Are you curious about the magic that happens behind the scenes of network music performances? This blogpost briefly covers the fundamentals of computer networks in NMPs in extremely simple terms! It all starts with a network, which is like a city where computers are the houses and communication is like sending parcels between houses.

A city or a network.

IP Address and Port

Each computer in a network has an identification number called an IP address, which is like the physical address of your house in a city. Remember that if you are in different places, you may need to do something called port forwarding to connect to each other.

Servers

Servers are dedicated devices that manage and provide services to other devices in the network, like central offices in a city that serve the residents.

Ping

When you connect to a network, you can test your connection by sending a tiny package to a remote host and receiving it back.

Packetization

Packetization is a process of breaking up large blocks of data into smaller, more manageable chunks called packets. Think of packetization like in a trip, rather than trying to stuff all your belongings into one giant bag, it’s easier to organize your items into smaller, more manageable packages. Similarly, packetization allows data to be sent more efficiently over a network, reducing the chances of errors.

Jitter and Jitter Buffer

Normally in networks, packages are sent regularly. But sometimes, there may be variation in the delay between package deliveries, which is called jitter. We solve this with a technique called jitter buffering which is temporarily storing incoming packages and releasing them at a steady rate. However, packing up enough amount of packages introduces latency. It is essential to find the balance between the latency and jitter in that case!

Compression

Another technique to increase efficiency is compression, which reduces the data size while still retaining the essential information. Good, but this can also introduce latency as the compression algorithms take some time for theirselves.

Network Capacity

Most of the time, network’s capacity is measured by the amount of data that can be sent in a given amount of time, called bandwidth. Think of it like the width of roads in a city that determines how much traffic can flow through at once. Bandwidth is a theoretical measurement. When it comes to practice, the actual amount of data that is transmitted over a network is called the Throughput. Bandwidht is a measure of capacity, while throughput is a measure of performance.

Firewall

Just like a security guards standing at the entrance of your garden, firewalls are intelligent barriers that protect networks and computers by controlling incoming and outgoing traffic. However, it can be a nightmare when trying to establish a custom connection. So, it’s very common to bypass firewall when connecting for NMP.

TCP/UDP

When it comes to transmitting data, the two most common protocols in computer networks are TCP and UDP. TCP ensures that data is transmitted accurately by verifying that all packages have been received. UDP, on the other hand, sends data without confirming receipt or checking errors, making it faster but less reliable. Depending on the application, you may use one or the other. For example, UDP is more reliable for real-time, while TCP is preferred for critical applications.

Connection Typologies

To set up a connection for a network music performance, there are different typologies to choose from, like hub-server and peer-to-peer setups. In a peer-to-peer setup, each participant is connected directly to each other, which is useful for smaller performances. In a hub-server setup, a central server controls the flow of data between participants, which is useful for larger performances with more participants. As always, there are trade-offs to consider when choosing the best setup for your needs.

There are various software available today, you can go ahead and check their websites or documentation to see which typology they use. Here are the common software and their type of connection.

Video

All these gathered in a 7-minute-long video lecture. Enjoy!

Illustration elements: Freepik