v003.3
modified 2022 May 16 00:56 Prevailing Eastern Time (to use an old version, go to the version history)
Not sure what equipment makes sense for you? Use the questionnaire. Are you an experienced user looking for something less detailed and more general? Try the CHORALE handout.
For authoritative Soundjack references, see Dr. Ian Howell and Kayla Gautereaux's Soundjack bootcamp video archive, Dr. Howell's Soundjack guide, and Dr. Alex Carôt's 10 commandments. Getting started with Soundjack is good preparation for using other low-latency applications like SonoBus.
If you would like to share a customized version of this page, you can use parameters appended to the URL.
Choose in the tables below the configuration options you'd like to use. Default values are indicated in bold. Then, press the reload button underneath the tables.
isp
client
cpu
cheapInput
usbai
2sing
mic
kbd
channels
fiber
cable
sjc (Soundjack)
sb (SonoBus)
comp (computer)
iOS (iPhone/iPad)
Only used with Soundjack: fmb (fastmusic box)
fmbpro (fastmusic box pro)
0 (use better audio equipment)
1 (use cheap kit)
Default: Focusrite Scarlett
1 (> 1 singer) 0 (only 1 singer)
headworn (condenser)
sideaddress (condenser)
dynamic (e.g. SM58)
omni (omnidirectional condenser)
FMB Pro placeholder content was added to this page 2022 January 30. I don't have an FMB Pro and haven't had a chance to make sure that the FMB Pro instructions are correct.
Shopping list: Total > $0.00
Connectivity
Computer and USB Audio Interface
Microphone, headphones, & audio cables
Broadband, low-jitter internet connection
You have fiber-optic internet.You have cable internet.Note: DSL might also work, but will likely require contacting the phone company to disable interleaving; a technician might be dispatched to move copper wiring around to reduce line noise.
Home networking
(A) Main router that can be reached by Ethernet cable from computer without repeater/extender
Soundjack and video will run on the computer. An additional fastmusic box will not be used.
≳ 4-core vintage 2017 laptop Core i7
The processor need not carry the i7 moniker. For example a desktop quad-core Core i3-8100 @ 3.60 GHz and a laptop quad-core Core i7-8650U @ 1.90 GHz have comparable benchmarks. If a CPU has at least 4 cores and a benchmark at least in the 6200ish range, I think the CPU is fast enough for Soundjack (assuming some other process isn't hogging CPU).
A separate USB audio interface need not be purchased to use your audio equipment with the FMB Pro. However, you might still wish to buy a USB audio interface so you can use your audio equipment with your computer (e.g. work from home) at other times.
The following adapters have about 9 ms of round-trip latency. Choose the Sabrent if you would like a single unit without a cord. Choose the UGREEN 30724 if you would like the USB-A plug to be as small as possible (to avoid crowding out nearby USB ports on a hub).
You don't need to buy a USB-to-3.5 mm adapter if you are using a Mac. You can plug a 3.5 mm TRRS plug directly into the 3.5-mm headset jack on your Mac. (Trying something similar on a Windows PC is not as straightforward and can result in frustration).
Please deliberately look for a headset with chintzy thin foam "pads" rather than the "nicer" leather-style pads. The flimsiness of the pads and the lack of sound isolation provided by the thin plastic backs of crummy headphones actually provides a benefit: users can hear themselves as though they were wearing open-back headphones (useful for acoustic singers).
Setup steps
(including first time steps)
Part Bookmark this page (one-time/occasional)
If you are looking at a version of this page customized for you by your ensemble's low-latency chief, save a Vivaldi/Chrome bookmark for this page by clicking the bookmark icon (Vivaldi: bookmark, Chrome: star) in the URL/location bar.
⚠ Please do NOT share the customized link for this page with people outside your musical group. The shortcuts can contain information that allows access to your group's meetings.
Part Equipment connections
CONNECT: computer → power adapter → power outlet.
CONNECT: computer → Ethernet/USB hub/adapter(if needed) → Ethernet cable(OK to use switch & 2nd cable) → main router.
On your computer, turn WiFi OFF.
Make sure that no VPN is being used (including through computer settings as well as through the router).
on.COMP
CONNECT: → USB cable → computer(by way of Ethernet/USB hub/adapter is OK).
on.FMB (for FMB users)
CONNECT: FMB → Ethernet cable(OK to use switch & 2nd cable) → main router.
CONNECT: → USB cable → FMB.
Is your FMB's power adapter already connected to wall power?
Yes:If your FMB is not yet ON,click your FMB's power button to turn your FMB ON.
No: CONNECT FMB → FMB's power adapter → power outlet. Some FMBs are configured to power on upon connecting to wall power. If your FMB does not automatically power on upon connecting to wall power, click your FMB's power button to turn your FMB ON.
