Learn Live: Using Ableton Link

Learn how to sync iOS devices to Ableton Live over a local network with Ableton Link.
Watch the entire Learn Live series: bit.ly/43ytquo

[@siphondhlovu1153]

Very nice and clearly presented.

[@erispe]

When I enable and disable the link on the iPad it changes the number of links in Ableton, so the connection is there. But it's not controlling any instruments, I set the monitor to In.

[@BossManProductions-2025]

I recently started using Ableton 11 standard. I’m not sure if this will effect the way pattern will work with Ableton

[@sourabhyaduvanshi5455]

Sir tell me , how to connect as Android midi apps like band lab , music pad etc into ableton live in Windows...plz help me

[@thomas_rellum]

Best DAW ever made

[@lukebarrile3840]

This is Audacity erasure

[@zachlillemoen3729]

do you need ableton live for this to work? I have ableton 10 live lite and I can't see it

[@Claidheambmor]

So much awesome.

[@Glockodile]

Is there a way to have two computers on ablelton live that are linked go to the same spot on the timeline? We want to run tracks from on a stage but the audio interface is the the back so we need to have them share the timeline.

[@oliverwylde188]

No. Not with Ableton Link. You would need something like Steinbergs VST System Link, MMC or Midi TImecode to have that i think.

[@steviewondek]

Is it possible with Windows computers or only macs?

[@kevinhill1528]

questions should be answered as a means of good customer service and a way to support your product and show appreciation for those who spend thousands with you individually. just a thought. great work on this new innovation.

[@Claidheambmor]

This is KZbin, not Ableton Live customer service. Try contacting Ableton Live support on their actual website.

[@myo-o]

Ableton Live's customer and tech support is AWFUL! It is taking 3-4 weeks for them to respond to customers with faulty Push 3s.

[@tj_nanda]

waiting for Ableton link for android vote same thing people?

[@ZombieLincoln666]

Never will happen. Android can’t compete with iOS because there were always audio latency issues and Apple took over the market

[@tiestolqa146]

@@ZombieLincoln666 you clearly have no idea what android is capable of. Classic isheep fanboy..

[@MerlinErdogmus]

@@tiestolqa146 juce.com/maq According to this site Eisenhower303 is right. However, if you strictly go for this spec you are forced to stick with the iPhone 8 Plus A1897 until there'll be a better device. I use a Moto G7 Power. No real specs there, but I suppose it is somewhere around the area of the other Motorola / Lenovo devices, which is 40ms. I'd say that is OK with me so far. Not to mention that there are audio interfaces for iOS and Android, which makes the subject even more difficult.

[@pnutbuttajellee1394]

Works perfectly fine with Roland Zenbeats on Samsung Tab S7! The app needs to support it, it seems. I can hit play from Live on windows desktop, and my tablet starts playing. I can hit play from my Novation launchkey plugged into same desktop, and playback starts on Android Zenbeats. I can hit play from my tablet, and it starts all devices synced to Link. Bam. Simple. Done.

[@pierrehuyghe8928]

I Did everything like in that video but I have latency in the audio output of my iPad. What's wrong?

[@connorelder5798]

Do I need to plug an aux cable in

[@tranquiltones]

This feature seemingly does not work with the older version of Patterning. Am I doing something wrong? Ableton Link turned on in app. Link clicked on in Ableton & I'm getting no sync between session & iOS device.

[@Nathan-mx8zx]

So do I use an audio jack to an audio interface (scarlet focus rite solo) to connect a iPad (pro 2020)?

[@rocketfuel8037]

Don't use an audio jack. Plug your iPad into a usb-c port on your Mac and go into Audio Midi Setup. The iPad should show up, and then hit enable. Then you go to Ableton and select the iPad as your audio input. You can send audio and midi to/from the iPad as well (to control with a midi keyboard). Also, you can create an aggregate device in Audio Midi Setup to have multiple inputs at once (i.e: an audio interface for hardware and your iPad). Sometimes there can be a problem with latency but if you hit 'reduce latency while monitoring' and set the buffer size to 60 samples it usually works out.

[@habasoundprod]

I have a lot latency. How to fix it?

[@zydnamode27]

Is it just me or does it just sync audio? Id doesnt seem like Link captures any audio via wifi connection. From my understanding, you still need all the bells and whistles to record said audio. Cause if I use my phone with my laptop, Abelton doesnt get any audio from my phone. If anyone can help me understand, otherwise it seems a little useless rn.

[@kris_lx]

My PC and iPad are on the same network, however my PC is connected via an ethernet cable and my iPad uses WiFi. Link does not work with this setup, while other network apps work without any issues.

