Professional chord chart and setlist manager for live performers. Sync your whole band wirelessly, transpose instantly, run your pre-show on the projector, and never lose your place again.
Built by a working musician, for working musicians. ShowTime handles the tech so you can focus on the music.
The master device is the conductor. Change songs, start the backing track, trigger the slideshow or visualiser — everything fires simultaneously across every connected device. Each musician turns their own pages independently with realistic page-curl animations, foot pedal, or swipe. The band just follows. No lag, no confusion.
Transpose any chart up or down with one tap. Built-in Eb and Bb instrument modes so horn players and keyboard players always see their own key automatically.
Link videos or still images to any song — with cinematic transitions, Ken Burns zoom, and fade effects. Or let the built-in visualiser set the mood, pulsing and throbbing to the beat of the music in real time. This area is expanding significantly in the coming years.
Run open mic nights with ease. Manage guest performers, track the running order, and provide backing charts to walk-up artists — all from the same system your band already uses.
All you need is 4 buttons — Previous Page, Next Page, Previous Song, Next Song. Works with any Bluetooth foot pedal or keyboard. Each musician navigates their own pages independently with realistic page-curl animations. Hands stay on the instrument, eyes stay on the stage.
Add personal notes, cues, and reminders directly on your charts — with instrument-specific colour coding. Annotations transpose automatically in sync with the chord chart. Drag them anywhere and they stay put.
Musicians join with a single QR code scan — no app install, no account. Every chart is instantly available on their device, in their key, synced to the master in real time.
Send colour-coded alerts to your sound engineer, lighting tech, or stage manager mid-show. They acknowledge with one tap — you see it confirmed instantly. No shouting across the stage.
HTML chord charts, PDF fakebook pages, and MusicXML sheet music all in one song. Switch between arrangements in one tap — jazz chart, simplified chart, or the full score.
Attach useful links to any song — YouTube tutorials, Spotify reference tracks, chord diagrams, backing track sites. Band members tap through to practice material straight from the chart screen, before and after the gig.
Attach audio files directly to a song. When the show starts, ShowTime automatically routes the backing track to whichever device is nearest the mixing desk — no cables, no fuss. The sound engineer confirms their device as the audio output with one tap.
Interactive Circle of Fifths popup for quick key reference, chord relationships, and transposition guidance — right there on your performance screen when you need it.
Paste from Word, import RTF files, link PDF fakebook pages, or type directly. Your existing chord charts work perfectly — 3,000+ song libraries are no problem.
Organise songs into playlists for each gig. Drag to reorder on the night. Add pre-show images and intermission slides to each playlist.
ShowTime runs on your laptop or Raspberry Pi. Band members connect via their phone or tablet browser — no app install, no accounts. You control, they follow.
Navigate with 4 buttons — foot pedal, keyboard, or touch. The roadie runs the projector from their phone. Everyone stays in sync. Focus on the music.
Start free, upgrade when you're ready. No subscriptions on the Pro plan — pay once, get 5 years of free updates.
| Starter $0 | Band $80/yr | Pro $150 once | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Song Library | |||
| SongsMaximum number of songs in your library | 20 | ✓ Unlimited |
✓ Unlimited |
| Playlists / Setlists | 3 | ✓ Unlimited |
✓ Unlimited |
| HTML Chord ChartsYellow chords on black, with lyrics | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PDF Fakebook PagesAttach PDF chart images to any song | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MusicXML Sheet MusicFull notation via OpenSheetMusicDisplay | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Song MetadataKey, BPM, time sig, drum pattern, genre, notes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Performance | |||
| Page View ModesPortrait, landscape, two-column, page-flip book | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mirror ModeFlips display for reflected screens / teleprompters | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instant TransposeAny key, one tap — persists per song | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Eb / Bb Instrument ModesHorn players see their own key automatically | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Circle of Fifths ReferenceInteractive popup — key relationships, 2-5-1, improv | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Foot Pedal & Keyboard Navigation4 buttons: Prev/Next Page, Prev/Next Song — any Bluetooth pedal or keyboard | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AnnotationsDraggable notes — transpose automatically in sync with chords | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Band & Crew Sync | |||
| Master Device Command & ControlSong nav, page turns, audio start, slideshow/visualiser — all fire simultaneously | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Crew AppSound, lighting, stage manager, roadie on phones | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Crew Messaging with AcknowledgementSend alerts mid-show — crew taps to confirm, you see it instantly | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple Band ProfilesSeparate setlists and settings per band | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| QR Code Band OnboardingMusicians scan once — charts on their device instantly, no app install | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open Mic / Backing Band ModeManage guest performers and running order | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Projection & Media | |||
| Pre-Show SlideshowImages and video on the projector before the show | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Intermission & Post-Show Media | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Per-Song Video & ImagesLink videos or stills to any song — transitions, Ken Burns, fade effects | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rehearsal & Practice LinksAttach YouTube, Spotify, and reference links per song | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Backing Track to PAAudio routed to the device nearest the mixing desk — one tap to claim | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Beat-Sync VisualiserReal-time visuals that pulse to the music — kaleidoscope, fire, particles & more | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced & Coming Soon | |||
| DMX Lighting Control | ✗ | ✗ | Coming soon |
| MIDI Control | ✗ | ✗ | Coming soon |
| Support & Updates | |||
| ShowTime WatermarkRemoved when you upgrade to a paid plan | Shown | ✓ Removed |
✓ Removed |
| Free Updates | ✗ | While subscribed | 5 years |
| Support | Community | ✓ Priority |
✓ Priority |
| Download Free | |||
Real screenshots from live performances and rehearsals
2-Page landscape view — full chord chart spread across the screen with lyrics, complete toolbar, and ring binder spine. Perfect for larger tablets and desktops.