Check that your FMB's red LED is lit.
on.FMBPro (for FMB Pro users)
CONNECT: FMB Pro → Ethernet cable(OK to use switch & 2nd cable) → main router.
Is your FMB Pro's power adapter already connected to wall power?
Yes:If your FMB Pro is not yet ON,click your FMB Pro's power button to turn your FMB Pro ON.
No: CONNECT FMB Pro → FMB Pro's power adapter → power outlet. Some FMBs are configured to power on upon connecting to wall power. If your FMB Pro does not automatically power on upon connecting to wall power, click your FMB Pro's power button to turn your FMB Pro ON.
Check that your FMB Pro's red LED is lit.
Space for STAGE
After about 30 seconds, the touchscreen will display the Soundjack STAGE and FMB Pro navigation buttons.
CONNECT: iOS device → Ethernet adapter → Ethernet cable(OK to use switch & 2nd cable) → main router.
On your iOS device, turn WiFi OFF.
Make a small swipe on your iOS device to bring up the control center.
Marker
Type of iOS device
Swipe
Ⓐ
iPhone/iPad that has no home button
Swipe from top-right corner slightly toward the bottom-left.
Ⓑ
iPhone/iPad that has a home button
Swipe from bottom-center slightly toward top-center.
If the airplane icon is gray, tap the airplane icon to turn ON Airplane Mode.
The airplane icon should be orange.
CONNECT: → USB cable → Ethernet adapter → iOS device.
CONNECT: USB-to-3.5 mm adapter → Ethernet adapter → iOS device.
On the FMB Pro, ensure that 48-V phantom power is OFF.
on.COMP > Windows > One-time/occasional
These instructions are for changing a Windows registry entry so that Soundjack can use Focusrite Scarlett USB audio interfaces with lower buffer settings (otherwise rhythmic interaction is not possible). The instructions are lightly adapted from Jörg Spix's post at Soundjack Support Form Post # 4780.
Right-click on the SetAltStreamingMode.bat file and select "Run as admin".
Disconnect your Focusrite Scarlett from your computer.
Wait five (5) seconds.
ReCONNECT:Focusrite Scarlett → computer.
MIC.1 (for headworn condenser mic users)
For each microphone, CONNECT: FMB Pro → XLR cable → in-line preamp → headworn condenser mic.
On the FMB Pro, turn 48-V phantom powerON.
MIC.2 (for side-address condenser mic users)
For each microphone, Check STABILITY: side-address condenser mic securely mounted on stand.
For each microphone, CONNECT: FMB Pro → XLR cable → side-address condenser mic.
On the FMB Pro, turn 48-V phantom powerON.
MIC.3 (for dynamic mic users)
For each microphone, Check STABILITY: dynamic mic securely mounted on stand.
For each microphone, CONNECT: FMB Pro → XLR cable(possibly using an XLR splitter) → dynamic mic.
On the FMB Pro, check that the input gain for the XLR jack is set to a reaonsable level (if possible, use a level that was successfully used in a previous rehearsal).
MIC.4 (for omnidirectional condenser mic users)
Check STABILITY: omnidirectional condenser mic securely mounted on stand.
CONNECT: FMB Pro → XLR cable → omnidirectional condenser mic.
On the FMB Pro, turn 48-V phantom powerON.
CONNECT: Each pair of headphones → headphones splitter → FMB Pro.
On the FMB Pro, check that the headphones monitoring level is set to a reasonable level (if possible, use a level that was successfully used in a previous rehearsal).
When using a cheap headset
on.iOS
CONNECT: Eachcheap headset → (might need TRRS-to-dual-TRS-green/red adapters, possibly provided) → 3.5 mm TRS-to-TRS splitters → USB-to-3.5 mm adapter.
On a Mac
CONNECT: Eachcheap headset → 3.5 mm TRRS-to-TRRS splitters → computer.
🎹 Connecting a digital piano
CONNECT: digital piano L(MONO) output → 1/4"-to-1/4"XLR (male) cable → FMB Pro.
For stereo, separately CONNECT: digital piano R output → 1/4"-to-1/4"XLR (male) cable → FMB Pro.
If your has a LINE/INST button, make sure that the LINE/INST setting is LINE for the inputs used for connecting the digital piano.
If you would like to listen to your digital piano through your headphones, on the , you should ensure that direct monitoring is ON.
If you would like to listen to your digital piano through your headphones, on the FMB Pro, you should ensure that the local audio level is not zero.
If you would like to mute built-in digital piano speakers, an easy way is to insert a 1/4"-to-1/8" adapter into the headphones jack of the digital piano.
