• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

ONLINE VIRTUAL BAND PRACTICE?

FlyingPigSound

FlyingPigSound

Jan 23, 2013
1,427
5,927
Bartlett, IL
#1
If you're like me, you haven't had a band rehearsal in weeks...

Knowing that latency is an issue, and that Skype, Zoom, and FaceTime won't work, since only one person can talk / play at a time...what's out there that's free / cheap for bands to use?

I've seen JamKazam mentioned, but it seems that they haven't posted any updates in years and I don't know if they even exist. If you try to buy their "Jamblaster," the only thing that comes up is a kickstart campaign from 2016?

Anybody got something simple and cheap that works?
 
#2
Keep seeing stuff on Facebook where folks appear to virtually playing together live and have no idea what they are using. Also seen several threads essentially asking this and other than a "JamKazam kind of works if everybody has a top notch internet connection" not a single other response.

Subbed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DWLANG
#4
I am sorry to be negative; but, if you realize that latency is the issue, you must realize there is no workable solution. I can only think that, currently, with so many people using the Internet for virtual working and socializing, latency is even more of an issue.
 
#5
Droopy_TX said:
I am sorry to be negative; but, if you realize that latency is the issue, you must realize there is no workable solution. I can only think that, currently, with so many people using the Internet for virtual working and socializing, latency is even more of an issue.
Click to expand...
But I'm seeing people do it - unless it's just phony and they are simply "lip syncing" a pre-recorded track. Appears to be legit though. Lots of fit on Facebook (which I can't access to provide a sample from right now on work PC).
 
#6
mrcbass said:
But I'm seeing people do it - unless it's just phony and they are simply "lip syncing" a pre-recorded track. Appears to be legit though. Lots of fit on Facebook (which I can't access to provide a sample from right now on work PC).
Click to expand...
I think you could do it as a means to share and learn parts, but not as a true practice tool.

I would dare say that what you are seeing/hearing on FB is a "one-sided conversation".

That is to say, you are hearing the people playing in sync with whatever they are hearing (on the side from which you, too, are listening). For example, the drummer may be playing his/her part, but not listening to what anyone else is doing.

(I know! Perish the thought, huh? That's SOOO unlike reality! ;))

The people on originating side, if they are monitoring the other band members, are hearing the other band members' parts with at least 50ms (and probably more) delay from their first signal. As said, that might be passable to share and learn parts, but not to practice with any intent to get tight.
 
#7
I have been going on Jamkazam now for about a week and here are my thoughts. Sometimes latency is an issue and sometimes not. If everyone has good gear and quick internet connections, you can easily jam together in practice situations. It is spotty though, and if only one person in the group has high latency, 100+ ms, it gets funky in a hurry. Latency varies minute to minute so it’s a crap shoot. I have jammed with 5 people across the US and Canada and had no problems. Then something happens and you can’t get a good thing going with people all in one area. Supposedly 5G is going to be the game changer. To be able to play music with someone across the world with less than 50 milliseconds lag time?! I was born in 1959...this was science fiction back then!
 
#8
mrcbass said:
Keep seeing stuff on Facebook where folks appear to virtually playing together live and have no idea what they are using. Also seen several threads essentially asking this and other than a "JamKazam kind of works if everybody has a top notch internet connection" not a single other response.

Subbed.
Click to expand...

It's all versions of people individually recording themselves then chopping it together later. Typically one person records then everyone plays to that recording while individually recording themselves then those files are sent to whomever is doing the editing. They aren't actually playing together in the way it appears.

Think of it like one person overdubbing themselves and doing a new video each time except it's different people taking turns. Same principle in that no one is playing together, but nah none of those videos are actual group play.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back