Streamer Overlays

Introduction to Overlays

Overlays are graphical elements rendered into the video output that provide visual information during sound post-production sessions. Video Sync offers several overlay types, each serving a different purpose:

• Timecode - displays the current timeline position
• Markers - annotate and identify sections of a project
• Streamers - provide visual countdowns to sync points
• Flutters - mark Hit Points and tempo with flashing visual cues

This chapter covers all aspects of Streamers - how to create, configure, edit, and trigger them via MIDI.

Streamers are primarily used by composers and music editors to visually identify the start of a new cue, the start of a recording take, or other critical sync points. They provide a visual countdown and the corresponding tempo, where relevant, that helps performers and conductors anticipate upcoming sync moments.

Streamer Overlays

Streamers are animated visual countdown overlays that provide a visual lead-in to a Hit Point. A Streamer can display as a single coloured bar moving from left to right across the screen, or as a bar from each edge of the screen, both moving simultaneously towards the centre. Optionally, the Streamer can finish on a vertical bar, and a Punch (a flashing circle) can appear as the Streamer reaches the Hit Point. Each Streamer consists of a Hit Point timecode, a duration (selected from preset values), a colour, and optional audio beeps. Streamers can operate in either a time-based or tempo-based reference unit. Traditionally, streamers are also referred to as "wipes."

Streamers appear as Visual Events on a dedicated STREAMERS track in the Visual Events section.

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The Streamer track can be shown or hidden using the show/hide pull-down tab located at the top left of the Visual Events section.

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During playback, the Streamer animates on the video output, moving towards the Hit Point.

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Note: Overlays are enabled by default. If Streamer overlays are not visible during playback, see Enabling Streamer Overlays later in this chapter.

Viewing and Editing Streamer Properties

Streamer properties can be viewed and edited in two places:

• The Properties tab shows the selected Streamer's details. Double-click a Streamer to open it, or click the PROPERTIES tab at the top left of the Visual Events section.
• The Event List shows all events in a table format, allowing multiple Streamers to be viewed and edited at once. Press Shift & L, or select Event List from the Window menu, to show or hide it.

Both are used throughout this chapter for creating, editing, and managing Streamers.

Streamer Properties

Streamers can be either time-based or tempo-based, determined by the Reference Unit setting active at the moment the Streamer is created. Once created, a Streamer's type cannot be changed - a time-based Streamer cannot be given a tempo, and a tempo-based Streamer cannot be converted to a time-based duration. A project can contain a mix of both types. Both appear identically on the timeline - the difference is only visible in the Properties tab or Event List, where each type displays its corresponding fields.

A time-based Streamer consists of the following properties:

• Hit Point - the timecode where the Streamer reaches its target (the sync point)
• Duration - how long the countdown animation plays, in seconds
• Colour - the colour of the Streamer bar

A tempo-based Streamer has the same properties plus an additional field:

• Tempo - the BPM (beats per minute) of the countdown

Switching Between Timecode and Feet+Frames

To switch between Timecode and Feet+Frames display, right-click the main counter when it is not highlighted. Select either Set Time Format to Timecode or Set Time Format to Feet+Frames. This changes the display format of the Timelines, counters, and the Timecode overlay simultaneously.

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Edit Mode: Timeline Range vs Target Event

Video Sync offers two edit modes, as they determine how Streamers behave when selected and modified in the timeline. The Edit Mode can be switched using the Edit Mode toggle in the Controller Bar.

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In Timeline Range Mode, the current timeline selection determines which Streamers are affected by edit operations. The selection remains active until a new selection is made or the timeline is clicked elsewhere to deselect.

Target Event Mode keeps selected Streamers targeted even when scrubbing or nudging the playhead, which is useful for maintaining a selection while navigating the timeline. Discontiguous Streamers can be selected directly from the Event List.

Edit Mode switches automatically when selecting discontiguous events from the Event List - VideoSync enters Target Event Mode to accommodate non-contiguous selections.

Note: In Target Event Mode, clicking the timeline selects existing events rather than making a timeline range selection.

The Edit Mode setting is stored with the project and restored when the project is reopened.

Creating Streamers

To create a Streamer, press the S hotkey. A new Streamer event will be created at the current playhead position using the defaults specified in Preferences / Settings → OVERLAYS → Streamers tab.