Part Account settings for classic stage users (one-time/occasional)
Register for a Soundjack account (already done if you purchased a prebuilt FMB/FMB Pro from Symonics GmbH)
Click the link below to open the Soundjack website in a new Vivaldi/Chrome tab.
In masthead (banner at top of webpage), click "REGISTER".
Follow the instructions to set up an account. Soundjack emails sometimes get sent to the Spam folder for me in gmail. Please check your spam folder.
Join Soundjack group
Once you are logged into the Soundjack website, go to the navigation banner at the top of the page, and hover over "GROUPS".
Click "GROUPS PANEL".
Find in the list of groups.
Click "Request Membership".
Thank you. A moment. I will approve your request.
Part Router settings (one-time/occasional)
It's not always necessary to explore the router settings, but optimizing settings now can help us to avoid headaches that can potentially occur when trying to troubleshoot issues when attempting to connect with multiple people later. Video-walkthroughs of router settings for Soundjack are available at Dr. Ian Howell and Kayla Gautereaux's video bootcamp archive.
Router settings instructions are basically the same for SonoBus. You can use UDP port 50050 even though the port number mentioned in the SonoBus user guide is 12000.
Dear Router,
Router settings
➀
Permanently assign my
computer an only-within home network IP address of 192.168.1.12iOS device an only-within home network IP address of 192.168.1.7FMB an only-within home network IP address of 192.168.1.23FMB Pro an only-within home network IP address of 192.168.1.23
. Don't let any other household device use that only-within home network IP address.
⚠ You don't have to carry out this step, but if you don't then you might have to repeat step ➁, possibly as frequently as, in principle, every single time your
computeriOS deviceFMBFMB Pro
reconnects to the router.
Home network
> Create DHCP reservation
> Assign your computeriOS deviceFMBFMB Pro(possibly identified in router settings using a nickname or MAC address) a static private IP address of 192.168.1.12192.168.1.7192.168.1.23192.168.1.23.
⚠ Setting up a static private IP for your
computeriOS deviceFMBFMB Pro
is different from getting a static public IP for your router.
➁
Whenever you receive a packet via UDP for port 50050, send that packet onward to within-home network IP address
192.168.1.12 (my computer)192.168.1.7 (my iOS device)192.168.1.23 (my FMB)192.168.1.23 (my FMB Pro)(even if the inbound packet is not preceded by an outbound packet to make it obvious that the inbound packet really is intended for
192.168.1.12 (my computer)192.168.1.7 (my iOS device)192.168.1.23 (my FMB)192.168.1.23 (my FMB Pro)
).
Home network
> Set up a port-forwarding rule to forward all packets received via UDP at port 50050 to 192.168.1.12 (my computer)192.168.1.7 (my iOS device)192.168.1.23 (my FMB)192.168.1.23 (my FMB Pro)
port 50050.
➂
When any other device on the home network competes with my
computeriOS deviceFMBFMB Pro
to send/receive packets of information to/from the outside world, put an emergency-vehicle light on each packet to/from my
computeriOS deviceFMBFMB Pro
that lets packets to/from my
computeriOS deviceFMBFMB Pro
"cut the line" and be transmitted while packets to/from other devices on the home network wait.
Home network
> QoS (Quality of Service)
> Assign your computeriOS deviceFMBFMB Pro(possibly identified according to Ethernet port number)Highest priority.
Part Preparing the computer
Quit any applications that might hog CPU and/or bandwidth (including while carrying out uncommanded background tasks). The table below lists some examples of potential CPU/bandwidth hogss:
Type of application
Example
Comment
File system indexer
macOS: Spotlight indexing (look for mds in Activity Monitor)Windows: Windows Search Indexer
macOS: You can wait until an index being built is built. Another option is to disable indexing.Windows: Kill search indexer (you can also permanently disable indexing).
Cloud file storage synchronization
DropBox background synchronization and software updates
Quit DropBox
Productivity/creativity suite maintenance
Adobe Creative Cloud background software updates
Quit Adobe Creative Cloud (might need to force quit)
Malicious software scanner/remover
Malware Bytes
Quit Malware Bytes for duration of rehearsal
Anti-virus package
Real-time scanning macOS 11 Big Sur: Bug related to camera/microphone monitoring in Sophos Anti-Virus package that causes excessive CPU usage
Disable real-time scanning for duration of rehearsal macOS 11 Big Sur: (I think the Sophos bug is resolved now).
Clear your Vivaldi/Chrome browser cache by using a key combination (macOS: ⇧ Shift + ⌘ Cmd + Del)(Windows:Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + Del) and then pressing "Clear data".
Part
Prepare the Soundjack core application for iOS and go to the stageDownload, install, & launch the SonoBus applicationLaunch the SonoBus application
on.COMP
macOS: Click the dock icon for soundjack.
macOS: (The soundjack application runs quietly in the background).
