Help & Documentation

Complete user manual for DMX TimeCode Player

πŸ“– Table of Contents

πŸš€ Getting Started

DMX TimeCode Player is a professional media player designed for lighting designers. It broadcasts SMPTE timecode over Art-Net while playing audio or video files, enabling frame-accurate synchronization with your lighting console.

Quick Start

  1. Download and install DMX TimeCode Player
  2. Launch the application
  3. Drag and drop your media files into the playlist
  4. Configure Art-Net settings (Universe, Subnet, Net)
  5. Press Play β€” timecode will be broadcast automatically

πŸ’‘ Tip: Make sure your lighting console and DMX TimeCode Player are on the same network to receive timecode.

πŸ’» System Requirements

πŸ“¦ Installation

  1. Download the DMG file from the website
  2. Open the DMG file
  3. Drag "DMX TimeCode Player" to your Applications folder
  4. On first launch, right-click the app and select "Open" (required for unsigned apps)
  5. If prompted, go to System Preferences β†’ Security & Privacy and click "Open Anyway"

⚠️ Important: The app is not notarized. macOS may show a warning on first launch. This is normal for indie software.

πŸ–₯️ User Interface

The main window is divided into several areas:

Player Controls

Timecode Display

Shows current position in HH:MM:SS:FF format (Hours:Minutes:Seconds:Frames). The frame rate can be set to 24, 25, or 30 fps in Settings.

Playlist

⏱️ Art-Net Timecode

The application broadcasts SMPTE timecode over Art-Net protocol. This allows your lighting console to trigger cues at precise moments during playback.

Configuration

Console Setup

On your lighting console:

  1. Enable Art-Net Timecode input
  2. Set the same frame rate as DMX TimeCode Player
  3. Create timecode triggers for your cues

πŸ’‘ Supported Consoles: grandMA, Onyx, Hog, Chamsys, ETC Eos, and any console with Art-Net Timecode support.

πŸŽ›οΈ DMX Control

Control the player from your lighting console using Art-Net or sACN DMX input.

DMX Modes

Protocol Settings

πŸ“‹ DMX Channel Maps

This section provides detailed DMX channel information for all three operating modes. Choose the mode that best fits your needs.

πŸ“₯ Download Fixture Profiles for your Lighting Console:

Compatible with Obsidian Onyx and other consoles that support .Fixture files.

🟒 Standard Mode (1 Channel)

Basic playback control with track selection. Control playback and switch between tracks using a single DMX channel.

Channel Function Value Range Description
1 Playback Control 0–255 0–5: Stop (reset to beginning)
6–10: Pause (hold current position)
11–20: Play Track 1
21–30: Play Track 2
31–40: Play Track 3
...continues in increments of 10...
231–240: Play Track 23
241–245: Play Track 24
246–255: Stop

πŸ’‘ Track Formula: Track Number = floor((DMX Value - 11) / 10) + 1. Example: DMX 25 plays Track 2.

🟑 Loop Mode (2 Channels)

Adds loop counter control. Set how many times a track should repeat before stopping.

Channel Function Value Range Description
1 Playback Control 0–255 0–5: Stop
6–10: Pause
11–245: Play Track N (each 10 values = next track)
246–255: Stop
2 Loop Count 0–255 0–9: Use program settings (no DMX override)
10–19: Play 1Γ—
20–29: Play 2Γ—
30–39: Play 3Γ—
...continues in increments of 10...
100–109: Play 10Γ—
110–255: Infinite loop

πŸ’‘ Loop Formula: Repeat Count = floor((DMX Value - 10) / 10) + 1. Example: DMX 45 plays 4 times.

πŸ”΄ Extended Mode (18 Channels)

Full control over all player functions including visual patterns and video effects. All effect channels use zones: 0-4 = No override, 5-9 = Reset to default, 10-255 = Active control.

