DJLink

A low-latency C++ daemon that bridges Pioneer Pro DJ Link to Ableton Link, compiled for Raspberry Pi 4 with real-time kernel optimization.

What is DJLink?

DJLink is a real-time daemon that translates Pioneer Pro DJ Link network traffic into Ableton Link session tempo and phase data.

It runs on a dedicated Raspberry Pi 4 with a real-time kernel, providing ultra-low latency synchronization between CDJ/XDJ players and Link-enabled applications.

Why was it created?

DJs needed a reliable and easy way to sync Ableton Live and other Link-enabled software/hardware with their CDJ setup—without the timing drift and jitter of typical software solutions.

DJLink provides rock-solid synchronization by running on dedicated real-time hardware, enabling creative live performance integration between traditional DJ gear and modern production tools.

DJLink architecture diagram

How to use it

1. Connect your CDJs/XDJ and the DJLink Raspberry Pi to the same Ethernet switch
2. Boot the Raspberry PI 4, the DJLink app auto-starts with IP 169.254.10.2
3. Connect your computer/device with Ableton Live to the same switch (using an IP in the 169.254.x.x range)
4. Launch Ableton Live (or any Link-enabled app) and enable Link

Network Configuration

IP Range: 169.254.0.1 - 169.254.255.254
Subnet Mask: 255.255.0.0 (or /16)
Example: Set your computer to 169.254.10.1 with subnet mask 255.255.0.0

No router, DHCP, or network configuration needed. DJLink automatically discovers CDJs and provides stable tempo sync to all Link-enabled devices on the network.

Web Interface: Access real-time status and monitoring at http://169.254.10.2:8080

Download

Bootable SD card image for Raspberry Pi 4 with DJLink pre-installed:

Latest Release
  • Version: v0.4.0 (Build 20251218.182133)
  • Kernel: Linux 6.12.61 Real Time (PREEMPT_RT)
  • Image: djlink-sdcard.img.xz (~28MB compressed)
  • SHA256:4f5428ea211aed1652484e98773c695ce83cd08ac0c23a10e94ec62cab7a5907
  • Download: djlink-sdcard.img.xz

Flash to SD card, insert in Pi 4, and boot. DJLink starts automatically.

Project Note

This project is a hobby that I created for my personal use and I decided to share it with anyone who would like to test and play with it. This release is not commercial and shared as-is, welcoming any bug reports or feature requests, but no guarantee that they will be implemented or fixed as I have limited time.