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Ontime

Ontime is an application for managing event rundowns and running stage timers.

It allows a center application to be able to distribute event information in the local network. This minimises needs for using Media Server outputs or expensive video distribution while allowing easy integration in workflows including OBS and d3.

Using Ontime

Once installed and running, ontime starts a background server that is the heart of all processes. The app, is used to add / edit your running order in the event list, and running the timers using the Playback Control function.

From here, any device in the same network with a browser is able to render the views as described. This is done by reaching the ontime server at the default port 4001 eg: localhost:4001 or 192.168.1.3:4001 You can then use the ontime logo in the top right corner to select the desired view (event in the lower thirds view, where it is hidden).

In case of unattended machines or automations, it is possible to use different URL to recall individual views and extend with using the URL aliases feature

For the presentation views...
-------------------------------------------------------------
IP.ADDRESS:4001            > Web server default to presenter timer view
IP.ADDRESS:4001/timer      > Presenter / Stage timer view
IP.ADDRESS:4001/sm         > Stage Manager / Backstage view
IP.ADDRESS:4001/public     > Public / Foyer view
IP.ADDRESS:4001/pip        > Picture in Picture view
IP.ADDRESS:4001/lower      > Lower Thirds
IP.ADDRESS:4001/studio     > Studio Clock
IP.ADDRESS:4001/cuesheet   > Cue Sheet

...and for the editor (the control interface, same as the app)
-------------------------------------------------------------
IP.ADDRESS:4001/studio     > Studio Clock

More documentation available here

Feature List (in no specific order)

• Distribute Data over network and render in the browser
• Different screen types
  • Stage Timer
  • Backstage Info
  • Public Info
  • Picture in Picture
  • Studio Clock
• Configurable realtime Lower Thirds
• Cuesheets with additional custom fields
• Send live messages to different screen types
• Ability to differentiate between backstage and public data
• Manage delays workflow
• Open Sound Control (OSC) Control and Feedback
• Roll mode: run independently using the system clock
• Import event list from Excel
• URL Aliases (define configurable aliases to ease onsite setup)
• Logging view
• Edit anywhere: run ontime in your local network and use any machine to reach the editor page (same as app)

Unopinionated

We are not interested in forcing workflows and have made ontime, so it is flexible to whichever way you would like to work.

• You do not need an order list to use the timer. Create an empty event and the OSC API works just the same
• If you want just the info screens, no need to use the timer!
• Don't have or care for a schedule?
  • a single event with no data is enough to use the OSC API and get going
  • use the order list to create a set of quick timers by setting the beginning and start times to 00:00 and 00:10 (BAM! 10 minute timer). You can quickly recall this with OSC as always

Integrations and Workflow

The app is being currently developed to a wide user base, from broadcast to entertainment and conference halls.

Taking advantage of the integrations in Ontime, we currently use Ontime with:

• disguise: trigger ontime from d3's timeline using the OSC API, render views using d3's webmodule
• OBS: render views using the Browser Module
• QLab: trigger ontime using OSC API
• Companion: trigger ontime and manipulate timer using OSC API

Roadmap

Continued development

There are several features planned in the roadmap. These will be implemented in a development friendly order unless there is user demand to bump any of them.

• HTTP Server (vMix integration)
• Improvement with event component design
• New playback mode for cumulative time keeping
• Linux version
• Headless version (run server only anywhere, configure from a browser locally)
• Companion module
• Lower Third Manager
• Note only event
• Reach Schedule: way to speedup timer to meet a deadline

For version 1

Almost reaching a feature set that we can call v1. Before that:

• Mac OS version

Issues

The app is still in pre-release and there are a few issues, mainly concerning responsiveness in different screens. If you run into problems, please open an issue with a screenshot and your device resolution

Unsigned App

When installing the app you would see warning screens from the Operating System like:

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen prevented an unrecognised app from starting. Running this app might put your PC at risk. or Ontime can't be opened because it is from an unidentified developer Long story short: Ontime app is unsigned.
Purchasing the certificates for both Mac and Windows incurs an early cost and is not a priority. This is unlikely to change in future. If you have tips on how to improve this, or would like to sponsor the code signing, please open an issue so we can discuss it

Safari

There are some issues with Safari versions lower than 13:

• Spacing and text styles do not render correctly
• Table view does not work

There is no plan for any further work on this since the breaking code belongs to third party libraries.

Help

Help is underway! ... and can be viewed here

License

This project is licensed under the terms of the GNU GPL v3