Help & Documentation

Welcome to Broadcast Control — the all-in-one live production system for managing show rundowns, teleprompter, and team communications. This guide will help you get the most out of every feature.

Quick Start Guide

Get up and running in just a few minutes:

1. Create Your Show

Click the + button in the top toolbar to create a new show. Give it a name, set the date and time, then start adding segments.

2. Add Segments

Click "+ Add Segment" to create segments for your show. Each segment can have:

• Title — The name of the segment
• Duration — How long the segment should run
• Type — Live, Package, Interview, etc.
• Notes — Separate notes for Host, Director, and Producer

3. Invite Your Team

Go to Settings → User Management and click "Invite Team Member". Enter their email and assign a role. They'll receive an email invitation to join.

4. Go Live

When you're ready to start your show, click "Go Live / Start Show" in the Quick Actions panel. This activates live mode and begins tracking time.

User Roles

Each team member is assigned a role that determines what they see and can do:

Crew Mode

Camera Operators, Production Assistants, and Crew members see a simplified mobile-first interface designed for quick reference during live production:

• Current segment — What's live right now with countdown timer
• Up next — What segment is coming next
• Show flow — Simple rundown showing all segments with live/next indicators
• Voice comms — Tap to connect, then tap again to toggle mute (green = muted/safe, red = live)
• Private messages — Tap Messages to see online team members and send direct messages
• Real-time notifications — Toast alerts appear when you receive a message
• Auto-reconnect — System automatically reconnects if your phone sleeps or loses connection

Private Messaging

All team members can send private messages to each other:

• On PC/iPad: Click any team member in the Connected Team panel to open a chat
• On Crew Mode (phone): Tap the Messages button, then tap any team member
• Message history: Messages are saved on the server and persist between sessions
• Notifications: Unread messages show a badge, and toast notifications appear in real-time
• During teleprompter: Hosts see a discreet alert when producers/directors message them

Audio Routing

Voice communications are routed based on role to minimize distractions for on-air talent:

• Producers & Directors: Can hear everyone, always-on mic, can mute others
• Hosts: Can ONLY hear Producers and Directors (not crew, not other hosts). When hosts speak, everyone can hear them.
• Crew: Can hear everyone, push-to-talk to speak

Switch between role views using the role buttons in the top-right corner of the app. This lets producers preview what hosts or directors see.

Show Rundown

The rundown is the heart of Broadcast Control — it's your master timeline for the entire show.

Rundown Panel (Left Side)

The main rundown panel shows all your segments in order. Each segment card displays:

• Segment number — Automatically numbered (01, 02, 03...)
• Title — Editable by Producers
• Type badge — Color-coded by segment type
• Duration — Planned length of the segment
• Estimated start time — Calculated based on previous segments
• Role-specific notes — Expandable sections for each role

Segment Status Colors

During a live show, segments are color-coded:

Timing Panel (Right Side)

The right panel shows real-time timing information:

• Elapsed Time — Total time since show started
• Total Duration — Combined length of all segments
• Remaining — Time left in the show
• Current Segment — Name and countdown for the active segment

Managing Segments

Adding a Segment

Click "+ Add Segment" at the top of the rundown. A new segment will be added at the end of your list.

Editing Segments

Producers can edit all segment fields by clicking directly on them:

• Click the title to rename the segment
• Click the duration to change timing (format: MM:SS)
• Use the type dropdown to categorize the segment
• Expand the notes sections to add role-specific information

Reordering Segments

Drag and drop segments to reorder them. Grab a segment by its header and move it to a new position. The rundown automatically recalculates all estimated start times.

Deleting Segments

Click the trash icon (🗑) on a segment card to delete it. You'll be asked to confirm.

Segment Types

Teleprompter

The built-in teleprompter displays host notes in a full-screen, easy-to-read format with industry-first voice-activated scrolling.

Opening the Teleprompter

Click the "Teleprompter" button in the top toolbar. The teleprompter opens as a full-screen overlay.

Teleprompter Display

• Current segment info — Shows segment name and number at the top
• Host notes — Large, readable text in the center
• Countdown timer — Time remaining in current segment
• Live status — Shows ON AIR when live
• Highlight bar — Blue highlight shows the current reading line
• Up Next panel — Preview of the next segment at the bottom

Voice-Activated Follow Along 🎤

The revolutionary Follow Along feature uses speech recognition to automatically scroll the teleprompter as you read. No foot pedals, no operators, no hand controls needed.

