Timer Record Improvements

[petersampsonaudacity]

Describe the bug
The current implementation of Timer Record operates as an "unattended recording" rather than a proper timed recording in that most of Audacity's recording controls are unavailable to the user once a "Timer Record" has been initiated. In particular the levels cannot be re-adjusted once Timer Record has been initiated but also the zoom level and resizing of tracks cannot be accessed. Also labels and markers cannot be dropped. The Times cannot be changed.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Set up a Timed Recording
2. try to adjust the recording level with the Audaciy Mic slider
3. Observe: you can't
4. try ti change the zoom level or resize the tracks
5. Observe: you can't
6. While the TR is in waiting to record mode try to change the event times or the post-record actions
7. Observe you can't
8. Once the TR is recording try to change the end time
9. Observe you can't

1-7 workaround is to cancel the TR-waiting dialog and reset the timed recording - this is UX clumsy

Expected behavior

1. Timer Record to enable access to the normal set of recording controls, especially metering.
2. Ability to change the event times while TR is in waiting state
3. Ability to change the event end time while TR is recording

Controls:

Timer Record to facilitate availability of all the normal set of Audacity recording controls:

1. use of the Mixer Toolbar sliders to adjust the signal level
2. drop markers/labels with {{shortcut|Ctrl + B}} and {{shortcut|Ctrl + M}},
3. Edit labels
4. Label deletion via context menu
5. zoom in/out
6. pause and un-pause recording - Note that this merely temporarily interrupts the recording; it does not extend the recording time
7. change the track size,
8. rename the track,
9. rename the clip
10. change the waveform display type.

Ability to change the event times:

1. Add the ability to change (extend or shorten) the recording stop time during recording. Would require a modification to the "Audacity Timer Record Progress" dialog box.
2. Add the ability to change (extend or shorten) the recording stop time or the start time while waiting to record. _Would require a modification to the "... Waiting for Start" dialog box.

Ability to minimize the Timer record Window

Timer Record to behave like a proper Windows window so that it can be minimized to the Applications bar with the minimize button in the Audacity window.
Gale noted: Bug 104 relates to this - see https://bugzilla.audacityteam.org/show_bug.cgi?id=104

Screenshots
None

Additional information (please complete the following information):

• OS: all
• Version: all

Additional context
This was originally logged on the Audacity Wiki as a Proposal:
https://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Proposal_Timer_Record_Improvements_Phase-2

this was done as a response to it being one of the most popular logged Feature Requests - and may calls for it on the Forum.

[LWinterberg]

this is planned for much later (Audacity 4.x), closing for now

[petersampsonaudacity]

Another user request for this on the Forum:

https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/is-there-any-progress-to-loosen-the-timer-record-lockout/72579