Link to MIDI Bridge: Gear Sync

planet-h.com

About this app

Link to MIDI Bridge: Sync Your Gear with Ableton Link

Link to MIDI Bridge is a specialized synchronization tool designed to bridge the gap between Ableton Link and hardware or software that supports MIDI Clock. It allows you to flawlessly sync your external synthesizers, drum machines, and other MIDI gear with the ever-growing ecosystem of Link-enabled applications.

Easy to use:

• Join a Link session (WiFi required)
• Hook up your MIDI device or interface
• Enjoy your now Link-enabled MIDI hardware

Feature Highlights:

• MIDI Start Quantization: Align your gear with precision (1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 1 - 32beats)
• Stable MIDI Clock: High-precision timing engine for synchronization with the lowest possible jitter
• Latency Compensation: Adjust timing (+/-300ms) to perfectly align the playback of the receiving MIDI device with the Link session

MIDI Support:

• USB (host+peripheral)
• Bluetooth LE (host/on Android 12+)

Important Note:

Link to MIDI Bridge is recommended for use with hardware MIDI devices, connected either directly via USB MIDI or through a USB MIDI-to-DIN interface. While it is technically possible to synchronize (via MIDI Clock) other apps on the same device or to use Bluetooth LE MIDI to synchronize other gear, these methods are subject to the variable timing characteristics of wireless transmission and software-to-software communication. For the highest precision and a lowest-possible-jitter experience, a wired USB MIDI connection is strongly recommended.

Support:

Forum: https://www.planet-h.com/gstomperbb/

Minimum device specs:

1.5 GHz Quad-core CPU, 1024 * 768 screen resolution

Recommended device specs:

2.4 GHz Octa-core or faster CPU, 1920 * 1080 or higher screen resolution

Permissions:

Bluetooth Connectivity: MIDI over BLE
Local Network Access: Ableton Link Synchronization
Foreground Service for Media Playback & Notification: Once activated by the user, this is required to maintain high-precision MIDI clock timing and synchronization (Ableton Link) while the app is in the background or the screen is locked.

Ratings and reviews

Incredibly useful app. No trouble setting everything up, ui is intuitive - and everything just works. The emitted midi clock is rock solid and together with the adjustable latency compensation makes it an essential ingredient in tightly integrating my setup.

Essential tool if you use Ableton Link-enabled apps with your midi gear or if you want to just check in with the current state of your midi/link network. I also use Link to MIDI Bridge to double check that my Akai Force (Ableton Link-enabled hardware) is properly in sync.

How to link.

What’s new

Android 17 Readiness & SDK37 Support
• Prepared the app for the upcoming Android 17 release and target SDK37
• Integrated the mandatory Local Network Access permission required for high-precision Ableton Link synchronization

Privacy Updates
• Updated the Privacy Policy with enhanced clarity for Foreground Service usage
• Added a detailed disclosure for the new Local Network Access permission to ensure full transparency

https://www.planet-h.com/link-to-midi-bridge/ltm-whats-new/