diff --git a/services/web-ui/public/capture.html b/services/web-ui/public/capture.html
index b61892c..ab41fd2 100644
--- a/services/web-ui/public/capture.html
+++ b/services/web-ui/public/capture.html
@@ -44,17 +44,19 @@
     }
 
     .timecode-display {
-      font-size: 38px;
-      font-weight: 400;
+      font-family: var(--font-mono);
+      font-size: 64px;
+      font-weight: 500;
       font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
-      letter-spacing: 0.06em;
+      letter-spacing: 0.05em;
       color: var(--accent);
-      font-family: 'SF Mono', 'Consolas', 'Menlo', monospace;
+      text-shadow: 0 0 18px oklch(55% 0.20 266 / 0.30);
       line-height: 1;
     }
 
     .timecode-display.inactive {
       color: var(--text-tertiary);
+      text-shadow: none;
     }
 
     .timecode-status {
@@ -313,6 +315,7 @@
 <div class="toast-container" id="toastContainer" aria-live="polite"></div>
 
 <script src="js/api.js?v=5"></script>
+<script src="js/topbar-strip.js?v=1"></script>
 <script>
   const cState = {
     devices: [],
diff --git a/services/web-ui/public/css/common.css b/services/web-ui/public/css/common.css
index f063cbe..af3d789 100644
--- a/services/web-ui/public/css/common.css
+++ b/services/web-ui/public/css/common.css
@@ -1,21 +1,23 @@
 /* ================================================================
-   WILD DRAGON MAM — Design System
-   Broadcast control register. Amber accent. Deep slate.
+   Z-AMPP — Design System
+   Broadcast operations console. Signature blue. Deep slate.
+   Operator-grade type, tabular numerics, signal-first hierarchy.
    ================================================================ */
 
-@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Inter:wght@400;500&display=swap');
+@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Inter:wght@400;500;600&family=JetBrains+Mono:wght@400;500&display=swap');
 
 /* ================================================================
    TOKENS
    ================================================================ */
 
 :root {
-  /* Background scale */
-  --bg-base:    oklch(11% 0.010 250);
-  --bg-panel:   oklch(15.5% 0.012 250);
-  --bg-surface: oklch(20% 0.014 250);
-  --bg-raised:  oklch(25% 0.015 250);
-  --bg-hover:   oklch(29% 0.015 250);
+  /* Surfaces (5-step depth, tinted toward brand hue 266) */
+  --bg-deep:    oklch(8% 0.011 266);
+  --bg-base:    oklch(11% 0.010 266);
+  --bg-panel:   oklch(15% 0.013 266);
+  --bg-surface: oklch(19% 0.014 266);
+  --bg-raised:  oklch(24% 0.015 266);
+  --bg-hover:   oklch(28% 0.015 266);
 
   /* Accent — amber tally light */
   --accent:        oklch(45% 0.20 266);
@@ -23,26 +25,41 @@
   --accent-subtle: oklch(55% 0.20 266 / 0.12);
   --accent-border: oklch(55% 0.20 266 / 0.36);
 
-  /* Text */
-  --text-primary:   oklch(93% 0.008 250);
-  --text-secondary: oklch(62% 0.012 250);
-  --text-tertiary:  oklch(44% 0.010 250);
+  /* Text — lifted secondary for readability (was 62%) */
+  --text-primary:   oklch(94% 0.008 266);
+  --text-secondary: oklch(72% 0.014 266);
+  --text-tertiary:  oklch(52% 0.012 266);
+  --text-disabled:  oklch(38% 0.010 266);
 
-  /* Borders */
-  --border:        oklch(27% 0.014 250);
-  --border-strong: oklch(36% 0.016 250);
+  /* Borders — added faint variant */
+  --border-faint:  oklch(22% 0.013 266);
+  --border:        oklch(28% 0.015 266);
+  --border-strong: oklch(38% 0.018 266);
 
