Software created specifically to minimise or eliminate 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.

One of the problems with music playing over the Internet in real time is latency - the time lag that occurs while audio streams travel to and from each musician. Although the precedence effect means that small delays (up to around 40 ms) can be perceived as synchronous, longer delays make it practically impossible to play live together. A further problem is jitter, a type of packet delay due to changes in latency over time, which results in choppy or distorted sound. Long delays can even lead to packet loss (perceived as a 'blackouts'). These can be alleviated by delay buffers or jitter buffers, but these then add to the overall round-trip delay, so need to be balanced.

Total latency is composed of:

Network latency due to delays within the network - every 300km is responsible for at least 1 ms extra latency since the speed of light limits the data transport on internet. Conversion latency - if analog-to-digital conversion or digital-to-analog conversion is not handled by special hardware, these conversions will add additional latency; Audio latency from sound traveling through air, if the microphone and/or loudspeakers are not in immediate proximity. Every meter of distance adds around 3ms delay due to the limitation of the speed of sound.

Popular video conferencing software such as Zoom or Teams is unsuited to this task as the latency is too high. Zoom recommends "a latency of 150ms or less" and jitter of "40ms or less", and in some 2020 tests was shown to have an average latency of 135 ms. The "Audio poor quality metrics" for Teams include having "Round-trip time >500 ms" and "Jitter >30 ms". In addition, most such software is optimized for speech rather than music, so sustained musical notes can be misidentified as background noise and filtered out (although this can be alleviated to an extent via settings such as "Enable Original Sound"). Conferencing software is also often designed for one person to be heard at a time (the speaker gets 'focus'), to stop people talking over each other, but this makes playing music together impossible. In addition, it does not normally allow detailed setting of individual audio streams' volume or panning on the user side.

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 releaseDateBonza MusicProprietaryFree to join sessions, Free trial, subscriptionP2PMac, WinClosed20Delay syncYesOpus & Uncompressed48 kHZ, 96 kHz, 192 kHz16-bitMarch 20262.0.3.22026-04-10KoordGPLFreemiumClient/ServerWin, Mac, Linux, iOS, AndroidClosedUp to 75NoneYesOpus48 kHz132-894 kbit/s20211.4.472023-01-28Jamstud.ioProprietaryFreeP2PWin, Mac, LinuxOpen & Closed6NoneYesUncompressed44.1 kHz16-bitApril 20211.242021-11-9SubliveProprietaryFree/donationwareP2PWin, MacOpen & Closed5Audio trackBacking track with 'Sendahead' for synchronised output.YesOpus48 kHz32-384 kbit/sMay 20210.422021-09-21GroovesetterProprietaryFree plan or Free TrialP2PWin, MacClosed8 LocationsMixedNone under 400 miles. Delayed synch at longer distances.NoUncompressedFrom 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz16-bit, 24-bit, 32-bitMay 20211.2.132021-08-08Jam ConnectProprietaryFreemiumP2PWin, Mac, iOS, AndroidOpen & ClosedUp to 16 locationsTracks possibleYesIncludes screen sharing and recording.Opus & Uncompressed48 kHzAt least 16-bit20212.52021-10-01JamulusGPLFreeClient/ServerWin, Mac, Linux, AndroidOpen & Closed100+ Limited only by server resourcesNoneNoOpus48 kHz132-894 kbit/s2006 3.11.02024-09-21JammerNetzAGPL and MIT availableFreeClient/ServerWin, Mac, LinuxClosed? NoneNoUncompressed48 kHzdep. on # channels20192.0.02021-03-21Digital StageProprietaryFree, restrictedFree for members of artistic associations and project partners.VariousWin, Mac, LinuxClosed30Prototype testingSagoraGPLFreeClient/ServerWin, Mac, Linux, RaspbianOpen & ClosedNoneOpus48 kHzMay 20201.12020-08LoLaProprietaryFree/sharewareP2PWinClosed3 locationsNoneYesat least 1 Gbit/s20052.0.0b12019-10-18JamKazamProprietary$0 - $19.99p/mP2P, C/SFree version is P2P only, commercial chooses faster route.Win, MacOpen & ClosedUnlimited (for $10+ plans)MetronomeYes (paid plans)48 kHz; 44.1 kHz2014 (?)1.0.3950?SoundJackProprietaryFreeP2P, C/SWin, Mac, LinuxOpen & Closed~60Noneβ (OSX)Opus & Uncompressed48 kHz2006monthly updates2022-03-26JackTripMIT likeFreeP2P, C/SCLI: Win, Mac, Linux?UnlimitedNoneNo2000 (?)1.3.02020-08-04SonoBusGPLFreeP2P via AoOWin, Mac, Linux, iOS, AndroidOpen & Closed10NoneNoOpus & Uncompressed48 kHz & 44.1 kHz2020-08-311.7.22023-12-11HPS JamBSDFreeClient/ServerWin, Mac, Linux, iOS, AndroidOpen & Closed256NoneNo8/16/24/32-bit PCM and MIDI48 kHz2020-11-19v1.2.52022-10-12Ninjam / NinbotGPL (Server only)$60Requires purchase of a REAPER software licence.Client/ServerWin, Mac, Linux??Delayed SyncNo?REAPER 6.18?JamtabaGPLFreeNinjam ClientWin, Mac, Linux??Delayed SyncYes2015-09-26v2.1.152020-06-30Jammr.netGPLFree - $9.99p/mClient/ServerWin, Mac, LinuxOpen & Closed20Delayed SyncNo?1.2.922020-09-13EndlessProprietaryFree - $4.49Includes in-app purchases for advanced features.?iOSOpen & Closed?MetronomeNo?1.1.22020-11-13Ejamming AudioProprietary$9.95p/mP2P(?)Win, MacClosed4?No???Rehearsal Live ShareProprietary$14.99p/m (directors)Client/ServerWin, Mac, iOS, AndroidClosed30Audio trackYes??????SolocontuttiProprietaryFree to join sessions Basic and Pro subscriptions to start sessionsP2PWin, Mac, iOS, AndroidOpen & Closed12MetronomeYes (limited)Opus44.1 kHz - 48 kHz100 - 500 kbit/s20133.1.142026-03-26FarPlayProprietaryFreemiumP2PWin, Mac, LinuxClosedAbout 8YesUncompressed48 kHz768 kbit/s per audio channel2021-11-181.2.72024-05-08Elk LiveOS is open source$15.99p/m + $399 bridgeP2PElk Audio OSClosed5 for nowYesRinging RoomProprietaryFreeClient/ServerWin, Mac, iOSOpen16NoNo21.51LutefishProprietary$400 hardware $13p/m or $20p/m5/50Yes48 kHzSummer 20242024-02-13ovboxGPLFreeP2P/CSLinux, MacClosedUnlimited / up to 10 on Raspberry Pi 4BMetronomeYes (limited)Uncompressedup to 192 kHz20200.21.12024-02-19

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 Networked music performance

References