Jammin' On-line

Latency

Latency is the one big problems that you have when a computer is processing audio, and you're listening back either through headphones or speakers . If there is any delay, our ears will have a tough time syncing the visual and physical parts. Jamulus Servers goes a long way in solving this dilemma.

Latency from a general point of view is the time delay between the visual and audio. Audio Latency refers to a short period of delay (usually measured in milliseconds) between when an audio signal enters a system and emerges.

Latency in live performance occurs naturally from the speed of sound. It takes sound about 3 milliseconds to travel 1 meter (3.28084feet). So 30ft or less is OK and any further and the musicians will not be in-sync.

Latency can be a particular problem when performing on-line using audio platforms on computers. Latency happens when recording or performing a vocal or an instrument. It is the time delay that you hear between the live performance, the processing by a computer or electronic equipment, and the playing back through monitors or headphones .

Latency is measured in milliseconds (ms), which is thousandths of a second. Each 1 milliseconds of latency is roughly equal to 1 foot of distance or 3 milliseconds to travel 1 meter. So 30ms of latency is trying to play an instrument in sync with someone that is 30 feet away.

For performing music on-line with fellow musicians. Anything below < 20ms to 30ms is not very noticeable. The lower, the better. When performing live, latency is never an issue unless you are far away, and the performance is projected in real-time on huge screens. You might then see the image is not synced with the audio as light and sound travel at different speeds.

When using the Jamulus servers and your computer to process the audio both going up and down, that latency adds up. Live the speed of sound that is used to measure the latency. When going on-line, it's the speed of light, so the physically closer you are to the server for to and from the return trip, the better. Within 500 miles is a good gauge. So, jammin' from New York City to Hawaii would be an issue that can not be resolved. See the math below.

  • New York City (NYC) to Hawai`i is 8000km
  • Speed of Light 299792458 meters per second (approximately 300000 km/s, or 186000 mi/s), The speed of light passing through glass/(fiber) or air is slightly lower. Through wire cables albeit slower as well. But 300000 km/s is approx and good for our measurements.
  • So it's 26 milliseconds (ms) one-way to Hawaii from NYC, round trip is 52ms. That will never be any slower. Pretty fast for data and voice phone calls but not for musical performances.

That 52ms is like 52ft or approx 15+ meters. Musicians need 30ft or 9 meters to play together.

What's the Best Number

The lower the milliseconds (ms) the better. Single digits are great and will be like standing a meter apart. Anytime above 40ms and you will notice a difference.

Optimized For Sound Linux Systems

On Linux there are several distributions (distros), that are optimized for making music and support real-time capabilities for music production. These distros include, Ubuntu Studio , KXStudio based off Ubuntu Studio, AV Linux . Here is a page listing maintains and several legacy, unmaintained distros: Linux Audio Bundles and Distributions . These distros typically use the Linux Audio Kernels .

Here is a web page of tips regarding How Audio Latency Can Affect Your Recording and Mixing from Practical Music Production.

Site Access Plans for LearningUkulele.com

Forever Access - With Forever Premium Access, you get ALL the benefits of a Premium Access Subscription such as Unlimited 24/7 access to ALL lessons, downloads, songs, play-along jam tracks, videos, email access to Curt, resources, related assets, and ALL books by Curt as FREE downloads. Pretty much everything on the site, and NEVER worry about a subscription or surprise payment again. And jump the queue for responding to any questions.

If you're anything like me (Curt) and getting Subscription overloaded with everything and everybody on-line wanting money from you once a month — I'm with you. For like-minded individuals, this forever plan is a pay once, and you're done.

The price for Unlimited Forever access is right around the cost of a few months of private lessons. I can guarantee there is more than enough material on-line to keep you busy for a long, long time. And, you get all of my books for FREE. That alone is more than the cost of this plan.

Premium Access - This premium gives you Unlimited 24/7 access to ALL lessons, downloads, songs, play-along jam tracks, videos, email access to Curt, resources and related assets. As well as ALL books by Curt Sheller as FREE downloads.

Basic Access - A limited selection of basic lessons — ( currently over 140 ) and 100+ songs for ukulele as well as basic general music reference material — Completely FREE — Simply Register/Signup. HOWEVER - I've been doing ukulele and LearningUkulele.com since 2003 and probably have given too much away already - as reflected in my income from the site in relationship to the time spent on the site. So help support this site and its continued development by signing up for one of the below Premium Access Plans or buy a few of my books. - Thanks, Curt

NOTE: Each higher access level includes ALL the benefits of the lower levels. Private Lessons include all the benefits of a Premium Access Plans as long as you remain a student on the schedule.

Just browsing over both books, they look fantastic! I'm a guitarist and uke player for over 25 years and was thinking about writing a ukulele book but you've already written what I think are the best, most comprehensive and thorough books I've ever seen for the instrument. I just might end up buying every book you've written and I'll be giving my highest recommendation for your books to my friends and students. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such great books!Peter Rhee

Aloha, Curt, All I can say is WOW! What you have accomplished is simply incredible! All the bestGlen Hirabayashi, The Aloha Boys

Folks, if you haven't stopped by Curt's site, do so right now! ..And get his books, they are fantastic. This guy knows his stuff and is able to pass it along too.Alan Johnson Proprietor, The 4th Peg

I can highly recommend Curt's Uke books — I have four of them and they are excellent.fatveg — Portland

Want to drop LearningUkulele.com & Learning Ukulele with Curt a nice comment . We always like to know how we are and you are doing. We'll post any comment, quotes throughout the site and you can help spread the word .

Thanks for visiting and checking out the site!

curtieAnim.gif rw.vg.gif

Original Curtie Animation from 1987 for my first web site on a Macintosh II, 37 years ago. Man, does time fly.

“Built for myself (Curt), and sharing with the `Ukulele community!”

LearningUkulele.com has one of the largest collections of lessons, songs, and TABS, Luthiers, ukulele builders, ukulele festival and club information, and, ukulele links on the web. Curt has been on the ®Internet since the early 1990's and This site just never stops growing!!!

Content is added and updated daily — so check back often. I really do need to get out more ;-)

Love LearningUkulele.com? • Show your support!
Support development via a monthly membership or a one-time forever membership!