Quick Start Guide
Get your band playing together online — low latency, high quality. For Windows & Mac.
Contents
1
Gear You Need
SonoBus works with any audio interface. Here’s what each person in the session needs:
🎤 Vocals / Acoustic Instruments
- XLR microphone (dynamic or condenser)
- Audio interface (USB, Thunderbolt, or USB-C)
- Headphones — closed-back preferred
- XLR cable, mic stand
🎸 Electric Guitar / Bass
- Instrument cable (¼” TS)
- Audio interface with instrument input (Hi-Z)
- Headphones (closed-back)
- Optional: amp sim plugin or pedal before interface
🥁 Drums / Percussion
- Electronic kit via MIDI or direct stereo out
- Or acoustic kit + drum mic (overhead minimum)
- Interface with enough inputs for your setup
- Trigger pad → USB works too
🎹 Keys / Synths
- Stereo ¼” outputs into interface (L+R)
- Or USB MIDI keyboard → software synth
- Audio interface with stereo inputs
- Headphones
⚠️
No laptop built-in mic/speakers. Feedback will ruin the session. Always use headphones and an external audio interface. Built-in soundcards have too much latency for real-time playing.
Recommended Audio Interfaces
| Interface | Inputs | Connection | Best For | Approx. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focusrite Scarlett Solo (4th gen) | 1 XLR + 1 Hi-Z | USB-C | Vocalist or solo guitarist | $120 |
| ★ Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th gen) | 2 XLR/Hi-Z combo | USB-C | Most players — best value | $180 |
| PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 | 2 XLR/Hi-Z combo | USB | Budget pick, solid drivers | $100 |
| MOTU M2 | 2 XLR/Hi-Z combo | USB-C | Low latency, pro quality | $170 |
| Universal Audio Volt 276 | 2 combo + built-in comp | USB-C | Vocalists wanting coloring | $250 |
2
Download & Install SonoBus
ℹ️
SonoBus is free and open source. Download from sonobus.net — there is no paid version.
- Go to
sonobus.net→ click Download → choose Windows Installer (.exe) - Run the installer — accept defaults, installs to
C:\Program Files\SonoBus - Also install your audio interface driver from the manufacturer’s website (ASIO driver — this is critical for low latency)
- Open SonoBus from the Start menu
💡
Windows users must use the ASIO driver from your interface manufacturer (e.g., Focusrite Control, Steinberg ASIO4ALL). Windows’ built-in audio (WASAPI) adds too much latency. Download from the manufacturer’s support page.
- Go to
sonobus.net→ click Download → choose macOS (.dmg) - Open the .dmg → drag SonoBus to your Applications folder
- First launch: right-click → Open (to bypass Gatekeeper on first run)
- macOS uses CoreAudio natively — no extra driver needed for most interfaces
💡
On macOS 12+, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and allow SonoBus access. Without this, SonoBus won’t see your inputs.
3
Connecting Your Equipment
These diagrams show how each instrument type connects to your computer and into SonoBus.
Vocalist / Acoustic Instrument Setup
XLR Mic XLR INTERFACE Audio Interface USB-C Computer Internet SonoBus ¼” / USB Phones
Vocalist/acoustic chain: Mic → XLR → Interface → USB → Computer running SonoBus → Headphones via interface output
Electric Guitar / Bass Setup
Guitar / Bass ¼” TS Hi-Z in INTERFACE Audio Interface USB-C Computer Internet SonoBus ¼” out Phones
Electric guitar: use the Hi-Z instrument input on your interface — NOT a mic/line input. Plug guitar directly; use amp sims in software if desired.
💡
Monitor mix tip: Your interface headphone output blends your own dry signal with SonoBus’s mix from the internet. Set your interface’s Direct Monitor knob to taste — too far left = only internet audio, too far right = only your own dry signal.
4
Audio Setup in SonoBus
When you first open SonoBus, click the Audio Setup button (wrench/gear icon, bottom-left).
Audio Device Type
Set Audio Device Type to ASIO. Then choose your interface (e.g., Focusrite USB ASIO). If ASIO isn’t listed, install the ASIO driver from your interface’s manufacturer.
Audio Device TypeASIO
DeviceYour Interface Name
Sample Rate48000 Hz
Buffer Size128 or 256 samples
⚠️
Avoid WASAPI or DirectSound — these add 30–100ms of latency. ASIO is the only Windows option that works for real-time playing.
Audio Device Type
Set Audio Device Type to CoreAudio. Then choose your interface from the dropdown.
Audio Device TypeCoreAudio
DeviceYour Interface Name
Sample Rate48000 Hz
Buffer Size128 or 256 samples
💡
On M1/M2/M3 Macs, you can often go as low as 64 samples for even lower latency. Start at 128 and drop lower if you have headroom.
Input / Output Channels
After selecting your device, set:
- Input Channels: Select the input(s) where your mic or instrument is plugged in (Input 1, or Input 1+2 for stereo keys)
- Output Channels: Select Output 1+2 (stereo) — this goes to your interface’s headphone output
ℹ️
Click Test after setup — you should see your input meter moving when you sing or play. If not, check your interface gain knobs and make sure phantom power (+48V) is on for condenser mics.
