FarPlay 1.2.6, out now, makes multi-user sessions easier

We’ve been amazed to see so many of you using FarPlay to make music together in large groups. We’re listening to your feature requests, and FarPlay 1.2.6 makes multi-user sessions easier by introducing collapsible user subpanels, persistent multi-user pan and gain settings, an audio limiter, as well as other design improvements. Upgrade here. Upgrading is always free!

Collapsible user subpanels

We’ve introduced the ability to collapse user subpanels. For larger ensembles, this means a lot less scrolling when navigating pan, gain, and latency settings for remote participants. FarPlay displays 10 collapsed user subpanels without scrolling.

To switch between full-sized and compact views of a participant’s subpanel, click the triangle next to that participant’s name.

To collapse all subpanels, hit Command + Left arrow (on Mac) or Control + Left arrow (on Windows). Expand all subpanels using Command/Control + Right arrow. You can also use the Session menu, as described in our tutorial for multi-user sessions.

Persistent multi-user pan and gain settings

FarPlay 1.2.6 can remember pan and gain settings from multi-user sessions. If you meet regularly with an ensemble, this feature lets you avoid readjusting pan and gain for each session.

To use, go to the Session menu and verify that Auto Load Last Multi-User Pan & Gain is checked. You can also save pan and gain settings to a file or load pan and gain settings from a file using the same menu. Learn more at our tutorial for multi-user sessions.

Audio limiter and 3D panning

FarPlay 1.2.6 helps make listening to multi-user sessions more comfortable.

When doing sessions with multiple people, the combined audio from everyone involved can sometimes get loud. To prevent clipping in your headphones, we’ve introduced a gain limiter to the output monitor. We’ve also added the limiter to the input mixer, mix recording, and broadcast output.

By default, FarPlay applies standard panning as found in most DAWS. We’ve also included the option to add a 3D effect to the panning so that remote participants can be positioned in space around you. If you choose to use this, you can adjust the strength of the 3D effect in preferences.

To explore settings for the limiter and 3D panning, go to the Preferences window and choose the Advanced tab. To learn more, see our instructions for the limiter and 3D panning.

Get in touch

We’ve been loving featuring our amazing users. If you’d like to be included — whether you use FarPlay for lessons, rehearsals, jam sessions, or conversations — we’d love to talk to you. You can let us know by emailing us at contact@farplay.io. For tech-support questions, our forum is the fastest way to reach us. If you need to reach us privately, email us at support@farplay.io — we’re happy to help!

We hope you enjoy FarPlay 1.2.6!

—David Liao & the FarPlay team

Featuring MJ Williams & Ann Tappan

We’re hard at work getting the next version of FarPlay ready for you. If you haven’t yet, upgrade to the latest version of FarPlay. Upgrading is always free!

User spotlight: MJ Williams and Ann Tappan

Vocalist and trombonist MJ Williams explains that when she and pianist Ann Tappan use FarPlay, “it really does take us to a different level of listening.” MJ and Ann are world-renowned jazz musicians based in Montana who have appeared together on Montana Public Television’s 11th and Grant series. Watch their user spotlight video to learn more. 

Next monthly support session: March 23

We were so glad to meet everyone who came to our fifth monthly support session on February 18th. Kathy Schneider is the director of the New York City Bar Chorus and explained that they use FarPlay for all their auditions. Diana Leverington, in Sweden, and our own Dan Tepfer, in Brooklyn, played a saxophone-piano duet 3800 miles apart. Watch our highlights reel to learn more. 

If you’d like to join us, sign up for our next session, Saturday March 23rd 2pm–3:30pm New York time (7pm–8:30pm Central European time). Monthly tech-support sessions are available at no extra cost to paid subscribers. 

Spread the word about FarPlay

We’re grateful for your steadfast help with growing our social media community. We invite you to share how you use FarPlay and to tag us at @farplayapp on InstagramFacebookYouTubeTikTok, and Twitter.

We’ve been loving featuring our amazing users. If you’d like to be included — whether you use FarPlay for lessons, rehearsals, jam sessions, or conversations — we’d love to talk to you. You can let us know by emailing us at contact@farplay.io. For tech-support questions, our forum is the fastest way to reach us. If you need to reach us privately, email us at support@farplay.io — we’re happy to help!

We hope you’ve been enjoying FarPlay 1.2.5 and FarPlay For Teachers!

—David Liao & the FarPlay team