Windows: Double-click the desktop shortcut icon labeled, "soundjack.exe - Shortcut".
Windows: (A system tray icon appears. A terminal window also appears. You can minimize and ignore the terminal window).
macOS: Click the dock icon for SonoBus.
Windows:
Press the START button.
Go to the Start menu folder for SonoBus.
Click the shortcut for SonoBus.
on.COMP > Classic stage users
If the Soundjack website is not already open in a Vivaldi/Chrome tab, click the link below to open the Soundjack website in a Vivaldi/Chrome tab.
Go to your iOS device's home screen and open Soundjack for iOS by tapping the SJ.iOS.v1 icon.
When Soundjack requests access to the microphone, please grant Soundjack permission to use the microphone.
The Soundjack application for iOS eventually brings up the Soundjack website. Please be aware that the appearance of the navigation menu at the top of the webpage varies depending on screen size (e.g. small iPhone screen vs. large iPad screen).
In Soundjack for iOS, look near the top-right corner of the Soundjack webpage. If you see either a dark gray button containing just a padlock, as shown below
or a dark gray button containing both a padlock and the label "LOGIN", as shown below
you are not logged into your Soundjack account. In this case, tap the padlock/"LOGIN" button and log into the Soundjack website.
In Soundjack for iOS, look near the top-right corner of the Soundjack webpage. If you see either a red button containing just a power symbol, as shown below
or a red button containing the label "LOGOUT", as shown below
you are logged into your Soundjack account.
In Soundjack for iOS, go to the STAGE. If you are using a small screen (e.g. iPhone), there might not be a button labeled "STAGE" in the Soundjack navigation menu. In this case, you can find a hidden menu containing a link to the STAGE by tapping the ≡ triple bar near the top-left corner of the webpage.
Go to your iOS device's home screen and open SonoBus for iOS by tapping the SonoBus icon.
When SonoBus requests access to the microphone, please grant SonoBus permission to use the microphone.
on.FMB (for FMB users)
Upon power up, you want to allow FMB time to download available updates. Typically, three (3) minutes is enough for start-up processes. On occasion, a major update is distributed. In those cases, which I will try to notify you of, the FMB should be given ten (10) minutes to boot up and update itself upon powering up.
Once the FMB has had enough time to take care of start-up tasks, click the link below to open the fmb local website in a new Vivaldi/Chrome tab.
Please do not proceed until the webpage loads and shows two (preferably three) green checkmarks. You might need to press reload in Vivaldi/Chrome if the page does not initially load.
I prefer to verify in the ⚙ System Status that os.update.running equals no.
on.FMB (for FMB users) > One-time/occasional
⚠ If the previous step failed owing to a DNS resolution error (for example, the browser brings up DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN), the low-latency technology assistant for the musical ensemble should help you try a strategy like one of the following.
Try opening http://soundjack0.local on an alternative device. In Network Settings, note the private IP of the fastmusic box. If the private IP is known to be static, create a Vivaldi/Chrome bookmark labeled "fmb menu" for that private IP. In the future, the user should use this Vivaldi/Chrome bookmark when instructions refer to fmb menu.
If nothing in the house will resolve http://soundjack0.local, use the router webpage to look for the fmb (device named soundjackLONGSERIALNUMBER). Note the private IP. If the private IP is known to be static, create a Vivaldi/Chrome bookmark labeled "fmb menu" for that private IP. In the future, the user should use this Vivaldi/Chrome bookmark when instructions refer to fmb menu.
macOS: Look on stackexchange for advice for changing the way an Apple computer handles the .local domain (issue may exist involving Bonjour/Rendezvous).
Copying your fmb-id to your Soundjack account (already done if you purchased your FMB from Symonics GmbH)
In the row labeled "⚙ System Status", click the clipboard icon next to your FMB ID to copy your FMB ID to the clipboard.
If the Soundjack website is not already open in a Vivaldi/Chrome tab, click the link below to open the Soundjack website in a new Vivaldi/Chrome tab.
on.FMB (for FMB users) > One-time/occasional (already done if you purchased your FMB from Symonics GmbH)
Click on the avatar next to your username (username is scrambled in figure below).
Scroll down and click the "profile" button.
Scroll down and click on "edit".
Scroll down and click on "fmb-id".
Scroll down and paste your FMB ID from the clipboard into the field labeled "fast-music-box (FMB) – ID:".
Press "Save Changes".
In the navigation bar, click on "STAGE".
