Orbit: stay synchronised with the LiveEdit Master

Orbit is LiveEdit’s real-time follow system.
It allows any LiveEdit app — whether on desktop or tablet — to automatically lock onto a designated Master, and follow the current scene accurately to the frame, in perfect timecode sync.

Orbit does not modify your project or interfere with your interface.
It simply lets you follow, in real time, what the Master is playing — including the current scene and time position — without affecting your local session.

This is the mechanism that keeps all LiveEdit tablets perfectly aligned with the show — automatically and effortlessly.

How Orbit Works

In every LiveEdit production, one instance acts as the Master.
It controls the timeline, the scene transitions, and the current position in the show.

Orbit allows any other LiveEdit — desktop or tablet — to connect to that Master and follow its timeline in real time.

Once connected:

• You’re instantly aligned with the active scene
• Your interface mirrors the exact position of the Master in the timeline, without delay — in other words, you’re synced down to the timecode
• You remain fully in control of your interface: you can navigate, edit, or simply observe

Think of your LiveEdit as a screen locked onto a conductor.
You're not leading the show, but you're seeing and hearing every beat in perfect time.

Orbit acts as a shared temporal reference, light and non-intrusive.
It gives every team member a common rhythm, without interfering with their work.

Network Notes

• Orbit synchronization works over your local network (LAN)
• It uses the Bonjour protocol to automatically detect available Masters
• All devices must be on the same network, and Bonjour must be active on the infrastructure

If the Orbit server doesn’t appear automatically, you can add it manually by entering its IP address (see below).

Why Orbit Matters

Orbit helps teams coordinate seamlessly in live environments. It gives every operator a shared sense of “now”, without ever needing to ask, “Where are we in the show?”

Here are a few real-world examples:

• Camera operators can follow the current scene in real time — even during review sessions. If the director jumps through the timeline, their LiveEdit stays perfectly synced, allowing them to reposition or review a moment precisely.
• Lighting and SFX teams can monitor the cues and tracks relevant to their role on their own LiveEdit device, while staying aligned with the Master’s timecode.
  They see every scene transition and every second that passes, without touching anything.
• Floor managers, stagehands, or assistants using a tablet can track the show’s progress without relying on video returns or verbal cues.
  They always know which scene is live and what’s coming up, helping them time entries, set changes, or scenic moves with precision.

Orbit turns LiveEdit into a shared frame of reference.
It creates a visible, readable, and trusted guide — scene, time, and intent — so everyone can anticipate, understand, and act with confidence.

How to Connect to an Orbit Server

LiveEdit makes it easy to connect to a Master through Orbit.
Here’s how to get started on desktop or tablet:

1. Open the Orbit panel

Click the Orbit icon (⚪, second from the bottom) in the left sidebar.
This opens the Orbit panel.

If it's your first time using it, the list may appear empty while LiveEdit scans the network for available servers.

2. Select a server from the list

If a Master is active on the same local network, it will appear with its name, IP address, and a connect button.

➡ Click the button next to it.
Once connected, you'll see the label “In sync”, confirming that your LiveEdit is now following the Master’s scene and timecode in real time.

3. Enter Live Mode

You can browse and work freely in Editor Mode.
As soon as you enter Live Mode:

• LiveEdit automatically switches to the current scene
• Your timeline follows the Master’s exact timecode
• You stay locked to the Master until you leave Live Mode

If you’re on a different scene when switching to Live Mode, LiveEdit will alert you and propose to load the correct one automatically.

4. Add a server manually (if needed)

If the Master doesn’t show up in the list:

• Click “+ Add Server” at the top of the Orbit panel
• Enter the server name and its local IP address

This allows you to lock onto a known server in environments where automatic discovery via Bonjour is restricted or unavailable.

The IP address displayed at the top of the Orbit panel is the address your own LiveEdit uses to advertise itself on the network (if Orbit is active on your side).