Comparison of Remote Music Performance Software

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When playing music remotely, musicians must reduce or eliminate the issue of audio latency in order to play in time together. While standard web conferencing software is designed to facilitate remote audio and video communication, it has too much latency for live musical performance. [1] [2] Connection-oriented Internet protocols subject audio signals to delays and other interference which presents a problem for keeping latency low enough for musicians to play together remotely. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Software created specifically to minimise or eliminate some of the issues with Internet-related audio latency enables musicians to perform live music together over domestic broadband connections. The use of various compression and other techniques, together with affordable low-latency audio interface hardware (which most of the systems listed here are also optimised to work with), has reached a state in which it is practical for even large numbers of musicians to play or sing together without experiencing significant problems. [6] [7] [8]

The following table compares key features of software written for the expressed purpose of allowing musicians to perform music together over the Internet.  It does not attempt to cover subjective features such as sound quality or ease of use. However, some software on the list may address different aspects of remote collaboration better than others, or may be more suited to certain musical genres.

NameLicenceChargeArchitecturePlatformsSession type [a] Max. participantsSynch. [b] VideoCodecSample rateBitrateFirst releaseCurrent releaseDate
Koord GPLFreemiumClient/ServerWin, Mac, Linux, iOS, AndroidClosedUp to 75NoneYesOpus48 kHz132-894 kbit/s20211.4.472023-01-28
Jamstud.io ProprietaryFreeP2PWin, Mac, LinuxOpen & Closed6NoneYesUncompressed44.1 kHz16-bitApril 20211.242021-11-9
Sublive ProprietaryFree/donationwareP2PWin, MacOpen & Closed5Audio track [9] YesOpus48 kHz32-384 kbit/sMay 20210.422021-09-21
Groovesetter ProprietaryFree plan or Free TrialP2PWin, MacClosed8 LocationsMixed [10] NoUncompressedFrom 44.1kHz to 192kHz16-bit, 24-bit, 32-bitMay 20211.2.132021-08-08
4D Jam Connect ProprietaryFreemiumP2PWin, Mac, iOS, AndroidOpen & ClosedUp to 16 locationsTracks possibleYes [11] Opus & Uncompressed48 kHzAt least 16-bit20212.52021-10-01
Jamulus GPLFreeClient/Server [3] Win, Mac, Linux, AndroidOpen & Closed100+ [12] NoneNo [13] Opus48 kHz132-894 kbit/s [14] 2006 [15] 3.9.0 [16] 2022-07-29
JammerNetz AGPL and MIT availableFreeClient/ServerWin, Mac, LinuxClosed? [12] NoneNoUncompressed48 kHzdep. on # channels20192.0.02021-03-21
Digital StageProprietaryFree, restricted [17] VariousWin, MacClosed30Prototype testing [18] [19]
SagoraGPLFreeClient/ServerWin, Mac, Linux, Raspbian Open & ClosedNoneOpus48 kHzMay 2020 [20] 1.12020-08
LoLa ProprietaryFree/shareware P2PWinClosed3 locationsNoneYesat least 1 Gbit/s20052.0.0b12019-10-18
JamKazam Proprietary$0 - $19.99p/m [21] P2P, C/S [22] [3] Win, Mac [23] Open & ClosedUnlimited (for $10+ plans) [21] MetronomeYes (paid plans) [21] 48 kHz; 44.1 kHz2014 (?)1.0.3950?
SoundJackProprietaryFreeP2P, C/S [24] Win, Mac, LinuxOpen & Closed [13] ~60Noneβ (OSX) [13] Opus & Uncompressed48 kHz2006monthly updates2022-03-26 [25]
JackTripMIT like [26] FreeP2P, C/S [3] CLI: Win, Mac, Linux?UnlimitedNoneNo2000 (?)1.3.0 [27] 2020-08-04
SonoBusGPL [28] FreeP2P via AoO [29] Win, Mac, Linux, iOS, AndroidOpen & Closed10NoneNoOpus & Uncompressed48 kHz & 44.1 kHz2020-08-311.5.1 [30] 2022-03-30
HPS JamBSD [31] FreeClient/ServerWin, Mac, Linux, iOS, AndroidOpen & Closed256NoneNo8/16/24/32-bit PCM and MIDI48 kHz2020-11-19v1.2.52022-10-12
Ninjam / NinbotGPL (Server only)$60 [32] Client/ServerWin, Mac, Linux??Delayed Sync [33] No?REAPER 6.18?
JamtabaGPLFreeNinjam Client [34] Win, Mac, Linux??Delayed SyncYes2015-09-26v2.1.152020-06-30
Jammr.netGPLFree - $9.99p/m [35] Client/ServerWin, Mac, LinuxOpen & Closed20Delayed SyncNo?1.2.922020-09-13
EndlessProprietaryFree - $4.49 [36] ?iOSOpen & Closed?MetronomeNo?1.1.22020-11-13
Ejamming AudioProprietary$9.95p/mP2P(?)Win, MacClosed4?No???
Rehearsal Live ShareProprietary$14.99p/m (directors) [37] Client/ServerWin, Mac, iOS, Android [38] Closed30 [39] Audio trackYes??????
Solocontutti [40] ProprietaryFreeP2PWin, Mac, iOS, AndroidOpen & Closed12MetronomeYes (limited)Opusup to 48 KHz100 - 500 kbit/s20131.6.22021-11-20
FarPlay ProprietaryFreemiumP2PWin, Mac, LinuxClosed6-8YesUncompressed48 kHz2021-11-181.0.62023-01-10
Elk Live OS is open source$15.99p/m + $399 bridgeP2PElk Audio OSClosed5 for now [41] Yes
Ringing Room Proprietary [42] FreeClient/ServerWin, Mac, iOSOpen16NoNo21.51 [43]