When a "Local SJC not found" dialog box (see below) appears, press "OK".
on.FMBPro (for FMB Pro users)
Upon power up, you want to allow FMB Pro time to download available updates. Typically, three (3) minutes is enough for start-up processes. On occasion, a major update is distributed. In those cases, which I will try to notify you of, the FMB Pro should be given ten (10) minutes to boot up and update itself upon powering up.
Once the FMB Pro has had enough time to take care of start-up tasks, click the button on your FMB Pro's touchscreen.
Please do not proceed until the webpage loads and shows three green checkmarks.
I prefer to verify in the ⚙ System Status that os.update.running equals no.
On the FMB Pro touchscreen, touch .
Log into your Soundjack account.
In the navigation bar, click on "STAGE".
Part
Navigating the stageNavigating Soundjack Lite
Navigating the SonoBus application
Wait for a numerical IP address to appear next to the local network interface icon.
Check that the profile setting is "extended".
Check that the groups pull-down menu is set to "".
clicking the SJ-LITE button in the navigation bar.
When soundjack.eu pops up a dialog box that says, "Enter your username", choose a username by which you would like to be identified for the current session. The username is non-persistent.
One-time/occasional
If you prefer to have Soundjack automatically answer each incoming call (rather than requiring you to explicitly press "Accept" for each incoming call you'd like to answer), click the reaction to incoming call pulldown menu and select "accept any call".
Set the audio input to your HiFi Berry.
Set the audio output to your HiFi Berry.
For the capture/send channels setting, use "capture/send channels: 2 (stereo)""capture/send channels: 2 (mono mix)".
Set the audio input to your External Microphone.
Set the audio output to your External Headphones.
For the capture/send channels setting, use "capture/send channels: 1".
Set the audio input to Default.
Set the audio output to Default.
For the capture/send channels setting, use "1".
Set playback channels to "playback channels: 2".
There aren't really "first-time" settings. There is no account with which persistent settings could be associated.
When soundjack.eu pops up a dialog box that says, "Enter your username", choose a username by which you would like to be identified.
Audio settings
Click the ⚙ settings gear near the top-left corner of the SonoBus window to reveal the AUDIO settings panel.
Set the Input to your .
Set the Output to your .
Set the Input to your External Microphone.
Set the Output to your External Headphones.
Set the Device to iOS Audio.
In the Active Input Channels: section,
check all available input channelstap the Select All button(easy choice that is likely to work for most choral ensembles just getting started with SonoBus).
In the Active Output Channels: section,
check all available output channelstap the Select All button(easy choice that is likely to work for most choral ensembles just getting started with SonoBus).
Leave the Sample Rate: at 48000 Hz.
Set the Audio Buffer Size to 64 samples (1.3 ms)(or lower, if your processor can handle smaller audio buffer sizes).
Network settings
Click the OPTIONS tab.
Set the Default Send Quality to 96 kbps/ch.
Set the Default Jitter Buffer type to Manual.
Click on the size of the jitter buffer and type 11(for 11 ms) and press ENTER.
If you would like SonoBus to use a port for which port-forwarding to your computer has been enabled, check ☑ Use Specific UDP Port and enter the desired port number(50050 in the example discussion in the one-time/occasional instructions for router settings above).
Click the ⚙ settings gear near the top-right corner of the SonoBus window to conceal the settings panel.
Check that Send Mono is selected.Check that Send Stereo is selected.
Check that Send Mono is selected.
Connecting to your private group
There are two ways to get connected to a SonoBus call. The more tedious (but also more reliable) way is to manually enter call information, as indicated below. Some installations of SonoBus allow for a more convenient method of launching a call by simply visiting a link. This alternative method is mentioned later (soon after reminders about headphone/microphone alignment).
Press the blue Connect... button.
Make sure you are using the PRIVATE GROUP tab.
Click the clipboard in this sentence to copy your group name:
.
Paste your group name into the Group Name text field in SonoBus.
Click the clipboard in this sentence to copy your group password:
.
Paste your group password into the Password text field in SonoBus.
Type into the Your Displayed Name text field in SonoBus the name you'd like to appear under for others.
Adapted from SJTG Preview image from Dr. Alex Carôt (permalink)
Set the audio input to your HiFi Berry.
Set the audio output to your HiFi Berry.
Set the audio input to your HiFi Berry.
Set the audio output to your HiFi Berry.
Check that the buffer is set to "moderate delay: 256".
The rehearsal manager might request changes to this setting during rehearsal.
For the capture/send channels setting, use "capture/send channels: 2 (stereo)""capture/send channels: 2 (mono mix)".
For the capture/send channels setting, use "capture/send channels: 2 (stereo)""capture/send channels: 2 (mono mix)".
Set the audio input to your External Microphone.
Set the audio output to your External Headphones.
Set the audio input to your External Microphone.
Set the audio output to your External Headphones.
