2.1.1) What is Netjam?
Description
This article is from the Electronic and Computer Music FAQ, by Craig Latta Craig.Latta@NetJam.ORG with numerous contributions by others.
2.1.1) What is Netjam?
Netjam provides a means for people to collaborate on musical
compositions, by sending Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) and other files (such as MAX patchers and notated scores) to each
other, mucking about with them, and resending them. All those with
MIDI-compatible (and other interesting) equipment, access to emailing
and compression facilities and to the Internet (send mail as below for
details), and who are interested in making music are encouraged to
participate.
All participant and composition information is documented, and
the most actions, such as subscription, submission, translation, and
information distribution, are automated. Netjam is
platform-independent, so users of Macintoshes, PCs, Amigas, Ataris,
and machines running UNIX-variants may all communicate with each
other. There are currently 134 participants, from all over the world.
Netjam has branched out from its initial incarnation to
support {soft/hard}ware other than sequencers. For example, many
participants have access to several interesting sound synthesis
programs, like CSound for the NeXT. In addition, Netjam archives
sampler and MAX patcher data. Any data relating to art and music is
fair game.
Most Netjam activity takes place via email, in which
participants collaborate at their own pace on works. Recently,
however, a Wide-Area MIDI Network was implemented, so real-time
interaction is now possible.
Submissions, participant info, and other data is archived on
XCF.Berkeley.EDU (128.32.138.1), where it is available via anonymous
ftp. To receive the document from which this blurb is extracted (and
which explains Netjam at length) send mail to netjam-request@XCF, with
a subject line containing "request for info". Articles about Netjam
have also appeared in the Computer Music Journal (15/3), and the
Leonardo Music Journal (1/1).
We look forward to hearing from you.
Craig Latta
musician and moderator
latta@XCF.Berkeley.EDU
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