How to Use Voice Follow:

1. Click the 🎤 microphone button in the teleprompter toolbar
2. Allow microphone access when prompted
3. Start reading your script out loud
4. The teleprompter automatically follows your voice and scrolls to keep pace
5. Click the microphone button again to stop voice tracking

Voice Follow Features:

• Anticipatory scrolling — Advances to the next line as you finish reading the current one
• Pace matching — Speeds up or slows down based on your reading speed
• Pause tolerance — Waits when you pause to breathe or ad-lib
• Works offline — Uses your device's built-in speech recognition

Teleprompter Toolbar Controls

Keyboard Shortcuts

Mirror Mode

Enable mirror mode for use with a traditional teleprompter setup that uses a beam-splitter mirror. The text will be flipped horizontally.

Auto-Scroll

Auto-scroll automatically advances the text at your chosen speed. Adjust the speed using the + and - keys or the on-screen controls. Auto-scroll is automatically disabled when voice follow is activated.

Highlight Bar Toggle

Click the lightbulb button to show or hide the blue highlight bar. Some hosts prefer reading without the highlight — the voice tracking continues to work even with the highlight hidden.

Live Mode

Live mode activates real-time show tracking with timers, segment progression, and team sync.

Starting a Live Show

1. Make sure all segments are ready and your team is connected
2. Click "Go Live / Start Show" in Quick Actions
3. The first segment becomes active and timers begin

During the Show

• Current segment is highlighted in red with a countdown
• Next segment is highlighted in amber
• Completed segments show a green checkmark
• Click "Next Segment" or press Space to advance

Ending the Show

Click "End Show" in Quick Actions to stop live mode. All timers stop and the show returns to edit mode.

Voice Communications

Broadcast Control includes built-in voice communications — a professional talkback system that works through your existing devices. No expensive hardware required.

Plan Availability

How It Works

Voice comms uses WebRTC technology (the same as Zoom and Google Meet) to create direct audio connections between team members. Audio is transmitted in real-time with minimal latency.

Requirements

• A device with a microphone (phone, tablet, laptop)
• Microphone permission granted to the browser
• Producer or Teams plan subscription

Voice Controls

Connecting to Voice

1. Click the microphone icon (🎙️) in the top toolbar
2. Click "Connect to Voice" in the panel that appears
3. Allow microphone access when prompted by your browser
4. You're now connected and can hear your team

Understanding the Status Colors

Team member name bars use colors to show mic status:

• Green bar = Microphone is muted (safe, off-air)
• Red bar = Microphone is live (transmitting audio)

Muting & Unmuting

For Producers/Directors:

• Click any team member's name bar to toggle their mic on/off
• Click "Mute All" to mute everyone at once
• Click "Unmute All" to restore everyone's mic
• Press M to quickly toggle mute all (customizable in settings)

For Hosts/Crew:

• Use the Push-to-Talk button to speak
• Hold the button (or press Space) to transmit
• Release to stop transmitting

Volume Control

Use the volume slider in the voice panel to adjust how loud you hear your team members.

Voice Troubleshooting

Connection Issues

• The system automatically tries to reconnect if connections drop
• If voice stops working, try clicking "Disconnect" then "Connect to Voice" again
• When your device sleeps and wakes, connections automatically repair
• A small green dot in the header shows your connection status

Can't hear anyone

• Check that your device volume is turned up
• Make sure other team members are connected to voice
• Check that their mic bars are RED (not muted)
• Try disconnecting and reconnecting to voice
• On mobile, make sure you haven't muted the browser tab

Others can't hear me

• Check that your mic bar is RED (not green/muted)
• If you're a Host, make sure you're pressing Push-to-Talk
• Check that your browser has microphone permission
• Try a different microphone if available
• Ensure no other app is using your microphone

Voice option not appearing

• Voice comms requires Producer or Teams plan
• Check your plan in Settings → Billing
• Contact your account admin to upgrade

Echo or feedback

• Use headphones or earbuds instead of speakers
• Mute yourself when not speaking
• Reduce speaker volume
• Keep devices apart to prevent audio loop

