Timecode from CDJ and XDJ players
TimecodeLink reads Pioneer CDJs and XDJs over PRO DJ LINK and sends SMPTE timecode as LTC, MTC and Art-Net, all at once. Each track gets its own start time, so a lighting, laser or video show programmed for that track starts with it, and no DJ software has to run on a laptop.
Mac (Intel or Apple Silicon) and Windows.
Who it's for
A club with CDJs and a lighting console
Guest DJs play from USB on the house players. The LD's timecode shows fire for the tracks they were built for, whoever is playing.
A DJ who tours a laser show
The show is programmed once per track. In each venue, TimecodeLink reads the club's CDJ-3000s and the laser software runs each track's timeline.
Visuals for a CDJ set
Resolume Arena takes LTC and keeps each clip on its track, while the lighting desk takes Art-Net from the same computer.
A home or mobile rig on an XDJ
An XDJ-AZ or XDJ-XZ and a laptop on the same network are enough. No CDJs, no Rekordbox on the laptop.
Supported players: CDJ-3000, XDJ-AZ and more
| Player | Precision | Position updates |
|---|---|---|
| CDJ-3000 | Full | ~30 ms |
| CDJ-3000X | Full | ~30 ms |
| XDJ-AZ * | Full | ~30 ms |
| CDJ-2000NXS2 | Standard | ~200 ms, smoothed by TimecodeLink |
| CDJ-2000NXS | Standard | ~200 ms, smoothed by TimecodeLink |
| XDJ-XZ ** | Standard | ~200 ms, smoothed by TimecodeLink |
| XDJ-1000MK2 | Standard | ~200 ms, smoothed by TimecodeLink |
* XDJ-AZ: all four decks in standalone mode (TimecodeLink 0.1.4 or later). With the unit's Pro DJ Link option on, for example next to other CDJs, decks 1 and 2.
** XDJ-XZ: it puts no fader data on the network, so nothing can follow its faders. The timecode follows the tempo master or a deck you pick.
A DJM mixer on the same network tells TimecodeLink which channels are on air. The XDJ-RX, XDJ-RX2 and Opus Quad are not supported.
Which deck drives the timecode
The timecode comes from the deck that feeds TimecodeLink's master output. With AUTO on, it moves with the players' tempo master, and with a DJM mixer (or an XDJ-AZ) TimecodeLink also sees which channels are on air, so the timecode can follow the deck the crowd hears. Click one deck instead to lock the timecode to it.
A start time for every track
In TimecodeLink's track list, each track gets a start timecode. One hour per track is the
simplest scheme: 01:00:00:00 for the first, 02:00:00:00 for the
next. TimecodeLink matches tracks by the title the player reads from the file, so the
names in the list have to match the titles on the USB.
When a track plays, its timecode runs from its start time and follows the pitch fader. On the console you build one timecode show per track, offset to its hour, and the show runs whenever that track is played, in any order. The grandMA3 and grandMA2 guides set that up step by step.
Outputs
- LTC: timecode as audio, for consoles with an LTC input and for Resolume Arena
- MTC: timecode over MIDI, for a grandMA2, laser software and DAWs
- Art-Net: timecode over the lighting network, for a grandMA3 and Pangolin BEYOND
Tempo goes out too, to Ableton Link and to grandMA2 and grandMA3 speed masters: Ableton Link from CDJs.
Network setup
Players and the TimecodeLink computer go on one wired network: a plain Ethernet switch, all on one subnet. The Pioneer setup guide covers the details and what to check if the players don't show up.
FAQ
Which CDJs and XDJs are supported?
CDJ-3000, CDJ-3000X, XDJ-AZ, CDJ-2000NXS2, CDJ-2000NXS, XDJ-XZ and XDJ-1000MK2. The XDJ-RX, XDJ-RX2 and Opus Quad are not supported.
Do I need Rekordbox running on a laptop?
No. TimecodeLink reads the players over the network, so the DJ plays from USB as usual. The computer running TimecodeLink only has to be on the same switch.
Does it follow the deck that's on air?
With a DJM mixer on the network, or on an XDJ-AZ, yes: TimecodeLink sees which channels are on air. Without that data it follows the players' tempo master, or a deck you pick. The XDJ-XZ sends no fader data, so with an XZ it can't follow the faders.
Can I output LTC and Art-Net at the same time?
Yes, and MTC too. They run at once from the same deck, so a lighting console and a video server can each take the one they read.
Does it work on Mac and Windows?
Yes. The CDJ input runs on any Mac with macOS 12 or later, Intel included, and on 64-bit Windows 10 and 11.
Can I try it first?
Yes. The free trial runs for 30 days with every feature. Download it and run it; there's no sign-up.
Try it at your next gig
Download the free trial, plug into the players' switch, and set up the receiving gear.
CDJ / XDJ setup · grandMA3 · grandMA2 · Resolume · Example setups
Comparing DJ timecode tools? See who TimecodeLink is for.