Timeline invalid_segment_timing and segment_overlap: fix your starts

Sume timeline returns invalid_segment_timing or segment_overlap when video starts do not increase or slots overlap past the transition. Fix the start values.

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invalid_segment_timing and segment_overlap from Sume Timeline 1.0 mean that your video[].start values do not increase, or two slots overlap by more than their crossfade. Fix the starts so each one is later than the one before, and keep video[0].start at exactly 0. Run the unbilled /plan call first to see the problem without a charge. Source: Timeline 1.0, read 2026-10-06.

What are the timing rules?

Declared starts are authoritative, and the compiler compensates for a crossfade without pre-shifting your numbers.

Timeline timing rules, read 2026-10-06 from docs.sume.com.
RuleValueCode when broken
First slot startvideo[0].start is 0timeline_must_start_at_zero
Later startsMust increaseinvalid_segment_timing
OverlapNot past the xfadesegment_overlap
Transition on first slotNot allowedtransition_on_first_segment
Slot lengthAt least 0.2 sSee the program table

How do I fix it?

Compute each start as the previous start plus the previous on-screen duration. A transition is at most 1 second and at most 50% of the shorter neighbour, so keep slots long enough for the fade you ask for. Coverage may stop at most 0.5 seconds before the end of the spine.

  • Use POST /v1/timeline-1.0/plan before the paid render; it is unbilled.
  • Slots go up to 200 per timeline; more than 12 chunk automatically on render.strategy: auto.
  • Price is $0.10 per ceil output minute.

Sources

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