One of the most intriguing elements of Ableton’s Live 9.5 release, earlier this week, was the announcement of Ableton Link – a technology that keeps devices in time over a wireless network.

The idea behind Ableton Link is to streamline syncing of multiple devices – both computers running Live and iOS devices running music apps – you just connect & sync wirelessly.

Link will soon be available to Live users as a free update, so two Live users will be able to sync wirelessly.

But what’s even more interesting is that Ableton Link is making Link available to developers via a free software development kit. And Live isn’t even necessary to use Ableton Link.

In the video above, developer Oliver Greschke demonstrates three iOS devices running a copy of Elastic Drums, which has been updated with Ableton Link.

Here’s Ableton’s official intro video to Link, which shows it being used, with and without Live in the loop:

Here’s an example, via developer developer Sebastian Schatz, that shows multiple copies of triqtraq syncing via Ableton Link:

The video shows two iPhones and an iPad connected via Link through a wireless network. Devices can start playing at any time & they always stay in sync.

Ableton Link support has already been announced for these apps:

A Tasty Pixels Loopy

Akai iMPC Pro

Audiobus

Finger Pro Bassline

Finger Pro LP-5 loop player

loop player Finger Pro MoDrum x0x beat making app

x0x beat making app Korg Gadget for iPad

for iPad Korg iElectribe for iPhone

for iPhone Korg iPolysix for iPad

for iPad Korg iKaossilator

Korg SyncKontrol

Zaplin Musics triqtraq

The decision to make Live unnecessary for using Ableton Link is an interesting one and probably a necessary one, in order to get widespread adoption.

With more than a dozen major iOS apps on board already, Ableton Link promises to make your iOS apps more useful once it is available, even if you’re not a Live user.

And, if you are a Live users, widespread adoption of Link promises to make Live a more powerful tool, too.

Check out the preview videos and let us know what you think of Ableton Link!