Getting Started with Stagetimer

What is Stagetimer?

Stagetimer is a cloud-based countdown timer designed for live events, presentations, broadcasts, and productions. You control timers remotely from your device while presenters, speakers, or talent see a fullscreen display on their screen.

Split-screen photo from AI Founders Demo Day showing production control setup with 1:59 timer on the left connected to live presenter on stage on the right — Real-world example: Control timers from production setup while presenter focuses on their pitch ¹

The key advantage is precision timing across any distance. Whether you’re running a conference from the back of the room, directing a livestream from another building, or coordinating a global virtual event, everyone stays synchronized to the second.

Key features:

Works on any device with a browser - no apps to install
Share different views with presenters, production staff, and audience
Import your event rundown from Excel or Google Sheets
Automate show flow or control manually with Stream Deck integration

Try it now

The fastest way to understand Stagetimer is to experience the remote control yourself:

Create a free timer

Here’s what to do:

Create: Click the button above to generate a demo room with sample timers
Share: Click “Share” → copy the “Viewer” link
Control: Open that link on your phone or another tab, then control it from the first tab

Three-step visual showing: 1) Share button in controller interface, 2) Output Links dialog with Viewer link highlighted, 3) Tablet displaying fullscreen timer with speaker name — Share your timer in three clicks - from controller to fullscreen display on any device

That’s the “aha moment” - you’re now remotely controlling a timer that could be displayed on a stage monitor, broadcast overlay, or conference room screen anywhere in the world.

Core Concepts

Timers

Timers are countdown displays for your event segments. Create individual timers for each speaker, session, or segment of your show.

Timer management interface showing Pawnee Townhall agenda with multiple speakers, time slots, and production labels — Manage multiple event segments with speakers, timing, and production notes

What you can do:

Set durations or specific end times
Add titles, speaker names, and internal notes
Link timers to run automatically in sequence
Schedule timers to start at specific times
Choose display formats: countdown, count-up, or time-of-day

Perfect for conferences, workshops, pitch competitions, sports events, broadcast segments, and classroom presentations.

Learn more about Timers →

Messages

Messages are text displays you can show to presenters in real-time. They appear prominently alongside the timer to communicate with speakers without interrupting the flow.

Message interface showing a red wrap-up alert and audience question with formatting controls and show/hide buttons — Send urgent alerts and display audience questions with color coding and formatting

Common uses:

Wrap-up reminders (“2 minutes left”)
Technical directions (“Speak into microphone”)
Audience questions from live chat or forms
Schedule updates (“Running 5 minutes behind”)
Production cues (“Camera 2 ready”)

You can collect audience questions through a simple form and display them to speakers. Messages work great for town halls, webinars, panel discussions, and live streams.

Learn more about Messages →

Output Links

Output Links let you share different views of your event with different people. Each link shows specific information tailored to different roles.

Available outputs:

Viewer: Fullscreen timer for presenters and talent
Controller: Full control interface for production staff
Agenda: Event schedule for staff and audience
Moderator: Message control for stage managers
Operator: Simplified timing controls for show callers
Submit Questions: Audience participation form

The same event data appears differently depending on what each person needs to see. Your stage manager gets message controls, your presenters get clean timer displays, and your audience gets the event schedule.

Learn more about Output Links →

How Teams Use Stagetimer

Different industries use Stagetimer for precise timing, but the workflow is similar across contexts:

Speaker on stage at Grand Ole Opry with 30:00 countdown timer displayed prominently above the empty auditorium seating — Live Broadcast Production ³

Production control room with multiple monitors and Stagetimer interface showing event schedule during Rails World 2023 tech conference — Tech Conference Production ⁴

Split view of MPTS trade show audience and production control setup with multi-monitor broadcast equipment and Stagetimer running — Trade Show Live Streaming ⁵

Event Controller (Show caller, director, moderator, teacher, producer) Controls timers from the back of the room, control room, or remote location. Uses laptop or tablet to start/stop timers and send messages.

Presenters (Speakers, talent, contestants, students, guests) See fullscreen countdown on stage monitors, confidence monitors, or broadcast overlays. Receive messages for cues and updates.

Production Team (Stage managers, technical directors, camera operators, sound engineers) Access agenda view to stay informed about schedule. Some team members get message control to communicate with presenters.

Audience (Attendees, viewers, students, participants) View event schedule and submit questions through forms. Questions appear as messages that can be displayed to speakers.

Common scenarios:

Conferences: Session timing with speaker cues and audience Q&A
Broadcast: Segment timing with production messages and graphics integration
Education: Class timing with student questions and break management
Corporate: Meeting timing with agenda tracking and participant management
Sports: Event timing with official cues and broadcast coordination
Livestreams: Show timing with chat integration and technical coordination

Getting Started

Timers - Create and manage countdown timers for your events
Messages - Send real-time text to presenters and collect audience questions
Output Links - Share customized views with your team and audience

Outputs & Interfaces

Controller - Complete interface for managing your event
Viewer - Fullscreen timer display for presenters
Agenda - Event schedule view for staff and audience
Moderator - Message control interface for stage management
Operator - Simplified timing controls for show callers

Advanced Features

API - Automate control with scripts and third-party tools
Desktop App - Offline version for secure networks and remote locations
Customization - Brand your timer displays with logos and colors

Integrations

Stream Deck & Companion - Physical button control for live production
OBS Studio - Add timers to livestreams and recordings
vMix - Professional video production integration
Zoom - Add timers to video calls and webinars

Technical Resources

System Requirements - Browser compatibility and hardware specs
Embed on Website - Add timers to your own websites

Next Steps

New to live events or timing? Start with Timers to understand the basics, then explore Messages for presenter communication.

Ready for professional production? Check out Stream Deck integration for physical controls and the API for automation.

Need offline capabilities? Download the Desktop App for use without internet or in secure networks.

Integrating with existing tools? Browse our integration guides for OBS, vMix, Zoom, and other production software.

Questions or need help? Our documentation covers most use cases, but feel free to reach out if you need assistance with your specific setup.

AI Founders Demo Day production by Etienne Seitz at Campus Founders ↩
Startup Stuttgart pitch event production, thanks to Startup Stuttgart e.V. for sharing from the Gründergrillen Pitch Event ↩
Grand Ole Opry production by Andrew Underwood and the team at Cramer ↩
Rails World 2023 in Amsterdam by The Rails Foundation, October 2023 ↩
MPTS London broadcast production tech show, shared by David Fitzell on LinkedIn ↩