What the heck is this thing?

The JackTrip Virtual Studio is an online platform by which you can play music together remotely over the internet. It's like a conferencing platform for low-latency, high-quality audio. It lets people communicate together in near real-time!

To work, it requires some hardware, and an online account at app.jacktrip.org. You don't need to install any software on your computer- everything is controlled through the browser.

Hardware

There are a few pieces of hardware each member of your group will need in order to connect online.

Virtual Studio Device: Should I Buy from Amazon, or Build my own?

The Virtual Studio Device is a tiny computer that runs the JackTrip software. It plugs into your router via an ethernet cable so that it can access the internet.

Left: Pre-built VS device.           Right: Self-built device with Raspberry Pi

There are two ways to get your hands on a Virtual Studio device:

1. You can buy a pre-built VS device from Amazon, or
2. You can build your own very easily using Raspberry Pi Components

While the pre-built devices are convenient, they are not available for purchase in all countries, and some users prefer to use their own audio interface.

Audio

The pre-built VS device has an audio interface in it, but if you build your own, you will need an audio interface. The audio interface connects to your microphone and headphones.

There are 3 types of audio interfaces:

1. An "Audio Adapter" (AKA "External Sound Card"), like the Sabrent Aluminum USB External Stereo Sound Adapter. These aren't the highest quality, but can be purchased very inexpensively.
2. An Audio Interface, like the Presonus AudioBox USB 96
3. A USB Microphone, like the Blue Yeti Nano

USB microphones often have an audio interface built-in. Just make sure you can plug in your headphones to it!

Microphone

Unless you use a USB microphone, you'll need a microphone. We'll cover options for compatible microphones in Step 1.

Headphones

You'll need headphones to hear the other people you're connecting with. We'll cover options for compatible headphones in Step 1.

Online account at app.jacktrip.org

Every member will need an account in order to connect to others online, and to control the VS device through a browser. You can create an account right away, or you can follow the guides for creating an account in Step 3.

Next Steps

If you've decided to purchase pre-built VS devices through Amazon, you should proceed to Step 1 (Pre-Built Virtual Studio): Getting the right gear

If you've decided to build your own VS device with Raspberry PI, you should proceed to Step 1 (DIY Virtual Studio): Getting the right gear