-  /* Status colours */
-  --status-green:     oklch(68% 0.18 148);
-  --status-red:       oklch(62% 0.22 25);
-  --status-blue:      oklch(65% 0.16 245);
-  --status-amber:     var(--accent);
-  --status-gray:      oklch(44% 0.010 250);
+  /* Status — raw color slots */
+  --status-green:  oklch(70% 0.18 148);
+  --status-red:    oklch(64% 0.22 25);
+  --status-blue:   oklch(67% 0.16 245);
+  --status-yellow: oklch(80% 0.16 90);
+  --status-gray:   oklch(58% 0.012 266);
 
-  --status-green-bg:  oklch(68% 0.18 148 / 0.10);
-  --status-red-bg:    oklch(62% 0.22 25  / 0.10);
-  --status-blue-bg:   oklch(65% 0.16 245 / 0.10);
-  --status-amber-bg:  oklch(55% 0.20 266 / 0.12);
+  --status-green-bg:  oklch(70% 0.18 148 / 0.12);
+  --status-red-bg:    oklch(64% 0.22 25  / 0.12);
+  --status-blue-bg:   oklch(67% 0.16 245 / 0.12);
+  --status-yellow-bg: oklch(80% 0.16 90  / 0.12);
+
+  /* Semantic signal tokens — use these in operational UI */
+  --signal-good: var(--status-green);
+  --signal-warn: var(--status-yellow);
+  --signal-bad:  var(--status-red);
+  --signal-idle: var(--status-gray);
+  --signal-good-bg: var(--status-green-bg);
+  --signal-warn-bg: var(--status-yellow-bg);
+  --signal-bad-bg:  var(--status-red-bg);
+
+  /* Legacy aliases (deprecated, kept for stragglers) */
+  --status-amber:    var(--accent);
+  --status-amber-bg: var(--accent-subtle);
 
   /* Spacing — 4pt base */
   --sp-1:  4px;
@@ -55,14 +72,18 @@
   --sp-12: 48px;
   --sp-16: 64px;
 
-  /* Typography */
+  /* Typography — Inter for prose, JetBrains Mono for tabular numerics */
   --font: 'Inter', -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', system-ui, sans-serif;
+  --font-mono: 'JetBrains Mono', ui-monospace, 'SF Mono', 'Consolas', 'Liberation Mono', monospace;
   --text-xs:   11px;
   --text-sm:   13px;
   --text-base: 14px;
   --text-md:   16px;
   --text-lg:   18px;
   --text-xl:   22px;
+  --text-2xl:  28px;
+  --text-3xl:  40px;
+  --text-tc:   64px; /* tally-grade timecode */
 
   /* Radius */
   --r-sm: 4px;
@@ -162,6 +183,16 @@ svg { display: block; flex-shrink: 0; }
   color: oklch(11% 0.010 250);
 }
 
