Timer Display Modes

Each timer has a display mode that controls what the output views show. The timer always runs internally as a countdown, but you can change how the time is presented to the audience and crew.

Countdown (default)

The countdown mode 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 enters overtime and displays negative time (e.g., -0:15) to show how far over the speaker has gone.

Fullscreen output showing a countdown timer at 4:32

Count Up

Count Up mode shows elapsed time, starting from 0:00 and counting upward. The timer still has a configured duration and will progress through the normal, warning, and danger phases at the same thresholds — but the display shows how long the segment has been running rather than how much time is left.

Tip: Count Up is useful for open-ended segments where the speaker should be aware of elapsed time but there is no hard cutoff — for example, a panel discussion.

Time of Day

Time of Day mode replaces the timer display with the current wall clock time (e.g., 14:32:05). The timer still runs in the background and progresses through its phases, but the audience sees only the current time. This is useful for large venue displays where a visible clock helps attendees track the schedule.

Count Up + Clock

Count Up + Clock mode shows the elapsed time as the primary display with the current wall clock time underneath. This is ideal for conferences where the speaker and audience benefit from seeing both how long the segment has been running and the current time of day.

Hidden

In Hidden mode, the timer runs and progresses through its phases, but the output display shows no time value — the screen appears blank (or shows only the timer title, depending on the view).

This is useful for segments where you want the operator to track timing internally without showing a countdown to the audience or speaker.

Note: Even in Hidden mode, the operator view always shows the actual countdown so the production team stays informed.

Countdown to Time

Countdown to Time mode shows the remaining time until a specific wall clock time (the configured target time). Instead of counting down from a set duration, it calculates how long until the target time is reached.

This is ideal for pre-show countdowns — for example, displaying "Show starts in 12:34" when the event begins at 14:00.

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 wall clock matter
Hidden Internal timing segments, backstage-only tracking
Countdown to Time Pre-show countdowns, "starting soon" screens

Countdown Format

You can change how timer values are formatted across all output views. The format setting applies room-wide from the room menu.

Format Example
Auto (default) 5:00 or 1:05:00
hh:mm:ss 01:05:00
h:mm:ss 1:05:00
mm:ss 05:00
m:ss 5:00
Verbose 1h 5m 0s

Phase Cues

When a timer enters the warning, danger, or overtime phase, StageTick can trigger visual and audio cues. Both are configurable per timer in the timer settings.

Flash on phase (default: on)

A 3-second visual flash pulse on all output views, providing a noticeable signal beyond the color change. Disable it per timer if you prefer a subtler transition.

Sound on phase (default: off)

An audio beep plays through the device speaker at each phase transition:

  • Warning — single beep (800 Hz)
  • Danger — double beep (800 Hz)
  • Overtime — triple beep (1000 Hz)
Tip: Enable sound cues for speakers who may not be watching the timer display. The escalating beep pattern makes it easy to distinguish warning from danger without looking.