ipMIDI - FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Now, I know the “U” in UDP means ‘unreliable”. Doesn’t this mean I could lose data/miss beats?

A: A local network is usually as stable as a rock and you won't lose even one packet. You can easily test this with the ping comand. In a command window (Start -> Run -> cmd) type:

ping -n 10 -l 3 <ipOfSecondComputer>

(this example sends 10 messages with the size of 3 bytes, the size of a common midi message, to a second computer and back again)

The result should be something like:

ping -n 10 -l 3 192.168.0.100

Reply from 192.168.0.100: bytes=3 time<1ms TTL=128

...

Ping statistics for 192.168.0.100:

Packets: Sent = 10, Received = 10, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 3ms, Average = 0ms

which indicates no lost data and an average latency near zero.

Q: Can my ipMIDI network co-exist with my normal TCP/IP data network, and can I run other network-oriented applications (like an HTTP webserver) at the same time?

A: Yes, in a common studio environment people are connected to the Internet via cable or DSL, which takes only 1% of your network capacity.

Q: I want to jam with my friends remotely: will ipMIDI permit that?

A: No, ipMIDI does not transfer data over the Internet.

Q: Can I use a Wireless network?

A: Yes, The following three prerequisite must be fulfilled:

You should be in the same room—remember, any packet loss also means MIDI data loss! To ensure a good connection position your computers for the best signal strength (for example, try to avoid a wall between the computers). If you cannot avoid a separating wall or if you doubt the validity of the connection, try the above test.
Update to the latest wlan network card driver and/or access point firmware. Do it! Especially the first Generation of Centrino™ based Notebooks were not fully multicast capable.
Disable PSP (Power Save Polling) and set the adapter to CAM (continually aware mode). In a mobile environment, power save polling mode is a feature for extended battery life for mobile stations. ipMIDI (and other real-time streaming apps) will extremely jitter with PSP. ipMIDI comes with a step by step description how to disable PSP and how to setup a wireless connection.

Q: How do I uninstall ipMIDI for Apple Mac OS X?

A: To uninstall ipMIDI simply delete:

 /Library/Audio/MIDI Drivers/ipMIDIDriver.plugin 
 /Application/Utilites/ipMIDI Setup.app

Q: I have two network interfaces. ipMIDI is using the wrong one!

A: Network traffic is controlled by the so called "Network routing table". ipMIDI uses the default route like every other application (e.g. Web Browser). To change this behavior, add a routing table entry for ipMIDI's multicast adress 225.0.0.37. This is done in a (administrator) command window:

Windows:

route add -p 225.0.0.37 mask 255.255.255.255 <static_ip_of_wanted_network_interface>

macOS:

sudo networksetup -setadditionalroutes <Mac adapter name> 225.0.0.37 255.255.255.255 127.0.0.1