+.sidebar-logo {
+  width: 26px;
+  height: 26px;
+  object-fit: contain;
+  border-radius: var(--r-sm);
+  background: #fff;
+  padding: 2px;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+
 .sidebar-brand-name {
   font-size: var(--text-sm);
   font-weight: 500;
@@ -800,3 +831,52 @@ textarea:focus { border-color: var(--accent-border); box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px var(-
 .ampp-loading--inline .ampp-loading-label{font-size:11px}
 @keyframes amppPulse{0%,100%{transform:scale(.96);opacity:.78}50%{transform:scale(1);opacity:1}}
 @keyframes amppDot{0%,100%{transform:scale(.7);opacity:.35}50%{transform:scale(1.15);opacity:1}}
+
+/* ================================================================
+   OPS-CONSOLE ADDITIONS
+   Tally lights, timecode, signal meters, chips.
+   ================================================================ */
+
+/* Timecode — monospaced, tabular-nums, soft glow on focused values */
+.tc { font-family: var(--font-mono); font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums; letter-spacing: 0.02em; }
+.tc-display { font-family: var(--font-mono); font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums; font-size: var(--text-tc); font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.03em; color: var(--accent); text-shadow: 0 0 18px oklch(55% 0.20 266 / 0.35); }
+.tc-lg { font-size: var(--text-2xl); font-weight: 500; color: var(--text-primary); }
+.tc-md { font-size: var(--text-md); color: var(--text-secondary); }
+
+/* Tally word — the big status word on the recorder card */
+.tally-word { font-size: var(--text-md); font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: 0.04em; text-transform: uppercase; font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums; }
+.tally-word--good { color: var(--signal-good); text-shadow: 0 0 14px oklch(70% 0.18 148 / 0.35); }
+.tally-word--warn { color: var(--signal-warn); text-shadow: 0 0 14px oklch(80% 0.16 90 / 0.30); }
+.tally-word--bad  { color: var(--signal-bad);  text-shadow: 0 0 14px oklch(64% 0.22 25 / 0.35); }
+.tally-word--idle { color: var(--text-tertiary); }
+.tally-word--rec  { color: var(--accent); text-shadow: 0 0 14px oklch(55% 0.20 266 / 0.35); }
+
+/* Signal strip — horizontal bar fluttering at the source frame rate */
+.signal-strip { position: relative; height: 4px; border-radius: 2px; background: var(--bg-surface); overflow: hidden; }
+.signal-strip-fill { position: absolute; inset: 0; width: 100%; background: var(--signal-good); transform-origin: left; animation: signalFlicker 1.1s ease-in-out infinite; }
+.signal-strip--warn .signal-strip-fill { background: var(--signal-warn); animation-duration: 1.4s; }
+.signal-strip--bad  .signal-strip-fill { background: var(--signal-bad); animation: none; opacity: 0.5; }
+.signal-strip--idle .signal-strip-fill { background: var(--signal-idle); animation: none; opacity: 0.4; }
+@keyframes signalFlicker { 0%,100% { transform: scaleX(0.86) } 50% { transform: scaleX(1) } }
+
+/* Operator chip — leading dot + monospaced label, denser than .badge */
+.chip { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 6px; padding: 2px 8px; height: 20px; border-radius: 3px; font-family: var(--font-mono); font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.04em; text-transform: uppercase; background: var(--bg-surface); color: var(--text-secondary); border: 1px solid var(--border); white-space: nowrap; }
+.chip-dot { width: 6px; height: 6px; border-radius: 50%; background: currentColor; flex-shrink: 0; }
+.chip--good { color: var(--signal-good); border-color: oklch(70% 0.18 148 / 0.35); }
+.chip--warn { color: var(--signal-warn); border-color: oklch(80% 0.16 90 / 0.35); }
+.chip--bad  { color: var(--signal-bad);  border-color: oklch(64% 0.22 25 / 0.35); }
+.chip--rec  { color: var(--accent);      border-color: var(--accent-border); }
+.chip--mono { font-family: var(--font-mono); }
+
+/* Topbar status strip — thin live-clock + system pulse on every page */
+.topbar-strip { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 16px; padding: 0 20px; height: 28px; background: var(--bg-deep); border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border-faint); font-family: var(--font-mono); font-size: 11px; color: var(--text-tertiary); flex-shrink: 0; }
+.topbar-strip .ts-now { color: var(--text-primary); font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums; letter-spacing: 0.04em; }
+.topbar-strip .ts-sep { width: 1px; height: 12px; background: var(--border); }
+.topbar-strip .ts-label { letter-spacing: 0.08em; text-transform: uppercase; }
+.topbar-strip .ts-value { color: var(--text-secondary); font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums; }
+.topbar-strip .ts-dot { width: 6px; height: 6px; border-radius: 50%; background: var(--signal-good); box-shadow: 0 0 8px var(--signal-good); }
+
+/* Section header */
+.section-rule { display: flex; align-items: baseline; gap: 12px; margin-bottom: var(--sp-4); }
+.section-rule h2 { font-size: var(--text-md); font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: -0.01em; color: var(--text-primary); }
+.section-rule-tag { font-family: var(--font-mono); font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 0.12em; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--text-tertiary); padding: 1px 6px; border: 1px solid var(--border-faint); border-radius: 2px; }
diff --git a/services/web-ui/public/index.html b/services/web-ui/public/index.html
index 1dfa2a0..4cc6372 100644
--- a/services/web-ui/public/index.html
+++ b/services/web-ui/public/index.html
@@ -472,6 +472,7 @@
 </div>
 
