Does Ableton support VST System Link? I don’t even know if Steinberg ever made this publicly available but that would basically be ReWire in hardware (requires a digital audio connection) between different computers.
Rock solid timing and the audio channels of computer B could be returned to computer A.
This is exactly one of the reasons why I would be very happy about Ableton Link!
Agreed. It’s an excellent sketch pad
2 Likes
I’m happy to say that a friend has worked out a VST to send Link data from Cubase.
It’s still under testing and a couple of things to fix, but it’s working good so far and a huge game changer for people like me, and such a small tool in the end.
With this little thing :
- I’m not stuck to Rewire and old DAW versions anymore
- I can use full VST and Max for Live tools in Ableton (disabled in Rewire)
- Control surfaces & all midi controllers also should work fine.
- I can fully Jam in Live in any manner, and record straight into cubase.
Now since you need to pass audio from Ableton to Cubase with some virtual audio connexion, I’ve tested the following “Bluecats Connecter” that seems the most reliable, low latency and easy to use. (Not sample perfect without any compensation but you can work it out it seems… to be more tested)
There are a few options around, but I didn’t want to sacrifice any hardware on my soundcard and I don’t want to use another ASIO driver than my RME to install softwares like Jackaudio or similar. Anyway, that’s other things…
But YAY !! This guy made my day… I’ll come up with the link to grab that tool in the next couple of weeks. Not sure how many people are keen to sync Cubase and Ableton these days still, but if you are one, it’s about to come true 
PS : I really don’t like to see how people can be rudely blaming steinberg sometimes, but for once I’ll politely complain too, because this tool we needed here was made in less than one day by 1 single person. I really don’t think it would have been a huge mission to come part of cubase and would have made hundreds of users happy… So yeah, as a Cubase user & fan since SX3, I do feel a bit abandoned for small user requests like that.
4 Likes
Thank you for this post!
That’s really great news!
I’m really looking forward to testing it!
It’s a shame that you need a third-party plugin to replace a function that many people miss and that I think should be a given.
I still like Cubase, otherwise I wouldn’t be posting here if I didn’t appreciate this DAW for its advantages over Ableton. But Steinberg, please take a look at this VST plugin and maybe in the next update/upgrade: ABLETON LINK for the best of both worlds!
1 Like
Hmm. This thread is many years old, with many users asking and begging steinberg for a new rewire solution, like Ableton Link support.
And what did steinberg…?
Nothing.
So dont expect steinberg for offering a soluting. There will be no official solution.
But a worling 3rd party solution may be great. So i hope that we get a link soon!!!
1 Like
Everyone knows, including the developers, we want Ableton Link. Steinberg needs to comment. Almost 3 years later now.
1 Like
Unfortunately, that seems to be true, at least in this case.
Nevertheless, it would be nice if Steinberg would at least say whether this is planned at some point or whether it is rejected on principle.
Cubase 14 is here!
Unfortunately still no Ableton link! 
It’s a real shame that no one from Steinberg has commented on this, if only they could give a reason why this is not wanted. Or?
This has been going on here for over 5 years now…
We have it working and it’s about to be released !
It’s been under testing and I have been using it a lot since the first beta versions.
A simple VST plugin that sends Link data to any Link compatible device, load it in Cubase and have Ableton synced super nicely!
The limitations are when you add plugins in Cubase that would change the delay compensation values. You have to fiddle around with the offset setting that is available in the sync plugin.
It’s been to me the best sync option to this day since rewire.
(rewire limiting Ableton to use VST and Max tools)
I’ve tried to get this to work for sooo many years now, super happy with the solution my developer friend came up with.
I’ll post the link where to grab it very soon, just a couple of weeks to go I guess.
Hopefully that will be useful for some of you !
2 Likes
That’s really exciting news!
If it works, Steinberg should actually pay your friend or hire him outright!
Or maybe he could at least give Steinberg a few tips, maybe they’ll manage to implement it directly in Cubase at some point.
I’m looking forward to the link, then I’ll be happy to test it out!
1 Like
any updates on that, please?
Thanks for your interest on this if you speak of the tool we are about to bring up.
Just got an update from the developper and he said it’s a matter of days… will post here as soon as it’s out.
2 Likes
Great news!
I’m very excited!
no pressure but a few days have passed already 
BTW - this is the reason why Steinberg usually doesn’t announce products before they are ready.
Aug. '24: “couple of weeks”
Well, you can’t really compare Steinberg to a small developer. I just hope they release this soon and that it works as expected—It’s been years I’d like to use M4L synced to cubase, and my friends and I are really looking forward to it. Waiting (im)patiently!
btw, I hope we are talking about a Mac version too…right? 
Unless I’ve completely misunderstood, Steinberg has nothing to do with the development of the plugin, right?
Although they’re supposed to (we actually want Steinberg to integrate the feature directly into the DAW, and since they haven’t done that and haven’t commented on it, someone must have come up with the idea of programming a “helper plugin” for it?!)
Steinberg either doesn’t want Ableton LINK, or it’s not possible, or it’s not a priority. We don’t know and can only speculate, since they unfortunately haven’t commented on it.
I use for years a little app for iOS (also runs on my macstudio, even phone) called midi link sync, which gets midi in clock from cubase and slaves the ableton link network to its bpm.
Is pretty in sync, but with the disadvantages which would be for a plugin as well, swhen you start stop it has a lag or can run out of sync and needs a restart from a x01 bar (otherwise gets synced on the second bar etc).
I dont think cubase internal engine dealing with asio/coreaudio systems, which is one of the most precise, can really work as a slave to anything, let along a little laggy ableton link. If i play clips in ableton alone on repitch, i can feel a slight “wobbling” or more like muddiness because of slight pitch changes due to link, when unlinked it sounds staggeringly better.
much better if steinberg offers us auv3, becoming a standard bridge with iOS world
I have another use case where Ableton link excels.
Lately I’ve been using hardware again. My Akai MPC X SE and my trusty Roland W-30. I will be adding more hardware. I missed it.
The MPC has Ableton link built in!
To test it out I used Reason which also has Ableton link.
IT WORKS FLAWLESSLY!! Super tight. No cables. Absolutely amazed by the creative flow between my hardware and Reason due to ableton link. It’s a dream! And it worked on first attempt. No lags. No drop outs like midi. Worked for hours.
This is no longer a request. It is a need!!!
Steinberg, my eye is wondering.
1 Like