LoLa (software)

{{Short description|Music performance software}}

{{Infobox software

| name = LoLa

| logo =

| screenshot =

| caption =

| developer = [http://www.conservatorio.trieste.it/ Conservatorio di Musica "Giuseppe Tartini"]

| programming language =

| genre =

| license = free for all academic and education non profit uses; otherwise shareware

| website = [https://lola.conts.it/ lola.conts.it]

| released = {{Start date and age|2017|11|30}} (v1.5.0)

| latest_release_version = 2.0.0 beta 1

| latest_release_date = 18 October 2019

| operating_system = {{bulleted list

| Windows 10

| platform = }}

}}

LoLa (low latency audio visual streaming system) is proprietary networked music performance software, first conceived in 2005, that enables real-time rehearsing and performing with musicians at remote locations, overcoming latency - the time lapse that occurs while (compressed) audio streams travel to and from each musician.

Unlike similar systems, LoLa offers ultra-low latency video as well as audio streaming, and for this reason has extremely stringent hardware requirements (estimated cost over 12,600 euros).{{cite web |title=LoLa suggested hardware |url=https://lola.conts.it/downloads/LOLA_HARDWARE_LIST.pdf |website=lola.conts.it |access-date=6 January 2021}} The current version supports up to 3 connections, with up to 4 cameras per site.{{cite web |title=LoLa, Low Latency Audio Visual Streaming System Installation & User's Manual, Version 2.0.0 (rev.001) |url=https://lola.conts.it/downloads/Lola_Manual_2.0.0_rev_001.pdf |website=lola.conts.it |publisher=Conservatorio di musica G. Tartini – Trieste, Italy |access-date=6 January 2021}} Over 140 sites - primarily universities and conservatoires - are listed as LoLa installations.{{cite web |title=LOLA INSTALLATIONS |url=https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1RUFFnVkuPnXnBPWThnUlMp96_Co&hl=it&ll=29.830335294025698%2C-82.15722249999999&z=2 |website=Google My Maps |access-date=6 January 2021}}

LoLa was conceived in 2005, when a Miami orchestra ran a master class accompanied by the Italian Research and Academic Network (GARR). Alternative solutions suggested at the time included EtherSound (Paris), NetworkSound (Silicon Valley) and Dante (Sydney) but these were limited to high-speed university or laboratory-based local networks.{{cite news |last1=Siglin |first1=Tim |title=Come Together: Streaming in Professional Music Production |url=https://www.streamingmedia.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=125664 |access-date=6 January 2021 |work=Streaming Media Magazine |date=14 June 2018}}

It has been used for live streaming by individual professional musicians unable to perform in public during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic,{{cite news |last1=Vnukowski |first1=Daniel |title=As a concert pianist, the stage is my life. But the pandemic taught me to love the livestream |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-12-22/daniel-vnukowski-pianist-livestream-covid-concerts |access-date=6 January 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=22 December 2020}} as well as international concerts.{{cite news |last1=Pooran |first1=Neil |title=Poppies will be projected on campus for Armistice concert |url=https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/poppies-projected-across-edinburgh-napier-15335686 |access-date=6 January 2021 |work=edinburghlive |date=26 October 2018 |language=en}} Pinchas Zukerman described the technology as "the savior of the profession".{{cite news |title=Pinchas Zukerman's Secret — Staying Curious |url=https://www.sfcv.org/preview/chamber-music-san-francisco/pinchas-zukermans-secret-staying-curious |access-date=6 January 2021 |work=San Francisco Classical Voice |date=14 February 2017 |language=en}}