Manage video signals with “Slots”
Slots are a flexible and transparent way to manage and route live and playback video signals to various destinations.
Each slot is a container for either a signal input, video playback, video output or a composite of other slots. You can connect slots to each other to create internal video routing setups from simple to complex structure.
Slots are represented in the user interface as individual slot cards in the slot overview on the left of the main window. Slots are grouped in the slot overview by type:
- Slot types are
- input slots,
- library slots,
- composite slots and
- output slots
Slots of the “Input Slot” type can have further modes. Slot types and slot modes are explained in more detail below.
Input slots#
Input slots are your primary workbench for monitoring, recording, and playback.
You can associate input slots with your available video inputs (for example SDI input ports) to monitor, record, and distribute incoming signals. Recorded clips are played back in their associated source input slots by default.
Input slots provide three slot modes:
- Live mode for monitoring and recording the incoming camera signal
- Playback mode for playing back recorded clips
- Reference mode for comparing live and playback signals
Reference mode offers different comparison layouts:
- Side-by-side for displaying live and playback next to each other
- Swipe for comparing signals with a horizontal or vertical transition
- Overlay for mixing live and playback signals (for example to match framing)
Input Slots in “Live” slot mode during group recording
You can switch all input slots between live and playback using dedicated controls in the toolbar. This is useful, for example, to quickly return to live signals when shooting resumes.
Toolbar buttons for switching all inputs slot to “Live”/”Playback” slot mode
Output slots#
Output slots define what is shown on external outputs and displays. Hence, you can think of an output slot as a “showroom” for displaying the final product to your client.
You can associate output slots with your available video outputs (for example SDI output ports) to distribute signals from input, library, or composite slots.
The source of an output slot can be configured in the slot settings on the right side of the main window. You can select any input, library, or composite slot as a source.
Alternatively, you can change the source of the selected output slot via menu items or controller actions.
Output slots also provide quick routing options for temporary overrides:
- Force Slot to Follow Live Video ensures the output always shows the live signal of its configured input source
- Set Slot to Follow Selection dynamically routes the currently selected slot to the output
This allows flexible viewing configurations. For example, you can create different views for different roles on set, such as a cropped image for the director or a comparison view for script continuity. Learn more about tailored views in the article Create Tailored Views With Video Filters.
Output slot viewer and settings
Manage input slots and output slots#
You can add or remove input and output slots and assign them to connected devices in the slot manager.
Refer to the article Slot Manager for detailed instructions.
The number of available slots depends on your license:
- Reeltime Lite supports up to 4 combined input/output slots
- Reeltime Pro (3-Channel) supports up to 3 input slots and 6 output slots
- Reeltime Pro (6-Channel) supports up to 6 input slots and 9 output slots
Library slots#
Library slots act as a personal workbench for reviewing and preparing clips from the clip library.
Each library slot is directly linked to the clip library and can load any selected clip for playback.
Library slots allow you to:
- Browse the clip library and load clips using the arrow keys for quick review
- Compare different clips or different positions within the same clip using independent selections and playhead positions per slot
You can also play back all library slots simultaneously from their current playhead position using the corresponding “Play All Library Slots” menu item or controller action. A toolbar button for this function can be added via toolbar customization.
The number of available library slots depends on your license:
- Reeltime Lite supports up to 2 library slots
- Reeltime Pro (3-Channel) supports up to 6 library slots
- Reeltime Pro (6-Channel) supports up to 9 library slots
Composite slots#
Composite slots act as an assembly zone for combining signals from input and library slots.
You can create custom views by combining multiple sources with different layouts:
- Side-by-side (2×1 or 3×1)
- Grid layouts (2×2, 3×2, 3×3)
- Swipe comparison
- Overlay for mixing signals
For side-by-side layouts, you can rotate the composite by -90° or +90° for vertical monitor setups.
Overlay layouts provide additional controls:
- Extent defines the composite dimensions
- Background uses the resolution of the background source
- Fit to Canvas uses a fixed 16:9 layout
- Opacity, Scale, and Offset adjust the foreground
Composite slot layouts
Composite slots can be combined with input slot modes and output routing options. For example, a composite can follow playback mode or always show live signals depending on your setup.
You can also configure composite slot sources automatically using the auto mode by holding the option key and selecting the desired source slot.
Composite slots can be armed and recorded together with input slots, allowing you to record composited views alongside original camera signals.
Composite slot viewer and settings with side-by-side layout configured
In the composite slot viewer, you can switch between recording and playback controls. You can also cycle through controls for individual sources within the composite.
In addition to compositing, you can apply video filters to create tailored views for different roles on set. Refer to the article Create Tailored Views With Video Filters for more details.
- Reeltime Lite supports 1 composite slot
- Reeltime Pro (3-Channel) supports up to 2 composite slots
- Reeltime Pro (6-Channel) supports up to 4 composite slots
Highlight connected slots#
You can visually highlight all slots that are connected to the currently selected slot with the “Connected Slots” toolbar button or the associated “Highlight Connected Slots” menu item and Stream Deck controller action.
This way, you can see the internal routing between your slots – from input slots/library slots through composite slots to output slots (e.g., for seeing quickly which source/s are configured to an output slot).
Connected slots toolbar button