What Is Tally?
In multi-camera video production, a tally light indicates which camera is currently live (on-program):
- Program (Red) — This camera is live on the broadcast/recording
- Preview (Green) — This camera is queued as the next source
- Off — This camera is not currently selected
CrewTalk displays these states as a visual overlay on your PTT screen, replacing the need for a physical tally light on your camera.
Setting Up Tally
Open Tally Setup
Navigate to the Tally Setup screen from Settings or the main menu.
Select Your Source
Choose your tally source:
- Blackmagic BLE — Connect to a Blackmagic ATEM switcher via Bluetooth Low Energy
- Manual — Set tally state manually (for testing)
Configure Camera Index
Select which camera input number corresponds to your device. This tells the system which tally data to display on your screen.
Connect
For BLE: Your device scans for nearby Blackmagic devices and connects automatically. For Manual: Set the tally state using on-screen controls.
Tally Overlay
When tally is active, a visual overlay appears on the PTT screen:
| State | Visual |
|---|---|
| Program | Red border/indicator — you're LIVE |
| Preview | Green border/indicator — you're next |
| Off | No overlay — you're not selected |
The overlay is designed to be visible at a glance without interfering with PTT controls or the waveform display.
Position your phone where you can see the screen while operating. The tally overlay replaces the need to look at a small LED tally light — the full-screen color change is impossible to miss.
Hub-Wide Tally
Tally state is relayed through your hub's WebSocket connection:
- Your camera's tally state is shared with all hub members
- Other members can see which cameras are on program/preview in their roster
- This provides the director and technical director awareness of the multi-camera setup
Manual Tally Mode
If you don't have a BLE-capable switcher, manual tally lets you:
- Set Program/Preview/Off states manually
- Test the tally overlay before a shoot
- Use tally features with switchers that don't support BLE
Blackmagic BLE Details
- Protocol: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE 4.0+)
- Range: Standard BLE range (~10m/30ft, varies by environment)
- Reconnection: Auto-reconnects if BLE connection drops
- Power: BLE is very low power — minimal battery impact