Ch Function Values Description
1 Playback Control 0–255 0–5: Stop, 6–10: Pause
11–245: Play Track N, 246–255: Stop
2 Loop Count 0–255 0–9: Use program, 10–109: 1×–10Γ—, 110–255: Infinite
3 Visual Pattern 0–255 5–9: Black (default), 10–255: Select pattern (each 25 = next pattern)
4 Pattern Speed 0–255 5–9: 1Γ— (default), 10–255: 0.1Γ— to 3.0Γ— animation speed
5 Brightness 0–255 5–9: Normal (0), 10: -100%, 128: 0%, 255: +100%
6 Saturation 0–255 5–9: 100% (default), 10: 0% (grayscale), 255: 200%
7 Alpha (Opacity) 0–255 5–9: 100% (default), 10: 0% (transparent), 255: 100%
8 Playback Speed 0–255 5–9: 1Γ— (default), 10: 0.5Γ—, 255: 2Γ— speed
9 RGB On/Off 0–255 5–9: All on, 10+: Bit flags (R=1, G=2, B=4), 17+ = All on
10 Red Time Shift 0–255 5–9: 0 frames, 10–255: 0–25 frames delay
11 Green Time Shift 0–255 5–9: 0 frames, 10–255: 0–25 frames delay
12 Blue Time Shift 0–255 5–9: 0 frames, 10–255: 0–25 frames delay
13 Red Horizontal Offset 0–255 5–9: Center, 10: -50px, 132: 0, 255: +50px
14 Red Vertical Offset 0–255 5–9: Center, 10–255: -50px to +50px
15 Green Horizontal Offset 0–255 5–9: Center, 10–255: -50px to +50px
16 Green Vertical Offset 0–255 5–9: Center, 10–255: -50px to +50px
17 Blue Horizontal Offset 0–255 5–9: Center, 10–255: -50px to +50px
18 Blue Vertical Offset 0–255 5–9: Center, 10–255: -50px to +50px

⚠️ Note: Video effects (channels 3–18) only apply when video output is enabled. For audio-only playback, these channels have no visible effect.

πŸ’‘ 3D Effect: Use RGB Time Shift and Position Offset channels to create chromatic aberration and retro 3D anaglyphic effects!

πŸ“ Fixture Profiles

Download ready-to-use fixture profiles for your lighting console. These profiles allow you to patch DMX TimeCode Player as a fixture and control it directly from your console.

Available Profiles

Profile Channels Description Download
V2 - Standard 1 Ch Basic playback control (Play/Pause/Stop) Download
V3.1 - Loop 2 Ch Playback control + Loop counter Download
V4.1 - Extended 18 Ch Full control with track selection, volume, and video effects Download

Installation Instructions

Obsidian Onyx

  1. Download the .Fixture file
  2. Open Onyx and go to Patch β†’ Add Fixtures
  3. Click Import Fixture
  4. Select the downloaded .Fixture file
  5. Patch the fixture to your desired universe and address

Other Consoles

The .Fixture format is compatible with various lighting software. If your console doesn't support this format, refer to the DMX Channel Maps above to manually create a profile.

πŸ’‘ Tip: Make sure the DMX mode in the application matches your fixture profile. Go to Settings β†’ DMX β†’ Mode and select the corresponding mode.

πŸ“± Web Interface

Control the player from any device on your network using a web browser.

Accessing Web Interface

  1. Check the Web Server IP address in the Settings panel
  2. Open a browser on your phone, tablet, or computer
  3. Navigate to http://[IP-ADDRESS]:8080

Available Functions

πŸ“Ί Video Output

Output video to a second display in fullscreen mode with real-time effects.

Setup

  1. Connect a second display to your Mac
  2. In Settings, select the output display
  3. Enable "Video Output"
  4. Video will appear fullscreen on the selected display

Video Effects

πŸ”— CITP Integration

Native support for CITP (Controller Interface Transport Protocol) for integration with supported lighting consoles.

Supported Consoles

Features

πŸ”§ Troubleshooting

Console not receiving timecode

No DMX control

Video not playing on second display

App shows "damaged" on first launch

Run this command in Terminal:

xattr -cr "/Applications/DMX TimeCode Player.app"

🎭 Use Cases & Workflows

DMX TimeCode Player is designed to be flexible. Here are the most common scenarios for integrating the player into your lighting workflow.

