After Effects: Tutorial | How to create a digital timer / clock / countdown

Expression in the pinned comment.

Thanks for watching and all the best!

[JellybeanDrugCrew]

countspeed = 1;
clockStart = 0;

function times(n){
if (n < 10) return "0" + n else return "" + n
}

clockTime = clockStart +countspeed*(time - inPoint);

if (clockTime < 0){
minus = "-";
clockTime = -clockTime;
}else{
minus = "";
}

t = Math.floor(clockTime);
h = Math.floor(t/3600);
min = Math.floor((t%3600)/60);
sec = Math.floor(t%60);
ms =
minus + times(h) + ":" + times(min) + ":" + times(sec) + "." + ms

[HKR_WRITES]

If any of you want a timer which is like this 00:00
Minutes:Seconds
Here is the code.

countspeed = 1;
clockStart = 0;

function times(n){
if (n < 10) return "" + n else return "" + n
}

clockTime = clockStart +countspeed*(time - inPoint);

if (clockTime < 0){
minus = "-";
clockTime = -clockTime;
}else{
minus = "";
}

t = Math.floor(clockTime);
h = Math.floor(t/3600);
min = Math.floor((t%3600)/60);
sec = Math.floor(t%60);
minus +"0" +min +":" +times(sec)

If you want a timer which is like this 0:00
Minutes:Seconds
Here is the code.

countspeed = 1;
clockStart = 0;

function times(n){
if (n < 10) return "" + n else return "" + n
}

clockTime = clockStart +countspeed*(time - inPoint);

if (clockTime < 0){
minus = "-";
clockTime = -clockTime;
}else{
minus = "";
}

t = Math.floor(clockTime);
h = Math.floor(t/3600);
min = Math.floor((t%3600)/60);
sec = Math.floor(t%60);
minus +min +":" +times(sec)

I hope this is helpful :)

[Oblante]

countspeed = 1;
clockStart = 0;
 
function times(n){
  if (n < 10) return "0" + n else return "" + n
}
 
clockTime = clockStart +countspeed*(time - inPoint);
 
if (clockTime < 0){
  minus = "-";
  clockTime = -clockTime;
}else{
  minus = "";
}
 
t = Math.floor(clockTime);
h = Math.floor(t/3600);
min = Math.floor((t%3600)/60);
sec = Math.floor(t%60);
ms =
minus + times(h) + ":" + times(min) + ":" + times(sec) + "." + ms

[SmoothMotionLtd]

Spent the last 3 hours trying to find a way to alter the counter as I only wanted minutes and seconds on the timer. First time I'm doing After Effects and I got totally frustrated. Then found your tutorial and it worked perfectly fine with the supplied expression! Brilliant. Cheers mate!

[lauradaisy]

Had to make a demo video for a client with a countdown timer on their site, your script saved me time thank you sir!

[MarkTreen]

Seriously dude you are totally my hero. It makes sense that this is one of the only video I've ever seen with zero down thumbs!
You ROCK!

[VanezaVargas]

Most helpful digital clock tutorial! Thanks!!!

[gilisce]

Thanks for the expression. I have been searching for a while to make a timer and you have finally helped me find the answer.

[jjoshuaa]

Simplest and best timer expression I have seen so far. Thanks bro!

[AimlessRanger]

Thanks for all the positive feedback on this video. Good luck with AE!

[mudersville]

Great tutorial and expression. Saved me a headache in after effects and it works marvelously.

[paginab]

Excellent tutorial; thank you!
One QUESTION: Instead of millisecond, is there a way to show hundredths of seconds, or tenths of seconds? Thanks!

[MichalMak]

Very useful. Linked script is not working any more, but here it is:

countspeed = 1;
clockStart = 0;

function times(n) {
if (n<10) return "0" + n
else return "" + n
}

clockTime = clockStart + countspeed*(time - inPoint);

if (clockTime < 0) {
minus = "-";
clockTime = -clockTime;
} else {
minus = "";
}

t = Math.floor(clockTime);
h = Math.floor(t/3600);
min = Math.floor((t%3600)/60);
sec = Math.floor(t%60);
ms =
minus + times(h) + ":" + times(min) + ":" + times(sec) + ":" + ms

[cmpix]

Thanks for this, quick question. Is it possible to have the counter reset to 00:00 after 23:59, I'm doing a through the night time-lapse and this would be perfect if it was possible to do the above. Many thanks.

[ojatro]

Great videos with lot's of info! Thanks for posting.

[LazyMasterGamer]

It's the first time I see Adobe After Effects code but I understand it really easily because I can program in PHP :p
Thanks for this video :D

[AimlessRanger]

You can just add another text layer with either am or pm and move it behind the timer.
Just play around with the expression until it fits :)
If you are unsure about anything just leave me a comment.

[-Belshazzar-]

Best tutorial I have found, thank you!

[doviyellin]

Thanks for this highly professional and extremely helpful guide!

[carmeladomenech]

Amazing, thank you!!! How can I change to just 2 number in the milliseconds??