[@synthseeker]

The wifi network and the hardwired network need to be bridged so they see each other. This is a router configuration. Being able to access the internet with both isn't enough, they have to see each other locally. Often the wifi network is blocked from the local hardwired network in the router for security reasons. You need to change this. In our setup, one Ableton PC is on the hardwired LAN along with another PC using Traktor, but a third machine (Mac) on the wifi sees everything just fine as does my phone (when I bring it out.) It totally works.

[@spiko411]

What is the iPad app you’re using

[@budleyoo]

Is there any way that I can match the bar position in arrange view in both ableton and logic? I'm using Logic as host sequencer and want to have ableton played certain sound on certain timing according logic's arrangement view

[@Ableton]

Hi there. Thanks for the comment. The behavior you're describing is basically exactly how Link works. You can activate the Start Stop Sync option in Live's preferences: bit.ly/45zhXu6 If it's not working that way for you, please contact our Tech Support Team. Thanks - Ableton

[@carolinabrun8188]

what cable did you use to connect the ipad to the focusrite?

[@badbassnine]

Thata whar i want to kno!

[@scattermish]

Has anyone actually managed to record without any delay issues?

[@j0hannes5]

is it possible to do that without an audio interface?

[@JorgeSilvestrini]

Yes, but you'll only be listening to the audio from your iPad in this case, won't be able to record the audio inside of Ableton Live.

[@liamcampbellhaha]

Can live follow the BPM from another application? Say I want rekordbox to be my BPM source and Ableton to follow the changes in tempo coming from rekordbox?

[@ChromaCat]

It can be the other way around. Your rekordbox can receive the BMP from ableton

[@michelfillion4248]

only getting audio signal? I have a hard time getting some midi information from iOS apps... any help?

[@xavierf2229]

Yes there is a very good option,it’s the app studiomux but just for iOS devices not older then Mojave on Mac

[@auggiebendoggy]

Is this anything like VST system link in Cubase? Can one computer process a plugin, while another sequence?

[@oliverwylde188]

No it's not like VST System Link.

[@BossManProductions-2025]

I figured it out enough to work but I’m not certain if it’s 100%correct

[@zenithholistichealing5139]

I am trying to link ableton 10 to grooverider by Jim audio. I have windows/PC and an ipad with groove rider. its not working. whats going wrong? im on my home wifi router.

[@JorgeSilvestrini]

Hey Zenith - I hope you were able to resolve your issue. If you haven't, is the PC on WiFi as well? NOT plugged in with an ethernet (Cat5) cable... Both the PC and iPad need to "see" each other on the WiFi network!

[@blairbrennan5912]

Helpful. Thank you. Which ipad app is that?

[@NicolasBotero]

Patterning: Drum Machine

[@johnthrob2486]

one of the most amazing drum machines ever btw

[@JorgeSilvestrini]

I've just checked it out as well here: Patterning 2 - $20 in the App Store. It really looks very interesting and the company keeps up with the app.

[@NathanHandwerker]

Is it possible to use iPad Pro 2018 without jack socket?

[@TheDJOdium]

NathanHandwerker Need the USB-C to Headphone Jack adapter

[@aniitime3382]

any idea how to connect this with the new 12.9 ipad pro ?

[@HeinousAnusOG]

should be the same principle as usual mate :) hope you've had some luck since your question was posited!

[@horacechincer]

How would this be accomplished with an iPad Pro? What cable should be used? iPad Pro has a USB-C cable, but I haven't been able to find a USB-C to dual 1/4" stereo cable, which is I *think* is the cable that appears in this video? PS: Ableton, it would be good to know what sort of cable you're using, even if you just write it in the description. You folks might think that item would be obvious to your viewers, but I haven't found one in a few attempts looking for it.

[@olxs__]

You can also try just connecting the iPad directly via USB to your Mac (if you do have one) and set it up as an audio midi device, then it can receive audio to ableton directly as another input, also no Digital to Analog conversion, all digital.

[@113odyssey]

Thanks apple for not giving us an output jack. I honestly hate that manufacturers are pulling this shit lately. Google has been doing it with some of their devices too. This forced obsolescence shit needs to stop.

[@DelReiRock]

Interesting... Can I use an iPad as a launchpad to control Ableton live?

[@bartvyvey]

You might want to check out www.ableton.com/en/link/products/#?item_type=ios to see if there is an IOS app that suits your need. You can further limit the list of apps by clicking on “filter on type” on the right side. Good luck! 🙏

[@erikbartmann]

Hi, does anybody know the problem with Ableton Live 10 that after quitting, a message appears saying that the folder ..\Preferences\Undo cannot be deleted? Greetings, Erik.

