Set up Time-line Live
Install and connect Time-line Live to your DJ setup for the first time.
This guide walks you through installing Time-line Live and connecting it to your DJ setup for the first time.
Install Time-line Live
System requirements
- macOS Sequoia 15 or later is required.
- A Mac with an M-series chip (M1 or newer) is required. Time-line Live analyzes music locally using Apple's Neural Engine, enabling real-time Key Point detection with low latency and no internet connection.
- A dedicated Mac is recommended. Real-time analysis requires sufficient memory. For best performance, avoid running memory-intensive applications such as Resolume, TouchDesigner, or Unreal Engine on the same Mac, especially on Macs with limited RAM.
Time-line LiveDownload for Mac — requires macOS Sequoia 15 or later and M1 or newer
Download the latest version of Time-line Live.
Time-line Live is currently available through our early access program. Join the waitlist to request access.
Drag the application into your Applications folder.
Launch Time-line Live.
Sign in with your free Time-line account. If you don't already have one, you can create an account directly from the sign-in screen.
Create your Workspace.
On the home screen, click Start Free Trial to activate your free trial to Time-line Live Pro.
Connect your DJ equipment
Connect your Mac to the same network as your DJ equipment over Ethernet, then open Time-line Live.
Compatible Pioneer DJ (AlphaTheta) hardware:
- CDJ-3000
- CDJ-3000X
- CDJ-2000NXS2
- XDJ-AZ
- DJM-A9
- DJM-V10
Hardware support
Support for additional Pioneer DJ / AlphaTheta hardware may be added in future releases.
Once connected:
- Open Time-line Live.
- The connected players should automatically appear.
- Track names and waveforms will begin loading as tracks are loaded onto the players.
- With a Pro subscription, Key Points will automatically appear as tracks are analyzed.
- Time-line will automatically detect the deck currently playing to the audience using Auto Switch.
If everything above is working, you're ready to start using Time-line Live.
For troubleshooting, see Connecting DJ Equipment and Troubleshooting.
No DJ gear yet?
You can still try Time-line Live without DJ gear by switching to Local Player mode and loading a track directly from your Mac. See Try without DJ gear.
Set up Automations Requires Pro
Automations allow Time-line Live to send OSC or MIDI messages automatically when Key Points occur. For example, you can trigger a lighting cue on every Drop or launch a Resolume clip during a Breakdown.
Learn more about Setting up Automations and the other guides referenced there.
Software Updates
We’re constantly improving Time-line Live with new features, hardware support, and performance improvements.
- Open Time-line Live while your Mac is connected to the internet.
- Time-line Live automatically checks for updates and starts downloading any available update.
- Once the download is complete, a blue Restart button appears in the menu bar. Click Restart to restart Time-line Live and finish installing the update.
You can also manually check for updates from Settings > General. After an update downloads, you still need to click the blue Restart button to finish installing it.
Stay up to date
Connect the Mac running Time-line Live to the internet regularly to receive the latest updates, including important fixes and improvements.
Need help or have suggestions?
If you have any questions, run into an issue, or have suggestions for improving Time-line Live, we'd love to hear from you.
Reach out at hello@time-line.io.
Next steps
- Connecting DJ Equipment: first-time setup and network configuration.
- Using Time-line Live: understand every part of the interface.
- Try without DJ gear: test Time-line Live using a track from your Mac.
- Understanding Key Points: learn how Time-line Live analyzes music.
- Auto Switch: see how the active deck is selected automatically.
- Setting up Automations: connect your lighting, visuals, or other show systems.
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