Set up your show Mac

Work through one section at a time. Keep shutdown disarmed until the full setup has been tested.

Read the show status

The light in the top bar is always visible. Checking is neutral while the first observations arrive. Show Ready is green when no known required or configured check is failing. Check System is red and includes an issue count; red tab markers and card outlines show where attention is needed. Choose the red status to open the first affected tab.

Optional features that are switched off do not create a fault. Launch at login and automatic login are exceptions because unattended operation depends on both. This status covers only what Show Central can verify and does not replace a real show-day test.

Move Show Central.app to Applications and open it. On first launch, review Setup & Permissions. Approve only the permissions needed by the features you plan to use.
In Power & Schedule, check whether automatic power-on is supported. If you want a weekly start or shutdown time, select days and a time, then choose Apply Schedule.
In Launch Sequence, choose apps or files, set a delay on each card, and run the sequence while watching the result. The sequence does not run automatically at login.
In Shutdown & Triggers, choose whether apps should save or quit without saving. Set the countdown. Enable only the OSC, MIDI or keyboard inputs you intend to use.
Test each input while shutdown triggers are disarmed. A received cue should appear in the one-line Activity footer without shutting down the Mac.
Only after testing with disposable documents, arm shutdown and perform a controlled real shutdown test.

Two different switches: Scheduled shutdown has its own enable control in Power & Schedule. The arm/disarm switch applies to immediate shutdown triggers and Trigger now, not to the weekly schedule.

Where settings live

The selected show configuration saves launch cues, trigger mappings, save behavior and countdown. Machine-level power settings, weekly schedule and Launch at login are separate settings on that Mac. Loading a configuration always disarms shutdown and turns OSC, MIDI and keyboard triggers off.

What to read next

Start with power and scheduling or launch cues. Before using remote shutdown, read shutdown behavior, triggers and the pre-show checklist.