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PIXERA Live Link

PIXERA Live Link connects Samba to a PIXERA system using the official Native API (JSON-RPC over TCP). Use it when you want live cue interchange with a running PIXERA timeline, not only a CSV file round-trip.

File-based Import / Export -> PIXERA Cue CSV remains available and is separate. Prefer Live Link for day-to-day sync; use CSV when you need a portable file or PIXERA Import Cues without API access.

Setup in PIXERA

Section titled “Setup in PIXERA”
  1. Open PIXERA Settings -> API.
  2. Enable an access port as JSON/TCP (dl) (append 0xPX) or JSON/TCP (pxr1 size header).
  3. Note the IP address and port.
  4. Restart PIXERA if you changed API settings so the port is listening.

PIXERA and Samba must reach each other on the network (same machine or LAN). Firewalls must allow the API TCP port.

Setup in Samba (Connections)

Section titled “Setup in Samba (Connections)”
  1. Open Edit -> Connections -> PIXERA.
  2. Enter the PIXERA IP address and API port (example default often 1400).
  3. Choose the transport mode that matches PIXERA (JSON/TCP or JSON/TCP dl).
  4. Click Connect.

On success Samba verifies the API revision and loads timelines from PIXERA. Status and the timeline list update on this page. If Connect fails, check IP, port, transport mode, and that PIXERA API is enabled.

Global connection settings live only here. Per-track continuous Live Link is under Track Settings -> PIXERA (see below).

Pull cues from PIXERA

Section titled “Pull cues from PIXERA”
  1. Select a PIXERA timeline (discovered from the API).
  2. Select the Samba marker track that should receive the cues.
  3. Click Pull cues from PIXERA.

Samba reads cues from the timeline (name and time; frame times are converted with the timeline FPS). You then choose:

  • Replace - remove existing cues on that Samba track and import the PIXERA list
  • Add - keep existing Samba cues and append the imported ones

Pull is the usual way to bring an existing PIXERA cue list into Samba before editing.

Push markers to PIXERA

Section titled “Push markers to PIXERA”
  1. Select the PIXERA timeline and the Samba track that holds your markers.
  2. Optionally enable On push: update existing PIXERA cues with the same name when you want name-matched updates in addition to handle matching.
  3. Click Push markers to PIXERA.

Samba asks how to push:

  • Create / update - keep existing PIXERA cues; create missing ones and update matches
  • Replace all - delete every cue on the selected PIXERA timeline first, then create from Samba (only after you confirm)

Replace all is destructive on the PIXERA side. Confirm only when you intend to wipe that timeline’s cues and rebuild from Samba.

Samba Cue Layer

Section titled “Samba Cue Layer”

When Samba creates cues on a PIXERA timeline, it places them on a cue layer named Samba Cue Layer. That keeps Live Link cues grouped and avoids mixing them into unrelated PIXERA cue layers. You do not need to create the layer by hand; Samba resolves it when creating cues.

Matching by PIXERA handle

Section titled “Matching by PIXERA handle”

After a successful pull or push, Samba stores each cue’s PIXERA handle on the Samba cue.

Later updates prefer that stored handle:

  1. If the handle still exists in PIXERA, Samba updates that same cue (time, name, notes, colour).
  2. If the handle is gone, Samba falls back (including name matching when that option is enabled) or creates a new cue.

Because matching is handle-first, you can rename a cue in Samba or PIXERA without creating a duplicate marker for the same show beat. Notes, colour, and move stay on the linked cue.

Per-track Live Link (Track Settings -> PIXERA)

Section titled “Per-track Live Link (Track Settings -> PIXERA)”

Connections controls the API session. Continuous editing sync is enabled per Samba track:

  1. Connect in Edit -> Connections -> PIXERA.
  2. Select the track, open Track Settings, and open the PIXERA tab.
  3. Enable PIXERA Live Link for this track.
  4. Choose the PIXERA timeline for that track.
  5. Apply Track Settings.

While Live Link is on and Connections is connected, Samba pushes on cue add, edit, and move:

  • time
  • name
  • notes
  • colour (from the Samba cue / cue-type colour)

Status on the Track Settings page shows whether PIXERA is connected and how many timelines are available. If it says Not connected, open Connections and Connect first.

Applying Track Settings can also push the full cue list once so the PIXERA timeline starts aligned with Samba.

When to use CSV instead

Section titled “When to use CSV instead”

Use File -> Import / Export -> PIXERA (Basic Cue CSV) when:

  • You cannot enable the PIXERA API
  • You need a file for archive or another machine
  • You are exchanging with a workflow that only accepts Import Cues CSV

CSV does not store PIXERA handles and does not keep a live session. See Import and export.

Section titled “Related”