Double Bass Anyone playing with others whilst in isolation?

[Andy Mopley]

anyone playing with others whilst in isolation? For some that were already teaching over the net, probably just an extension of that, but wondering how many here have already "virtually" played with an ensemble - looking to try and do same myself, hence the question!
Not to mention the opportunity it presents. Not long ago, in another forum I frequent, members were getting together over Zoom to talk and discuss things - difficult with time zones and time pressures, though, globally.

Regards to all

 

[AGCurry]

I've put together a couple of pieces with others, but they're mostly choral. I put forth the "seed" track, others sing along with the seed track and send their tracks back to me, and I mix. There is bass and guitar (me) involved.

Successful real-time collaboration over the internet is difficult if not impossible.

 

[Don Hergert]

I've had a few jams online with random partricipants, real-time, through JamKazam. I was doing it using a WiFi connection to my router until Thursday night when I received an Ethernet cable that I had ordered. WiFi was ok to setup and get used to things, but JamKazam encourages wired Ethernet connections to routers for good reason, using my cable shaved off about ~40ms of latency for me, and put me into a useful latency range for jamming.

Last night I jammed through JamKazam with a few people I had jammed and performed in person with (in person) on a cruise last year, one participant in Tennessee, one in Texas, one in California, plus a couple of other people who I didn't know. I was on mandolin, another person playing bass, and we all observed that if everyone follows the bass carefully, the jam stays much better synchronized. It wasn't perfect, but it was a very pleasant real-time jam experience.

Today we're going to try to get one of our bandmates who lives about 20 minutes away running on JamKazam. We need to get it installed and setup on her laptop, and do it over the phone, so we'll see how it goes. Video is available too with JamKazam, but so far most people I encounter on JamKazam are only using audio (to minimize latency).

JamKazam does also offer a recording tool. I've only played with it casually, but from what I understand the JK servers try to reconcile synchronization issues in a final mix that is completed after the audio recording process is completed. This recording process also includes the ability to have people add tracks in a non-synchronized mode (using a click track).

With using any software tool to have real-time synchronized multi-participant music, personal computer hardware and IP service speed, the number of participants and the distance apart all combine to make up latency. Regarding distance, usually you get about 4.45ms of added latency for every hundred miles, best case scenario. These influences can make the difference between acceptable and unsatisfying real-time synchronized music experiences.

TB/DB thread: Jamkazam - Play with multiple musicians in real time in different locations.

 

[Bar Star]

If anyone in your family/household plays you can have a lot fun even if you are not necessarily playing your favoured material.

My wife and I have complimentary [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] (keys and bass) and have played through it a few times. If you are lucky enough to have other musicians in your house you can give it a shot. Guitar and Piano score books are also good sources of material. If your kids are/were learning in school then maybe this can be your new jam repertoire...

For us there was an adjustment period though. Even though she took up to grade 5 conservatory level piano, played clarinet in marching band in as a high school student and sight reads pretty well, she was still cautious about jamming together because she has always relied on the printed music while playing.

When she commented a few times about not being able to keep up with the score at tempo while the recording played I said, « you can always just play rhythm and hit the chords until it comes around again. » She was perplexed...

« But...that’s not’s what’s written! »

I slowed down a bit, she is gradually developing a more relaxed attitude to the material and we are having fun. After spending 5 weeks woodshedding Simandl Exercises and Bluegrass Jam Along Tracks it is so refreshing to interact in the same room with another human musician!