Portrait single-page view — optimised for phones and portrait tablets. Swipe or use foot pedal to turn pages with a smooth page-curl animation.
Hybrid view — MusicXML sheet music displayed side-by-side with the chord chart. Switch between simplified chart, full notation, or both with one tap.
Song search — instant search across your entire library. Connect band members via QR code — no app install, just scan and open in any browser.
Annotations — add colour-coded sticky notes for each instrument: keys, bass, guitar, drums, vocals. Notes float over the chart and are only visible to the relevant player.
Setlist builder — drag and drop songs into setlists, reorder on the fly, and navigate the whole show in sequence. Build multiple setlists for different venues or nights.
Song metadata — store key, BPM, time signature, drum machine pattern, piano setting, genre, and personal notes alongside every song.
Media Manager — Slideshow — upload images for Pre-Show, Intermission, Post-Show or per-song projection. Set transition style, duration, and Ken Burns zoom effect.
Visualiser & Backing Track — real-time visuals that pulse and throb to the beat of the music. Choose from kaleidoscope, fire, particle storm, starfield and more. Assign a backing track MP3 per song. The device with the PA claims audio output with one tap. Expanding significantly in future updates.
Crew messaging — send pre-defined colour-coded messages to your sound, lighting, and stage crew in real time. Crew members join from any phone by scanning a QR code.
Circle of Keys — interactive music theory reference built in to the app. Instantly see related keys, modes, and chords for any key you're playing in.
Improvisation guide — scales, modes, and soloing ideas for the current key, displayed as a popup reference panel during performance.
2-5-1 Progressions — instant reference for the most common jazz and pop chord progressions in every key, always a tap away during a performance.
6-2-5-1 Improvisation — extended progression reference with scale and soloing suggestions for each chord, helping you stay musical through complex changes.
"Finally, software that understands what performers actually need. The master/slave sync alone has transformed our rehearsals and gigs."
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The Free tier runs entirely in the cloud — sign up and start immediately, no download needed.
Paid licenses include the Windows desktop app for running ShowTime as your own local server on stage.
Windows app runs on Python + Flask locally — your band connects from any browser via WiFi. No internet required on stage.
Database is file-based (SQLite) — store it in your OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox for automatic backup and cross-device sync using your own cloud service.
ShowTime runs a local web server on your main device (the Master — typically a laptop or Raspberry Pi). Other band members open a browser on their phone or tablet and type in your device's IP address. When you change songs, transpose, or turn the page, every connected screen updates instantly over your local WiFi network. No internet required, no accounts, no app installs.
The Master device (where you run ShowTime) can be any Windows, Mac, or Linux machine — or a Raspberry Pi 5 for a compact, silent stage solution. Band members just need any device with a browser: phone, tablet, or laptop. For projection, connect any HDMI display or TV. A small WiFi router dedicated to the band is recommended for reliable sync at a venue.
No. ShowTime runs entirely offline. You just need a local WiFi network for band members to connect to your Master device — even a cheap travel router or mobile hotspot works perfectly. No cloud dependency, no lag, no relying on the venue's WiFi.
You can paste directly from Word, import RTF files, or type and edit in the built-in editor. PDF fakebook pages can be added as chart images. MusicXML files display as full sheet music via OpenSheetMusicDisplay. The editor preserves your chord colours (yellow chords, cyan section headers, etc.) and existing formatting.
Band ($80/year) covers everything most gigging musicians need — unlimited songs, transpose, wireless sync, foot pedal navigation, and annotations. Pro ($150 one-time) adds the projector features: pre-show and intermission slideshows, video projection with effects, multiple band profiles, and MusicXML sheet music display. Pro is a one-time purchase with 5 years of free updates included.
The Free (cloud) tier stores your data securely on our servers — accessible from any device, anywhere.
The paid Windows standalone app uses a local file-based database (SQLite) stored on your own machine. You own it completely. Point it at a folder inside your OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox and your songs automatically back up and sync across your devices — no subscription to us required for storage.
Why file-based? Musicians know how to copy files. Your entire song library is a single file — copy it to a USB stick, drag it to a new laptop, or let your cloud drive handle it automatically. No "backup and restore" wizards, no export/import headaches. Just files.
This makes the standalone app ideal for no-internet gig situations — everything runs locally, your data never leaves your machine.
Upload images or videos to any playlist and tag them as Pre-Show, Intermission, or Post-Show. When you're ready, hit the Pre-Show button next to that playlist (from any connected device — your roadie can do it from their phone). The slides play on the projector automatically with your chosen transitions and timing. When the band starts, selecting the first song stops the pre-show instantly.
After purchase you'll receive a license key by email. Enter it in ShowTime's settings and it activates immediately. Each license is tied to a machine ID for security, but you can transfer it if you change computers.
A professional karaoke system built for pubs, hotels, clubs and RSLs. CDG+MP3 playback, patron song requests via QR code, queue management, pitch shifting, and a dedicated host interface — all on your own hardware, no ongoing rental fees.
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New features, release announcements, and tips for gigging musicians. No spam — just useful updates when something happens.