Audio Quality Issues

• Ensure you have a stable internet connection
• Close other bandwidth-heavy applications
• Use a dedicated microphone or headset for best quality
• The system uses echo cancellation and noise suppression automatically

Voice Stops When App is Minimized

• Keep the app in the foreground during shows for best results
• On Android: Don't switch to other apps while on voice - use split screen if needed
• On iPhone/iPad: Keep the browser tab active and screen on
• The app will automatically reconnect when you return, but there may be a brief gap
• Consider using a dedicated device for voice comms during production

AI Writing Assistant

Broadcast Control includes an AI-powered writing assistant to help hosts and producers create interview questions, talking points, and segment content.

Accessing the AI Assistant

1. Open any segment's Host Notes section
2. Click the "AI Assist" button
3. Enter what you need help with
4. Click "Generate Content"

What You Can Generate

• Interview Questions — Generate thoughtful questions for guests
• Talking Points — Create bullet points for any topic
• Segment Intros — Write professional opening lines
• Teasers — Create compelling coming-up copy
• Follow-up Questions — Prepare for different interview directions

Example Prompts

• "Generate 10 interview questions for the mayor about new road construction"
• "Write talking points about the local high school football championship"
• "Create a segment intro for our weather report"
• "Suggest follow-up questions if the guest mentions budget concerns"

Using Generated Content

After content is generated, you have two options:

• Insert into Notes — Replaces existing host notes with generated content
• Append to Notes — Adds generated content to the end of existing notes

AI Show Advisor

The AI Show Advisor is an intelligent assistant that monitors your live show and helps you stay on schedule by suggesting which segments to cut when running overtime.

How It Works

When your show is live, the AI Advisor continuously monitors:

• Current segment timing vs. planned duration
• Cumulative show timing
• Remaining segments and their priorities

When It Activates

The AI Advisor appears automatically when:

• A segment runs more than 30 seconds overtime
• The overall show is behind schedule

A purple "AI Advisor" button will appear in the bottom-right corner of your screen with a count of available suggestions.

Understanding Suggestions

Each suggestion includes:

• Segment Name — Which segment to potentially cut
• Time Saved — How much time cutting this segment would recover
• Priority Level — How safe it is to cut this segment
• Reason — Why this segment was selected for cutting

Priority Levels

What the AI Never Suggests Cutting

• The currently live segment
• Segments with live guests
• Breaking news segments
• Opening and closing segments
• High-priority content (score 75+)

Approving or Dismissing Cuts

For each suggestion, you can:

• Cut Segment — Marks the segment as CUT. It will be skipped, and all timing recalculates automatically.
• Dismiss — Removes the suggestion without cutting the segment.

Restoring Cut Segments

If you change your mind, cut segments display a "Restore" button. Click it to bring the segment back into the show.

Workflow Status

The Workflow Status system helps your team track the preparation state of each segment before going live.

Status Options

Changing Status

Producers and Directors can change a segment's workflow status by clicking the status dropdown in the rundown. The row will highlight with the corresponding color to give visual feedback on the show's readiness.

Visual Indicators

Each status adds a colored left border to the segment row, making it easy to scan your rundown and see which segments need attention:

• Gray border = Draft (needs work)
• Amber border + highlight = Awaiting (blocked)
• Blue border + highlight = Approved (ready)
• Green border + highlight = Finalized (locked)
• Red border + highlight = Rejected (fix needed)

Team Management

Manage your production team from Settings → User Management.

Inviting Team Members

1. Click "Invite Team Member"
2. Enter their email address
3. Enter their display name
4. Select their role (Producer, Director, Host, etc.)
5. Click "Send Invitation"

They'll receive an email with a link to set their password and join your team.

Managing Existing Users

• Change role — Click the role dropdown next to a user
• Remove user — Click the trash icon to remove someone from your team

Team Limits by Plan

Keyboard Shortcuts

Broadcast Control supports keyboard shortcuts to speed up your workflow. Many shortcuts can be customized in Settings.

