Introduction

Low-latency audio applications like Soundjack have system requirements.

We're going to ask you about your home network, check whether you have a compatible internet connection, check whether you are likely to have low enough transit delays when connecting to people you'd like to make music with, and figure out what kinds of equipment you might need to buy.

I want to make music in rhythmic sync with other musicians online.

Home network

Wi-Fi can introduce a lot of inconsistency in the time delay with which data are transmitted and received by computing devices in your home. Avoid Wi-Fi.

Do you agree to run a direct Ethernet connection (with no repeaters, no extenders, and no intervening secondary routers (e.g. Time Machine)) (using an "Ethernet switch" is OK) from your main router (provided by your internet service provider or replacing the router provided by your internet service provider) to the room where you want to rehearse music with low latency?

Broadband internet connection

Now that we've talked about your home network, let's discuss how your home network connects to the outside world.

Not all broadband connections support low-latency audio calls. To continue, check that you have one of the following, with at least 5 Mbit/s of upload speed.

  1. Fiber optic internet (best)
  2. Business-class cable internet (avoids a lot of congestion)
  3. Residential cable internet (crappier because can get congested enough to be annoying)
  4. You can try DSL IF your connection is reliable when interleaving is turned OFF (refer to reddit (coarse language)).

Light takes time to travel

Review estimated one-way city-to-city transit delays.

For "almost like in the same room" interaction, you want the one-way transit delay along the path (which can include a mixing server) between each pair of callers to be under about 10 ms. Jitter and soundcard buffering could easily bring total mouth-to-ear one-way latency to 25 ms. At higher delays, at least one participating musician might need to use self-delay (through software or mental discipline).

Musical styles

We're going to narrow down options for audio equipment. What kind of musical style would you like to work on online? You can use this website to explore how equipment choices change depending on style, but, for now, please select ONE option.

I'm part of a volunteer chorus. Music-reading ability is not required for membership. Just being able to teach rhythms and pitches online would already be helpful.
I want to work on technique suitable for studio-style recordings. Voice capture should be detailed and dry (isolated from room noise).
I want to work on music that could be sung live in noisy cafes. The person at the keys might be reading from a Real Book or improvising without written materials.
I want to work on the acoustic human voice according to a tradition similar or identical to a tradition in which Vaccai is used.

Notes by rote

You indicated that just "being able to teach rhythms and pitches online would already be helpful."

Audio quality need not be great, so you can choose from any of the following types of microphones.

You can hear them. They can hear you.

Hints of chopper traffic report.

Your details, not the room's.

Isolates your voice even in a noisy room.

Unforgivingly clear. No disguising.

CCM (Studio)

You indicated that you want to work on technique suitable for studio-style recordings that are detailed and dry.

Consider a side-address condenser mic. Click the button below to accept this suggestion.

Your details, not the room's.

CCM (Cafe)

You indicated that you wanted "to work on music that could be sung live in noisy cafes."

You'll want to practice with a mic that isn't quite as sensitive, rejects room audio, and is intended to be "eaten." Consider a dynamic stage mic. Click the button below to accept this suggestion.

Isolates your voice even in a noisy room.

To see an example of a dynamic cardioid microphone being used in a jazz low-latency class, watch a clip at the Soundjack Demonstrations page at Ian Howell's website.

Classical voice

You indicated that you wanted "to work on the acoustic human voice according to a tradition similar or identical to a tradition in which Vaccai is used."

You'll want a mic that captures the voice as accurately as possible, with no artificial presence peak, no boosting of bass, and without rejecting room sound. We recommend you use an omnidirectional condenser. Click the button below to accept this suggestion.

Unforgivingly clear. No disguising.

To see an example of omnidirectional microphones being used in a conservatory low-latency voice lesson, watch a clip at the Soundjack Demonstrations page at Ian Howell's website.

Analog-to-digital converter: 3.5-mm jack

The audio equipment you selected can be connected to an ordinary 3.5-mm jack. Please choose an option below.

on my fast Mac (a 2015 Intel Core i7 Quad-Core processor or an M1 chip is fast enough).

plugged into my fast iPhone/iPad (A11 or faster processor chip is fine).

Analog-to-digital converter: XLR mic input

The audio equipment you selected should be connected to an XLR input jack on an audio interface. Please choose one option below.

Processor

The USB audio interface you'll use should be connected to a computing device with plenty of spare processing power. Please choose one option below.

(a 2015 Intel Core i7 Quad-Core processor or an M1 chip is fast enough).
(A12X or faster processor chip is fine).
(a 2015 four-core Intel Core i7 is fast enough).

Consider using the following equipment.

Microphone

Headphones

Plug mic & headphones into

Run app on

above equipment to use with Soundjack and and VDO.Ninja .