Timers

Overview

Oscilla's Timer system provides flexible time-tracking tools for performers, conductors, and ensembles. At its core is the Auxwatch — an auxiliary timer that can function as a simple stopwatch, countdown timer, or sequenced section timer for structuring musical time.

The Timer system is designed for:

• Solo performers tracking practice or performance duration
• Ensembles synchronizing timed sections across multiple devices
• Improvisers using time-based structures without traditional notation
• Conductors managing sectional rehearsals or timed cues

Accessing the Timer

Click the stopwatch display in the top bar to open the fullscreen Timer view.

Fullscreen Timer Display

The fullscreen view shows three columns at the bottom:

The large central display shows elapsed time or active countdown.

View Modes

Click the ◐ button (top left) to cycle through display modes:

1. Solid — Dark background, light text. Clean, high-contrast display.
2. Blur — Score visible but blurred behind timer. Maintains context.
3. Transparent — Timer overlays score directly. Ideal for minimal cue scores.

Press Escape or click ✕ to exit fullscreen.

Countdown Controls

The rightmost column in the fullscreen view contains the countdown controls:

Quick Playback

1. Click the selection text to open the dropdown
2. Choose a sequence or individual cue
3. Click ▶ to start

The selection remembers your last choice between sessions.

Playlist Behavior

The countdown controls work like a playlist:

• After a countdown completes, the selection automatically advances to the next item
• When reaching the end of the list, it wraps back to the beginning
• This makes it easy to step through multiple sequences or cues manually

Swapping Timers

Click the Mini Timer box (left column) to swap positions:

• Performance Time and Timer swap between main and mini display
• Choose which time reference dominates the display

Countdown Sequences

Click the red ring to open the Countdown Sequences editor.

Creating Sequences

A sequence is a named group of timed sections that play consecutively.

Example — Sonata Form:

Sequence: "Sonata"
├── Exposition    120 seconds
├── Development   180 seconds
└── Recapitulation 90 seconds

Editor Controls

Looping

The Loop control determines how many times a sequence repeats:

Example: A 3-cue sequence with Loop = 2 plays:

Cue 1 → Cue 2 → Cue 3 → Cue 1 → Cue 2 → Cue 3 → stop

Chaining (Sequence of Sequences)

The Then dropdown lets you chain sequences together:

"Warm-up" (Loop: 1, Then: "Main Set")
    → plays once, then automatically starts "Main Set"

"Main Set" (Loop: 3, Then: "Cool-down")  
    → plays 3 times, then starts "Cool-down"

"Cool-down" (Loop: 1, Then: — stop —)
    → plays once, then stops

This creates a playlist of sequences without manual intervention.

Playback Behavior

When a countdown runs:

• Main display shows section name as label
• Time counts down in MM:SS format
• Sequences auto-advance to next section
• Single cues return to normal timer when complete
• Play button changes to ⏹ (stop)

Network Synchronization

The Timer system automatically synchronizes across all connected clients.

How It Works

• When any client starts a countdown, all clients see the same countdown
• Sequences are shared automatically when clients connect
• Time is synchronized using server timestamps — all displays show the same remaining time

What Syncs

Server-Owned Timer

The countdown timer is server-owned, meaning:

• The server maintains the authoritative timer state
• Clients send commands (start/stop) to the server
• Server broadcasts state to all clients
• Late-joining clients receive current countdown state immediately

This ensures all performers see exactly the same time, regardless of when they connected.

Import & Export

Sequences can be saved and loaded as JSON files.

Export

Click Export to download countdown-sequences.json containing all sequences.

Example JSON:

[
  {
    "name": "Warm-up",
    "loop": 1,
    "chain": 1,
    "cues": [
      { "name": "Stretch", "seconds": 120 }
    ]
  },
  {
    "name": "Sonata",
    "loop": 1,
    "chain": null,
    "cues": [
      { "name": "Exposition", "seconds": 120 },
      { "name": "Development", "seconds": 180 },
      { "name": "Recapitulation", "seconds": 90 }
    ]
  }
]

Import

Click Import and select a JSON file to load sequences.

Note: Import merges with existing sequences by ID. Sequences are automatically shared to other connected clients after import.

Use Cases

1. Structured Improvisation

Create a sequence of timed sections:

"Free Improv Structure"
├── Sparse Texture     60s
├── Build              90s
├── Peak               45s
└── Decay             120s

All performers see the same countdown, enabling synchronized structural changes without traditional cues.

2. Rehearsal Sectionals

Time individual sections during rehearsal:

"Rehearsal Plan"
├── Warm-up            300s
├── Exposition work    600s
├── Break              300s
└── Development work   600s

3. Performance Timing

For pieces with strict durational requirements:

"Competition Piece"
├── Movement I    480s
├── Pause          30s
└── Movement II   360s

4. Minimal Cue Scores

Use Transparent mode with countdown sequences as a time-based score:

• Score contains only markers and cues
• Timer overlays showing current section
• Performers follow time structure, not traditional notation

Technical Notes

Storage

• Sequences stored in localStorage as oscilla.countdownSequences
• Selected sequence/cue stored as oscilla.countdownControls.type and .index
• Persists between sessions

Timer Precision

• Display updates every 250ms (synced with server broadcast)
• Network sync uses Date.now() timestamps
• Typical sync accuracy: ±50-200ms depending on network

Performance Time vs Timer

Keyboard Shortcuts

Summary

The Timer system transforms Oscilla into a flexible time-structuring tool:

• Simple: Click stopwatch → fullscreen timer
• Quick access: Play button and dropdown right in the fullscreen view
• Sequenced: Create named countdown sections with looping and chaining
• Synchronized: All clients automatically stay aligned
• Portable: Import/export sequences as JSON

Whether for strict durational works, timed improvisations, or rehearsal management, the Timer provides a unified interface for musical time.

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