FAQ
Questions worth asking.
How accurate is the clock?
StudioClock syncs to NTP time sources and typically achieves 1-10 millisecond accuracy over the internet, often sub-millisecond on a good local network - far tighter than a single broadcast frame (33-40 ms). A live readout shows the measured offset, round trip and server in use, so you can see exactly how well synced you are.
What happens if the network or internet drops during a show?
The clock keeps running on its last known offset and marks itself as holding rather than blanking, freezing, or resetting. Your studio Mac’s own system clock is already NTP-disciplined by macOS, so even without a fresh sync you stay within a few milliseconds. The internet is only used to discipline the clock - the show itself runs entirely on your Mac.
Can I use my own time server instead of a public one?
Yes. Alongside a curated list of public stratum-1 servers (NPL, PTB, NIST, plus anycast pool servers), you can point StudioClock at any custom NTP source, including a dedicated studio time-server appliance already on your network.
How many LAN viewers can connect at once?
There is no artificial cap built into the viewer - any browser on your network can open it. Practical capacity depends on your Mac and your network, as with any local web server.
Is the LAN viewer secure?
The viewer is read-only by design - it can display the show but never control it. Secure network mode adds an optional viewer passcode and can restrict the server to localhost-only access, with a clear REMOTE LIVE indicator whenever external control (OSC in) is switched on, plus an OSC source allow-list.
Does StudioClock support PTP or GPS timing?
Not currently. StudioClock ships with NTP/SNTP time sync. A hardware-locked reference module for PTP or GPS is a designed future direction, not a shipped feature - please do not rely on this for anything that needs microsecond-level, hardware-timestamped sync today.
What languages does the app support?
Seven: English (UK, the source language), English (US), German, French, Spanish, Japanese and Traditional Chinese, switchable in-app or via macOS’s per-app language picker. Broadcast terms like ON AIR and REMOTE LIVE stay in English everywhere, by design. The in-app Help manual and the LAN web viewer currently display in English regardless of the app’s language.
What’s the difference between the two editions?
Both editions share every core feature - timekeeping, the display designer, countdown, the LAN viewer, OSC/TSL control, the menu-bar server, autosave, secure network mode, diagnostics and all seven languages. The Studio edition, downloaded straight from this site, additionally includes NDI video output. The App Store edition is the same app without it, because Apple does not permit NDI for App Store apps. Both are signed and checked by Apple, so macOS opens either without a security warning.
Do I need an account or subscription?
No accounts, no sign-in, and no cloud dependency for the app to function - shows are saved as portable files on your Mac, and any secrets (such as a viewer passcode) stay in the macOS Keychain.