Timecode from Denon DJ players (beta)
TimecodeLink reads Denon SC and Prime players over the network and sends the playing deck's timecode to lights, lasers and video as LTC, MTC and Art-Net, all at once. Each track starts at its own timecode, so a show built for a track runs when the DJ plays it, and the players need nothing installed.
Denon support is in beta. Mac and Windows.
Who it's for
A booth with SC5000s and an X1800
The lighting desk sits on the same network as the players. TimecodeLink runs on a laptop next to it, and the cues programmed for a track fire whenever a DJ plays that track.
A Prime 2 and a laser at a mobile gig
The Prime 2 and a laptop with TimecodeLink and Pangolin BEYOND share one switch. The laser show built for each track follows its timecode, pitch fader included.
Visuals in Resolume Arena
Arena chases the LTC, so the clip made for a track stays in step with it. An OSC trigger starts that clip as the track comes on.
Chases at the DJ's tempo
The playing deck's BPM goes to a grandMA2 or grandMA3 speed master and to Ableton Link. Effects keep time between the timecoded cues.
Players: SC5000, SC6000, Prime 4, Prime 2 and Prime Go
| Hardware | Status |
|---|---|
| SC5000 / SC5000M | Tested by beta users (Engine OS 5) |
| SC6000 / SC6000M | Expected to work, not confirmed yet |
| Prime 2 | Tested by beta users (Engine OS 5) |
| Prime 4 | Tested by beta users (Engine OS 5) |
| Prime Go | Expected to work, not confirmed yet |
| X1800 mixer | Tested by beta users |
| X1850 mixer | Expected to work, not confirmed yet |
The players that aren't confirmed speak the same protocol as the tested ones. If you play one, a report through Report Issue in the app tells us how it went. TimecodeLink follows the players themselves; the Engine DJ desktop app is not an input.
Deck numbers, and which deck drives the timecode
Each player brings two decks: player 1 is decks 1 and 2, player 2 is decks 3 and 4. A Prime 4 is decks 1 to 4 on its own. Give every player its own player number, or two players end up on the same decks.
With AUTO on, the timecode follows the players' sync master. Click one deck to lock the timecode to it instead. The setup guide covers following the channel faders.
A start time for every track
Drag the same audio files you put on the USB stick or SD card into TimecodeLink's track
list, and give each one a start time, for example one hour apart:
01:00:00:00, 02:00:00:00. TimecodeLink finds the track on a deck
by its file name, so keep the names the same on the computer and on the drive.
While the track plays, its timecode runs from that start time at whatever pitch the DJ plays it. The receiving side gets one show per track at that hour: the grandMA3, grandMA2 and Pangolin BEYOND guides build it step by step, and the Resolume guide puts each clip on its track's timecode.
What goes out
- LTC, timecode as audio: Resolume Arena, and consoles with an SMPTE input
- MTC, timecode over MIDI: a grandMA2, laser software, a DAW
- Art-Net, timecode on the lighting network: a grandMA3, Pangolin BEYOND
The three run at the same time from the same deck. Tempo goes out as well, to Ableton Link and to grandMA2 and grandMA3 speed masters.
Network
The players and the TimecodeLink computer go on one network switch, wired. Without a router the players take a 169.254.x.x address; leave the computer's network on Auto (DHCP) and it does the same. The setup guide has the rest, including what to check when the players don't appear.
FAQ
Is Denon support finished?
No, it's a public beta. If something looks off, send Report Issue from TimecodeLink while the players are connected. The report shows us what your players sent, and it helps us confirm the models no beta user has tested yet.
Which Denon players are confirmed?
Tested by beta users: SC5000 and SC5000M, Prime 2 and Prime 4 (all on Engine OS 5) and the X1800 mixer. Expected to work, not confirmed yet: SC6000 and SC6000M, Prime Go and the X1850 mixer.
Does it need Engine DJ on the computer?
No. TimecodeLink reads the players over the network. The Engine DJ desktop app is not an input, and nothing is installed on the players.
Does it work with a Prime 4?
Yes, beta users have tested it on Engine OS 5. A Prime 4 shows up in TimecodeLink as decks 1 to 4, and the timecode comes from whichever deck TimecodeLink follows.
Can the timecode drive Resolume?
Yes. Resolume Arena chases the LTC and keeps each track's clip in step with the track, and an OSC trigger can start the clip when the track comes on. The Resolume guide sets up both.
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 with your players
Download the free trial, plug the computer into the players' switch, and set up the gear that follows the timecode.
Denon setup · grandMA3 · grandMA2 · Resolume · Pangolin BEYOND · Example setups
Comparing DJ timecode tools? See who TimecodeLink is for.