The same result can also be achieved by selecting New Streamer Event from the Event menu.

Streamers can also be created from the Event List using the Add New Event button (+). This button adds a new event based on the most recently or most frequently used visual event type.

Note: When adding several Streamers in succession, the button will recognise this and continue adding Streamers when pressed.

Editing Streamers

Editing the Hit Point

The Hit Point timecode can be edited numerically in the Properties tab. Double-clicking a Streamer in the Streamer track or the Event List brings the Properties tab to the forefront, where the Streamer's properties can be edited.

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The Hit Point timecode field can be edited in multiple ways. To scrub-adjust the timecode, click and hold the arrow button to the right of the timecode field and drag left or right. Dragging slowly produces finer changes, while dragging further produces larger changes.

To retype the timecode, click the field once so the entire timecode is selected, then type the full hours, minutes, seconds, and frames (excluding colons). The period and comma keys can be used as shortcuts to enter double zeroes into timecode fields, speeding up entry.

Press Enter or click elsewhere to confirm the new value.

To adjust only one specific timecode field (such as frames), double-click just that field so only it is selected, then retype the value.

To copy and paste timecode values, double-click the timecode field to highlight it, then right-click to access a context menu with Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Select All, Undo, and Redo. This context menu is available on all timecode fields throughout the application - including the main counter, selection in/out counters, and timecode fields in the Properties tab and Event List. It allows timecodes to be copied from external sources - such as a DAW, spreadsheet, or email - and pasted directly into the field, or copied from Video Sync and pasted elsewhere.

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Moving Streamers

One or more Streamers can be moved on the timeline by selecting them and dragging to the new position.

Selected Streamers can be nudged frame-by-frame using the , (comma) key to move 1 frame earlier, or the . (period) key to move 1 frame later.

Duplicating Streamers

To duplicate one or more highlighted Streamers while moving them to a new position, hold Option while dragging the Streamers on the timeline.

Alternatively, with Streamers highlighted, press Command & D to duplicate them in place - the new Streamers are created at the exact same position as the originals, stacked on top. This command is also available from the Event menu as Duplicate Current Events.

Deleting Streamers

One or more selected Streamers can be deleted by pressing the Delete key. This command is also available from the Event menu as Remove Selected Events.

Muting Streamers

One or more selected Streamers can be muted by pressing Command & M. Pressing the same shortcut again unmutes them. Muting a Streamer hides it from the overlay output without deleting it from the project. Muted Streamers appear greyed out on the timeline. The mute state is also reflected in the On column in the Event List, where it can be toggled directly.

Sorting Events

The Event List can be sorted by clicking a field heading to sort by that column. Clicking again switches between ascending and descending order.

Sorting is useful for organising events in different ways - for example, sorting by colour to group similarly styled Streamers together, or sorting by Hit Point to find the last event in the timeline.

Customising the Event List

Column order can be rearranged by clicking a column header and dragging it to a new position.

Column width can be adjusted by clicking the right edge of a column header and dragging.

Columns can be shown or hidden by right-clicking (or Control-clicking) any column header.

Navigating Events

The Event List provides several methods for navigating between events:

• ↑ or Command & ← to select the previous event
• ↓ or Command & → to select the next event

These commands navigate through all visual events in the Event List, not just Streamers. Navigation follows the current sort order. If navigation behaves unexpectedly, check which column the list is sorted by and whether it is set to ascending or descending order.

When Video Sync is not in focus, system-wide hotkeys can be used to navigate between events where they have been configured in Preferences / Settings. Command & F5 selects the previous event and Command & F6 selects the next event.

On Macs where F keys are not configured to act as standard function keys, Fn must also be held - for example, Command & Fn & F5. This setting can be found in System Settings → Keyboard → Function Keys.

The Go To command (Command & G) allows quick navigation directly to a specific event. Pressing the shortcut opens a text input box. Begin typing and a list of matching candidates from all event types appears immediately below. Clicking an event from the list selects it and moves the playhead to its position.

Typing # followed by a cue number searches specifically by cue number — for example, entering #12 will find all cues containing 12 in their cue number.

