ShowKontrol and Pro DJ Link: Real-Time Metadata, SMPTE/MTC and Art-Net Timecode for Shows.

Automatic synchronisation in large live shows

At major electronic-music festivals, pyrotechnics, flame effects, lasers, video walls and moving lights may need to react precisely to what is happening in the DJ booth.

Headline DJs often perform from professional media players without following a fixed running order. A show that relies only on a static timeline cannot reliably anticipate every track choice, tempo change or transition. Systems such as ShowKontrol, together with the Pro DJ Link data network, provide the live playback information needed to build a more responsive show-control workflow.

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ShowKontrol and Pro DJ Link Bridge architecture

Pro DJ Link

Pro DJ Link is AlphaTheta/Pioneer DJ’s Ethernet-based network system for compatible players, mixers and rekordbox computers. It carries device status, playback and library-related data between supported participants. It is a data network, not the programme-audio path.

ShowKontrol — TC Supply

ShowKontrol is designed to read compatible Pro DJ Link data and expose it to production departments that need to follow the DJ performance.

• Network connection: The ShowKontrol computer joins the same Ethernet network used by the compatible players and mixer.
• Status-data monitoring: It reads the packets made available by devices on the network and derives information such as playback state, beat position and track metadata.

[Player 1] -----+
[Player 2] -----+--> [DJ-booth Ethernet switch] --> [ShowKontrol server]
[DJ mixer] -----+                                      |
                                                       +--> SMPTE LTC audio --> lighting console
                                                       +--> Art-Net timecode --> media server
                                                       +--> MIDI Timecode ----> laser / FX controller

The actual output chain depends on the licensed software, supported devices, network design and show-control system.

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Metadata available in real time

A compatible workflow can expose a set of values from the DJ booth to front of house:

1. Current playback BPM: A precise tempo value that follows the pitch fader and playback-speed changes.
2. Beat and bar position: The current beat within the bar and an accumulated musical-position reference.
3. Phase position: A finer indication of position inside the active beat or subdivision.
4. Track identity and metadata: Information associated with the rekordbox library entry, such as title, artist, duration or musical key, when available.
5. Playback position: The current point in the playing track.
6. On-air or channel state: Compatible mixers can expose information about which channels are active in the master mix.

The exact set is model- and version-dependent. Production teams should verify the data they require during pre-production rather than assume that every Pro DJ Link device exposes the same fields.

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Waveform and preview information at front of house

A major operational benefit is that lighting, video and effects operators can see more context than a simple BPM value.

• Waveform preview: Supported configurations can display the waveform and playback position of the playing track, and may show information about tracks prepared on other players.
• Anticipating musical sections: Seeing an approaching breakdown, build or drop gives operators time to prepare lighting or video cues even when they do not know the track in advance.

Waveform visibility is a production aid, not a guarantee of musical intent. The operator still needs to interpret the DJ’s transition, loop and cue decisions.

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Converting playback data to standard timecode and control protocols

ShowKontrol can translate the live playback position into formats used by other show systems.

1. SMPTE LTC — Linear Timecode

• Audio-form signal: Timecode is encoded as a biphase audio waveform and sent through an audio interface output.
• Typical destination: A timecode input on a lighting console, media server or effects-control system that supports LTC.

2. MIDI Timecode — MTC

• MIDI transport: Time is represented through MIDI quarter-frame messages over a MIDI or USB-MIDI connection.

3. Art-Net timecode — ArtTimeCode

• Network transport: Timecode is carried in Art-Net packets over Ethernet, commonly using UDP port 6454.
• Typical destination: Compatible media servers, lighting networks and show-control systems.

Timecode does not replace pre-production. Frame rate, offset, drop-frame/non-drop-frame mode, network redundancy and fail-safe behaviour must be agreed and tested before the show. Any system that loses synchronisation must fail safely without affecting the DJ’s audio playback.