StageLinq

Overview

StageLinq is Denon DJ’s network protocol for linking Engine OS media players together and to connected software. It broadcasts real-time state from each player (including the currently playing track, playback position, BPM, and more) over your local network. Now Playing listens for that broadcast and captures track data the moment a new track is loaded and playing.

This is the recommended source if you play from USB drives or SD cards plugged into Denon SC players running Engine OS (formerly Engine Prime).

Compatible Hardware

StageLinq is supported on any Denon DJ player running Engine OS with StageLinq enabled, including:

• Denon SC5000 / SC5000M
• Denon SC6000 / SC6000M
• Denon SC Live 2 / SC Live 4
• Denon Prime 2 / Prime 4 / Prime 4+
• Denon Prime Go

Note

If your hardware is listed as “Engine OS compatible” in Denon DJ’s documentation, it almost certainly supports StageLinq.

What Gets Captured

Field	Notes
Track title	From the file tag or Engine DJ library
Artist	From the file tag or Engine DJ library
Album	From the file tag or Engine DJ library
Artwork	Embedded album art from the track file
BPM	As analyzed by Engine DJ or displayed on the player
Deck number	Which player the track is active on

Requirements

• Your Denon players and the computer running Now Playing must be connected to the same local network via a network switch
• A wired ethernet connection is strongly recommended, as Wi-Fi can introduce latency or missed updates
• StageLinq must be enabled on each player (see setup below)
• All devices must be on the same subnet (e.g., all in the 192.168.1.x range)

Network Setup

Connect your Denon players and your computer to a network switch. The switch provides the shared network that StageLinq requires for device discovery. Direct player-to-player connections without a switch will not allow your computer to participate in the network.

If your laptop only has Wi-Fi and you need a wired connection to the player network, use a USB-to-ethernet adapter plugged into the switch. Your computer can maintain a separate Wi-Fi connection for internet access at the same time.

Setup

Step 1: Enable StageLinq on Your Players

1. On the player, tap the Utility button or navigate to Settings (exact label depends on your firmware version).
2. Find the StageLinq option. It may be under a Network or Link submenu depending on the model.
3. Set StageLinq to On.
4. Confirm the network indicator on the player shows an active ethernet connection.
5. Repeat for each player in your setup.

Step 2: Connect All Devices to the Network Switch

1. Connect each Denon player’s ethernet port to the switch.
2. Connect your computer to the same switch.
3. Verify that link lights on the switch are active for each connected port.

Step 3: Configure Now Playing

1. Open the Now Playing desktop app.
2. Go to Settings, expand Sources, and select StageLinq.
3. Toggle Enable Monitoring to on. Now Playing will automatically discover players broadcasting StageLinq on the network.
4. Track changes will be captured as soon as a track is loaded and playing on any detected player.

Play Detection

StageLinq sends two distinct events for each track. The first is a loaded event, which fires when a track is placed on a deck. This event appears in the Now Playing interface but does not update the overlay. The second is a now playing event, which fires when the track actually begins playing.

Because StageLinq provides channel fader and crossfader data, the mix processor always uses the SCORING strategy. The overlay only updates when the deck’s channel fader is open, which means the overlay reflects what is audible rather than what is cued or pre-loaded. Loading a track onto a deck while its fader is closed will not trigger an overlay update.

This behavior applies regardless of whether a MIDI source is also connected. StageLinq supplies its own fader data, so scoring-based detection is active at all times.

You can tune how quickly or slowly the mix processor reacts by adjusting Settings > On-Air Detection.

Troubleshooting

Players are not detected

• Confirm StageLinq is enabled on each player via the Utility/Settings menu.
• Check that all devices are connected to the same switch and that the switch’s link lights are active.
• Some network equipment blocks multicast traffic, which StageLinq relies on for device discovery. If you’re using a managed switch, check whether IGMP snooping or multicast filtering is configured in a way that drops StageLinq packets.
• On macOS, verify your ethernet adapter has an IP address by checking System Settings → Network. On Windows, check Control Panel → Network Connections.

Track updates are delayed or intermittent

• Switch to a wired ethernet connection if you are using Wi-Fi.
• Replace any ethernet cables that may be damaged or marginal quality. Cat 5e or Cat 6 cables are recommended.
• Restart the Now Playing desktop app to force a fresh discovery scan.

Artwork is not showing

Artwork is pulled from the track file’s embedded tags. If your tracks don’t have embedded artwork, the artwork field will be blank. Use Engine DJ on your computer to add or sync artwork to your library, then re-export your collection to your USB drive.

Some players appear but others do not

Each player must have StageLinq individually enabled. Verify the setting on every unit. Also confirm each player has a valid ethernet connection. A player that appears powered on but has a disconnected cable will not appear in the discovery results.