Countdown Timers in SongShow Plus

Applicable SongShow Plus Versions: 
This article applies to all versions of SongShow Plus

 * Ensure that you are using the most current build of SongShow Plus from the Download page for the best experience. *   

Countdown timers are frequently used in church settings to indicate the time remaining before a service or event. SongShow Plus provides a few different ways you can use countdown timers:

• Countdown videos: These are video files provided by a number of media content developers. These are provided in common video formats like .MOV (H.264) or WMV (Windows Media). SongShow Plus can play any of these videos that are provided in a common format.
• Custom Timers: SongShow Plus provides a way for you to build custom timers and play them back like video files. These timers are not rendered to a video file but are instead rendered at run time. Customizations let you specify things like the start time of the video, it size, appearance, and other properties. You also set timers to countdown to automatic time points like the next half hour mark. Timers can also count up or simply present the time of day. Learn more about custom timers in the User Guide under the Timers topic.
  • To quickly create a basic timer:
    • Open SongShow Plus
    • From the Media Files panel select the Videos tab.
    •  By default, the new timer will be saved in the selected folder.  There should be a Timers folder to select or you can create one.
    • Select Create/Acquire > Timer Creator
    • When the Timer Properties dialog opens, review and select the available options. 
    • At minimum, the Type, Size and Color should be adjusted to create a unique timer for your purpose.
    • Add a descriptive Name for the timer and click Save.
    • You can either add the new timer to the program or other options.
      
      
• Instant Message: The Instant Message feature of SongShow Plus also lets you embed a timer in a message panel. Learn more about custom timers in the User Guide under the Improv Collection, Instant Message topics.
  • To quickly add an Instant Message timer:
    • Open SongShow Plus
    • From the main tool bar > View, ensure that the Improv Collection is selected.
    • In the Improv Collection, select the Instant Message tab.
    • Click on the Insert drop menu and select Countdown.
    • Here you can select a timer to countdown to specific intervals based on the system clock to ensure on time starts.
    • Information on additional panel configurations can be found here.

Training Videos - A video walk-through of this process may be available.  Depending on your current subscription level, you can go to the GoFishMedia website training page and log in with the same Customer ID and password that you use to log in to the SongShow Plus site or activate SongShow Plus. Review this article for more details.

If you have any questions regarding the use of or issues with countdown timers in SongShow Plus, please contact the Support Team.

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