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Selection expansion commands allow multiple events to be selected quickly. These commands apply to all visual event types, not just Streamers:

• Command & Option & A includes all events before the current selection
• Command & Shift & A includes all events after the current selection
• Command & A selects all events in the list

Navigating Streamers on the Timeline

In Timeline Range Mode, Streamers can be navigated directly on the timeline using the Tab key. Press Tab to move the playhead forward to the next event boundary, and Option & Tab to move backward. The playhead stops at the start and end of each Streamer, making it straightforward to navigate through Streamers on the timeline.

Hold Shift while pressing Tab to make a timeline selection as the playhead advances, extending the selection from the current position to the next event boundary. Shift & Option & Tab extends the selection in the opposite direction.

Event Selection Playhead Behaviour

Settings under Preferences / Settings → OVERLAYS → General tab control what happens when an event is selected:

When an event is selected - choose between Go to Start (playhead moves to the start of the Streamer countdown), Go to In Point (playhead moves to the Hit Point), or Don't move Playhead (playhead stays in place).

If Events are Selected - choose between Show Only Selected (only the selected event's overlays are rendered) or Show All (all events' overlays are rendered during playback).

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Playback Modes

Hold down the Control key while clicking the play button to choose between Single Play and Loop Play modes.

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MIDI Triggers

Streamers can be triggered via external MIDI events from the DAW. This allows Streamers to fire in real time during playback by sending MIDI notes from Pro Tools to Video Sync. Multiple trigger configurations can be defined, each mapped to a different MIDI note - for example, C1 could trigger a green 2-bar Streamer at 72 BPM for a strings cue, D1 a red 2-bar Streamer at 96 BPM for a brass cue, and E1 a blue 3-second Streamer for a scene change.

In Video Sync

First, select the desired Streamer type by setting the Reference Unit to Time or Tempo in Preferences / Settings → OVERLAYS → Streamers. This determines the fields available for each trigger row - tempo-based triggers include an additional BPM field.

Then, open the TRIGGER tab in Preferences / Settings. Verify that the Trigger MIDI Input is set to Video Sync Trigger In (virtual).

Press the + button to add a new trigger row. Each row defines the following:

• Event Type - set to Streamer
• Trigger - the MIDI note that will trigger this Streamer (e.g. C1, D1, E1)
• Duration - how long the Streamer animation plays
• Color - the colour of the Streamer

Note: When entering the MIDI note value in the Trigger field, a capital letter must be used (e.g. C1, not c1). The value will not change if a lowercase letter is entered.

Multiple rows can be added, each with a different MIDI note, duration, and colour. To add a mixture of time-based and tempo-based trigger rows, add the rows for one type first, then switch the Reference Unit in Preferences / Settings → OVERLAYS → Streamers before adding rows for the other type. This allows a single Pro Tools session to trigger several distinct Streamer types.

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In Pro Tools

To send MIDI triggers from Pro Tools to Video Sync, create a new MIDI track in the Pro Tools session. Set the track's output to Video Sync Trigger In (virtual) → Channel-1.

As with MTC and MMC virtual ports, it is advised to always launch Video Sync before launching Pro Tools so that the virtual ports are available.

Place MIDI notes on this track at the timecode positions where Streamers should fire. The note values must match the notes defined in the Video Sync MIDI Triggers tab. During playback, Pro Tools sends the MIDI notes to Video Sync, which triggers the corresponding Streamer at each note position.

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Note: MIDI triggers may not be frame-accurate when using supported video devices from Avid, Blackmagic Design, or AJA.

Enabling Streamer Overlays

The Device List in Preferences / Settings → DISPLAY tab shows all available video output devices - including video hardware, the Fullscreen Video Device, and the Internal Video Device - each with independent overlay controls. Click on the left-most grey arrow of the relevant video device to show the expanded settings, so that the arrow is pointing up.

Each device can independently show or hide Streamer overlays using the Streamer Events checkbox. The Overlays checkbox on each device toggles all overlay types on or off for that device. This allows flexibility when setting up multiple outputs - for example, Streamers can be visible on a conductor's monitor while an editor's display remains clean.

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Global Toggle Shortcuts

To toggle all overlays across all devices globally, press Shift & Command & B, or select Toggle Overlays Globally from the View menu.

