Starstruck Video Playout Operator guide

First-show setup

1. Select the audience screen

Connect the TV and choose its HDMI input. In macOS Displays, use it as an extended display, not a mirror. Open Starstruck → Settings → Video Output.

Video Output settings. Connect your external screen, then choose it here.
  1. External display. Choose the audience screen. If offered its audio, accept or keep your current destination. Display and audio choices are saved on this Mac, independently of projects.
  2. Test pattern. Show the pattern and check the TV. It works in On, Black or Off; without a TV, it appears in the local preview.
  3. Done. Close Settings to remove the test pattern.

Mac-local device choices require the next app update. Installed 1.0.0 (112) still keeps device choices per project.

2. Route and test audio

Leave Output Off. Open Settings → Audio Output.

Audio Output settings. Your TV or sound device appears once connected.
  1. Sound Settings…. In macOS, select the Mac speakers, then mute them.
  2. Audio destination. Choose the audience audio device in Starstruck. It is separate from ordinary Mac sound.
  3. Program volume / mute. Set the required level and clear Mute program audio.
  4. Play audio test. Listen at both ends: audience sound, laptop silence. Loops and Off preview are silent.

3. Add media and save the project

Open the Applications copy of Starstruck. Start with a holding Loop and an Insert.

Current app window: Loops left, Inserts right, with the small preview and playback controls below.
  1. Add loop. Add a repeating video, JPEG/PNG still or generated Black.
  2. Add insert VT. Add a video that plays once. Finder drops work only on empty tiles; occupied tiles ignore them.
  3. Tile settings. Use the sliders icon to name the tile and choose its transition. Property changes apply immediately.
  4. Project → Save. Save a named project manually. Imports link to the original files; keep those files in place. Open/Load last starts Off.

4. Test playback and output

Play a Loop and an Insert with Off selected first. The gold border and “output off” identify silent local playback. Then test the TV. Check an audible Insert too.

An Insert running with Output Off in full screen. The preview movie is omitted by this native capture; it is not a photo of the audience screen.
  1. Selected Loop. Choose the return Loop, then On. On requires a valid selected screen and Loop. On never reveals an Insert already playing with Off.
  2. Insert / return. Click an Insert. After its transition, selecting a Loop sets its return. Let it finish, or use Return to loop. Wait through fades/stingers before another command.
  3. Duration bar. Click to jump within a playing Insert’s marked range. It continues immediately and still returns automatically. Loops cannot be scrubbed.
  4. On / Black / Off. On sends the Loop to the TV. Black fades picture and sound to black. Off releases the TV to the desktop but permits silent preview. Unplugging forces Off; reconnection stays Off.

Valid On/Black output prevents idle display sleep. Keep power connected and the lid open; deliberate Sleep, TV timers, screen savers and Lock Screen remain separate checks.