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From llcon

Internet Jam Session Software
llcon, Low-Latency (Internet) Connection tool Under the GNU General Public License (GPL)

About

The llcon software enables musicians to perform real-time jam sessions over the internet. There is one server running the llcon server software which collects the audio data from each llcon client software, mixes the audio data and sends the mix back to each client.

The minimum internet connection speed at each client must be 256 kbps upstream and 1 Mbit downstream. The server software must be located at a server with a very fast internet connection (at least 1 Mbps for up- and downstream) and a very low ping time. To get satisfactory results, the ping time from the client computer to the server should not exceed 40 ms average.

Technical details

The audio is compressed with the CELT audio codec to ensure a low delay and a low upload/download rate.

Llcon runs under Windows (ASIO) and Linux (Jack or ALSA). The llcon software package includes both, the server and the client functionality which can be selected by using command line arguments.

Download and Installation

Download a Windows installer at the Sourceforge.net download page.

The llcon software requires an ASIO sound card driver to be available in the system. If your sound card does not have native ASIO support, you can try out the following alternatives:

• ASIO4ALL - Universal ASIO Driver For WDM Audio
• kX Audio Driver (please read this page to enable ASIO input)

The ASIO buffer size should be selected as low as possible to get the minimum audio latency. A good joice is 128 samples at 48 kHz (note that the buffer size has influence on the upload rate, the lower the buffer size, the higher the upload data rate).

Test server

To test your hardware and software setup there is a test server available which is located near Munich in Germany. To get satisfactory results, your distance to this server should not exceed 1000 km. The test server homepage can be found at llcon.dyndns.org. To connect to this server, type in llcon.dyndns.org in the Server Address field of the llcon software main window and press the Connect button.

Help (Software Manual)

Detailed information about the llcon usage can be found on the following pages:

• llcon required hardware setup
• llcon main dialog
• llcon general settings dialog
• More information about server operation can be found in the llcon server manual.
• A link to the source code and compile instructions can be found on the source code and compile instructions page.

A discussion forum can be found here.

Links

Components used in the llcon software

• Qt cross-platform application framework
• The CELT ultra-low delay audio codec
• The Synthesis ToolKit in C++ (STK)
• Steinberg ASIO
• JACK Audio Connection Kit
• Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA)

Similar free / open source projects:

• NINJAM NINJAM is a program to allow people to make real music together via the Internet. NINJAM does not provide true real-time streams but uses a technique to overcome the internet latency issues by making the latency much longer.
• LDAS - Low Delay Audio Streamer LDAS is a project to produce a low delay audio streamer in software.

Similar commercial projects:

• eJAMMING AUDiiO eJamming is a real-time internet collaboration technology and service for musicians.
• JamNow

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