Link Audio FAQ
Learn how to use Link Audio in Ableton Live to stream audio between devices on a local network in real time. This FAQ covers setup, monitoring, recording from external devices and apps, and troubleshooting Link Audio connections. Link Audio is supported as of software versions Live 12.4 / Push 2.4 / Move 2.0 / Note 2.0.
Setup and configuration
Connecting with Link
Monitoring and audio settings
Troubleshooting Link Audio
Setup and configuration
How do I enable Link Audio in Live?
To enable Link Audio:
- In Live’s control bar, click on the Link toggle to enable Link
- Open the dropdown menu in the Link toggle and enable Link Audio.
- Or go to Live's Settings → Link and set Link Audio to On.
Your device will now appear as a Link Audio peer to other devices on the network. Once enabled, other Link Audio-enabled devices on your network can send audio to Live or receive audio from Live.
How do I enable Link Audio in Note?
To enable Link Audio in Note, first enable Link as described in the guide Using Link in Note. In Note settings, then switch Link Audio to On.
What's the difference between Link and Link Audio?
- Link synchronizes tempo, transport, and timing between devices. It keeps multiple devices playing in sync without sharing audio.
- Link Audio streams actual audio between devices over your local network. It allows you to send and receive audio from other Link Audio-enabled devices.
You can use Link without Link Audio (for tempo sync only), or use both together to sync timing and share audio between devices.
Can Link Audio work with Push, Move, or Note?
- Push 3 (standalone) can send and receive audio via Link Audio.
- Move and Note can send audio via Link Audio, but not receive it.
Update your device's software to the latest version to enable Link Audio support. Learn more about updating Push 3 and updating Move.
What devices and apps support Link Audio?
Link Audio is supported in:
- Computers with Ableton Live 12.4 or later installed
- Push 3 (standalone)
- Move
- Note on supported iOS devices
- Third-party apps that support Link Audio. Check the developer's documentation to see if your app or device supports Link Audio.
How do I adjust for latency when using Link Audio?
Overall latency in Link Audio is determined by the combination of your audio interface buffer size and network transmission time.
The Latency slider in Live’s Settings → Link is the main control for managing latency when using Link Audio. The slider allows you to manually set a value to account for the time it takes audio to travel from the sending device to the receiving device over the network.
The right latency setting depends on your network conditions. To find the right balance, check the Peers list in the Link Audio preferences tab.
- If all peers show a high buffer level, you can reduce the latency slider value.
- If one or more peers are experiencing dropouts, increase the latency slider value until dropouts stop.
For the lowest possible latency, you can also adjust buffer size settings on both the sending and receiving devices.
To adjust buffer size in Live, go to Live's Settings → Audio → Latency → Buffer Size. In general, larger buffer sizes on the sending device and smaller buffer sizes on the receiving device will allow you to find the optimal value on the Link Latency slider that lowers latency without causing dropouts.
- Sending device: larger buffer size
- Receiving device: smaller buffer size
When recording, or if Sync to incoming Audio is enabled, Link Audio also compensates for network and processing latency between devices. Learn more about why audio recordings are out of sync.
Connecting with Link
Does Link Audio work over WiFi or do I need a wired connection?
Link Audio works over both Wi-Fi and wired Ethernet connections. Wired Ethernet provides the most stable and lowest-latency connection, while Wi-Fi may be less reliable depending on network quality and interference.
For best results, use a wired connection when possible, especially in live performance situations. If using Wi-Fi, make sure all devices are on the same network with a strong signal.
Do I need a wired or wireless network for Link Audio?
Link Audio works over both Wi-Fi and wired Ethernet connections. However, performance depends on your network quality:
- Wired Ethernet provides the most stable and lowest-latency connection.
- Wi-Fi works but may be less reliable depending on your network congestion, signal strength, and interference.
For best results, use a wired connection when possible, especially in live performance situations.
Can I use Link Audio over localhost (on the same computer)?
Link Audio works over localhost, allowing you to stream audio between multiple instances of Live or between Live and other Link Audio-enabled apps on the same computer. This is useful for:
- Recording
- Routing audio between multiple Live projects
- Sending audio from Live to another app without additional routing software
- Testing Link Audio setups without multiple devices
Monitoring and audio settings
What is Sync to Incoming Audio?