🎧 Scenario 1: Manual Playback (DJ/Operator Control)

Best for: Live events where a DJ or dedicated operator controls the music.

How it works:

  • The MacBook with DMX TimeCode Player is positioned at the DJ booth or with the audio operator
  • Enable "Manual Mode" (disable DMX input) in Settings
  • The operator manually selects and plays tracks as needed
  • When a track plays, timecode is automatically broadcast to the lighting console
  • The lighting console's Timecode Cuelist triggers preprogrammed cues

πŸ’‘ Key Feature: Each track starts with a unique timecode offset (Track 1 = 00:00:00:00, Track 2 = 01:00:00:00, etc.). This means your lighting console automatically knows which song is playing and triggers the correct show!

Setup Steps:

  1. Load all tracks into the playlist (up to 24 tracks maximum)
  2. Program your lighting cues to specific timecodes on your console
  3. Disable DMX input in Settings β†’ enable "Manual Mode"
  4. Enable "Auto-Play Next" if you want continuous playback
  5. The DJ plays any track β†’ lighting follows automatically

πŸŽ›οΈ Scenario 2: Full DMX Automation (One-Person Show)

Best for: Touring shows, installations, or events controlled by a single lighting operator.

How it works:

  • The lighting console sends DMX commands to DMX TimeCode Player
  • The lighting operator triggers tracks directly from the console
  • No need for a separate person to control playback
  • Perfect synchronization between audio/video and lighting

πŸ’‘ Advantage: One person controls everything! Add the player as a fixture in your console, and trigger tracks from your cue list like any other lighting command.

Setup Steps:

  1. Patch DMX TimeCode Player as a fixture in your console
  2. Download and import the Fixture Profile for your console
  3. Configure DMX Mode (Standard 1Ch, Loop 2Ch, or Extended 18Ch)
  4. Set correct Universe/Subnet/Net to match your console output
  5. Add track triggers to your cue list (DMX value 11-20 = Track 1, 21-30 = Track 2, etc.)

Example Cue List:

Cue Action DMX Value
1 Start Show β€” Play Track 1 15
2 Transition β€” Play Track 2 25
3 Finale β€” Play Track 3 35
4 End Show β€” Stop 0

πŸ“± Scenario 3: Remote Control via Web Interface

Best for: Situations where a third person (stage manager, producer) needs control without access to the console or laptop.

How it works:

  • DMX TimeCode Player runs a built-in web server
  • Anyone on the same network can control playback from their smartphone or tablet
  • No app installation required β€” just open a browser
  • Multiple people can have access simultaneously

πŸ’‘ Perfect for: Stage managers who need to cue music, band leaders controlling backing tracks, or corporate presentations where someone else manages the slideshow audio.

Setup Steps:

  1. Make sure all devices are on the same WiFi network
  2. Find the IP address in Settings β†’ Web Server
  3. Open browser on smartphone: http://[IP]:8080
  4. Use the web interface to Play/Pause/Stop/Select tracks

⚠️ Security Note: The web interface has no password protection. Only share the IP with trusted team members on your local network.

⚠️ Maximum 24 Tracks: The playlist supports up to 24 tracks due to the DMX value range (11-245 divided into 10-value segments). Each track gets a unique 1-hour timecode window (00:00:00:00 to 23:59:59:24).

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is this software free?

Yes! DMX TimeCode Player is completely free with no subscriptions or limitations. Donations are appreciated but not required.

What audio formats are supported?

MP3, WAV, FLAC, AAC, M4A, and most common audio formats.

What video formats are supported?

MP4, MOV, M4V, and most formats supported by AVFoundation.

Can I run multiple instances?

Currently, only one instance is supported. Multiple instances may cause port conflicts.

Is Windows version available?

Currently only macOS is supported. Windows version may be developed in the future based on user demand.

How do I report bugs or request features?

Contact the developer via email (see footer) or through Instagram.

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