You can do this with QTZ files - somehow. I have not tried it.

(we need more data points!)

I'm not aware of what QTZ files mean? I'm I missing a really cool Serato add?

it can be done with quartz, akiem is right. only with a mac though.
i have seen something like this from mansteri on his old site.
(originalhamsters.com) did not interest me too much but i considered it nice to know it's possible.
i think this is what you want.

to answer your question:
quartz is part of mac OS, it is the graphics core part.
there is a developer IDE to make qtz files (basic programming skill and creativity is required) which then can play instead of a video in video-sl for an audio file in ssl.
i think it would be relatively easy.

there are many nice qtz files allready, just search the forum.

so all you need is some osc or midi or any type of data from your software which you can receive in a quartz file. this could then be displayed instead of a video.

if this is not possible (if your software sends nothing),

make your sms software write text to a file (i hope it can do that)
then use a quartz file that reads the text file continuosly, and if it is not empty, display the text. i think AKIEM made one that can do that, just ask him nicely and maybe he will give it to you :-)

but for both proposed solutions, you would then use that INSTEAD of a video.

so i suggest:
you could use the text effect and try to modify the xml file. it is in
~/Music/ScratchLIVE/VideoSL
don't know though if scratch live lets you do this, it's just an idea. i did not test nor do i know it it actually works.
advantage over quartz would be that it could overlay a video
this would be the best solution but you need some external app do this for you in the background. (continously modify the XML)
if someone payed me for it, i would MAYBE try to do this with some applescript, java jar or even as a standalone cocoa app with x-code. but it seems to be too much work to do it for the fun of it...

so to sum it up - it is definitely possible some way or another, but you have to do it :-)

Thanks for your help and suggestions. I am looking into the idea of using this type of media for a couple different DJ settings. I think it could be a lot of fun in the right situation. Thanks for the links too. I am hoping though that Serato will implement this into their programing better though.

I use a system whilst running Scratch Live in my venue and i have no worries with them both running off the same laptop.

My system is www.t2slive.co.uk and is cheap for the basic model (about £100).

What i'd like to do is use the request feature (by prefixing an SMS with the word REQUEST) and add the incoming requests to the PREPARE box. Or even have another tab in the plug-in called requests that adds the requests to a box like the PREPARE window.

The software i use can output the SMS or requests via an xml RSS feed at the same time so as long as the software can read an incoming feed then it's totally viable. It can put the messages on screen, as it does now, but also load them into the SMS plug-in so i'd never have to open the main software again, it would just be running in the background. At the moment it just flashes the windows program bar when a new request comes in and i expand the window.

Mr Wilks thanks for the link.

If they release a mac version that would be an option.

We need more Quartz Data Points

update:
no it doesn't work.
it seems that SSL only reads that file once at startup.
so for now, only solution i know is on a mac with a custom made quartz (.qtz) file