Connecting your show systemRequires Pro
Connect Node-RED flows to lighting, visual, and show-control systems over OSC.
Time-line Live can send automation data to lighting consoles, media servers, visual software, and other show systems using OSC, MIDI, and Art-Net. Other output protocols are also possible, but these are the ones that Time-line Live provides out of the box.
This guide explains how to connect Time-line Live to another device over the network and configure your Node-RED flows to send OSC messages to it.
Set Up the Network
To send signals to your device, you should connect it through a network.
Connect your devices
- Connect the Mac running Time-line Live to your show system using Ethernet. You can connect the device directly or through a network switch. Wi-Fi can also work but for a live show environment we highly recommend a wired connection.
- We recommend keeping your show control network separate from the DJ network. So instead of connecting to the same switch connected to the CDJs, use a separate network. DJ equipment is sensitive to extra traffic — isolating them ensures the best results.
Configure IP addresses
Your show control network should use a different IP range from the DJ network.
For example, if your DJ network is on 192.168.1.x, you could configure your show networks as:
- Time-line Live Mac:
10.0.0.1 - grandMA3:
10.0.0.20 - Resolume Arena computer:
10.0.0.30
We recommend using static/manual IP addresses for show control devices. DHCP could suddenly hand out new addresses mid-show and silently break every flow.
See Apple’s guide to configuring a network interface manually.
Test the Connection
Before configuring Node-RED, make sure your Mac can reach the receiving device.
- Open Terminal on macOS
- Enter
ping 10.0.0.20. Replace10.0.0.20with the IP address of your receiving device. - If you receive replies, the devices can communicate over the network. If not, check your network connection and IP configuration before troubleshooting your Node-RED flow.
Connect Your Node-RED Flow
Once the network connection is working, configure your Node-RED Output node to send messages to your show system.
In Node-RED, double-click any Output node.
Next to Server, select an existing Server or click + to create one.
Enter the receiving device’s IP and OSC port.
Click Add, then Done.
Click Save to apply your changes.
Server configurations are reusable. Create one for each receiving device, such as your grandMA3 or Resolume computer, and use it across multiple Output nodes. If you update the Server configuration, every Output node using it updates automatically.
Sending tempo? If your receiving system supports Ableton Link, you can use it to synchronize BPM and beat phase instead of sending tempo information via OSC.
Common OSC Ports
These are common defaults, but always verify the OSC configuration on your receiving system.
| Target | Port | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Protokol | 8000 | enable OSC in the app |
| Resolume Arena | 7000 | Preferences → OSC → enable input |
| Lightkey | 21600 | External Control → enable OSC |
| QLab | 53000 | — |
| grandMA3 | set in console | enable OSC input, match port |
Messages Not Arriving?
- Can't ping the device? The problem is likely with your network connection or IP configuration.
- Ping works, but OSC isn't arriving? Check:
- The OSC port matches the port configured on the receiving device.
- OSC input is enabled on the receiving device.
- The OSC address matches what the receiving system expects (e.g.
/cmdfor grandMA). - A firewall isn't blocking UDP traffic on either machine.
- Still stuck? Run Protokol on the receiving computer. If the message appears in Protokol, the network and Time-line flow are working and the issue is likely in the receiving application.
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