LTC to MTC on Windows & Linux
Lockstep made the LTC-to-MTC problem easy — on a Mac. If you're on Windows or Linux, it simply doesn't run, and the usual answer is a hardware box. QTracks is the free, cross-platform way to get MTC and LTC timecode into grandMA3 on every operating system.
By Levyn Schneider, grandMA3 operator and creator of QTracks · Updated June 2026
Lockstep is a free but macOS-only utility that converts LTC into MTC for tools like grandMA3. On Windows and Linux there is no Lockstep. QTracks closes the gap: it generates timecode from your song and streams MTC over a virtual MIDI port (and LTC into an audio device) directly to grandMA3 — free, on macOS, Windows, and Linux — and it does the rest of the programming workflow too.
Why this comes up: grandMA3 onPC and MTC
grandMA3 onPC has no hardware LTC input. To feed it timecode on a laptop you send MTCover a virtual MIDI port (or Art-Net over the network). On macOS, Lockstep listens to an incoming LTC audio signal and re-emits it as MTC. It works well — but only on a Mac, and only as a converter: it doesn’t play your audio, hold your markers, or build your grandMA3 show. For the full picture of grandMA3 timecode sources, see the grandMA3 timecode guide.
QTracks vs Lockstep
| Feature | QTracks | Lockstep |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| LTC ↔ MTC for grandMA3 | ||
| Generates timecode from a song timeline | ||
| Song + stems timeline with markers | ||
| grandMA3 macro export | ||
| Live playhead while you program | ||
| Scope | Full previz workflow | Single-purpose converter |
Lockstep is a clean, single-purpose tool and a fine choice if you’re on a Mac and only need conversion. QTracks is for everyone else — and for anyone who’d rather not run a separate converter at all.
The QTracks way: no converter, no DAW, any OS
- QTracks generates the timecode itself from your song timeline, so there’s nothing to convert — it outputs MTC and LTC directly.
- MTC streams over a virtual MIDI port to grandMA3 onPC; LTC goes into an audio device for a physical desk. Pick either or both on the routing canvas.
- It runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux, so your Windows or Linux rig is no longer a second-class citizen.
- It’s also a full previz tool: stems, markers, and a grandMA3 macro export — not just a timecode pipe.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert LTC to MTC on Windows?
Lockstep, the usual LTC-to-MTC tool, is macOS-only, so Windows operators have long been stuck with hardware converters. QTracks solves it in software: it generates timecode from your song timeline and streams MTC over a virtual MIDI port straight into grandMA3 onPC — on Windows, Linux, and macOS — so you don't need Lockstep or a hardware box.
Is there a Lockstep alternative for Windows or Linux?
Yes. QTracks is a free, cross-platform alternative that gets MTC (and LTC) timecode into grandMA3 on Windows, Linux, and macOS. Unlike Lockstep, which only converts an incoming LTC signal, QTracks also plays your song, holds your markers, and exports the grandMA3 macro — it's a full programming tool, not just a converter.
Why does grandMA3 onPC need MTC?
grandMA3 onPC has no hardware LTC input, so the simplest way to feed it timecode on a laptop is MTC over a virtual MIDI port (or Art-Net over the network). That is exactly what Lockstep produces on macOS, and what QTracks produces on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Is QTracks free like Lockstep?
Yes, QTracks is free — the full app, no account, no licence key. Lockstep is also free but macOS-only and limited to LTC-to-MTC conversion; QTracks is free, cross-platform, and a complete previz and timecode studio for grandMA3.
Get timecode into grandMA3 on any OS.
QTracks streams MTC and LTC to grandMA3 on macOS, Windows, and Linux — free, no converter, no DAW.