Exploiting Latency In The Design Of A Networked Music Performance System For Percussive Collective Improvisation

Ari Liloia, and Roger Dannenberg

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract

We present the design, prototype implementation, and informal testing of a distributed web-based networked music performance (NMP) system for collaborative improvisation and experimentation. Influenced by composition and interaction design techniques from a wide range of work on collaborative virtual music environments, rather than treating latency as inherently disruptive to the musical and social engagement that characterizes traditional performance, we incorporate and exploit network delay to facilitate and visualize them, providing a novel approach to creating "jam session"-like experiences without a separate audience. During sessions, users collaboratively perform semi-improvised music in quasi-real time. The production and interpretation of individual musical gestures ("drum hits") are visualized in a continuously devised feedback network. The music produced can be treated as a starting point for compositions developed asynchronously, or as complete pieces of music produced live.

Citation

Ari Liloia, and Roger Dannenberg. 2025. Exploiting Latency In The Design Of A Networked Music Performance System For Percussive Collective Improvisation. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15698934 [PDF]

BibTeX Entry

@article{nime2025_69,
 abstract = {We present the design, prototype implementation, and informal testing of a distributed web-based networked music performance (NMP) system for collaborative improvisation and experimentation. Influenced by composition and interaction design techniques from a wide range of work on collaborative virtual music environments, rather than treating latency as inherently disruptive to the musical and social engagement that characterizes traditional performance, we incorporate and exploit network delay to facilitate and visualize them, providing a novel approach to creating "jam session"-like experiences without a separate audience. During sessions, users collaboratively perform semi-improvised music in quasi-real time. The production and interpretation of individual musical gestures ("drum hits") are visualized in a continuously devised feedback network. The music produced can be treated as a starting point for compositions developed asynchronously, or as complete pieces of music produced live.},
 address = {Canberra, Australia},
 articleno = {69},
 author = {Ari Liloia and Roger Dannenberg},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 doi = {10.5281/zenodo.15698934},
 editor = {Doga Cavdir and Florent Berthaut},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 month = {June},
 numpages = {8},
 pages = {473--480},
 title = {Exploiting Latency In The Design Of A Networked Music Performance System For Percussive Collective Improvisation},
 track = {Paper},
 url = {http://nime.org/proceedings/2025/nime2025_69.pdf},
 year = {2025}
}