Link Audio: Networked audio routing and host integration

Link Audio is a free networked audio routing system that enables sending audio over a network to other hosts with latency compensation and synchronization. It works alongside existing Link sessions, where sharing a session allows peers to follow or alter tempo. The core concept extends Link’s existing beat, phase, tempo, and transport features to include audio capabilities. The API is currently an alpha, described as an “early R&D release.”

Link Audio has been integrated into Max, Pd, VCV Rack, TouchDesigner, openFrameworks, and plug-ins, with implementations varying by host. Pd already had tempo and transport in Link, so its implementation differs from others. Repositories include a dedicated openFrameworks implementation and GitHub repositories named ofxAbletonLinkAudio and Void-LinkAudio. Pre-built binaries are provided for macOS Universal and Windows x64, and the macOS build is notarized.

Ableton Live 12.4 drops on Tuesday, and Link Audio support is coming to Live, Move, Note, and Push. Linux support currently exists for the openFrameworks implementation while Pd and VCV Rack do not yet have Linux builds. Julie Bayle of VOID has produced an early open-source implementation, and the developer has noted, “The architecture, audio path, threading model, and DSP decisions are mine.” The Structure Void YouTube channel is referenced for related material.

Link Audio: Technical features and platform support

Link Audio enables routing audio over a network to other hosts with latency compensation and synchronization. The basic idea extends Link’s existing beat, phase, tempo, and transport features to include audio capabilities. Link Audio works alongside Link sessions, and sharing a session allows peers to follow or alter tempo. Implementations vary by host. Pd already had tempo and transport in Link. The API is in alpha and is described as an “early R&D release.”

Julie Bayle of VOID has produced an early open-source implementation. Julien dubs the work an “early R&D release.” A security remark states, “The architecture, audio path, threading model, and DSP decisions are mine.” The Structure Void YouTube channel is referenced for related material. GitHub repositories include ofxAbletonLinkAudio and Void-LinkAudio. A dedicated openFrameworks implementation is listed among the repositories.

Link Audio has been integrated into Max, Pd, VCV Rack, TouchDesigner, openFrameworks, and plug-ins. Link Audio support is coming to Ableton Live, Move, Note, and Push. Pre-built binaries are provided for macOS Universal and Windows x64, and the macOS build is notarized. Linux support exists for the openFrameworks implementation. There are no Pd or VCV Rack Linux builds yet.

Julie Bayle (VOID) has been instrumental in developing an early open-source implementation of Link Audio. Regarding the API, it is noted as being in its alpha phase, described by Julien as an ‘early R&D release.’ In terms of implementation, Julien has acknowledged, “The architecture, audio path, threading model, and DSP decisions are mine.” This indicates a personalized approach to the technical structure of Link Audio.

Julien has commented on the position of Link Audio within the landscape of audio routing technologies. He stated that “Link Audio is not the only game in town; there are use cases for which other solutions are better-suited (and certainly more mature).”

He underscores Link Audio’s focus on providing a fast proof-of-concept, especially for situations like piping sound from Ableton Move or Live into a TouchDesigner patch. Julien emphasizes that as support is gradually implemented for various hosts, there will be some variations, particularly noting that Pd had an existing robust implementation for tempo and transport in Link.

The basic concept of Link Audio involves expanding existing features to include audio capabilities, encompassing beat, phase, tempo, and transport. This expansion aims to integrate seamlessly with existing Link sessions, enabling synchronization and latency compensation across networked audio environments.

Hosts and environments for Link Audio

Link Audio is implemented or planned for multiple hosts and environments, including Max, Pd (Pure Data), VCV Rack, TouchDesigner, openFrameworks, and plug-ins. Support is also planned for Ableton Live and related devices Live, Move, Note, and Push. Implementations target both standalone hosts and integration as plug-ins across those environments. The coverage reflects the project’s focus on interoperability across creative audio and multimedia tools.

Implementations vary by host as support is gradually added and adapted to each host’s design. Pd already had tempo and transport in Link, and that existing functionality informed its Link Audio implementation. Julien has indicated that as host support is filled in, implementations will differ from host to host. Those differences relate to adapting the Link Audio design to each host’s existing features and architecture.

Development resources include GitHub repositories such as ofxAbletonLinkAudio and Void-LinkAudio and a dedicated openFrameworks implementation. Pre-built binaries are provided for macOS Universal and Windows x64, and the macOS build is notarized. Linux support exists for the openFrameworks implementation, while Pd and VCV Rack do not yet have Linux builds. The repositories and binaries provide access points for host-specific integration and testing.

Link Audio is presented as an alpha-stage API, described as an “early R&D release.” Julien dubs the work an “early R&D release.” The development state is foregrounded as a primary consideration for users and implementers. The basic expansion of Link capabilities to include audio is positioned within that alpha context.

A declarative remark by the developer states: The architecture, audio path, threading model, and DSP decisions are mine. That remark appears alongside other implementation notes attributed to the project. The Structure Void YouTube channel is referenced for related material and demonstrations. Julie Bayle (VOID) has produced an early open-source implementation.

Development resources for the project include GitHub repositories named ofxAbletonLinkAudio and Void-LinkAudio and a dedicated openFrameworks implementation. Pre-built binaries are provided for macOS Universal and Windows x64, and the macOS build is notarized. Linux support exists for the openFrameworks implementation, while Pd and VCV Rack do not yet have Linux builds.

Conclusion

Link Audio is an open-source project presented as an alpha API that supports routing audio over a network with latency compensation and synchronization. The project extends Link’s existing beat, phase, tempo, and transport features to include audio capabilities and works alongside Link sessions so that sharing a session allows peers to follow or alter tempo. The API is described as an “early R&D release.” An early open-source implementation is attributed to Julie Bayle (VOID), and development repositories named ofxAbletonLinkAudio and Void-LinkAudio are available.

Implementations are available or planned for Max, Pd, VCV Rack, TouchDesigner, openFrameworks, and plug-ins, and Link Audio support is coming to Ableton Live, Move, Note, and Push. Pre-built binaries are provided for macOS Universal and Windows x64, and the macOS build is notarized; Linux support currently exists for the openFrameworks implementation while Pd and VCV Rack do not yet have Linux builds. The developer stated, “The architecture, audio path, threading model, and DSP decisions are mine.” Julien indicated that as host support is gradually filled in and adapted to each host’s design, implementations vary by host, which frames the ongoing development and expansion of host support.