Global Shortcuts

These work anywhere in the application:

Live Show Shortcuts

These work when your show is live:

Teleprompter Shortcuts

These work when the teleprompter is open:

Voice Communications Shortcuts

These work when voice comms are active:

External Display Shortcuts

These work with the external teleprompter display:

Customizing Shortcuts

You can customize many shortcuts to match your workflow:

1. Click on your name in the top-right corner
2. Select Settings
3. Go to the Keyboard Shortcuts tab
4. Click on any shortcut button
5. Press the new key you want to assign
6. Click "Save Shortcuts"

Resetting Shortcuts

To restore all shortcuts to their defaults, click the "Reset to Defaults" button in the Keyboard Shortcuts settings.

Billing & Plans

Available Plans

Annual billing is available at a 17% discount.

Feature Comparison

Managing Your Subscription

1. Go to Settings → Billing
2. Click "Manage Subscription"
3. This opens the Stripe billing portal where you can:
   • Upgrade or downgrade your plan
   • Update payment method
   • View invoices
   • Cancel subscription

Free Trial

All new accounts start with a 14-day free trial of the Producer plan. You'll need to enter payment details to start the trial, but you won't be charged until the trial ends. You can cancel anytime.

Mobile App

Broadcast Control works on any device with a web browser, but you can also install it as an app on your phone or tablet.

Installing on iPhone/iPad

1. Open Safari and go to broadcastcontrol.io
2. Tap the Share button (square with arrow)
3. Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen"
4. Tap "Add"

Installing on Android

1. Open Chrome and go to broadcastcontrol.io
2. Tap the menu (three dots)
3. Tap "Add to Home Screen" or "Install App"
4. Tap "Install"

Frequently Asked Questions

Can multiple people edit the rundown at the same time?

Yes! All changes sync in real-time. Producers have full edit access, Directors can edit Director notes, and Hosts can edit Host notes.

What happens if I lose internet during a live show?

The app will try to reconnect automatically. Your local timers continue running. Once reconnected, the app syncs back with your team.

Can I use Broadcast Control on multiple devices?

Yes! Log in on as many devices as you need. Many teams have the producer on a laptop, director on a tablet, and hosts on phones.

How do I save my show?

Click the save icon in the toolbar, or press Ctrl+S. Your shows are saved per organization and can be loaded from the Open Show menu.

Can I print or export my rundown?

Yes! Click the orange PDF icon in the header to download a professional PDF of your rundown with all segments, timing, and notes.

Is my data secure?

Yes. All data is transmitted over encrypted HTTPS connections. Voice communications use peer-to-peer encryption. We never share your data with third parties.

How do I contact support?

Click the 💬 chat bubble in the bottom-right corner to talk to the BC Assistant for instant help. For complex issues, use the Feedback button or email [email protected].

External Display (Multi-Monitor)

Open the teleprompter on a separate monitor or screen — perfect for talent displays near cameras, control room monitors, or studio floor screens.

How to Open on External Display

1. Click the purple external display button (monitor with arrow icon) next to the teleprompter button in the header
2. Click "Detect Displays" — your browser will ask for permission to see connected screens
3. Select the monitor you want to use from the displayed options
4. Click "Open Fullscreen on Selected Monitor"

What You'll See

• Each connected monitor appears as a card showing its name and resolution
• Primary badge indicates your main display
• Current badge shows which screen your browser window is on
• The system auto-selects the first external monitor for convenience

Controlling the External Display

• Hover at the top of the external screen to reveal the control bar
• Toggle Fullscreen — switch between fullscreen and windowed mode
• Close Window — closes the external teleprompter
• Press Q (default shortcut) from your main app to close the external display remotely

Browser Compatibility

Fallback Method

If your browser doesn't support multi-monitor detection:

1. Click "Open in New Window"
2. Drag the window to your desired screen
3. Press F11 (Windows) or Ctrl+Cmd+F (Mac) for fullscreen

Customizing the Close Shortcut

The default shortcut to close the external teleprompter is Q. You can change this:

1. Go to Settings → Shortcuts
2. Find "Close External Teleprompter"
3. Click the key and press your preferred shortcut

Teleprompter Setup & Tips

The Teleprompter helps hosts read scripts smoothly during live broadcasts. Here are the best ways to set it up for your production.

