Research Article

O2: A Network Protocol for Music Systems

Table 1

Summary of properties of O2 and some alternative communication systems for real-time music networks. “Location Transparency” means that processes or services can be addressed by name or function rather than by direct IP addresses and/or port numbers. “Data Streams” refers to libmapper’s unique ability connect producers of numerical data streams to consumers, including mapping and filtering options to adapt sensor outputs to controller system inputs.

Location TransparencyTyped, Named ParametersDiscoveryMixed Reliable & Best EffortTimed DeliveryData StreamsComments

TCP or UDP

OSCTimed delivery is possible; rarely implemented.

O2

libmapper

LandiniMessages sent indirectly through local servers; N2 ping traffic limits ensemble size.