Connecting a JackTrip Bridge
The Audio Devices page will list all Virtual Studio devices (using Raspberry Pi hardware with our disk image) that are registered to your account. When not connected to an audio server, these will have a blue icon and most fields will be disabled.
You can use the search input box to filter the list by name.
The green "Register a New Device" button can be used to register a new device. For this to work correctly, you need to ensure that only the new device is plugged in and available on your network. After you have completed registration of a device, you can plug all of them back in.
To connect a device, use the "Select a Server" drop-down to choose a Running audio server, and then click on the "green "CONNECT" button.
Once your device connects to the server, the icon color will change to be green, yellow or red. The color indicates the quality of your Internet connection, including the path from your device to the audio server. The device continuously sends ICMP ping messages to the server in order to measure various statistics, which are displayed below the device settings. These are updated every 5 seconds and include:
- Packet loss (if greater than zero, the device will be red)
- Range of round-trip latency
- Average round-trip latency
- Standard deviation round-trip latency (jitter)
In general, the higher these statistics become, the more your device color will transition towards red, and the more difficult it will be for your to perform music with others who are connected to the server.
If the statistics show 100% packet loss, it is often caused by the ICMP ping traffic being blocked by your router. Please see Troubleshooting Firewall Ports.
Use the red "DISCONNECT FROM SERVER" to disconnect your device whenever you are finished. We also recommend that you disconnect your microphone or unplug your device when not in use, to be extra certain that no audio is being transmitted.
Audio Device Settings
Note that different types of supported sound cards offer different settings, so not all settings may be available for your device.
Input Volume
Drag the slider to the right to raise your input (microphone) volume, or left to lower it. Some microphones require high input volume levels to work properly. Click the speaker icon left of the slider to mute your device (by setting the level to zero). Click the speaker icon right of the slider to raise this to the maximum value.
This slider will be disabled for sound cards which have manual volume dials, or do not support input level changes via software (such as the HiFiBerry DAC+ ADC Standard).
The "Boost" toggle is currently inactive for most sound cards. For the Audio Injector Stereo, it will toggle between the embedded microphone and the RCA inputs.
Output Volume
Drag the slider to the right to raise your output (headphone) volume, or left to lower it. Every headphone requires different levels of output volume to drive them properly. Click the speaker icon left of the slider to mute your output volume (by setting the level to zero). Click the speaker icon right of the slider to raise this to the maximum value.
This slider will be disabled for sound cards which have manual volume dials.
The "Boost" toggle is currently inactive for most sound cards. For the HiFiBerry DAC+ ADC Pro, it can be used to enable additional amplification.
Reverb
Note: this setting only applies to JackTrip audio servers.
This setting enables you to control the level of reverb that your device adds to the output mix. It only impacts what you hear, not the audio that is sent from you to the server.
Quality
Note: this setting requires firmware version 2020102003 or later.
This setting enables you to maximize quality of audio that you hear and send to others, within the unique constraints of your Internet connection.
If you are connected to a "JackTrip" server, this will be fixed to the sample rate value configured for the server.
If you are connected to a "Jamulus" server, you will have two options:
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Low Quality (300 Kbps, Lossy)
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Medium Quality (500 Kbps, Lossy)
Please note: "Low Quality" and "Medium Quality" can cause musicians who are using balanced audio cables to be inaudible. See this article for more information.
The bandwidth rates (300 and 500 Kbps) are the minimum speed requirements -- both upload and download -- for your Internet connection.
If you are connecting to a "JackTrip+Jamulus" server, you will have an additional option for lossless JackTrip audio quality, for the sample rate value configured on the server.
Buffer Size
This setting controls the number of audio samples grouped into frames for each period of time. Smaller values can result in lower latency, but can place higher demands on your Internet connection. Select the lowest value that enables you to hear clear audio without experiencing static or other audio issues.
Net Queue
Note: this setting only applies to JackTrip audio servers.
