The current challenge in the music and audio industry today is that there are no existing easy-to-use solutions for real-time multi-channel multi-location professional audio collaboration.
Existing solutions are limited in settings and concentrate on delivering compressed audio for monitoring single-direction connections. Establishing multi-channel HQ audio connections with multiple participants in real-time over the internet requires complex configuration, technical knowledge, and processes.
Video conferencing solutions offer an excellent way for people to connect and have become the go-to platforms for online musicians and music educators.
However, people’s biggest challenge is the quality of sound and the latency or delay it takes to receive the signal.
The existing solutions for remote audio collaboration come with high latency, and audio is usually compressed and single-channel. Users cannot route or record individual uncompressed audio signals from multiple participants, and there is no reliable synchronization.
The music industry has been hit hard with the closure of all in-person events. Professional musicians have started live streaming and performing online concerts on social media and streaming sites.
Current remote recording software applications limit functionality and creativity because they don’t offer the real-time interaction of a group.
With the added challenge of the high latency, professional real-time synchronous live performance with multiple participants is almost impossible.
We have built Groovesetter as the solution for content creators looking to collaborate in real-time either for rehearsals, recording, or live streaming.
Groovesetter is a first-of-its-kind peer-to-peer platform for professional remote audio collaboration with super-low latency, transforming the way music professional audio and streaming content creators connect in real-time over high-speed internet.
Combined with performer profile management and session creation management, Groovesetter captures metadata during the point and source of creation, ensuring creators get credit where credit is due.
Check out the comprehensive walkthrough to learn how to use Groovesetter and even jam remotely with your bandmates.
Introducing Groovesetter
When looking at how remote audio collaboration is typically done around the industry, we noticed that most larger projects within music production and audio production for film television and video games are utilizing some sort of combination of complex audio collaboration tools.
Unfortunately, they are often restricted to a single channel directional connection. Audio in most cases is compressed or it comes with a lot of latency eliminating the possibility to collaborate synchronously in real-time from multiple locations.
We wanted to solve this problem with a tool that would help you not only speed up your collaboration process and allow you to stream multi-channel uncompressed audio but also connect with multiple participants for synchronous performance through an effortless one-click process.
It is with these problems and solutions in mind that Groovesetter was created.
At its core, Groovesetter was built as a real-time multichannel audio collaboration platform for streaming and recording over high-speed internet at the lowest possible latency. But then we quickly realized that it could be used for so much more than that. When thinking about what session creation management for artists really comes down to, we learned that it involves a few key but simple features.
System Requirements
To use the Groovesetter application, you must have the minimum system requirements.
On Windows computers, Groovesetter requires Windows 10 in order to connect to Groovesetter sessions and other groovers.
On Apple computers, Groovesetter is compatible with macOS 10.13 High Sierra and above.
Internet Connectivity
Access to an internet connection for authorizing and using the Groovesetter Application is required.
You can use Groovesetter to connect multiple Groovers over the internet — either Wide Area Network, Local Area Network, and any combination of both. To connect Groovers over a LAN, all macOS and Windows computers should belong to the same LAN and be connected to the same router.
It is important that you use a wired connection.
Wireless connections are not as stable as wired connections. This means that the signal can be unreliable and result in packet loss connection problems, or higher latency, or audio glitches. Connect directly to your modem or router with an ethernet cable to eliminate this possibility and have the fastest connection possible. For the best experience, a fast internet connection is highly recommended.
Jack Audio Sound Server API
Groovesetter works with JACK, an open-source professional sound server API.
It is important that you download and install the JACK sound server API on your machine before you install Groovesetter.
On mac OS 10.13 High Sierra or later, you need to have JACK OSX v0.92_b3.
On Windows 10 you will need JACK v.1.911_64.exe installed in Program Files.
Please note that other versions of JACK will not work with Groovesetter. Uninstall all other versions and restart your computer before proceeding with a new JACK installation.
