Setup Guides

Set up with your DAW in under five minutes.

One plugin on your stereo output. No drivers to configure. No routing changes to your existing projects. Pick your DAW below — we’ll walk you through it.

Time to first take~5 min
Plugins requiredOne
Driver setupZero

Before you start

macOS 12 or later

Apple Silicon or Intel — both work. Windows support is on the roadmap.

Virtual audio device

SessionLinked installs its own 64-channel CoreAudio device on first launch — nothing to download separately. BlackHole 64ch is a supported fallback if needed.

Your DAW

Logic, Pro Tools, Reaper, Ableton, Cubase, Studio One. Any project. We attach to the bus, not your tracks.

Hearing your collaborator

New in v1.2

Open the companion, join a session, and you’ll see a Monitor output dropdown in the audio status block. Pick your headphones, your interface, your speakers — anything on your Mac — and the live feed plays straight to that device.

No need to set SessionLinked as your system output. No macOS Multi-Output Device. Your DAW uses its normal audio interface for tracking; the SessionLinked device is only involved when your DAW arms a track to record a collaborator’s take (channels 3–4 and up).

SessionLinkedConnected
AudioFlowing
MMC TransportRecording
Monitor outputAirPods Pro

Hearing yourself while you track

Setup rough edge

When you set your DAW’s output device to SessionLinked (or BlackHole as a fallback), your local speakers stop receiving the DAW’s output — the audio is going into the virtual device instead, so your collaborator can hear it. You’ll still need to hear yourself. Three options:

macOS Multi-Output DeviceWorks today

Open Audio MIDI Setup → '+' → Create Multi-Output Device. Tick both SessionLinked (or BlackHole 64ch) and your real output (headphones/interface). In your DAW, set Output Device to this Multi-Output. Audio plays to both simultaneously.

Hardware direct monitorIf your interface supports it

Most audio interfaces have a direct-monitor knob that blends your input signal straight back to your headphones, bypassing the DAW. Use that for your mic/instrument, and the DAW handles everything else.

Self monitor in the companionv1.3

Coming in v1.3 — the companion grows a second picker symmetric to Monitor output, this one playing your own DAW's virtual-device feed to a chosen device. Same one-click UX as the current picker.

Pick your DAWLogic ProReaperAbleton LivePro ToolsBETACubaseBETAStudio OneBETA

Logic Pro

~5 min·Logic Pro 10.7 or later · Apple Silicon or Intel
  1. 1
    Install SessionLinked

    Run the installer from sessionlinked.com (it needs your password — it installs a system audio driver). If the app says the driver isn't detected on first launch, restart your Mac once and reopen it.

  2. 2
    Run the Setup Assistant

    It opens automatically on first launch (or Settings → Run Setup Assistant). It builds your “SessionLinked Studio” device — your interface plus SessionLinked combined — so you keep hearing your own gear while the session flows.

  3. 3
    Point Logic at the Studio device

    Logic Pro → Settings → Audio → set BOTH Output Device and Input Device to SessionLinked Studio. Your interface still works — it’s inside the Studio device.

  4. 4
    Insert SessionLinked on the Stereo Out

    Click an empty Audio FX slot on the Stereo Output channel strip → Audio Units → SessionLinked. This is how SessionLinked knows when you hit record — audio itself flows through the Studio device.

    What you’re doing

    SessionLinked lives on your stereo bus. Everything downstream — your monitor plugins, mix bus chain — stays exactly as it is.

  5. 5
    Create one Monitor track to hear your collaborators

    New Audio track → Input: the input named “SessionLinked Monitor” → turn input monitoring ON (the small I button) → leave the track UNARMED (don’t record-enable it — the real takes arrive as files). The Setup Assistant’s test tone proves this path end to end.

  6. 6
    Join with the code — takes land themselves

    Enter the 6-character code and connect. When a collaborator records, their lossless take appears in your Files tab: drag it into Logic, then Edit ▸ Move ▸ To Recorded Position — it snaps to the exact bar they recorded at.

Pro tip

Drag a track header (or a collaborator’s name) from the Files tab to bring ALL their takes into Logic in one drop — one Move ▸ To Recorded Position snaps everything.

Reaper

~6 min·Reaper 6.0 or later · any licence tier · AU on macOS
  1. 1
    Install SessionLinked

    Run the installer from sessionlinked.com (password required — it installs a system audio driver). If the driver isn’t detected on first launch, restart your Mac once.

  2. 2
    Run the Setup Assistant + Reaper integration

    Complete the Setup Assistant, then Settings → “Set up Reaper integration” (one click; restart Reaper after). This installs the import watcher that lands takes in your project.

  3. 3
    Set Reaper’s audio device

    Reaper → Settings → Device → Audio device: SessionLinked Studio. Your interface is inside the Studio device, so your own inputs and headphones keep working.

    What you’re doing

    SessionLinked lives on your stereo bus. Everything downstream — your monitor plugins, mix bus chain — stays exactly as it is.

  4. 4
    Insert SessionLinked on the Master (AU)

    Master track → FX → add “AU: SessionLinked”. Audio Unit only — there is no VST3 build. The plugin handles record detection and transport; audio flows through the device.

  5. 5
    Hear your collaborators

    New track → Input: the channel named “SessionLinked Monitor” → record-monitoring ON, record-arm OFF. Each collaborator’s live channels also appear under their own named inputs (“Peer 1”…) if you want individual live feeds.

  6. 6
    Join with the code

    Enter the session code in the companion and connect. Takes arrive losslessly in the Files tab and import via the watcher at the recorded position.

Pro tip

Reaper’s per-track input naming shows SessionLinked’s channel NAMES — route by name, never by channel number.

