Q: Do we have to take turns, or can we really play at the same time?
A: You can really play at the same time. Watch this string quartet in action.
Q: How many people can play at once?
A: Currently around 6-8.
Q: What is JamKazam?
A: JamKazam is a live music platform and social network that enables musicians to play music together in real time from different locations over the internet.
Q: Does it cost anything to use?
A: JamKazam moved to tiered pricing on January 1, 2021. There is still a free version, but people who play chamber music regularly will probably need something more than what it includes. The new subscription structure comprises a Free basic plan, and Silver, Gold, and Platinum premium plans. A free 30-day Gold plan trial is offered for new users. This article has a description of the plans.
For 2023, ACMP (Associated Chamber Music Players) has again negotiated a volume discount with JamKazam on half-price one-year Gold Plans, and is selling them back to members at cost. You must be an ACMP member to get this discount, but membership in ACMP is now free. If you decide you'd like to avail yourself of this deal after your free trial is over, once you are logged into the ACMP site, you can place your order for a subscription here. (There are also other benefits of ACMP membership, some financial, like subsidized home coachings and a discount with gear-provider, Sweetwater.)
Q: What is latency anyway?
A: It’s a jargony word for the delay between when you expect to hear or see something and when you actually do. It tends to increase as a function of distance. Latency can be due to local issues in your gear as well as network issues. Since classical music relies on precise timings, we need the lowest latency we can get.
Q: How close do I need to be to the people I am playing with?
A: If you are within a few hundred miles, there should be no problem. DC JamKazammers have reported barely detectable latency playing with others as far away as Tennessee and Georgia. JamKazam's 2021 infrastructure improvements have made even the West Coast and Western Europe a possibility for some of us.
Q: Do I need special gear?
A: Not super special, but we want to keep latency down, so it’s back to the future with an all wired set-up. You might have it all already, or need to buy a few things. See what you’ll need, below.
Q: How do I get started?
A: We recommend watching a few of the JamKazam tutorials before you try setting up the first time. Once you have your gear, you'll initiate a solo session to experiment with your configuration and try to pass the latency test. Detailed instructions for getting started can be found here.
Q: How do I find other people to play with on JamKazam?
A: There is a search tool on JamKazam that doesn’t work that well, but ACMP has added a robust capability to search for online players to their Players Directory. To access the search by online playing service capability, toggle Advanced Search to on. To list yourself and be able to search by name, you will need to join (free).