PRO DJ LINK
Pioneer DJ's player network. CDJs and XDJs share what they're playing over it, and TimecodeLink turns that into timecode.
What is PRO DJ LINK?
PRO DJ LINK is Pioneer DJ's proprietary protocol for linking CDJ and XDJ players over Ethernet. Players use it to share tracks and beat-sync. Every player also broadcasts its playback status over it, and that is the part show control can use.
Linked players send a steady stream of UDP packets with the loaded track, playhead position, BPM, pitch, play state and on-air status. TimecodeLink listens to those packets and turns them into SMPTE timecode.
What the packets carry
Every connected player reports:
- Which track is loaded on each player
- Current playback position within the track
- BPM and pitch adjustment
- Play/pause state and on-air status
- Which player is the sync master
TimecodeLink CDJ input
With CDJ input selected, TimecodeLink joins the PRO DJ LINK network and finds the players by itself. It reads each player's playback data, matches the loaded track against your timecode list, and sends SMPTE timecode out over MTC, Art-Net or LTC.
TimecodeLink only listens. The players don't know it's there, and nothing changes for the DJ.
Finds the players itself
Plug the TimecodeLink machine into the same switch as the players. There are no IP addresses to enter.
Up to six players
TimecodeLink watches up to six players at once. The deck selection mode (on-air, master or fixed) decides which one drives the timecode.
No Pioneer software needed
TimecodeLink talks to the players directly. The TimecodeLink machine doesn't need Rekordbox or anything else from Pioneer.
Related
- Example Setups: sample multi-machine layout with IPs and ports
- Pioneer DJ Setup Guide: step-by-step CDJ/XDJ configuration
- SMPTE Timecode: the output format
- MIDI Time Code: MTC output from CDJ input
Ready to sync?
TimecodeLink turns whatever your DJ software is playing into timecode your show control can chase.