Check that the buffer is set to "moderate delay: 256".
The rehearsal manager might request changes to this setting during rehearsal.
For the capture/send channels setting, use "capture/send channels: 1".
For the capture/send channels setting, use "capture/send channels: 1".
Set the audio input to Default.
Set the audio output to Default.
Check that the buffer is set to "moderate delay: 256".
The rehearsal manager might request changes to this setting during rehearsal.
For the capture/send channels setting, use "1".
Check that the sample buffer is set to "sample buffer: 64".
If Soundjack gives an "Audio not ready" error, you might try setting the sample buffer to "sample buffer: 256" and then back again to "sample buffer: 64".
Fiber internet user: Check that the network buffer is set to "network buffer: 128".Cable internet user: Check that the network buffer is set to "network buffer: 256."
The rehearsal manager might request changes to this setting during rehearsal.
One-time/occasional: Check that the audio codec is set to "codec: OPUS 96 kbps".
MIC.1 (for headworn condenser mic users)
Make sure each microphone is worn.
ALIGN: each microphone points at corner of intended mouth, NOT smushed against side of face.
MIC.2 (for side-address condenser mic users)
ALIGN: each microphone is vertically oriented.
ALIGN: each mouth is at same height as intended microphone grill.
ALIGN: each mouth points at intended microphone grill, and each microphone grill (logo side) points at intended mouth.
ALIGN: each mouth is 6"-12" away from intended microphone grill.
MIC.3 (for dynamic mic users)
ALIGN: each mouth points at intended microphone grill, and each microphone grill points at intended mouth.
ALIGN: each microphone is about 1 inch away from intended mouth.
MIC.4 (for omnidirectional condenser mic users)
ALIGN: Aim each mouth at the omnidirectional condenser microphone.
ALIGN: Try keeping each mouth two (2) feet from microphone. You can adjust placement later to adjust mix of singer and room sound in captured audio.
ALIGN:
Your microphone has a flat frequency response in the
Recommended orientation of microphone barrel
Free field (0°)
Aim microphone at mouths.
Diffuse field (90°)
Orient microphone's barrel perpendicular to line segment connecting mouths and aperture of microphone.
Make sure headphones are worn.
Aligning cheap headset
Make sure headset is worn.
ALIGN: Make sure each microphone is placed near corner of intended mouth, NOT smushed against side of face.
You might encounter unwanted volume during a call. Make note now of where your headset, hands, and in-line volume adjustment wheel (if available) are so you will be able to take one of the actions below if needed.
If the volume turns out to be way too high, dislodge the headphones from your ears. Say into the microphone that you need a moment to adjust the volume. Adjust the volume, then put the headphones back on your ears.
If the volume turns out to be too low (or you can't hear anything), play with volume settings. Remember that one of the volume settings might be an in-line volume adjustment wheel for your headset. Say into the microphone that you would like to hear ongoing blabbering while you experiment with volume settings.
The stage displays all the people you can call right now. In the row with my name,
make a note of and remember the following.
The small square in the middle, which might have the label "auto" nearby, is used to turn on or off the automatic jitter buffer.
The pulldown menu to the right of the automatic jitter buffer checkbox is the size of the jitter buffer (expressed as a number of buffered packets).
If you would like to request to call someone individually, click on their play/connect button.
If a mass server is available for a session, the mass server will appear in the stage as SERVER. To connect to the server, click the play/connect button just for the server.
SERVER
For each site to which you are connected, you can use any of the following strategies to choose an initial configuration for the jitter buffer. If you hear a lot of garbled audio, you can experiment further.
Jitter buffer strategy A (not necessarily optimal, but easy)
Leave the automatic jitter buffer box for audio from the site of interest unchecked.
Use the table below to choose the size of the jitter buffer for audio received from the remote site of interest.
Remote user's network buffer (displayed in the "canister" in their row on the stage)
Suggested number of buffered packets for audio received from remote user
128 samples
4 buffered packets
256 samples
2 buffered packets
512 samples
1 buffered packets
This strategy is easy to use and prevents a runaway ratchet-like increase of the jitter buffer size, but this strategy will not automatically adjust the jitter buffer to accommodate mid-session variation in jitter.
Jitter buffer strategy B (also not necessarily optimal, but easy)
Click to put a ☑ checkmark in the automatic jitter buffer box for audio from the site of interest.
The automatic jitter buffer size will dynamically adjust based on network conditions.
Even while the jitter buffer size is automatically adjusting, you can still use the pulldown menu to change the number of buffered packets.
As of 2022 January, the automatic jitter buffer adjustment can be tricked in certain situations into a runaway condition in which the jitter buffer size increases in a somewhat ratchet-like fashion leading to lower performance than achieved by the other options.
