What’s New?
- Support for multi-channel audio interfaces
- Reduced bandwidth requirements
Support for multi-channel audio interfaces
Previous releases of the JackTrip App only supported using the first two channels of an audio interface. While most interfaces only have one or two channels (left and right), higher-end interfaces often have more. With 1.8.0, JackTrip can now use any two channels available for receiving and sending audio, including virtual channels. Here is a peek at our new audio settings interface:
I’m an especially big fan of Universal Audio’s Apollo interfaces, which offer the lowest latency available (about 1 millisecond) and let you use plugins to customize your sound. Using JackTrip with these previously required reconfiguring your I/O Matrix or purchasing extra software to control audio routing.
Additionally, many people like to use JackTrip with your DAW. Whether you are using UA’s Console, Focusrite’s Control, or something similar, routing virtual channels with JackTrip was a lot more difficult that it should have been.
It’s now easy to customize which channels JackTrip uses to send and receive audio. If your interface supports it, we recommend sending JackTrip’s audio (output) to two virtual channels so that it’s easy to mix or record separately. You can also use virtual channels to send your studio a custom mix from your DAW.
Reduced bandwidth requirements
Sending stereo (2 channel) audio to others in your studio requires an upload bandwidth of about 2 Mbps. It’s a paltry amount for most broadband Internet connections these days, but we’ve found that some Internet connections can struggle in that 1-2 Mbps range.
If you’re only using a microphone, you only need to send a single mono channel. With 1.8.0 you can conserve half your upload bandwidth by only selecting a single channel. Just select the input channel you want and it will automatically save bandwidth by configuring it to be mono.
Have both a microphone and a guitar? You can also conserve bandwidth by selecting the two input channels you want with “Mix to Mono.” This will mix the two signals together and send them to your studio over a single mono channel.
If you want to preserve your stereo signal, just use “Stereo” instead and be sure to remove any “Pan” links from your Soundscapes input chain configuration. It’s fine if other people you play with are using “Mono” or “Mix to Mono” – their mono signals will now automatically go to both the left and right channels.
As always, we recommend that you use the volume meters to test. Adjust your sliders to keep those bars in the yellow when you are singing or playing your loudest. And use the “Play Test Tone” to ensure audio is going to your headphones at a comfortable loudness level.
Happy Jamming!
Mike