Common timeline processing techniques for generating unique manifests are described herein. In accordance with various embodiments a method is performed at one or more servers that include one or more processors, one or more non-transitory memory, and one or more network interfaces. The method includes receiving a request from a client for a unique manifest, wherein the request indicates a recording timeline and includes a recording identifier (ID). The method further includes constructing the unique manifest in response to the request according to the recording timeline, including obtaining at least a portion of the unique manifest from a cache in accordance with determining a corresponding portion of the recording timeline exists in the cache. The method additionally includes appending the recording ID of the request to a URL prefix in the unique manifest. The method also includes sending the unique manifest to the client.