Jitter buffer strategy C (possibly best, but requires supervision)
Leave the automatic jitter buffer box for audio from the site of interest unchecked.
Use the table below to choose the size of the jitter buffer for audio received from the remote site of interest.
Remote user's network buffer (displayed in the "canister" in their row on the stage)
Suggested number of buffered packets for audio received from remote user
128 samples
4 buffered packets
256 samples
2 buffered packets
512 samples
1 buffered packets
Increase and/or decrease the number of buffered packets until the minimum number of buffered packets that achieves an acceptably stable (does not need to be perfectly free of garbling) audio stream is selected.
Variations in network performance might occasionally require adjusting jitter buffer size in the midst of a session.
To disconnect from a site, go to that site's row and click the green button.
Starting up a mass server
Checking with other ensembles who might like to use the server
⚠ In periods when the bookable servers are not frequently used (2022 May onward), the servers are kept shut off. Alex can restart individual servers so that they become bookable again.
Please leave a message in the Soundjack facebook group to check whether there is any schedule conflict with the time you'd like to book the server.
"Hello, would like to book the Virginia(replace location as needed) server at Date Time Timezone. Is there any conflict?"
After you are logged into Soundjack, go to the navigation bar at the top of the page and click on Groups. Right-click on "Create Mass Server," and choose "Open link in new tab".
Go to the "Create mass server" tab that has just appeared.
Select the Duration in hours.
It is a good idea to pad a reservation with an extra hour. For example, for a rehearsal running from 7:30p-8:30p, open the server for two hours from 7:00p until 9:00p. This way, musicians can make sure that their equipment is successfully connected before rehearsal and the server doesn't abruptly shut down in the midst of conversation at the end of the rehearsal.
Select the Server location (choose a location with fastest routing to musicians in the rehearsal).
Make sure the Group listed is .
Click "Book Now".
A message should appear indicating that the mass server will be ready in about 90 seconds.
Mass server booting up . . .
You successfully booked your mass server. In about 90 seconds it should show up in your group. Make sure to re-enter the stage after bootup completion. For further information please check the server tab under info.
Refresh the stage and connect to mass server
After about 90 seconds, reload the Stage to get a fresh view of your group, .
The mass server should appear as a user with name SERVER.
After someone clicks the play/connect button for SERVER, green highlighting on their username indicates that they have connected to the mass server.
Adjusting server settings: Auto jitter buffer
In the navigation bar at the top of the page, click Groups. Right-click "Server Panel", and choose "Open link in new tab".
Go to the "Server Panel" tab that has just appeared.
You will initially see settings for the server as a whole. After a while, settings for individual users will appear underneath.
For day-to-day work, click the auto jitter buffer checkbox for each user once they connect.
If it seems that the automatic adjustment of the jitter buffer is not working, change the jitter buffer setting for the whole server to something else (you can then switch the overall server jitter buffer setting back if you like).
If the automatic jitter buffer setting seems to want to choose a high (4 buffered packets is not really "high", but 16 buffered packets, for example, is definitely "high") number of buffered packets for a particular user, ask that user to increase their network buffer. After the server's automatic jitter buffer setting is allowed some time to adjust in response, see whether the latency reported on the server panel for the user of interest has improved.
If the size of the jitter buffer (as a number of buffered packets) for audio from a particular user keeps trying to hover around, say, 16, ask the user whether they have connected the device running Soundjack directly using an Ethernet cable to their main router (only an Ethernet switch can intervene--there should be no Google Home or other extender/repeated), whether they have turned off WiFi, and whether they have turned off an VPN.
If you have time, you could instead manually adjust the jitter buffer setting for each individual user.
Adjusting server settings: Adjusting levels to avoid clipping
It would be ideal to have each individual singer check in and say something to make sure they are at least audible.
The steps below do not necessarily ensure that every singer is audible. The steps below are meant merely to prevent really annoying clipping.
Have the chorus perform warm ups that explore the highest volumes that are likely to be sung later during rehearsal.
This step can be done casually as part of a routine warm up. It is not necessary to have the chorus constantly sing loudly.
In the server panel, look for clipping by looking for any individual user level meters that at least sometimes turn pink.
Write down a list of users with pink level meters.
For each user just listed,
Check microphone placement:
Type of microphone
Placement
Headworn condenser
No less than an inch from corner of mouth, aimed at mouth
Side-address condenser
6-12 inches from mouth, with logo facing user, and with major axis of microphone perpendicular to the line connecting mouth to the grill
Dynamic
In front of mouth, 1 inch from mouth, facing in toward mouth
Omnidirectional condenser
Orientation of microphone is not that crucial, start with mouth aimed at microphone and with mouth and microphone separated by 5 feet
If needed, decrease mic gain on the singer's FMB Pro(or external mixer) so that the musician's audio does not clip.
