Pick the format in the dropdown by the logo; speeches and prep load with OSDA times. Where OSDA and NSDA differ (Policy prep: 6 or 8 minutes), an OSDA | NSDA switch appears next to the format; OSDA is the default. Open Team Setup to enter the resolution, team codes, sides and speakers, or in Public Forum click Import from Speechwire and paste the two team lines from your ballot (first line = team speaking first).

Click Flip Coin, then set the result: Team 1's Side (Team 2 gets the other), Swap Which Team Speaks First (teams keep their sides), or Swap Speakers within a team. In Lincoln-Douglas, Big Questions, Extemp Debate and Policy the sides come from your pairing; Swap Sides switches them if needed. In those formats debaters who join on their phones fill in Team Setup for you.

Start each speech in order; press Space to pause and resume. Starting the next speech closes the previous one, or click the red End speech. A speech ended by mistake comes back with Resume; Reset restores one speech. Prep timers sit above the speeches and stop at 0:00; speeches run into red overtime. Bells start off; switch on Bells in the toolbar for one bell at 30 seconds left and two at time. Each color means one thing: blue while a clock runs, gold in the last 30 seconds, red from time's up, green when done. A paused card has a dashed outline, a dimmed clock and the word Paused. The debaters' phones and the room display use the same colors and words. The clock icon in the toolbar switches between counting down (time left) and counting up (time used); the room display follows your choice, and each debater picks their own. The prep timers and a round progress strip stay pinned at the top, and the current speech's card stays on screen while you scroll. When a speech ends, MDT scrolls to the next one (never while you are typing). With a room display connected, the bells ring on the display (change this under the speaker icon). To move the round to your phone or another computer, or keep a backup on your phone in case this one stops working, use Judge device in the Room window.

With Flow on, take notes under each speech. Copy Flow copies the setup, notes and a time summary for Google Docs or Word, and also downloads a text file with the round details and your notes by speech, so you can look back at the round later. The chart icon (Analytics) shows time used per team and speaker.

Finish Round (under the last speech) ends the round and shows "All speeches are done" on every connected screen; starting a timer reopens it. New Round (red, end of the toolbar) clears times, names and notes for the next round and keeps the format and resolution, so use Copy Flow first. It always asks before clearing anything. The start page also offers Resume round or New round whenever a round is saved on this device.

Room → Open a debate room gives a 4-character code and QR code. You run the round exactly as before; other screens follow along. Room → End Round closes it (New Round does too). If your device sleeps or loses Wi-Fi mid-round, the room keeps the timers going and this page catches up when it wakes.

Open the room's Display screen link on a spare iPad or laptop facing the debaters (or choose Room display on the start page and type the code). It shows big timers. While your Debate Room window is open, it shows the QR code, room code and seats instead (never over a running timer); close the window to bring the timers back. Tap it once so it stays awake. To use this computer as the display, click the house icon; your round and room are kept, and Resume round brings you back.

Debaters scan the QR code or go to debatetimer.app, type the code and tap their name (enter names in Team Setup first); in the next round their phone remembers them. Their phone shows a “You’re up!” banner (and buzzes on Android) when it’s their turn, and glows at 30 seconds and at time. Seats lock when the first timer starts, so only you can move a debater after that (Room window, Unseat). They can run their own speech, crossfire and prep; switch that off in the Room window to run every timer yourself. In PF, LD, Policy and Big Questions they can share evidence cards (a photo of a printed card, files from Choose files, pasted text, or web links), which everyone can open and which are saved to your computer. The full guide has a section written for debaters.