Recommended Setup for Hosts

Hosts typically use the teleprompter in one of these ways:

• iPad/Tablet on desk — Keep the rundown open during breaks, switch to teleprompter during live segments
• Dedicated teleprompter screen — Mount a monitor or tablet near the camera lens for eye-line reading
• Split setup — Rundown on iPad at the desk + separate teleprompter screen(s) by cameras

How to Use the Teleprompter

1. Click "Teleprompter" button in the header
2. The teleprompter opens showing Host Notes for all segments
3. Use arrow keys, scroll wheel, or J/K keys to scroll
4. The blue highlighter bar shows the current reading position

Teleprompter Controls

• Arrow Up/Down — Scroll line by line
• J/K keys — Scroll up/down
• Scroll wheel — Smooth scrolling
• +/- buttons — Adjust text size
• Number keys 1-9 — Quick speed presets

Producer Messages

Producers can send text messages that appear on the teleprompter screen. This is useful for time cues, breaking news, or quick notes to hosts without interrupting via voice.

Director & Producer Remote App

The Remote App gives Directors and Producers a mobile-optimized interface to manage shows from anywhere. Available with Pro and Teams subscriptions.

How to Access

1. Click your name in the top-right corner of the main app
2. Select "Director/Producer Remote"
3. The remote app opens in a new tab — bookmark it on your phone!

Features

• Full rundown view — See all segments with timing and status
• Segment controls — Go Live, mark complete, skip segments
• Real-time sync — Changes appear instantly on all devices
• Show timing — Elapsed time, remaining time, overtime warnings
• Voice comms — Built-in push-to-talk communication
• Mobile-optimized — Designed for phones and tablets

Why Use the Remote App?

• Stay mobile — Not tethered to your computer; take a bathroom break without losing comms
• Dual-screen workflow — Main app on computer, remote on phone for quick controls
• On-the-floor directing — Direct the show while walking the studio floor
• Backup control — If your main computer crashes, grab your phone and keep the show running

Crew App

The Crew App provides a simplified, mobile-first interface for camera operators, production assistants, floor managers, and other crew members. Available with Pro and Teams subscriptions.

How Crew Members Access the App

1. Producer invites the crew member via Team Management with a crew role (Camera Operator, Production Assistant, or Crew)
2. Crew member logs in at the main login page on their phone
3. They automatically see the simplified Crew Mode interface

Sharing the Login Link

To easily share the login link with crew:

1. Click your name in the top-right corner
2. Select "Share Crew App Link"
3. Scan the QR code or copy the link to send via text/email

What Crew Members See

• Current segment — Large, clear display of what's live now
• Countdown timer — Time remaining in current segment
• Up next preview — See what segment is coming
• Show flow — Simple rundown with live/next indicators
• Voice comms — Tap to connect, tap to mute
• Private messages — Receive messages from producers/directors

Why It's Useful

• No accidental edits — Crew can't change notes or segments
• Just what they need — No overwhelming information, just current segment and timing
• Works great on phones — Designed for one-handed use on the studio floor
• Stay connected — Voice comms and messaging keep everyone in the loop

Live Audience Integration

See your entire streaming audience in real-time. Track viewer counts, read comments, and interact with your audience across YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and TikTok — all from within Broadcast Control.

What You Get

• Real-time viewer counts — See total viewers across all connected platforms, updated every few seconds
• Platform breakdown — View counts per platform (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, TikTok)
• Live comment feed — See all comments from all platforms in one unified feed
• Question detection — Comments with question marks are highlighted for easy Q&A segments
• Send to teleprompter — One-click sends viewer questions directly to your host's prompter
• Session analytics — Review detailed analytics after your show including peak viewers and AI insights

Supported Platforms

• YouTube Live — Connect via stream URL (no OAuth required)
• Facebook Live — Connect via OAuth authentication
• Twitch — Connect via channel username
• TikTok Live — Connect via username

Connecting Streaming Platforms

Connect your streaming platforms to start tracking your live audience.

How to Access

1. Look for the "Live Audience" panel in the right sidebar
2. If you don't see it, make sure you're on the Teams plan
3. Click the gear icon (⚙) to open connection settings

YouTube Live

1. Start your YouTube live stream as normal
2. Copy the YouTube live stream URL (e.g., youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxx)
3. In Broadcast Control, click "Connect" next to YouTube
4. Paste the URL and click Connect
5. Viewer counts and comments will appear within seconds

Facebook Live

1. Click "Connect" next to Facebook
2. You'll be redirected to Facebook to authorize the connection
3. Select the Page you want to connect
4. Once authorized, your live video will be detected automatically

Twitch

1. Click "Connect" next to Twitch
2. Enter your Twitch channel username
3. Click Connect — viewer counts and chat will appear

TikTok Live

1. Click "Connect" next to TikTok
2. Enter your TikTok username
3. Click Connect — this uses TikTok's live data API

Live Audience Features & Controls

Once connected, you have several powerful tools to engage with your audience.