Have the chorus continue performing warm ups that explore the highest volumes that are likely to be sung later during rehearsal.
In the server panel, check that there no longer any pink seen in level meters.
Ask the chorus whether anyone notices any distortion.
Instructions for shutting down the server are located near the end of this page.
The right-hand panel of Soundjack Lite displays everyone you are connected to right now.
To add a player,
Click "⊕ Add player".
Type the player's username.
Press ENTER.
To disconnect from a player, go to that player's row and click their ⨂ button (far right).
Click the blue Connect to Group button.
Note: Depending on your SonoBus installation, you might be able to skip manually copying the private group name and password into SonoBus and separately clicking the Connect to Group button. You might be able to connect to your group simply by pointing the device on which you are running SonoBus to the following link.
Connect in SonoBus
Once you are connected to your private group
Audio from each other user in the room (who hasn't muted their own audio) should play automatically.
You can make changes specific to a particular remote user using the settings in that user's row. For example,
You can mute the remote user.
You can change the jitter buffer setting for audio received from a remote user by clicking the bar display for the remote user's Recv Jitter Buffer.
You can mute yourself by clicking the microphone icon at the bottom-left corner of the SonoBus window.
If you would like to leave the private group without quitting SonoBus, click the purple Disconnect button.
Part Starting Soundjack video
Check the checkbox marked Send video.
Use the video input pulldown menu to select the camera you'd like to use to send video.
In the Camera window that shows your local video, you can adjust the resolution and color mode(160x120 B/W is fine for gestures, and 640x480 color is nice for a screencapture recording for a keepsake video clip and/or livestreaming).
To stop sending video, switch the video input pulldown menu setting back to "no video".
Part Starting VDO.Ninja lowish-latency video
On the computer being used for video, in Vivaldi/Chrome, click an icon below corresponding to a video format with which you'd like to join the VDO.Ninja video call. Instructions for the screensharing options are not included on this page.
A
🎤 Singer
🐌 Low bandwidth
VDO.ninja
B
👋 Conductor
🐌 Low-bandwidth
VDO.ninja
C
👋 Conductor
🐇 High-bandwidth
VDO.ninja
D
🗖 Screensharing
🐇 High-bandwidth
VDO.ninja
E
🗖 Screensharing
🐇 Very high bandwidth
VDO.ninja
One-time/occasional: You might be asked to give VDO.Ninja permission to access your camera and microphone.
Only give VDO.ninja permission to access your camera.
Do NOT give VDO.ninja permission to access your microphone.
Use the pulldown menu for "Video Source" to choose your preferred camera.
Once the green START button appears, verify that your video preview appears as desired.
Press START.
Part Starting other web-based video
On the computer being used for video, in Vivaldi/Chrome, click the shortcut below to open the 📷 link.
On the computer being used for video, click the shortcut below to open Zoom.
Zoom
Near the bottom-left corner, make sure the camera icon is not slashed. If needed, press "Start video".
Near the bottom-corner, click the caret on the microphone button, then choose "Leave Computer Audio".
Part Folder of sheet music/tabs
Open the sheet music/guitar tabs link using one of the following options:
To open the sheet music/guitar tabs link in a new Vivaldi/Chrome tab, click the shortcut below.
To open the sheet music/guitar tabs link on a mobile device, scan the QR code.
🎼
Sheet music/Chords
Part Shutting down
Close the browser tab used for VDO.Ninja.
Close the browser tab used for 📷 .
Close Zoom:
Click the " Leave " button.
Click the " Leave meeting " button that then appears.
Shutting down the server
The server will shut itself down at the end of the booked duration. If you are done using the server before the reservation is scheduled to end, please, as a courtesy to other potential users, go to the Server Panel and click the big red disk with a white diagonal cross to shut down the server.
Leave the Soundjack STAGE.
Close the Soundjack Lite tab.
on.COMP
Windows:Right-click the soundjack system tray icon . Select Shut down Soundjack. macOS:Ctrl-click the Soundjack icon
on the dock. Choose Quit.Quit SonoBus.
On the FMB Pro, check that 48-V phantom power is OFF.
on.FMB (for FMB users)
Turn your FMB OFF: Hold-press the power button on the FMB for a few seconds. The red light on the front of the FMB will turn off briefly, turn back on, and then after some seconds finally turn off for good.
on.FMBPro (for FMB Pro users)
Turn your FMB Pro OFF: Hold-press the power button on the FMB for a few seconds. The light on the front of the FMB will turn off briefly, turn back on, and then after some seconds finally turn off for good.
You can close the tab showing 🎼 sheet music/chords if you wish.