With Sync to Incoming Audio enabled, audio coming from Link and monitored through Live is kept in sync with Live’s own audio and clips. This is achieved by deferring Live’s timeline by the amount of the set latency.
Note: "Sync to Incoming Audio" can only be enabled by one peer. Otherwise, Link Audio will not work.
Should I monitor Link Audio on the sending device or the receiving device?
It’s possible for all connected Link Audio peers to monitor their own output and incoming audio from other peers. However, if audio is monitored on both the sending and receiving side, the received audio will be delayed by the amount of latency set in the receiving device’s Link Audio settings. To avoid this, monitor audio only once — either on the sending side or the receiving side.
The best approach depends on your setup:
To record a Link session where each peer is handling its own monitoring:
- In Live’s settings → Link, enable receiving and recording audio from all peers
- On incoming audio tracks, set monitoring to Off.
To use one computer running Live as a central hub:
- If using an instance of Live as a hub for audio from other peers, apps, or devices, enable monitoring of incoming audio in Live on the main device, and disable local monitoring on all other peers.
- To make sure Live’s local audio and incoming audio stay in sync, enable Sync to Incoming Audio in Live’s settings → Link on the central device.
Note: Feedback loops can occur when two peers monitor each other's main output. Make sure each signal path has only one monitoring point.
How do I select Link Audio as an input in Live?
To route Link Audio into a track:
- Create an audio track or select an existing audio track.
- In the track's Input chooser, select Link Audio.
- Choose which Link Audio peer you want to receive audio from.
- Arm the track for monitoring or recording.
Link Audio inputs appear alongside your audio interface inputs in the Input chooser.
Can I record audio from Link Audio inputs?
Link Audio inputs can be recorded just like any other audio input. To record audio from Link Audio inputs:
- Select a Link Audio peer as the track's input.
- Arm the track for recording.
- Start recording to capture the incoming Link Audio stream.
The recorded audio will include automatic latency compensation, so timing should align correctly with your project.
Can I send individual tracks, or just the main output?
Whether individual channels are available to send depends on the features of your specific app. From Ableton Live, Push, or Move, any track with an audio output can be sent, including audio tracks, instrument tracks, return tracks, and the Main output.
Note: A track is only sent over the network when a peer device is enabled to receive it.
Troubleshooting Link Audio
Why don't I see any Link Audio peers?
If you don't see other Link Audio devices:
- Make sure both devices have Link and Link Audio enabled in Settings → Link. Verify both devices are connected to the same local network.
- Pause or disable any active VPNs.
- Check that your network allows device discovery and doesn't block peer-to-peer connections. Some public or corporate networks restrict local network communication.
- Restart Live on both devices and check if peers appear.
- If using a firewall, make sure it allows Link Audio traffic.
Note: Link Audio only works on local networks. Devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network or connected via Ethernet to the same router.
Why is my Link Audio connection unstable?
If you experience dropouts, crackling, or connection issues with Link Audio:
- Use a wired Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi for better stability.
- If using Wi-Fi, move closer to your router or reduce network congestion by disconnecting other devices.
- Increase your audio buffer size in Live's Settings → Audio. Higher buffer sizes provide more stable Link Audio performance but increase latency.
- Close unnecessary applications on both devices to reduce CPU load.
- Make sure your network router is performing well and not overloaded with traffic.
- Avoid using USB hubs or underpowered USB ports for network adapters.
- Make sure Sync to Incoming Audio is not enabled on more than one peer device.
If connection issues persist, check that your network equipment supports the bandwidth needed for real-time audio streaming.
What network setup do I need for Link Audio?
Link Audio requires:
- All devices are connected to the same local network (either via Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
- A network that allows peer-to-peer communication between devices.
- Sufficient network bandwidth for real-time audio streaming.
- A router that supports device discovery and multicast traffic.
For best performance:
- Use a dedicated network for Link Audio if possible, separate from internet traffic.
- Use a modern router with good Wi-Fi coverage or wired Ethernet connections.
- Avoid public or corporate networks that may block peer-to-peer connections.
- Keep the number of devices on the network reasonable to avoid congestion.