setclockBuild your first show
Open Setclock and enter a Show name. A new browser starts with two empty 45-minute sets. You can rename each set, change its target length or add more sets.
- Choose Set format. Tap a preset such as 2 × 45 minutes or 3 × 30 minutes, or enter your own set count and duration.
- Use + Song to add each title and an estimated duration in minutes and seconds, such as 4:30.
- Add any useful notes: key, capo position, tuning or an arrangement cue.
- Drag items into order on desktop. To move a song to another set, including an empty one, edit it and use the Set dropdown.
You can start with rough estimates. A rehearsal gives you better information than a recording’s track length, especially when your version has a longer solo, a loop-building intro or a different ending.
How to plan two 45-minute sets
Start with the time you have been asked to fill. If each set is 45 minutes, include everything that will happen while you are onstage: music, introductions, tuning and transitions.
Here is an illustrative budget, rather than a fixed formula for every gig:
| Part of the evening | Music | Talking & transitions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set 1 | 40 min | 5 min | 45 min |
| Interval | — | — | 15 min |
| Set 2 | 40 min | 5 min | 45 min |
| Whole evening | 80 min | 10 min | 105 min including the interval |
Check the to fill / over target figure for each set as you add songs. If you have 45 minutes of music before accounting for any gaps, your show is likely to run longer than the target.
Arrange the songs for the performance as well as the clock. Grouping compatible tunings can reduce changeovers; leaving room for a short introduction can make a transition feel deliberate. Confirm with the organiser whether an interval sits outside the playing time.
Allow for talking, tuning and breaks
Use + Talking / gap for something you already expect: welcoming the audience, changing instruments, tuning a guitar or introducing a song. Give it an estimated duration, just as you would a song.
The interval field between sets contributes to the planned whole-evening total. Each live rehearsal times one set; intervals are currently planning allowances rather than a separate live countdown.
Talking and pausing do different jobs. Talk / gap records time that belongs in the show. Pause excludes a rehearsal interruption from both clocks.
For unexpected banter during a timed song, press Talk / gap. The set clock continues while the gap is recorded separately. Press End gap or Resume song → to return to the same song, then Next item when you want to advance.
Use Setclock as a rehearsal timer
Press Rehearse this set to start the first item and the set clock together. At each transition, press Next item → to record the elapsed time and begin the next item immediately. Advance through planned talking items in the same way.
- Current item: time spent on the current song, or on an unplanned gap while talking.
- Set elapsed: music and onstage gaps combined, excluding pauses.
- Target left: time remaining against the target, turning into an overtime figure if you run over.
- Projected finish: an estimate based on the remaining item durations.
Stage view enlarges the timer and hides the planner. With a keyboard, use Space to pause or resume, → for the next item, and T for a talking gap. Shortcuts are disabled while editing fields or using a dialog.
Press End set to save a partial rehearsal, or advance beyond the last item to save a completed one. Finish the active rehearsal before editing its running order.
Turn rehearsal results into better estimates
Open Rehearsals to compare actual and planned durations. Look for the reason a set ran long: an extended arrangement, more audience interaction or slow instrument changes may call for different adjustments.
If the run represents how you intend to perform, choose Use song timings. Setclock updates matching songs from that session. Talking and skipped segments are excluded; multiple recorded segments for the same song are added together.
Review partial runs before applying their timings. Ending a set halfway through a song records a partial duration, which may not be a useful estimate for the finished arrangement. Changes to estimates happen only when you choose to apply them.
Save a show and move it between devices
Setclock saves automatically in the browser you are using. Other visitors have their own shows. There is no automatic sync between your phone and computer.
Choose Export to make a JSON backup. On an iPhone, use Share / Save to Files when available, then select Save to Files in the share sheet. You can also download the backup or copy its text. Choose Import on the other device to load the file.
Import replaces the current show after confirmation and includes saved rehearsal history. Export first if you want to keep the current show too. A backup is also useful before clearing browser data or moving to another browser.
Common questions
Is Setclock free?
Yes. All current features are available without payment. If it helps with your gigs, you can optionally support Setclock on Ko-fi.
Can I use a different set length?
Yes. Choose a preset or enter a custom format, then adjust individual set targets if your sets have different lengths. The format form supports one to nine sets and targets from one to 600 minutes per set.
Will it keep time if my screen locks?
A running timer uses timestamps to catch up when you return after a screen lock or refresh. Pause first if that time should not count. Opening or reloading the website offline is not currently guaranteed.
Can I keep more than one show?
The app keeps one current show in each browser. Export separate backups for different shows and import the one you need.
Where are the full controls explained?
Open the app’s Features & Manual tab for the full control reference, including undo, skipping items and backup options.