5
Starting a Session
① Host Click Connect Create Group share name ② Others Click Connect Join Group → enter name ③ Check Levels See each person’s level strip appear ④ Play! 🎵
The host creates the group name/password and shares it via text, email, or a group chat. No account needed.
Step by step — for the Host
- Open SonoBus → click Connect (bottom of main window)
- Under Group, click Create — type a group name (e.g.,
TheBandFriday) - Set a password (optional, but good practice)
- Click Connect to Group
- Share the group name + password with your bandmates via text/email
Step by step — for Everyone Else
- Open SonoBus → click Connect
- Under Group, click Join → type the exact group name
- Enter password if required → click Connect to Group
- You should see a level strip appear for each connected person
- Adjust individual volume sliders so everyone can hear each other clearly
💡
Mute yourself when not playing — click the microphone icon on your strip to mute. This prevents noise floor and background sounds from bleeding into everyone’s mix between parts.
6
Latency & Quality Settings
Latency is the delay between you playing and others hearing it. Keeping it under 30ms is the goal for real-time playing. Under 20ms is excellent.
Quality / Bitrate Settings
In SonoBus, each connected peer has a quality selector (right-click their strip, or click the quality button). This controls how much bandwidth you use:
| Quality Setting | Codec | Bitrate (per stream) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest | Opus | ~16 kbps | Voice-only, very slow connections |
| Low | Opus | ~32 kbps | Casual chat, voice |
| Medium | Opus | ~64 kbps | Decent music quality |
| ★ High (recommended) | Opus | ~128 kbps | Most jam sessions |
| Very High | Opus | ~192 kbps | Better ear-training, critical listening |
| Uncompressed | PCM | ~1,400 kbps | Studio-grade, fiber/fast broadband only |
ℹ️
Recommended for most sessions: Start at High (128 kbps Opus). It sounds excellent and uses minimal bandwidth. Only use Uncompressed if everyone has fast fiber and you’re doing critical monitoring.
Buffer Settings — The Latency Dial
Each peer also has a Jitter Buffer setting. This is a safety net for unstable internet — a larger buffer = more stable but more latency. A smaller buffer = lower latency but more glitching on bad connections.
Jitter BufferAuto (start here)
If glitchingIncrease buffer
Buffer Size (interface)128 samples
Sample Rate48000 Hz
What Latency Is Acceptable?
| Round-Trip Latency | Playability |
|---|---|
| < 20 ms | 🟢 Excellent — feels like being in the same room |
| 20–30 ms | 🟡 Good — most musicians won’t notice |
| 30–50 ms | 🟠 Acceptable — slight looseness, works for slower tempos |
| 50–70 ms | 🔴 Difficult — noticeable drag, hard to groove |
| > 70 ms | ⛔ Impractical for sync playing — use for chat/practice only |
⚠️
Geographic reality: Latency is partly set by physics — the distance your data travels. Players on the same city will get 5–15ms. Cross-country (LA to NYC) is typically 30–45ms. Europe to US is 80–120ms — too much for tight playing, but fine for looser styles like ambient or experimental.
7
Troubleshooting
🔇 No one can hear me
- Check your interface gain knob — should be at ~60–70% for talking, higher for quiet instruments
- Confirm condenser mic has +48V phantom power switched on at the interface
- In SonoBus Audio Setup, confirm the correct Input channel is selected
- Make sure you haven’t accidentally clicked the mute button on your own strip
🔊 Crackling / Dropouts
- Increase buffer size in SonoBus Audio Setup (try 256 → 512 samples)
- Increase the Jitter Buffer for the affected peer
- Close other apps — browsers, video calls, streaming are CPU hogs
- Use a wired ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi if possible
- On Windows: check that no other apps have grabbed the ASIO driver
🔈 Echo / Feedback
- Always use closed-back headphones — never speakers during a live session
- Turn off the Direct Monitor on your interface if you hear a doubled signal
- Do not use a laptop’s built-in mic/speakers
🔌 Can’t Connect to Group
- Check that the group name and password match exactly (case-sensitive)
- Try a different Connection Server in the Connect dialog (click the server dropdown)
- Temporarily disable firewall/VPN — SonoBus uses UDP port 11000 by default
- Make sure the host is still connected before others join
🐌 High Latency
- Switch from Wi-Fi to a wired ethernet connection
- Reduce buffer size in Audio Setup (try 64 or 128 samples)
- Lower SonoBus’s jitter buffer to Minimum (accept slightly more risk of dropouts)
- Choose a connection server geographically closer to your group
★
Quick Reference Card
| Setting | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Driver | ASIO (manufacturer’s driver) | CoreAudio (built-in) |
| Sample Rate | 48000 Hz | |
| Buffer Size | 128 samples (try 64 on fast machines) | |
| Quality | High (128 kbps Opus) | |
| Jitter Buffer | Auto → adjust per-peer if needed | |
| Headphones | Closed-back, via interface output — mandatory | |
| SonoBus version | Download latest from sonobus.net (free) | |
🎵
Pro tip: Do a soundcheck session the night before your first real rehearsal — just you and one other band member. Dial in audio levels, confirm everyone can hear each other cleanly, and set your quality/buffer. This saves 15 minutes of setup during the actual rehearsal.
SonoBus is developed by Jesse Chappell & contributors · sonobus.net · Free & open source
Guide written for SonoBus 1.x · Windows 10/11 & macOS 12+