TVI · TV Insert

TVI: the right time, directly on live video

Front panel of the TVI OSD inserter
TVI - TV Insert, front view

TVI is a compact OSD inserter that overlays clocks, timers and timecode onto a pass-through video signal. The video path remains in hardware, while every overlay detail is controlled from a lightweight web dashboard.

Video in, video out, timing over video.

Hardware passthrough NTP and SMPTE LTC Dashboard web Automatic recovery

Hardware video path, separate OSD

A reliable time reference without burdening the video workflow

Many software overlays re-encode or retransmit the video. TVI keeps the signal on the system's hardware path and renders the OSD on a separate plane. The result is a low-latency solution that is easy to control and designed for continuous operation in control rooms, studios, live events and technical installations.

Clock, timer, countdown, up-counter and timecode can be positioned and customized without interrupting the program. If the format changes, a hotplug occurs or temporary instability is detected, dedicated watchdogs automatically rebuild video, audio and overlay services.

Explore web control
Example of an OSD clock overlaid on live video
Always-readable overlay Configurable style, position and content

Key features

Everything you need to put timing on program video

01

Video passthrough

Hardware video path, input format detection and automatic recovery after hotplug or resolution changes.

02

Customizable OSD

Digital, analog or flip clock with optional date and label, plus adjustable font, color, background, opacity, size and position.

03

NTP and SMPTE LTC

LTC decoding with automatic FPS detection, forward/reverse, drop-frame, color-frame and user bits, plus NTP fallback if lock is lost.

04

Remote control

Web dashboard, HTTP API and UDP commands for integrating TVI with browsers, touch panels, automation and control-room systems.

  • ✓ UP/DOWN timer, countdown and timecode
  • ✓ Fully adjustable position and style
  • ✓ Instant panic control to hide the overlay
  • ✓ Audio passthrough with dedicated watchdog
  • ✓ Broadcast formats up to 1080p59.94
  • ✓ Optional LTC output from NTP or loop-through
  • ✓ Status, heartbeat and resync via API
  • ✓ Persistent local configuration

Video demonstration

See the overlay on a live signal

Two real examples show the clock and timecode overlaid on program video.

Live clock

Time displayed over the video with a high-contrast background and continuous updates during playback.

Frame-accurate timecode

A complete time reference including frames, designed for production, technical monitoring and operational synchronization.

Dashboard web

Open, configure, put it on air

From a browser, you can control OSD visibility, style, position and content in real time. The panel also includes NTP/LTC source selection, LTC testing, network configuration and UDP remote control for timers and displays.

  • Live control: show, update or hide the overlay without interrupting the video.
  • Flexible styling: choose the mode, theme, colors, font, date and label.
  • Integration: control the same functions through HTTP APIs or UDP commands.
  • Operational safety: use the panic control to hide the OSD immediately.
TVI web dashboard with OSD, LTC timecode, network and UDP controls
TVI control interface accessible from the local network.

The device

Designed for professional installations

Front view of TVI
Front panel with display and local controls
Rear view of TVI
Rack unit shown with SDI, LAN and LTC connections

Technical specifications

The TVI platform

The reference software platform runs on high-performance embedded hardware, with independent services for video, OSD, audio and control.

Hardware platform

High-performance embedded solution

Operating system

Ubuntu 24.04

Video

Reference platform: HDMI-RX, HDMI-TX and hardware-plane passthrough

Main formats

576i50, 720p50/59.94, 1080i50/59.94, 1080p23.98/25/29.97/50/59.94

Overlay

Separate BGRA renderer on the video plane through GStreamer

Time and timecode

NTP/system clock, SMPTE LTC input and optional GPIO LTC output

Audio

HDMI passthrough with dedicated routing, A/V synchronization and watchdogs

Control

HTTP dashboard on port 8000, FastAPI API and remote UDP commands

Configuration

Local persistence in settings.json and environment variables

Applications

Built to work wherever timing matters

Control rooms and studios

Clock and timecode always visible on the program monitor.

Live events

Controllable countdowns and timers during live productions and streaming.

Installations

Continuous time reference with automatic recovery.

Test benches

Technical monitoring of signals, timecode and video formats.

Bring TVI into your workflow

Open the dashboard, choose the style, put the OSD on air.

Tell us about your system and we will help you identify the most suitable configuration and integration.

Frequently asked questions

TVI at a glance

A digital or analog clock, flip clock, date, labels, timers, countdown, up-counter and timecode.

From a web dashboard on the local network, through HTTP APIs or with UDP commands compatible with remote devices.

The NTP-synchronized system clock or an SMPTE LTC signal, with automatic FPS detection and NTP fallback if lock is lost.

Dedicated watchdogs monitor video, output, audio and memory, automatically rebuilding the required services.