Ableton Live

~6 min·Live 11 or later · AU plugin (any edition) · M4L extras need Suite
  1. 1
    Install SessionLinked

    Run the installer from sessionlinked.com (password required). If the driver isn’t detected on first launch, restart your Mac once and reopen the app.

  2. 2
    Run the Setup Assistant

    It builds the “SessionLinked Studio” device — your interface plus SessionLinked combined — and proves the audio path with a test tone.

  3. 3
    Point Live at the Studio device

    Live → Settings → Audio → Audio Input Device AND Audio Output Device: SessionLinked Studio.

    What you’re doing

    SessionLinked lives on your stereo bus. Everything downstream — your monitor plugins, mix bus chain — stays exactly as it is.

  4. 4
    Insert SessionLinked on the Master (AU)

    Drop the SessionLinked Audio Unit on the Master track. Audio Unit only — Live’s VST3 list won’t show it.

  5. 5
    Hear your collaborators

    New audio track → Ext. In → choose the input pair named “SessionLinked Monitor” → Monitor: In → leave the track unarmed.

  6. 6
    Join with the code

    Connect with the 6-character code. Takes appear losslessly in the companion’s Files tab — drag them into Live’s arrangement (Live has no timestamp-snap command, so drop them at the bar shown next to each take).

Pro tip

Note Live’s one gap: it can’t snap audio to its embedded timestamp, so check the bar number in the Files tab before you drop.

Pro Tools

Beta
~6 min·Companion-only today — the AAX plugin is in development
  1. 1
    What works today (honestly)

    SessionLinked’s plugin is Audio Unit only, and Pro Tools doesn’t host AU — so automatic record detection and transport sync are NOT available in Pro Tools yet. What works: hearing the session, being heard, and receiving lossless takes via the companion.

    What you’re doing

    SessionLinked lives on your stereo bus. Everything downstream — your monitor plugins, mix bus chain — stays exactly as it is.

  2. 2
    Install SessionLinked

    Run the installer from sessionlinked.com (password required). Restart your Mac if the driver isn’t detected on first launch.

  3. 3
    Run the Setup Assistant

    It creates the “SessionLinked Studio” aggregate. Set Setup → Playback Engine → SessionLinked Studio in Pro Tools.

  4. 4
    Hear your collaborators

    New Audio track → Input: the path named “SessionLinked Monitor” in I/O Setup → input-monitor it, leave it unarmed.

  5. 5
    Join with the code

    Connect in the companion. Incoming takes land losslessly in the Files tab; use the per-take Place button (AAF) or drag the WAVs into your session — each take shows its recorded position.

  6. 6
    Your own takes

    Record in Pro Tools as normal, then point the companion’s Files tab at your session’s Audio Files folder (Settings → Project Folder) — your takes upload losslessly for your collaborator from there.

Pro tip

Want the full auto-detected workflow today? Host the session from Logic and keep Pro Tools for the mix — or watch the changelog for the AAX release.

Cubase

Beta
~6 min·Companion-only today — Cubase hosts VST3, and our plugin is AU-only for now
  1. 1
    What works today (honestly)

    Cubase doesn’t host Audio Units, so automatic record detection and transport sync aren’t available yet (a VST3 build is on the roadmap). What works: hearing the session, being heard, and exchanging lossless takes via the companion.

    What you’re doing

    SessionLinked lives on your stereo bus. Everything downstream — your monitor plugins, mix bus chain — stays exactly as it is.

  2. 2
    Install SessionLinked

    Run the installer from sessionlinked.com (password required). Restart your Mac if the driver isn’t detected on first launch.

  3. 3
    Run the Setup Assistant

    It creates the “SessionLinked Studio” device. In Cubase: Studio → Studio Setup → Audio System → SessionLinked Studio.

  4. 4
    Hear your collaborators

    Add an input bus on the channels named “SessionLinked Monitor” (Audio Connections), route it to a monitored, unarmed track.

  5. 5
    Join with the code

    Connect in the companion. Takes arrive in the Files tab; the Place button drives Cubase’s AAF import at the recorded position.

  6. 6
    Your own takes

    Record as normal, then point the companion at your project’s Audio folder (Settings → Project Folder) so your takes upload for your collaborator.

Pro tip

AAF import keeps positions exact — let the Place button do the work rather than dragging WAVs by hand.

Studio One

Beta
~6 min·Studio One 5 or later · AU plugin · Professional recommended
  1. 1
    Install SessionLinked

    Run the installer from sessionlinked.com (password required). Restart your Mac if the driver isn’t detected on first launch.

  2. 2
    Run the Setup Assistant

    It creates the “SessionLinked Studio” device and proves the path with a test tone.

  3. 3
    Point Studio One at the Studio device

    Studio One → Settings → Audio Setup → Playback Device AND Recording Device: SessionLinked Studio.

    What you’re doing

    SessionLinked lives on your stereo bus. Everything downstream — your monitor plugins, mix bus chain — stays exactly as it is.

  4. 4
    Insert SessionLinked on the Main out (AU)

    Main channel → Inserts → SessionLinked (Audio Unit). Handles record detection and transport sync.

  5. 5
    Hear your collaborators

    Add an input on the channels named “SessionLinked Monitor” (Song → Audio I/O Setup), monitor it on an unarmed track.

  6. 6
    Join with the code

    Connect with the 6-character code. Takes land in the Files tab; Place drives Studio One’s AAF import at the recorded position.

Pro tip

Studio One’s I/O setup shows SessionLinked’s channel NAMES — always route by name.

Hit record. Takes land on your timeline. No re-importing.

Still stuck? We’ll personally walk you through setup. One of the humans building SessionLinked will reply — no ticket system, no queue.

Email hello@sessionlinked.com
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