 <script src="js/api.js?v=5"></script>
+<script src="js/topbar-strip.js?v=1"></script>
 <script src="js/preview.js?v=1"></script>
 <script src="js/selection.js?v=1"></script>
 <script>
diff --git a/services/web-ui/public/jobs.html b/services/web-ui/public/jobs.html
index 685a6e7..f87c205 100644
--- a/services/web-ui/public/jobs.html
+++ b/services/web-ui/public/jobs.html
@@ -835,5 +835,6 @@ function showError(msg) { toast(msg, 'error'); }
 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
 loadJobs();
 </script>
+<script src="js/topbar-strip.js?v=1"></script>
 </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/services/web-ui/public/js/topbar-strip.js b/services/web-ui/public/js/topbar-strip.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..50dc9cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/web-ui/public/js/topbar-strip.js
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+// Operator status strip mounted at the top of every .main pane.
+(function () {
+  function mount() {
+    const main = document.querySelector('.main');
+    if (!main || main.querySelector('.topbar-strip')) return;
+    const strip = document.createElement('div');
+    strip.className = 'topbar-strip';
+    strip.innerHTML =
+      '<span class="ts-dot" id="tsDot" title="System pulse"></span>' +
+      '<span class="ts-label">Z-AMPP</span>' +
+      '<span class="ts-now" id="tsNow">00:00:00</span>' +
+      '<span class="ts-sep"></span>' +
+      '<span class="ts-label">Page</span>' +
+      '<span class="ts-value" id="tsPage">' + pageName() + '</span>' +
+      '<span class="ts-sep"></span>' +
+      '<span class="ts-label">API</span>' +
+      '<span class="ts-value" id="tsApi">--</span>';
+    main.insertBefore(strip, main.firstChild);
+    tick(); setInterval(tick, 1000);
+    ping(); setInterval(ping, 10000);
+  }
+  function pageName() {
+    const p = location.pathname.replace(/\.html$/, '').replace(/^\//, '');
+    if (!p || p === 'index') return 'Library';
+    return p.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + p.slice(1);
+  }
+  function tick() {
+    const n = new Date();
+    const hh = String(n.getHours()).padStart(2, '0');
+    const mm = String(n.getMinutes()).padStart(2, '0');
+    const ss = String(n.getSeconds()).padStart(2, '0');
+    const el = document.getElementById('tsNow');
+    if (el) el.textContent = hh + ':' + mm + ':' + ss;
+  }
+  async function ping() {
+    const dot = document.getElementById('tsDot');
+    const apiEl = document.getElementById('tsApi');
+    const t0 = performance.now();
+    try {
+      const r = await fetch('/api/v1/projects', { credentials: 'include', signal: AbortSignal.timeout(4000) });
+      const ms = Math.round(performance.now() - t0);
+      if (r.ok) {
+        if (dot) { dot.style.background = 'var(--signal-good)'; dot.style.boxShadow = '0 0 8px var(--signal-good)'; }
+        if (apiEl) apiEl.textContent = ms + ' ms';
+      } else {
+        if (dot) { dot.style.background = 'var(--signal-warn)'; dot.style.boxShadow = '0 0 8px var(--signal-warn)'; }
+        if (apiEl) apiEl.textContent = 'HTTP ' + r.status;
+      }
+    } catch (e) {
+      if (dot) { dot.style.background = 'var(--signal-bad)'; dot.style.boxShadow = '0 0 8px var(--signal-bad)'; }
+      if (apiEl) apiEl.textContent = 'offline';
+    }
+  }
+  if (document.readyState === 'loading') document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', mount);
+  else mount();
+})();
diff --git a/services/web-ui/public/player.html b/services/web-ui/public/player.html
index 04484c5..6cba698 100644
--- a/services/web-ui/public/player.html
+++ b/services/web-ui/public/player.html
@@ -305,6 +305,7 @@
     </div>
 
