Frequently Asked Questions

A WiFi tally system is a wireless camera tally light solution that uses WiFi network communication to indicate which camera is currently live or in preview. Unlike traditional wired tally systems, WiFi tally lights connect to your video mixer (ATEM, OBS, vMix, Roland) through a wireless network, eliminating cable clutter and allowing flexible camera placement. The Tallylite system uses low-latency UDP protocol for instant tally state updates.

Tallylite connects to your Blackmagic ATEM mixer over the same WiFi network. The system receives real-time tally data via ATEM's network protocol, displaying red for program (on-air), green for preview, and off when inactive. Simply configure the ATEM IP address in Tallylite's web interface, assign camera numbers, and it works automatically. Compatible with ATEM Mini, ATEM Production Studio, and all ATEM switchers with network capability.

Yes! Tallylite works seamlessly with OBS Studio through the OBS WebSocket protocol. Install the OBS WebSocket plugin (built-in for OBS 28+), enable it in OBS settings, and configure the connection details in Tallylite. The tally light responds instantly when you switch scenes, showing which camera source is active. Perfect for live streaming, recording, and multi-camera productions with OBS.

With the battery-optimized deep sleep mode, Tallylite can run for 8-12 hours on a single charge using a standard 500mAh LiPo battery. The system intelligently enters deep sleep when idle and wakes up instantly when tally state changes. For extended shoots, you can use larger batteries (1000mAh+) for 20+ hours of operation, or power via USB-C for unlimited runtime. Battery indicator shows remaining charge in the web interface.

Absolutely! Tallylite features a unique "Web Tally" mode that turns any smartphone, tablet, or computer into a wireless tally display. Just connect your device to the same WiFi network and open the tally web interface in any browser. No app installation required. This is perfect for talent monitors, director displays, or temporary camera positions. The web tally shows full-screen red/green indicators with zero latency.

Tallylite works with any standard WiFi router supporting 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n networks. For best performance in professional environments, we recommend dual-band routers (2.4GHz + 5GHz) with at least 300Mbps throughput. Dedicated production routers like TP-Link AC1750, Ubiquiti UniFi, or Cisco Business series work excellently. Avoid public/shared networks for reliable tally performance. The system auto-reconnects if WiFi drops briefly.

You can connect up to 99 tally units on a single WiFi network, each assigned to different camera numbers (1-99). The UDP broadcast protocol efficiently handles multiple tallies without network congestion. For productions with 10+ cameras, we recommend using a dedicated WiFi router for tally traffic only. Each tally operates independently, so if one unit goes offline, others continue working normally.

Yes! The complete hardware bill of materials costs under $10 USD, including ESP32 microcontroller ($3-4), RGB LED ($0.50), battery ($2-3), case materials ($1-2), and basic components. This is 95% cheaper than commercial tally systems ($200-500 per unit). The software is completely free and open-source. You can build one yourself or purchase pre-assembled units from our store. No hidden costs, no subscriptions, no licenses required.

Setup takes less than 2 minutes: (1) Power on the Tallylite unit, (2) Connect to its WiFi hotspot "Tallylite-XXXX" from your phone/laptop, (3) Open a browser and navigate to 192.168.4.1, (4) Enter your production WiFi network name and password, (5) Configure mixer IP address and camera number, (6) Save settings. The tally automatically connects to your network and starts working. All configuration happens through a user-friendly web interface - no coding or command line required.

Tallylite achieves near-zero latency (typically 50-100ms) thanks to optimized UDP protocol and direct WiFi communication. This is faster than many wired tally systems. The ESP32 microcontroller processes tally state changes in under 20ms, and WiFi transmission adds 30-80ms depending on network conditions. In practice, the tally light illuminates the instant you press the take button on your mixer. Professional productions report latency is imperceptible and perfectly acceptable for live broadcasting.

Yes, Tallylite supports full RGB color customization through the web configuration interface. Default colors are red (program/on-air) and green (preview), but you can change them to any color preference. For example, use amber for preview, blue for program, or white for standby mode. Color settings are saved to persistent memory and survive power cycles. You can also adjust brightness levels for different studio lighting conditions.

Tallylite has native support for vMix (via vMix API), Roland V-1HD/V-60HD/V-600UHD (via Roland protocol), and also FeelWorld mixers. The multi-mixer support means you can switch between different video switchers without rebuilding the hardware. Simply select your mixer type in the web configuration, enter the IP address, and you're ready to go. All mixer protocols are built into the firmware with automatic protocol selection.

No coding skills needed! Tallylite is designed for non-technical users with a fully web-based configuration interface. All settings are accessible through a clean web UI: WiFi credentials, mixer selection, camera number, color preferences, brightness, and advanced features. The firmware comes pre-compiled and ready to flash using simple GUI tools. If you want to customize the code, the open-source Arduino/PlatformIO project is available, but most users never need to touch code.

Required components: (1) ESP32 development board with WiFi (ESP32-WROOM-32 recommended), (2) WS2812B RGB LED or common cathode RGB LED, (3) 3.7V LiPo battery (500-1000mAh), (4) TP4056 battery charging module, (5) Small plastic case for housing, (6) Basic wiring and soldering supplies. Optional: 3D printed case, battery indicator LED, power switch, diffuser for LED. Total cost is $8-12 depending on component sources. Complete shopping list and wiring diagrams available in our documentation.

Download the latest Tallylite firmware from our GitHub repository at github.com/PepperJeon/vtally-modern. The repository includes pre-compiled firmware binaries (.bin files) for instant flashing, full Arduino source code for customization, web flasher for browser-based installation, wiring diagrams, 3D printable case files, and comprehensive setup documentation. The software is MIT licensed and completely free. Updates are released regularly with new mixer support and features.