OneTaskBy Tim King · Updated
Countdown Video Generator
Countdown Timer Video Up to 10 Minutes, With a Shrinking Ring and Beeps
OneTask is free, with no sign-up, and built by one person.
If this tool saved you time, a coffee helps keep new ones coming.
How the Countdown Video Generator works
This countdown video generator makes a timer clip from any number of seconds up to 10 minutes. Set the start, colours and size, add a shrinking ring and beeps on the last three seconds, and press Render. Drop it into a stream, a slide deck, a class or a video intro.
A countdown buys attention. Streamers show one before going live, teachers use one for timed tasks, presenters run one before a session starts, and editors open a video with one. A video file plays the same on any screen, with no website or app that might stall.
How the countdown video generator works
The tool draws one frame every 1/30 of a second. The number shows whole seconds left, the ring drains clockwise from the top once per second, and the final second shows your end text. The video is one second longer than the count, so a count from 10 runs 11 seconds and ends on "Go!". Beeps are synthesised in your browser: a short 880 Hz tone on each counted second and a longer 1320 Hz tone on the final frame.
| Count from | Shown as | Video length |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10 | 11 s |
| 60 | 1:00 | 61 s |
| 300 | 5:00 | 5 min 1 s |
| 600 | 10:00 | 10 min 1 s |
Rendering time
The clip is encoded in real time, because the beeps have to be recorded as they play. A 5-minute countdown takes 5 minutes to make. Keep the tab visible while it runs so no frames are dropped.
Tips and pitfalls
Stream overlays. Use the same size as your stream canvas. Set the background to pure green (#00ff00) and key it out in OBS if you want the numbers over your camera.
Seconds only shows 90 rather than 1:30, which suits short counts and sports drills.
No sound. Choose None for beeps if the clip will sit under music or speech.
How to read the result
The stats show the starting number as displayed, the video length, the frame size and file size.
FAQ
How do I make a 10 second countdown video?
Set Count down from to 10, keep the ring and the last-three-seconds beeps, choose your size and press Render. After about 11 seconds the video is ready to download, ending on your final frame text, which defaults to "Go!".
Can I use the countdown in OBS or a presentation?
Yes. Add the downloaded file as a Media Source in OBS, or insert it as a video in PowerPoint, Keynote or Google Slides. Set it to play automatically when the slide opens so the countdown starts on cue.
Why does a long countdown take so long to make?
The video and beeps are recorded in real time as the countdown plays, so a 10-minute countdown takes 10 minutes. Choose None for beeps and it still renders at real speed, because the recorder works that way.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The numbers are drawn and the beeps generated by your own browser, and the video is encoded on your device. Nothing is sent to a server and no account is needed to make or download the timer.
See also: all Video & Screen tools, Images, Audio, PDF, SVG, Simulations & Screensavers, Generative Art, Chart Makers, 3D Model Viewers, Drawing Pads, Mockups & 3D Making, Diagram Makers, 3D Science, Tracker Music.
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