     <script src="/js/api.js?v=5"></script>
+<script src="/js/topbar-strip.js?v=1"></script>
     <script>
         // ============================================================
         // STATE MANAGEMENT
diff --git a/services/web-ui/public/recorders.html b/services/web-ui/public/recorders.html
index 93b2b8d..102390c 100644
--- a/services/web-ui/public/recorders.html
+++ b/services/web-ui/public/recorders.html
@@ -359,6 +359,7 @@
 <div class="toast-container" id="toastContainer" aria-live="polite"></div>
 
 <script src="js/api.js?v=5"></script>
+<script src="js/topbar-strip.js?v=1"></script>
 <script>
   const pState = { recorders: [], timers: {}, sourceType: 'srt', mode: 'caller', projects: [], signals: {} };
 
@@ -474,7 +475,7 @@
           </span>
           ${isRecording ? `<span class="recorder-timer" id="timer-${rec.id}">00:00:00</span>` : ''}
         </div>
-        ${isRecording ? `<div class="recorder-status-row" style="font-size:var(--text-xs);"><span id="signal-${rec.id}" style="color:var(--text-tertiary)">Connecting…</span></div>` : ''}
+        ${isRecording ? `<div class="signal-strip" id="signalStrip-${rec.id}"><div class="signal-strip-fill"></div></div><div class="recorder-status-row" style="font-size:var(--text-xs);"><span id="signal-${rec.id}" style="color:var(--text-tertiary);font-family:var(--font-mono);letter-spacing:0.02em">Connecting…</span></div>` : ''}
 
         <div class="recorder-source">
           <svg viewBox="0 0 14 14" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.5" width="12" height="12"><path d="M2 4h10M2 8h7M2 12h5"/></svg>
@@ -548,6 +549,12 @@
       mainTxt.style.color = mainCol;
       mainDot.style.background = mainCol;
     }
+    const strip = document.getElementById('signalStrip-' + rid);
+    if (strip) {
+      strip.classList.remove('signal-strip--warn', 'signal-strip--bad', 'signal-strip--idle');
+      if (sig === 'connecting') strip.classList.add('signal-strip--warn');
+      else if (sig === 'lost' || sig === 'error') strip.classList.add('signal-strip--bad');
+    }
   }
 
   function formatDur(s) {
diff --git a/services/web-ui/public/upload.html b/services/web-ui/public/upload.html
index 30ba5ee..e71b60f 100644
--- a/services/web-ui/public/upload.html
+++ b/services/web-ui/public/upload.html
@@ -27,19 +27,18 @@
 
     /* Drop zone */
     .drop-zone {
-      border: 1px dashed var(--border-strong);
-      border-radius: var(--r-lg);
-      background: var(--bg-surface);
+      border: 1px dashed var(--border);
+      border-radius: var(--r-md);
+      background: var(--bg-deep);
       display: flex;
-      flex-direction: column;
       align-items: center;
       justify-content: center;
-      padding: var(--sp-12) var(--sp-8);
-      gap: var(--sp-4);
-      text-align: center;
+      padding: var(--sp-5) var(--sp-6);
+      gap: var(--sp-3);
+      text-align: left;
       cursor: pointer;
       transition: border-color var(--t-fast), background var(--t-fast);
-      min-height: 200px;
+      min-height: 88px;
       position: relative;
     }
 
@@ -59,7 +58,7 @@
     }
 
     .drop-zone-icon { color: var(--text-tertiary); }
-    .drop-zone-icon svg { width: 36px; height: 36px; }
+    .drop-zone-icon svg { width: 22px; height: 22px; }
 
     .drop-zone-primary {
       font-size: var(--text-md);
@@ -250,6 +249,7 @@
 <div class="toast-container" id="toastContainer" aria-live="polite"></div>
 
 <script src="js/api.js?v=5"></script>
+<script src="js/topbar-strip.js?v=1"></script>
 <script>
   const CHUNK = 10 * 1024 * 1024; // 10 MB chunks
   const state = { projects: [], bins: [], queue: [], uploading: false };