Before starting the installation process, close all other applications on your computer, and ensure that all the latest and reliable device drivers are up to date.
Groovesetter Installation
Once you have JACK installed on your device, install Groovesetter with the default settings.
On Windows computers, The installer will run and when it has completed the application installation, you will see a Groovesetter shortcut icon on your desktop.
Launch Groovesetter by double-clicking the icon.
On Apple computers, after running the installer and depending on your security settings, you may see a message asking you to confirm you want to open Groovesetter. You may also be prompted to accept incoming network connections and access to your microphone the first time you launch Groovesetter. Accept both and Groovesetter will open and prompt you to enter your credentials.
Groovesetter Session Management
The Groovesetter user interface home screen is divided into three sections. On the left, you can create and book your sessions. The middle section has the list of your created sessions and sessions you’ve been invited to. The right side of the screen shows your Groover connections.
In order to participate in sessions along with other groovers, you must have the groovers added to your Groovers list.
Click on Invite more groovers to search for Groovers you want to connect with.
Type the exact username or email of the Groover you wish to connect with and click the search button.
If an account with that username or email exists, the search will return a successful result and you will be able to send a request to connect.
Creating a Groovesetter Session
Creating and joining sessions is how Groovers in the Groovesetter community collaborate remotely. To host a session with other Groovers you will need to create a session first.
The Create Session information window is where you can fill out all of the basic metadata about your session, including optional metadata you want to capture during the creation process.
Sessions can be part of the same project. If you create multiple sessions under the same project, you will be able to filter and view the details for all of the sessions from a particular project.
To invite Groovers to join the session, click on the + and select from the Groovers in your contact list. Groovers must be part of your contact list for you to be able to invite them to sessions.
Optional Session Information
Fill out the additional details If you would like to record additional metadata about your specific session. All metadata information you enter about your session, including details about who participated in the session, will be recorded and stored after your session is over.
Once you are ready, you can either click the Book Session button to save the session in your Saved Sessions list, or you can proceed with starting the session by clicking Groove on.
When you book a session, the session is saved in your Saved Sessions list.
Click on the small arrow to the right of the saved session to expand and view the details of the session. If your session has not been started yet, you will be able to Edit the session information, including adding or removing groovers, change the session name, or project and session metadata.
Configuring Audio Devices
You are able to configure the settings for each session with The Session Settings window. Everyone joining a session will be able to configure their own settings except for Sample Rate and Buffer Size, which is always set by the creator of the session.
Since Groovesetter uses uncompressed audio, we recommend you use external headphones and a microphone for the best Groovesetter experience and to avoid looping audio from your speakers to your microphone and back to the participants you are connecting with.
On Apple computers, Groovesetter uses the core audio driver. Select Default as your input and output device. Your session will use the default device selected in your system preferences audio settings.
On Windows computers, you have the option to select from the different audio drivers available on your machines such as M M E, Direct Sound, or ASIO. Connecting an ASIO driver compatible audio hardware is optional but recommended for optimal audio performance and reducing hardware sound latency.
Session Settings
If you are creating the secession, select your desired Sample Rate and Buffer Size. When joining a session, the sample rate and buffer size are set by the session creator.
Please note: Sample rate and buffer size settings depend on your audio hardware capabilities. Double-check that the hardware you are using for the session is able to run the desired audio settings. Otherwise, your session will not start.
Next Select the number of Interface Input and Output channels you would like to use during the session.
The number of available channels you have will also depend on the audio hardware you are using for your session.
In most cases, if you are using the default microphone and headphone jack on your computer, you will have either one or two channels available as inputs, and stereo pair channels available as outputs. If you are using an external audio interface or mixer with more than 2 channels you may utilize all additional available channels your interface supports.
Select your desired Virtual Input and Output channels. Virtual channels allow you to connect Digital Audio Workstations such as Pro Tools or Ableton to your Groovesetter Audio Mixer Routing Matrix, and you will be able to route audio to and from your audio interface, connected groovers, or additional connected supported applications.
