Reading the live data
Every value a player sends has a name, called a data key. Learn to find keys, use them, and override them to test a Patch.
Everything in ShowKontrol runs on data keys: named values like beat.currentBpm, playback.state or mixer.ch1.fader. Triggers watch them, outputs send them, and scripts read and write them.
Where to see them#
Select any node. The Live Data monitor at the bottom of its settings lists the data arriving at that node, live.
- Type in the search field to filter by key name or by value, for example
cue,bpmor5B. - A key in blue is used by something further down the chain. It is highlighted all the way up the chain, so you can see where a value comes from.
#RRGGBBvalues (cue colours) are drawn in their colour. A waveform strip appears when the track has a cached waveform.
Key names#
A Device node prefixes every key with its own name, so player 1 renamed CDJ1 sends CDJ1.beat.bar, CDJ1.playback.positionUS, and so on. A Router or Matrix stamps its own name on whatever passes through it. A chain after a router named Main sees Main.beat.bar, whichever deck is routed.
You rarely type the prefix. Trigger paths, MIDI and OSC values, DMX mappings and CSV Logger columns match by suffix: beat.beatInBar finds CDJ1.beat.beatInBar. Scripts are the exception because they use the full name. Right-click → Add Trigger / Add Script fills in the full name for you.
The common namespaces:
| Namespace | What it holds |
|---|---|
metadata.* | title, artist, key, BPM, duration |
playback.* | state, position and remaining (µs), pitch, on air, master |
beat.* | bar, beat in bar, current BPM, ms to next beat / bar |
phrase.*, struct.* | phrase analysis and detected song structure (Drop, Break…) |
cue.* | hot cues and memory cues with colours and comments |
mixer.*, level.* | DJM faders, EQs, levels |
The full list is in the Data Key Reference.
Inspect and override a value#
Double-click a row to open the Value Editor in place of the Patch. The value stays live until you click into it.
Type a new value and press Enter. This is an override: the node sends your value instead of the live one on every tick. Use it to test a Patch without a player, for example setting playback.state to playing or a fader to 255.
- An overridden row is amber and has a ↺ to revert it. Nodes further down show the key in amber too.
- The node gets an amber underline on the canvas, so you can find it later.
- Overrides are never saved in the show file.
Right-click shortcuts#
Right-click a row for Add Trigger on this key, Add Script with this key (opens the Script editor with output.<key> = <current value>; filled in) and copy options.