Timer for OBS Studio
OBS's countdown is a scene graphic everyone on air sees. Run a private one beside it.
The presenter opens the stage link for a real, running countdown only they (and your producer) can see. The producer keeps the timer and private cues on a separate control link, alongside OBS Studio.
Product Demo
RunCue
A private in-segment pacing timer, not an on-air scene graphic.
RunCue works alongside OBS Studio in a separate browser tab. It does not install as an OBS plugin or access your scenes, sources, or stream.
Compare timers
Choose the setup that matches who needs to see and control the timer.
| Timer | Speaker visibility | Producer control | Cue context | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio Countdown script | Writes into a Text source inside a scene -- visible to everyone watching once that scene is live, not a private presenter view | Set a fixed duration in the script's own properties panel, then it counts down and swaps in a final message -- no separate live cue system | No cue notes; it is a broadcast text source, not an interactive presenter tool | A pre-show "Starting soon" countdown graphic on screen before a stream goes live |
| RunCue browser room | Separate stage and audience links showing a live, adjustable countdown only the presenter and producer need to see | Separate control link with private producer cues across every segment, nothing to install | Cue cards for every segment plus Reset between rehearsal and live sessions | OBS Studio sessions with a run of show and presenters who need to see time remaining in the current segment |
Sources: OBS Studio GitHub: bundled countdown.lua script and OBS Project: Scripting and OBS Studio.
Use RunCue with OBS Studio
Set up the presenter and producer views before your OBS Studio scene goes live.
Built for
OBS Studio operators running church services, town halls, conferences, and livestreamed webinars who need a private presenter pacing timer separate from the on-air countdown graphic.
Pricing
Try the live workflow for 15 minutes.
Keep the room active with every template and custom branding
$19/moPro plus white-label displays
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Weighing it against a free stage timer? See the full price and feature comparison.
FAQ
Using RunCue with OBS Studio
Does OBS Studio have a private presenter timer?
No. OBS Studio's bundled Countdown script writes into a Text source placed in a scene -- if that scene is live, the countdown is on air for everyone watching. There is no private view a presenter can watch for their own pacing, and no cue notes.
What does OBS Studio's bundled Countdown script actually do?
It sets a fixed duration in minutes, counts down inside a chosen Text (GDI+ or FreeType2) source, and swaps in a final message (default: "Starting soon (tm)") when it reaches zero -- built as an on-air scene graphic, not a running, adjustable segment timer.
Why use RunCue beside OBS Studio?
Use RunCue when your presenter needs a private, running countdown during the live session and the producer wants cue notes across multiple segments -- separate from whatever scene is on screen in OBS.
Does RunCue connect to my OBS Studio setup?
No. RunCue runs in a separate browser tab and does not install as an OBS plugin or access your scenes, sources, or stream.
Is there a trial?
Yes -- and there's no rush to set it up. You get up to 7 days to build the run of show before any clock starts; the 15-minute live trial begins only once you press Start, and it includes the live timer, separate role links, cues, Reset, and segment editing before the room locks.
Get started