Ableton Link synchronizes beat, tempo, and phase across multiple apps or devices over a local network without a master clock

Ableton Link is a network synchronization protocol that keeps beat, tempo, and phase aligned across multiple instances of Live and compatible third-party apps over a shared WiFi or wired network. Unlike MIDI clock (which requires a designated master sending pulses to passive slaves), Link is peer-to-peer: any participant can change the tempo and all others follow, and any device can start or stop independently. When a device joins an existing Link session, it waits for global launch quantization before starting playback to align on a beat boundary. This makes Link particularly suitable for multi-laptop live sets and collaborative jamming where no single device should be the permanent master. A common misconception is that Link requires all devices to start simultaneously — in fact, any device can join or leave at any time.

Examples

Two laptops running Ableton Live on the same WiFi: adjust tempo on one and the other follows instantly. An iPhone running a Link-compatible drum app joins the same session and stays locked to beat.

Assessment

Explain the key difference between Ableton Link and MIDI clock synchronization, and describe what global launch quantization does when a device joins a Link session mid-performance.