Hi,
Ableton Link is a technology that synchronizes musical beat, tempo, phase, and start/stop commands across multiple applications running on one or more devices. Applications on devices connected to a local network discover each other automatically and form a musical session in which each participant can perform independently: anyone can start or stop while still staying in time. Anyone can change the tempo, the others will follow. Anyone can join or leave without disrupting the session. Implementing this to QLC+ would be brilliant.
More info here https://ableton.github.io/link/
Cheers.
Feature request: Ableton Link support
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janosvitok
- Posts: 1274
- Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 7:05 am
- Location: Bratislava, Slovakia
- Real Name: Jano Svitok
- Contact:
https://www.qlcplus.org/forum/viewtopic ... 18&t=13086
As I have written in the referenced topic, Ableton Link is published under GPL which is incompatible with QLC+ licence (APL). You may ask Ableton to release the code under APL as well (see https://github.com/Ableton/link#license).
See for example https://www.apache.org/licenses/GPL-compatibility.html for discussion about GPL vs APL.
To avoid the legal problem it would be possible to write separate GPL application ("Connector") that would translate AbletonLink to something that QLC+ understands natively.
Finally, there is that always present problem of manpower/time/priorities... in other words, while it is technically and legally possible to write it, you still need someone to do the work.
Jano
As I have written in the referenced topic, Ableton Link is published under GPL which is incompatible with QLC+ licence (APL). You may ask Ableton to release the code under APL as well (see https://github.com/Ableton/link#license).
See for example https://www.apache.org/licenses/GPL-compatibility.html for discussion about GPL vs APL.
To avoid the legal problem it would be possible to write separate GPL application ("Connector") that would translate AbletonLink to something that QLC+ understands natively.
Finally, there is that always present problem of manpower/time/priorities... in other words, while it is technically and legally possible to write it, you still need someone to do the work.
Jano
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AcdNrg
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Thu May 27, 2021 7:16 pm
- Real Name: Oliver Keller
Understood and this is good reasoning.
That said, the ability to beat sync is crucial to my application and that´s why I´m starting to look elsewhere - which I hate to do. I´d rather see QLC+ move in this direction, although I understand that adding bars, beats, subdivisions to cuelists and RGB matrices is one hell of a task.
I´m currently abusing QLC+ as a MIDI to DMX translator: Bitwig is synced via Link to Traktor and sending out MIDI messages to trigger collections in QLC+. In my dreams, I have collections of visual effects that auto sync to whatever BPM the DJ is spitting out. So far - static lighting - I could work around QLC+´s limits, but now that I start to work with more dynamic setups, especially RGB panels, it feels like something is missing.
Don´t get me wrong: I´m ultimately grateful for the doors that QLC+ has opened for me. I´ve tried a few other things and none was as pleasant as QLC+. It´s just that my artistic ideas appear to hit principal limits now. I wonder if I really have to move on from a tool (and community) I love and this is giving me a major headache.
Double voting for the idea to add relative, musical timing to the operating principles of this beauty.
That said, the ability to beat sync is crucial to my application and that´s why I´m starting to look elsewhere - which I hate to do. I´d rather see QLC+ move in this direction, although I understand that adding bars, beats, subdivisions to cuelists and RGB matrices is one hell of a task.
I´m currently abusing QLC+ as a MIDI to DMX translator: Bitwig is synced via Link to Traktor and sending out MIDI messages to trigger collections in QLC+. In my dreams, I have collections of visual effects that auto sync to whatever BPM the DJ is spitting out. So far - static lighting - I could work around QLC+´s limits, but now that I start to work with more dynamic setups, especially RGB panels, it feels like something is missing.
Don´t get me wrong: I´m ultimately grateful for the doors that QLC+ has opened for me. I´ve tried a few other things and none was as pleasant as QLC+. It´s just that my artistic ideas appear to hit principal limits now. I wonder if I really have to move on from a tool (and community) I love and this is giving me a major headache.
Double voting for the idea to add relative, musical timing to the operating principles of this beauty.
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DeepSymmetry
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2023 3:46 am
- Real Name: James Elliott
If anyone does want to pursue this further, I can contribute the GPL licensed bridge to Link, that is what I created Carabiner for, to use in my own projects (link at end). I realize there is still work that would need to be done in order to work with it in the context of QLC+, but this can help get part of the way there. I came across this thread while trying to help someone figure out how to synchronize Pioneer DJ equipment with QLC+, and while I have existing workarounds, this would make it much smoother, and also allow synchronization with an ever growing collection of musical instruments and digital audio workstations.
https://github.com/Deep-Symmetry/carabiner#carabiner
https://github.com/Deep-Symmetry/carabiner#carabiner
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Alexwayne
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2024 11:41 am
- Real Name: Chris
Hello ,
Did anyone manage to get a bridge between QLC and beat link trigger.
Context, i currently have the XDJ-XZ and i am linked to Beat link trigger which is helping to push control of Resolute, however I currently have my lighting setup with QLC+ and would like BeatLinkTrigger to control the lighting in QLC+ in terms of BPM and scenes using the phases.
Did anyone manage to get a bridge between QLC and beat link trigger.
Context, i currently have the XDJ-XZ and i am linked to Beat link trigger which is helping to push control of Resolute, however I currently have my lighting setup with QLC+ and would like BeatLinkTrigger to control the lighting in QLC+ in terms of BPM and scenes using the phases.