you want richer playback-driven organization