in some circumstances (and especially during this COVID19 period), I would need to be able to practice "remotely" with my pianist. Do you have any advice on software to use, free or otherwise? Preferably for the Windows platform? We tried Skype but the delay is too high; I evaluated Logic (but on Mac ... I had to borrow it) but it does not meet our purposes because it requires recording a single track to a metronome and then putting it all together. I would need something that allows sharing audio between two people (video could be optional).
Thank you in advance for any suggestions regarding this; regards
Sorry Jumper if I'm only replying now, but I only just saw your post. Until quite recently, I was working on a project involving an encoder and a player based on the RTSP protocol. In video signal transmission, there are several protocols; without getting too technical, some of these are more performant, others less so. The performance of the protocol affects not only the quality of the audio/video signal but also the latency of the signal. Currently, the RTSP protocol is the one that offers the absolute lowest latency.
I'll tell you right away that currently there is nothing that can allow you to play remotely with another person. New protocols will probably emerge with 5G, provided there isn't a mass of donkeys who oppose this technology, totally unaware that its electromagnetic wave emissions are much less powerful compared to the current 4G LTE. In fact, with 5G, it will be possible to break through the wall of current latency, getting even closer to 0.
The current systems based on the RTSP protocol have a latency in the range of 500ms to 1500ms (this naturally depends on a long series of parameters).
But beware, this might not be enough... In the audio/video signal transmission chain, you must consider that it is not just the signal transmission that generates latency, but also all those stages of signal conversion and encoding. Latencies add up, and to be able to start a remote session that allows you to play, you need a latency that does not exceed 30ms (currently we are talking about science fiction, considering that even a supercomputer cannot perform H.264 video compression in that timeframe). I am sorry to disappoint you, but technologically there are currently no solutions for your problem.
The only solution that comes to mind is for both of you to record yourselves and play "offline" separately over your respective recordings.
