Timer Display Modes
Each timer has a display mode — the Appearance field in the Edit Timer dialog. It controls what the output views show. In the background every timer runs with its duration, so linked timers still advance; the mode changes how the time is presented to the audience and crew.
Countdown (default)
The countdown shows the remaining time, counting down from the configured duration to zero. This is the most common display mode for stage timers.
When the timer reaches zero, it keeps counting into overtime with a minus sign (for example -00:15) to show how far over the speaker has gone.
Count Up
Count Up shows the elapsed time, starting from 00:00 and counting upward. The timer still has a duration and goes through the warning, danger and overtime phases at the same thresholds — the display shows how long the segment has been running rather than how much time is left.
Time of Day
Time of Day replaces the timer with the current time of day in 24-hour format (for example 14:32:05). The timer keeps running in the background and still auto-advances after its duration, but Time of Day has no warning, danger or overtime phases — no phase colors, no flash and no sound cues. Useful for venue displays where a visible clock helps attendees follow the schedule.
Count Up + Clock
Count Up + Clock shows the elapsed time as the main display; the Viewer and Fullscreen views show the current time of day underneath. It goes through the phases like Count Up. Ideal for talks where both the running time and the time of day matter.
Hidden
In Hidden mode the output views show no time: Viewer, Fullscreen and Moderator show only the title and speaker, and the Operator view shows "—". The timer keeps running in the background and still auto-advances, but like Time of Day it has no phases — no phase colors, no flash and no sound cues.
In Hidden mode, only the Controller's preview monitor (the small time under the large preview) shows the remaining time.
T-minus (to time)
T-minus (to time) counts down to a clock time instead of from a duration. Choose it under Appearance and set Count down to (with the trigger At clock time the field is called Target time); the duration field becomes Duration (auto) and is calculated for you. The timer cannot be saved without a target time. If the time has already passed today, the editor tells you that the timer will start in overtime. In select mode, T-minus in the bulk Appearance menu is available only when every selected timer already has a target time. This is ideal for pre-show countdowns — for example, "Show starts in 12:34" when the event begins at 14:00.
The display always shows the time left until the target time. Pause, Stop and time adjustments do not change it. The timer ends exactly at the target time — also when you edit it while it runs, or reuse the rundown on another day. Linked timers (After previous ends) start one second after the target time, and wrap-up, danger and overtime cues follow the clock. The duration shown in the editor is only an estimate for planning.
Targets after midnight work: a countdown to 00:00 started at 23:15 shows 45:00 (New Year's Eve). A target up to one hour in the past counts as overtime; an earlier time means the next day. Once running, the countdown keeps counting into overtime past midnight. Without a target time the timer shows 00:00 and never ends on its own; since the editor requires one, this only happens with imported timers until you set a time.
When to use each mode
| Mode | Best for |
|---|---|
| Countdown | Speaker slots, presentations, any segment with a fixed duration |
| Count Up | Panel discussions, open-ended segments, rehearsals |
| Time of Day | Venue clocks, lobby displays, schedule-aware screens |
| Count Up + Clock | Conferences, talks where both elapsed time and the time of day matter |
| Hidden | Segments where no time should be shown, tracked from the Controller |
| T-minus (to time) | Pre-show countdowns, "starting soon" screens |
Time format
Time Format in the room menu (your avatar in the Controller) sets how the large timer looks on the Viewer, Fullscreen, Moderator and Operator views and in the preview in the Controller. Lists of timers — the Agenda, the Viewer sidebar, the Controller's timer list and the Operator's previous and next cards — always use Auto. Time of Day always shows 24-hour HH:MM:SS.
| Format | 5 minutes | 1 hour 5 minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Auto (default) | 05:00 | 1:05:00 |
| HH:MM:SS | 00:05:00 | 01:05:00 |
| H:MM:SS | 0:05:00 | 1:05:00 |
| MM:SS | 05:00 | 65:00 |
| M:SS | 5:00 | 65:00 |
| Verbose | 5m 0s | 1h 5m 0s |
Phase cues
When a timer enters the warning, danger or overtime phase, StageTick can flash the screens and play a sound. Both are set per timer in the Edit Timer dialog.
Flash on phase (default: on)
A 3-second flash on the Viewer, Fullscreen and Moderator views (not on the Operator view or the Agenda), as a signal beyond the color change. Devices with "reduce motion" turned on skip the flash. Untick it per timer if you prefer a quieter transition.
Sound on phase (default: off)
Tick Sound on phase to play an audio cue through the device speaker at each phase change. Then choose a preset (default Beep):
- Beep — simple beeps that increase in count (1/2/3) per phase
- Chime — softer melodic chime tones
- Bell — two-tone bell sound
- Pulse — low, rhythmic pulse pattern
- Escalate — rising pitch that increases urgency per phase
Cues play at three moments:
- Wrap-up — when the timer enters the warning phase
- Danger — when the timer enters the danger phase
- Overtime — when the timer passes zero
Mute
Mute is per device: use the speaker button in the Operator view or press M in the Controller. Every open StageTick screen with a running clock can play cues — including the Viewer, Fullscreen and Agenda — so mute or turn down audience displays that should stay silent. Browsers only play sound after an interaction with the page: click, tap or press a key once on each screen that should play cues after loading it.
Accessibility
Audio cues respect the operating system's prefers-reduced-motion setting. When reduced motion is enabled, audio cues are automatically suppressed to avoid unexpected sounds. No sound? Check the mute state and this setting first.