Viewer Count Display

• Total viewers — Large number at the top showing combined viewers
• Trend indicator — Shows if viewers are increasing or decreasing
• Per-platform breakdown — Each platform shows its individual count
• Last 5 min change — Shows how many viewers joined/left recently

Live Comments Feed

• Unified feed — Comments from all platforms appear in one list
• Platform indicator — Each comment shows which platform it came from
• Username display — Shows the commenter's username
• Timestamp — Shows how long ago the comment was posted
• Auto-scroll — New comments appear at the top automatically

Question Detection

Comments containing question marks (?) are automatically highlighted with a yellow/orange background. This makes it easy to spot audience questions for Q&A segments.

Send to Teleprompter

1. Hover over any comment (especially questions)
2. Click the "→ Prompter" button
3. The question appears on your host's teleprompter immediately
4. Perfect for live Q&A segments!

Filter Options

• All — Show all comments from all platforms
• Questions — Show only comments detected as questions

Pop-out Mode

Click the "Pop-out" button to open the Live Audience panel in a separate window. Great for multi-monitor setups where you want dedicated audience monitoring.

Session Analytics

After your show, review detailed analytics about your audience engagement.

Accessing Session History

1. Click the clock icon in the Live Audience panel
2. You'll see a list of past sessions with dates and peak viewer counts
3. Click any session to view detailed analytics

Session Data Includes

• Peak viewers — Highest concurrent viewer count
• Total unique viewers — Estimated unique viewers (where available)
• Duration — How long the session lasted
• Platform breakdown — Viewers by platform over time
• Viewer timeline — Graph showing viewer count throughout the show
• Comment count — Total comments received

AI Insights

Click "Generate Insights" to get an AI-powered analysis of your session, including:

• Performance summary
• Engagement patterns
• Recommendations for future streams
• Notable moments (viewer spikes, etc.)

Private Messaging

Send private messages to team members during the show without disrupting the broadcast.

How to Send a Message

1. Find the team member in the Team section of the sidebar
2. Click on their name or the message icon next to them
3. Type your message and press Enter or click Send
4. The message is delivered instantly and privately

Receiving Messages

• When you receive a message, a notification badge appears
• Click the notification or the sender's name to view the message
• Messages appear in a chat-style interface

Use Cases

• Time cues — "30 seconds left on this segment"
• Breaking news — Alert hosts to developing stories
• Quick coordination — "Skip segment 5, we're running long"
• Discreet communication — Messages that shouldn't be on voice comms

PDF Export

Export your show rundown as a professional PDF document for printing, sharing, or archiving.

How to Export

1. Make sure your show has at least one segment
2. Click the orange PDF icon in the header toolbar
3. Wait for the PDF to generate (usually 2-3 seconds)
4. The PDF automatically downloads to your computer

What's Included

• Show information — Title, date, start time
• Segment overview table — All segments with timing at a glance
• Detailed rundown — Each segment with all notes
• Host notes — Scripts and talking points
• Director notes — Camera cues and technical instructions
• Producer notes — Coordination and timing notes

Use Cases

• Backup copies — Keep printed rundowns as backup
• Client approval — Send rundowns for review
• Archive — Document your shows for future reference
• Offline access — Print for crew without app access

AI Support Assistant

The BC Assistant is your 24/7 support helper, ready to answer questions about any feature in Broadcast Control.

How to Access

Click the 💬 purple chat bubble in the bottom-right corner of the app.

What It Can Help With

• Feature questions — "How do I add a segment?"
• Troubleshooting — "My teleprompter isn't scrolling"
• Team management — "How do I invite my director?"
• Shortcuts — "What keyboard shortcuts are available?"
• Best practices — "How should I organize my show?"

Quick Actions

When you open the chat, you'll see quick action buttons for common questions:

• Add segment
• Invite team
• Teleprompter
• Shortcuts