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SoundJack BootCamp Training Course

by Ian Howell and Kayla Gautereaux

16 February 2021


This is an archive of the SoundJack BootCamp offered at NEC January 2021. This program was made possible with generous support from the Mattina R. Proctor Foundation.


Page Contents

  • Introduction

  • Router Configuration

  • Individual Home Router Port Forwarding Walkthroughs

  • Installing the SJC App & Optimizing and Using SoundJack on MacOS/Windows/Fastmusic Box

  • Connection Optimization and Introduction to a Distributed Performance Class Workflow



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Introduction

Getting started with SoundJack

Learning outcomes:

  • What is SoundJack? Can I use it?

  • What can SoundJack do? What are the limits?

  • What equipment do I need? How can I test if it will work?

  • Should I use a Fastmusic Box?

  • How to install the app and how to use the website

  • Understanding the Stage controls

Requirements:

  • Read pages 5-9, 16-24, 27-36 in Soundjack Guide

  • For info re: microphone choice, please read Mic Check

  • No particular equipment required to start beyond a computer


ROUTER CONFIGURATION

Live configuration of select participants’ routers

Learning outcomes:

  • Understanding general configuration requirements for a router

  • Port forwarding

  • Quality of Service

  • DMZ

  • Specific examples of how to configure popular routers based on participant equipment

  • Special considerations for using a LAN

  • Understanding Ping and Traceroute to evaluate the expected quality of a connection

Requirements:

  • Read pages 12-15 and 36-38 of SoundJack Guide

  • Ethernet connection to your router

  • Login credentials for your router (may include your ISP billing login information)

  • To move forward from here, an audio interface, headphones, microphone (on MacOS, can use built in microphone and headphone jack. On Windows, must have an ASIO compatible Audio Interface/DO NOT use Asio4All)


Individual Home Router Port Forwarding Walkthroughs 

Check back soon for walk throughs of port forwarding for common home internet routers.

Comcast Xfinity Modem/Router

Tp-Link Router 1 (newer)

Tp-Link Router 2 (older)

Verizon Fios 1 Older Model

Verizon Fios 2 Recent Model

Verizon Fios 3 Newest Model

Spectrum Cable Sagecom Router

Arris SURFBoard

Linksys Smart Wifi

Fairpoint Router

 

Installing the SJC app & Optimizing MacOS/Windows/Fastmusic Box

Learning outcomes:

  • Learn how to install the SJC app on MacOS and Windows

  • Learn to optimize your specific operating system to best run SoundJack

  • Learn to use the additional features of the Fastmusic Box (FMB session)

  • Using Activity Monitor and Task Manager to evaluate your operating system performance

Requirements:

  • Read pages 10-12 (MacOS/PC) and/or 47-56 (for Fastmusic Box session) of SoundJack Guide

  • A port forwarded computer/Fastmusic Box

  • Audio interface, headphones, microphone (on MacOS, can use built in microphone and headphone jack. On Windows, must have an ASIO compatible Audio Interface/DO NOT use Asio4All)

mac OS

Windows OS

Fastmusic Box


OPTIMIZATION + PERFORMANCE CLASS

Balancing speed with quality & how to coordinate a real time, distributed performance class

Learning outcomes:

  • Understanding peer to peer connections

  • Optimizing a two participant call

  • Optimizing more than two participants

  • Understanding advanced workflow to allow a real time, distributed performance class

  • Using Loopback (MacOS only) to route complex audio workflows

Requirements:

  • Read pages 39-46 of SoundJack Guide

  • To practice optimizing a connection, need a port forwarded SoundJack computer/Fastmusic Box (see session 2)

  • Ethernet connection to your router

  • Audio interface, headphones, microphone (on MacOS, can use built in microphone and headphone port. On Windows, must have an ASIO compatible Audio Interface)

  • To explore real time, distributed performance class, read A Real Time, Distributed Performance Class. Also need MacOS, Rogue Ameoba’s Loopback ($99, or free trial), Zoom account