Table Heading Notes

[a] - Whether the system supports public or private performance or playing.
[b] - Whether the system has a built-in mechanism for helping or enforcing the musicians to play together. For an explanation of "delayed sync" method see https://jammr.net/howitworks.html (or, more in depth, https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?p=2230659#post2230659)

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Zoom: online rehearsals (vocal) | Making Music". www.makingmusic.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  2. ↑ "Playing Music Together Online Is Not As Simple As It Seems". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 2020-12-26. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Rosen, Peter (2020-11-15). "Social Distancing For Musicians: A Quick Guide To Low-Latency Audio". Archived from the original on 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
  4. ↑ Fischer, Volker. "Case Study: Performing Band Rehearsals on The Internet With Jamulus" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
  5. ↑ Carôt, A.; Hoene, C.; Busse, H.; Kuhr, C. (2020). "Results of the Fast-Music Project—Five Contributions to the Domain of Distributed Music". IEEE Access. 8: 47925–47951. doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2020.2979362 . ISSN   2169-3536.
  6. ↑ Wise, Brian (2020-09-07). "Long-Distance, Online Performances Without the Latency?". Brian Wise. Archived from the original on 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  7. ↑ "Virtual Jamming: The Latest Tools for Playing Together in Real Time". Acoustic Guitar. 2020-05-15. Archived from the original on 2020-12-22. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  8. ↑ "Networked Music Performance: An Introduction". SmartMusic. 2020-09-25. Archived from the original on 2020-10-06. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  9. ↑ Backing track with 'Sendahead' for synchronised output.
  10. ↑ None under 400 miles. Delayed synch at longer distances.
  11. ↑ Includes screen sharing and recording.
  12. 1 2 Limited only by server resources
  13. 1 2 3 "SoundJack: Real Time Online Music". Ian Howell, DMA. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  14. ↑ "Quality, Delay and Bandwidth – Jamulus Wiki". jamulus.io. Archived from the original on 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
  15. ↑ "June 2020, "Community Choice" Project of the Month – Jamulus - SourceForge Community Blog". Archived from the original on 2021-03-29. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  16. ↑ "Jamulus/Releases/Latest". GitHub. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  17. ↑ Free for members of artistic associations and project partners.
  18. ↑ "Features". digital-stage.org. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  19. ↑ Kurtz, Holger. "Noch ruckelt die digitale Konzertbühne | Ausgabe: 5/20 | nmz - neue musikzeitung". neue musikzeitung. No. 5/2020. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  20. ↑ "Sagora - Agora Sonora". sagora.org. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  21. 1 2 3 "What Are JamKazam's Free vs. Premium Features?". JamKazam. 2020-12-05. Archived from the original on 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  22. ↑ Free version is P2P only, commercial chooses faster route.
  23. ↑ Wilson, David. "What Gear Do I Need to Play on JamKazam?". JamKazam. Archived from the original on 2021-02-26. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  24. ↑ "Server - Soundjack". Archived from the original on 2020-12-29. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  25. ↑ "Dev Status - Soundjack". www.soundjack.eu. Archived from the original on 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
  26. ↑ "jacktrip/jacktrip". GitHub. Archived from the original on 2020-12-05. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  27. ↑ "Releases · jacktrip/jacktrip · GitHub". GitHub . Archived from the original on 2020-11-19. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  28. ↑ "SonoBus License". GitHub. Archived from the original on 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  29. ↑ "Audio Over OSC". GitHub. Archived from the original on 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  30. ↑ "SonoBus Releases". GitHub. Archived from the original on 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  31. ↑ "hselasky/hpsjam". GitHub. Archived from the original on 2021-05-30. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  32. ↑ Requires purchase of a REAPER software licence.
  33. ↑ Marraccini, Fabio (2020-04-06). "Best services for online music jam (2020)". AudioGeek11. Archived from the original on 2020-12-03. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  34. ↑ "elieserdejesus/JamTaba". GitHub. Archived from the original on 2020-12-25. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  35. ↑ "Get premium! | jammr". jammr.net. Archived from the original on 2020-11-28. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  36. ↑ Includes in-app purchases for advanced features.
  37. ↑ "Pricing/Ordering". Rehearsal Live Share. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  38. ↑ "Hardware Recommendations". Rehearsal Live Share. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  39. ↑ "FAQs". Rehearsal Live Share. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  40. ↑ Redactie, Onze (2013). "Op afstand samen muziek maken" (PDF). Klank Wijzer: 50–53.
  41. ↑ "Elk.Live Brings Musicians Together to Play Online". Geekazine. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  42. ↑ "Ringing Room". App Store. Apple Inc. © 2021 Matthew Goodship
  43. ↑ "Ringing Room". ringingroom.co.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
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