How to Sync two Ableton Machines

Do you run tracks and keys from Ableton Live? Imagine connecting both of your Macs with an ethernet cable and having your tracks and keys perfectly in sync. In this video Ableton Live Certified Trainer Will Doggett shows you how to use the Network MIDI settings built-in to every Mac to sync two Ableton sessions!

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Now you’ll probably ask, “Why not use Link for this?” Well for 2 main reasons.
1-Link isn’t “location aware”. If I jump to the chorus or back to the intro, I want both machines to stay in sync. Link isn’t concerned with timeline sync.
2-Link allows anyone on the session to change tempo. While that’s an interesting feature for laptop musicians-especially when you’re performing in an Electronic Music ensemble, its an awful idea when you’re using this in a Playback Environment (tracks and keys for example).

So that leads up to using a MIDI session. You could use a 5 pin cable between two interfaces, but in this case, I’m using an Ethernet cable and the Network MIDI session.

Doing this allows you to:

1-Keep the timeline of both machines perfectly in sync using Ableton’s built-in clock.
3-Remotely trigger your other machine using MIDI. (Think selecting scenes from a spot in your arrangement, or turning on/off a track, or adjusting an effect on your keys computer at the exact same moment every set)
4-Send MIDI between machines. Imagine being able to play sounds from your keys computer, from your tracks computer. Why?? Because it’s awesome !! :)

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[andreas-wismann]

Would it work if the other computer was running Ableton Live _Lite_ 10? Any restrictions as regards the sync?

[jamiethomson]

Epic video man, helps a lot! Are you able to explain the advantage of connecting your playaudio12 to the ethernet switch? I have an almost identical setup to you. Thanks in advance!

[rsdickson]

Kudos for the hint to those of us who use PC's.

[pipflynn]

Is it possible to Ethernet cable link and sync two laptops for rekordbox?

[cristidobrica]

The metronoms sound completely off sync. Is it just me?

[leonelrojas]

Will i have a Question... can i Sync a PC and a MAC thru MIDI or is it better to Sync them being both machines the same??... I mean PC/PC or MAC/MAC

I want to use a MIDI / USB Cable connected to and audio interface and then to the MAC or PC to control both of them as a Redundant Rig, and the idea behind this is to Trigger the Message thru Midi CLips as Dummy Clips with NOtes that are assigned to different songs or sections of songs.

And which view is better for using live with a lot of stems and tracks... Arreangemnt or Session View???

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!!