I can't figure out how to get a timer for my speedruns. I speedrun Minecraft Java Edition on a Mac, and LiveSplit doesn't work on a Mac. I've searched for a timer with no success. I've tried Time Split, but it can't automatically start, and the hotkeys aren't customizable. So is there really NO working timer for Mac? Also, is a timer even required? Can't the mods reviewing the run just time it themselves? I'm sorry if these are really common questions, I'm just really new to speedrunning.
You need to contact the mods of Minecraft or check the rules for the game/category to see if a timer is required. As for a Mac, you can run LiveSplit in Wine (although I’m not sure any autosplitters would work if the game has those) or you could try LiveSplitOne which is a browser based version of the timer. There is also Llanfair, although that isn’t widely used anymore.
But do they automatically start? (I don't even know what Wine is. I'm a complete computer noob.)
Wine is a program that allows you to run Windows programs on Mac. And timers only automatically start if you have an autosplitter for the game in LiveSplit. Like my previous post said, I’m pretty sure that it probably won’t work if you can’t run LiveSplit natively. You could double check with the Minecraft community though.
I have been using one called NWSplit. I think there is a Mac version. I tried the Linux version but it did not work. However, the HTML version at http://dregu.github.io/nwsplit/ works well. The problem is you have to have the timer in the foreground and must click on a button on the page to go to the next split. Works well for me because I am adding the timer in post. Maybe the Mac native version will do what you need?
Well, I need one that can automatically time me. Otherwise I might as well just use a stopwatch, because it'll be so inaccurate.
If you're talking about automatic timing with no input on your part, you need an autosplitter, which is an additional functionality on top of a timer itself.
Sounds like you are looking for an autosplitter. Not all communities made one, you can retime the run from the video if you need miliseconds. Mods should do that anyway for you, though
@AlexisDR dumb question, how does one re-time a run? I've seen this guy's page and used it as a way to re-time youtube videos: https://mattbraddock.com/yt-frame-timer/ My runs just aren't that good to warrant extreme precision, so it generally suffices.
I have also downloaded an mp4 from twitch and loaded it up in Lightworks to get time precise to 1/60th of a second (having set the fps at 60). Would this be the correct and/or preferred way of re-timing?
@thohan99 Yep, that's how it works, although both methods you mention have the same theoretical level of (high) precision.
The games on speedrun are not allowed to require a timer.
Not exactly true, there are a few cases when leaderboards do require a timer, for several reasons. But yes, if there is no need for it, then a timer should never be required.
A timer isn't required for most games, but you can go to livesplit's website and download the timer from there.
What website can I use to get a Speedrun timer that isn't live split
There is the web-based version of livesplit: https://one.livesplit.org/ An online stopwatch: https://www.online-stopwatch.com/
And any system clock should work as well, as they normally have stopwatches that time to the thousandth.