Streamer Settings

All Streamer overlay settings are configured in Preferences / Settings → OVERLAYS → Streamers tab. The available options provide complete control over how Streamers appear and behave.

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When a setting is adjusted, a temporary preview of the overlay is automatically displayed on all available video devices for a few seconds, allowing settings to be fine-tuned visually. Overlays do not need to be enabled in the Device List, and events do not need to be added to the timeline, in order to preview settings changes.

If overlays are visible when adjusting settings but not during playback, ensure that the overlay type is enabled for the relevant device in the Device List (Preferences / Settings → DISPLAY tab), and that overlays have not been disabled globally via Toggle Overlays Globally in the View menu.

Overlay appearance settings apply globally - they are shared across all video devices, projects, and timelines.

Color sets the colour of newly created Streamer events. This acts as a default and can be overridden on an event-by-event basis. A colour is chosen from the Base Colors palette and adjusted using the Lightness slider. The colour picker also includes an Opacity slider, which can be used to make the Streamer semi-transparent.

Direction sets the direction of the Streamer animation. Left to Right displays a single bar moving across the screen from left to right. Edge to Centre displays a bar from each edge of the screen, both moving simultaneously towards the centre.

Streamer finishes on bar toggles an optional bar on the right side of the screen that marks the end of the Streamer. If this is not checked, the Streamer will end at the right edge of the display. This setting only applies when the Direction is set to Left to Right.

Position: Top-Bottom adjusts the vertical positioning of the Streamer. Moving left positions the Streamer lower on screen, while moving right positions it higher.

Size: Width adjusts the horizontal width or thickness of the Streamer.

Size: Height adjusts the vertical extent of the Streamer - for cases where it is desirable to have the Streamer not cover the entire height of the video. Moving left shortens the Streamer, while moving right makes it taller.

Reference Unit

Reference Unit selects between Time-based and Tempo-based Streamers. The reference unit that is active at the moment a Streamer is created determines its type. A Time-based Streamer has a duration measured in seconds, while a Tempo-based Streamer has a duration measured in bars and an additional tempo (BPM) field. Once created, a Streamer's type cannot be changed - a Time-based Streamer cannot be given a tempo, and a Tempo-based Streamer cannot be converted to a Time-based duration.

A project can contain a mix of both time-based and tempo-based Streamers. Both types appear identically on the timeline. The difference is only visible in the Properties tab or Event List, where each type displays its corresponding fields.

Duration and Tempo

Default Duration sets the duration used when creating a new Streamer event. When the reference unit is set to Time, the duration can be set to 1, 2, 2.67, 3, 3.3, or 5 seconds. When the reference unit is set to Tempo, the duration can be set to 1, 2, or 4 bars.

Default Tempo sets the default tempo used when creating a new tempo-based Streamer. Each tempo-based Streamer can have its tempo adjusted individually after creation, allowing different Streamers to play back at different tempos within the same project. This setting is only available when the reference unit is set to Tempo.

Video Sync currently only supports 4/4 musical timing for the Tempo setting.

Punch After Streamer

Punch After Streamer controls whether a Punch is displayed at the very end of each Streamer event. When enabled, a flashing circle appears at the Hit Point as the Streamer finishes.

When scoring to celluloid film, a streamer was created by manually scribing a diagonal line across a 35mm work print, terminating the scribe with a physical hole punched in the film - hence the term "punch."

The visual appearance of the Punch is configured in the Flutter tab in Preferences / Settings → OVERLAYS. Color sets the colour of the Punch - a colour is chosen from the Base Colors palette and adjusted using the Lightness slider. The colour picker also includes an Opacity slider, which can be used to make the Punch semi-transparent. Size sets the size of the Punch circle on screen (Small, Medium, or Large).

Note: The Punch settings in the Flutter tab configure the visual appearance of the Punch for standalone Streamer events.

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Audio Beeps

Play Audio Beeps toggles audible beeps during the Streamer. In Time mode, the Streamer plays 3 beeps. In Tempo mode, the Streamer plays 4 beeps per bar.

Importing and Exporting Overlay Settings

Overlay settings can be saved and loaded using the Export Settings and Import Settings buttons in the General settings page. This allows studios to save unique overlay configurations for recurring projects, share settings with other studios or editors, and manage multiple user profiles with different default settings.

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