{"id":6310,"date":"2019-01-26T05:05:52","date_gmt":"2019-01-26T04:05:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/andyland.info\/wordpress\/?p=6310"},"modified":"2020-07-14T08:45:42","modified_gmt":"2020-07-14T07:45:42","slug":"midi-clock-to-ableton-link","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/andyland.info\/wordpress\/midi-clock-to-ableton-link\/","title":{"rendered":"Midi Clock to Ableton Link"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Long story short: This is an application which receives Midi clock data and converts them to Ableton Link. Target scenario is using it to enable Track Decks in Native Instrument’s Traktor being the Tempo Master in an Ableton Link Timeline. You can download it here (Github repo with compiled binary for macOS )<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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[Update 13.07.2020] <\/strong>Version 0.9 now supports sending START and STOP messages into Ableton Link[\/Update]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Update 06.07.2020] <\/strong>Some people told me that the downloaded binary instantly crashes on their computer. Seems that’s more a feature than a bug. Details can be found over here<\/a>. However, there’s an easy fix. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, try to open the binary via right click and make sure you want to open it even though it’s not from a verified developer. However, the app will crash anyways. Next open the Terminal, enter xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine <\/strong>(followed by a space) and drag ‘n drop the binary into the terminal window. This will autocomplete the command. Hit <Enter>. If no error message is displayed you are fine. Try running the app via double-click.[\/Update]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Update 03.12.2019] <\/strong>I added a link to the corresponding GitHub Repo at the end of this article. Feel free to clone, fork and mess around. #fcksbt<\/a> [\/Update]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am one proud owner of Native Instruments Traktor and Maschine. And I dream of being musically creative and running both products synchronized with each other … and add other apps to this scenario like Resolume, VDMX, … anything that creates music or visuals. Just because I think it might lead to beautiful (or at least interesting) results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there is a multitude<\/a> of tutorials<\/a> explaining how to successfully<\/a> sync<\/a> Maschine and Traktor most of them have in common that they rely on MIDI as well as Maschine and Traktor running on the same computer. Something that might not always be the preferred solution. Just think of basic load-balancing (Maschine as well as Traktor can cause quite some CPU load. Add Resolume or VDMX and your Computer will probably … experience some kind of lag every now and then). Or maybe you want to run both programs on fullscreen. Or you want multiple people to work together. I think I made my point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You could, of course, use MIDI to connect different hosts to each other but you would have to deal with all the struggle that comes along with MIDI: You need an appropriate interface on each host, you need MIDI cables and you need a way to make your application react to MIDI clock. Then there’s clock drift, latency, etc… If you ever tried to syc more than two computers via MIDI you probably ran into at least one of these issues. If not: Have fun trying to not lose your temper while setting up a working scenario on-stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, there’s Ableton Link<\/a> which allows you to simply run software in sync. It just works. Locally and over a network connection. It incorporates latency compensation, runs on all major operating systems (including mobile) and …. it just works (really: try it). Furthermore there’s a growing number of ‘creative’ software products<\/a> which natively support Ableton Link. And even more: it’s open source<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good thing: Maschine supports Ableton Link. Traktor supports Ableton Link. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Maschine’s titlebar prominently features the ‘Link’ button near the center – you can rarely miss it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Traktor also has a ‘Link’ button. Life’s good.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Bad thing: You can not<\/strong> provide tempo information for an Ableton Link timeline from<\/strong> a running Track Deck in Traktor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though by the protocol’s specs every host can set\/ suggest a session’s tempo (there is no dedicated clock master like in a MIDI scenario) Traktor’s implementation of Ableton Link more or less makes it a ‘semi-passive’ member: You can sync Traktor’s master clock to Ableton Link like a charm. You can also sync Traktor’s Track Decks to its master clock. Making them adapt the master clock’s tempo. But you can not<\/strong> take a deck’s tempo information and feed it into the Ableton Link Timeline. It’s a one-way scenario. Decks can only be set to a tempo but cannot set a tempo themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Track Decks can be set to Master when Link is DE-activated. ‘Master’ relates to MIDI Clock.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Traktor’s Track Decks can NOT be set as Master when Link is active. Notice how Traktor’s Master clock synced to Live 10 running in the background. Also notice the deck’s tempofader (it’s active).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Traktor’s Master Clock is synced with Live via Ableton Link. The left Track Deck is set to SYNC. Notice the tempofader being semi-transparent; it’s inactive and can not be controlled via mouse or MIDI. The deck can only receive tempo information.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This might be okay for when you play some flavour of electronic music where (maybe) you stick to one tempo throughout your (preplanned? *cough*) set. But if you want to incorporate different tempos (because you play different sorts of music) and want to provide your song’s tempo information to Ableton Link you are technically running into some dead end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is unless you use the software I provided here. As described in the beginning it receives MIDI clock data and converts them into Ableton Link data. This way you can set a Link Timeline’s tempo from your actively playing Track-Deck within Traktor (or basically any other piece of software or hardware that sends out Midi Clock). I drew a little sketch to show the basic principle behind this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pay attention to the arrows. It’s another one-way-scenario. But this time it’s going in the correct direction. From a Track Deck into Link’s Timeline. (Man I love these kinds of diagrams.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here is a video of Maschine and Traktor running on separate computers which are synced via Ableton Link within a WLAN. The audible metronome click is coming from Maschine on the left. Notice how Maschine automatically syncs to the tempo changes on the Track Deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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