This setting controls the queue size of the network jitter buffer for audio you receive from a server. Similar to period, smaller values can result in lower latency, but can place higher demands on your Internet connection. This defaults to "auto" which means that it will automatically adjust to an optimal value for your Internet connection.
Port
Note: this setting only applies to JackTrip audio servers.
This setting enables you to change the port number used by your audio device. If you have multiple devices sharing the same Internet connection, they must all use unique port numbers.
Limiter
Note: this setting only applies to JackTrip audio servers.
When enabled, a limiter is applied to your audio before sending it to the server. This prevents disturbing clipping noises, and should probably always be enabled.
Compressor
Note: this setting only applies to JackTrip audio servers.
When enabled, a compressor is applied to your audio before sending it to the server. This helps to automatically bring the volume level of each musician down into a certain range. We have found it is especially useful for choruses.
Device Firmware and Status
The number displayed in the lower left corner of a device card is the firmware version number currently active on the device. Whenever you plug in power for your device, it will automatically download and install any new firmware patches that are available, before starting up. Because of this, you should always wait a few minutes after plugging in your device before using it.
WARNING: Removing power while a device is applying firmware updates may cause it to corrupt your MicroSD card. If this happens, you can fix it by flashing the card with the latest firmware image and re-register it by navigating to http://jacktrip.local
To the right of the firmware version number, you should see an message indicating when the device last contacted the Internet update its configuration. If you see the message "Not Connected" it means that you device is unable to connect to the Internet.
Other Device Buttons
There are a few additional buttons located in the lower right hand corner of your device card:
This enables you to change the descriptive name of your device.
Use this to permanently remove your device. You can later re-register it by navigating to http://jacktrip.local
This links to a unique page for managing a specific audio device.
Comments
10 comments
Mike, what does "link to device" actually do? Does it make direct connection to a bandmates device and if so what is the advantage over just inviting them?
"Link to device" really is just an easy way for me to get the UUID for a device when troubleshooting things ;-)
Hi Mike. Where is the latest device firmware number posted? The instructions on updating/troubleshooting firmware are great but on the page "Getting Started with a Virtual Studio Device," I think it could help to have a section showing how to check the device's firmware version at the bottom left of the device panel against the current version (though I don't see where that is listed). It could also direct people to the page "Device Not Updating Firmware" if they don't match. Thanks!
The latest Raspberry Pi device firmware image is located here.
Thanks, Mike.
Might be worth noting that capturing the initial re-direct URL with apiprefix/apihash is a good way to remote control a device. We're finding this useful when users on WIFI have trouble reaching http://jacktrip.local. If they can connect via ethernet once and capture the URL, they can use the full URL wirelessly after that. A parent can also do the connection remotely from another location if using a log-in account a child doesn't have access to.
In the Port setting, it might be worth mentioning the effect of not having separate ports for multiple devices in a network, notably that the devices will contest each other for audio, potentially resulting in alternating audio for each device. It was like they took turns for 3-5 seconds at a time.
I put together a device for my sons' violin teacher, I tested it and then sent it to him. I gave him a newly imaged SD card, but I neglected to deregister the device from my account when I sent it, and now he is unable to register the device. Is there a way to deregister it from my account remotely so he can register it, or do I need to do a device swap with him?
Thanks.
Hi James,
It is very simple for you to unregister the Virtual Studio on your account. After you log in, click on the "devices" tab of the Virtual Studio Web App. In the right side pane, lower right corner, there is a tiny trashcan. Simply click on it and answer "yes", and it will be removed from your account. You don't need the device plugged in to do this. And your son might be interested in our brand new Bluetooth-enabled registration process for registering it to his account.
Please let us know if you have questions. I am going to create a ticket for you over on our Zendesk area in case you have more questions, it will be easier to manage there.
Cheers!
Synthia
I have one question I have 2 jack trip device I registered it.
Now I want to lend one device to a friend .
Can he is just power up device and I can connect it from my account to server.
So he doesn't have to do anything.
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