Online Jamming Is on the Rise
Over the past few years, online music collaboration has taken off.
Musicians are recording tracks together from different cities. Bands are rehearsing remotely. Even complete strangers are building songs together across time zones.
What started as a creative workaround during lockdowns has grown into a new way to make music online, more accessible, flexible, and social than ever before.
But even as live jamming tools improve, one thing still gets in the way: latency.
The Latency Wall: Why Real-Time Jamming Is So Hard
Latency is the delay between playing a note and your friend hearing it on the other end. It's the biggest challenge when it comes to jamming online in real time.
Even with a fast internet connection, there's no way around physics. As this article explains, bringing latency below 30 milliseconds is nearly impossible without professional-grade equipment.
And once the delay goes over 20 to 30 milliseconds, things fall apart. The timing feels off. Playing together becomes frustrating.
That's why live online jamming only works in rare cases, usually when both musicians are nearby and have exceptional internet.
But that doesn't mean online music collaboration is off the table. You just need a different approach, like asynchronous jamming.
Asynchronous Jamming Tools
Sounts
If you want to make music online with friends, but without the hassle of scheduling or dealing with latency, asynchronous collaboration might be the perfect fit.
That's exactly what Sounts is built for. It's a web-based platform (currently in beta) designed for loop-based, social music creation. Whether you're jamming with close friends or collaborating with strangers across the globe, Sounts makes it easy to jam together and connect with each other.
Here's how it works:
- Record a short loop or musical idea
- Your friends (or anyone on the platform) can build on it, right in the browser
- Watch your track evolve as each person adds their part
There's no scheduling, no live setup, and no pressure to "get it right" in the moment. Just relaxed, creative back-and-forth.
Right now, Sounts works best on desktop or tablet.
Try out Sounts with your friends using the invite code QRJ55L.
Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs)
Some musicians use platforms like BandLab or Soundtrap for online music collaboration.
But keep in mind: these tools are designed for structured, multi-track production, not spontaneous jamming.
If you're producing full songs or need a cloud-based DAW, they're perfect. If you're looking for casual music creation with friends, they're not ideal.
For that, tools like Sounts or other jamming platforms are a better fit.
Live Jamming Tools
If you're keen on jamming online in real time, despite the challenges of latency and setup, several platforms are designed to make it possible.
Jamulus
Jamulus is a free, open-source app available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It enables musicians to play together online by connecting through a central server. Each participant's audio is compressed and sent to the server, which mixes the streams and sends them back to all users.
While Jamulus can achieve low latency, the total delay depends on the distance to the server and the quality of each user's internet connection. Hosting a private server can help reduce latency, especially if all participants are geographically close.
Jamulus is ideal for tech-savvy musicians seeking a customizable solution for real-time online collaboration.
JamKazam
JamKazam launched in 2014, but saw renewed interest when remote music collaboration spiked in 2020. Since then, it's grown into a solid option for real-time online jamming.
It supports both free and premium plans:
- The free version connects musicians peer-to-peer
- The premium version adds client-server routing, which can improve stability and reduce dropouts
- Bonus features include social media streaming and JamTracks (pre-recorded tracks you can jam along with)
Like all live jamming tools, JamKazam depends heavily on your setup.
A wired internet connection and a low-latency audio interface are strongly recommended.
Even with the right gear, latency can still be an issue, especially over longer distances. But if conditions are right, JamKazam offers one of the smoother experiences for playing together in real time.
SoundJack
SoundJack is a browser-based tool for low-latency music collaboration.
It uses peer-to-peer audio, meaning your sound goes directly to others without a central server. This can reduce delay, but only if your setup is strong and well-configured.
SoundJack is not beginner-friendly. Setting it up requires some technical knowledge, especially around audio interfaces and network settings.
There's a public chat on the homepage where users connect and troubleshoot together.
Final Thoughts
Jamming online with friends has never been more accessible. Whether you're aiming for real-time sessions or relaxed, back-and-forth collaboration, there's a tool that fits your style.
Live platforms like Jamulus, JamKazam, and SoundJack offer powerful options, if your setup can handle the latency demands. For something more flexible, asynchronous jamming with tools like Sounts lets you create music together without worrying about time zones or tech issues.
In the end, the best platform is the one that gets you and your friends making music.
Pick your setup and start jamming.