[@WolfEnDirecto]

I have an Ipad Pro, need some help with these.

[@Coldlife565]

whats that cable you use to connect the output of the ipad to your interface?

[@bramdenelzen4070]

Probably a mini jack to 6.3mm jack

[@sebastienjager5501]

Thanks for Demi. What music making app is that?

[@Ableton]

Hi Sebastien, it's Ableton Link. You'll find all the info here: bit.ly/2Rfcaoj Let us know if you have more questions! Cheers.

[@NicolasBotero]

Patterning: Drum Machine

[@HeinousAnusOG]

@@NicolasBotero lol cheers bro :)

[@hitsquadfuze]

What is The App That you are using on the IPAD? Thx!

[@OlympiaNoiseCo]

Patterning 2 :)

[@BossManProductions-2025]

I can't get pattern to link from my iPad Pro with Ableton Live Lite 10 on my Mac book pro. the new iPad doesn't have the audio jack.I'm needing a video to show how to connect pattern from the iPad to the MacBook Pro wirelessly. Can anybody help me out?

[@sczarnecki5887]

Did you figure this out? Wouldn't you get a dongle and connect to ipad via USB-c or lightning then connect whatever cables to the dongle? That's my guess. I've been wondering about this myself.

[@BossManProductions-2025]

I was using my boss rc 505 for an interface it works with that but I’ve recently added a scarlet 4i4 to my set up. I haven’t used the iPad with the scarlet yet

[@JJ1NE]

what cable is he using to connect the ipad to the interface?

[@alexwood482]

mini jack to jack

[@thedude1744]

3.5mm Male Mini Stereo Jack to 1/4"inch male jack

[@thedude1744]

I used to DJ so I have those mini jack to 1/4" jacks laying around so I already have a mini to mini cable and I can just use the adapter.

[@SASTSimon]

I DONT HAVE AN AUDIO INTERFACE OR A MAC

[@DanielHilldrup]

not working. followed to the letter. i know its meant to be a clean plug and play affair but there is no documentation when your setup is different [ipad/usb c] and it is not receiving any input on play when monitor is set to in.

[@MrDanteman]

no have signal from IOS :( HEELP

[@oviid1372]

Hi there, I am attempting to link two MacBook Pros. I am getting to the point where they are linked and can start and stop the session. However, the sound from one computer does not get routed to the other. Do I need to use an external audio interface for this to work ? Thanks

[@JorgeSilvestrini]

YES - link will not send the audio from one computer to the other.

[@papamai4296]

app links iso

[@jz5748]

can you link rekordbox and ableton?

[@alfiekennedy1657]

Yes

[@tonycalhoun1368]

What App is this on the IPAD? Thx!

[@OlympiaNoiseCo]

Patterning 2 :)

[@33rbp]

Where is the control of latency? Or there is not latency with link?

[@RinaldoJonathan]

they take the latency into calculation. you might have latency with your router like xx ms, but they then take that xx ms to the other device to start early. probably ... just a theory, but I have successfully run link on very very bad network.

[@scattermish]

@@RinaldoJonathan Have you managed to record from your iPad without latency though?

[@EARTH.HARMONY.SOUND.HEALING]

thanks anybody know what the name of that app is?

[@EARTH.HARMONY.SOUND.HEALING]

patterning 2?

[@hossamtaha3930]

what is the name of the this app on your ipad ??

[@Ableton]

apps.apple.com/de/app/patterning-2-drum-machine/id1332154350?NjAwNTkyOQ%3D%3D&

[@RubenGoMoRadioboyPlus]

Surface Pro

[@MoonLanta]

Dangit, Patterning2 isn't even out yet!? :(

[@RicoTropico]

soon check app store.

[@OlympiaNoiseCo]

July 27th!

[@mangel7231]

u didn´t say witch is the app's name

[@felipemunoz2732]

Patterning 2: Drum Machine

[@soke.]

app name for ipad?

[@OlympiaNoiseCo]

Patterning 2!

[@xasancle]

Why it does not appear to me and it's in grey?

[@xasancle]

with ASIO does not happen.

[@JorgeSilvestrini]

Which version of Live do you have installed? It should be there on the top left. Also, check your preferences if it doesn't show up! You can turn it on and off in preferences.

[@gawaa5094]

What is the ios app called

[@Semtex777]

Patterning 2

[@gawaa5094]

Ok Thanks ;- )

[@WazoMusic]

Zamn

[@tato1344]

not helpful

[@aaronbarrett9894]

I know you're Ableton Crew. Get different people to do your tutorials, I've learned more from watching paint dry.