Please note the number of available virtual channels during a session will depend on your role in the session. If you are the session host, you are able to select up to 8 virtual input and output channels. If you are joining a session, you can select up to 2 virtual input and output channels.
It is important to note that session settings can not be changed during an active session.
Click the Got it button to enter your session.
Groove-Link Audio Routing Matrix
The Session Screen of Groovesetter is where all the magic happens.
The main window will load the Groove Link Audio Mixer Routing Matrix with the number of channels of our input and output device you specified on the previous Session Settings screen.
The Groove Link routing grid provides flexible audio routing and mixing options.
Incoming Uncompressed Audio Signals
Along the top of the window, you will see the signals incoming to your matrix. There are several types of sources. This includes the physical input device channels of your microphone or external audio interface which would show up as your Stage Name.
As other groovers join the session, the audio channels arriving from them will show up along the top as well.
Audio channels arriving from external applications such as digital audio workstations like Pro Tools or Ableton will also show up along the top.
So audio sources shown as your incoming signals can be physical inputs, connected groovers, or audio applications.
Sound Recipients
On the left side of the matrix, you will find the destinations your Groovelink matrix can route audio to.
First, you have your output device channels such as your computer speakers and headphone jack or external audio interface.
As other groovers join the session, the audio channels you are sending to them will show up below.
Last will be the virtual audio channels sending signals to your connected external applications such as digital audio workstations like Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, or Ableton.
Audio destinations shown as your sound recipients can be physical outputs, connected groovers, or audio applications.
Groovesetter Audio Routing
Routing an incoming signal to a sound recipient is easy - simply click a tile on the grid to make a routing connection.
The arrows and the path of the signal are highlighted as you move the mouse across the grid. Once you click on a tile, the tile will light up with the color of the incoming signal channel and the signal will be routed to the destination.
You can connect Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) and Open Broadcast Software (OBS) and route multi-channel audio to and from these applications using the Groove-link audio routing matrix. On Apple computers, you can even create aggregate audio devices with virtual sound drivers such as Loopback and Blackhole to visualize and control the audio routing for each channel.
This makes the remote recording of multiple participants in your sessions possible. Route multi-track inputs in your DAW or even send out a multi-channel mix from your DAW to anyone connected to your session.
Managing Peer to Peer Internet Latency
Managing peer-to-peer latency in Groovesetter is simple, and synchrony over the internet with Groovesetter is possible with the correct settings and geographical distances. Groovesetter establishes a direct peer-to-peer connection with uncompressed sound. When a peer-to-peer connection is established, the computers are connected directly either over a local area network or a wide area network over the internet.
Because Groovesetter uses direct peer-to-peer uncompressed sound, the latency between groves located roughly 400 miles apart can be as low as ten milliseconds when using reliable high-speed internet.
Groovesetter displays the direct peer-to-peer latency measured between the session’s creator and the joining groves. This measurement is displayed in milliseconds in the Session Information window and next to the stage name of each Groover along the top incoming signal channels.
Once a successful connection with other users has been established, the session creator can click the refine button next to the connected Groover’s stage name to open the Groove link P2P connection settings window.
Session Metadata
Clicking the end session button will disconnect all participants and end the current session. Ending the session displays the Session Metadata screen.
The Metadata includes all session information entered at the start of the session by the session creator. Once a session is over additional metadata is captured including data about each Groover who participated in the session. Before finalizing the metadata, you are able to add additional information such as the role for each participating groover as well as additional credits and rights management information.
If you want to add or edit additional groover details and credits, now is the time.
Selecting Finalize session metadata will create a reference file saved in a project folder on your selected destination hard drive and will lock the ability to further edit the metadata.
If you want to complete the session metadata at a later time, you can click on the home button which will return you to the Groovesetter home screen. Any previous sessions created by you will be saved in your Saved Session list.
