Digital music requires tight synchronization of a different sort than is used in audio and video. Digital music sends very small packets of performance-critical data. Errors in timing and synchronization are much more obvious to the listener than are errors in digital audio playback. Buffering and excessive delay are unacceptable methods of compensating for network irregularities because of the timing constraints imposed by correct playback criteria. The delay between actuation and instrumentation needs to remain constant in order for a musician to correctly play.
Variable delays introduced by buffering or network jitter are unacceptable.
Other techniques used for synchronizing multimedia streams, such as resynchronizing between 'talk spurts' are inappropriate because digital music lacks clearly definable bursts. In a musical performance, notes tend to play at a constant rate, and silent periods are not long enough to use for synchronization. Additionally, such resynchronizations typically involve compressing or extending the silent space between talk spurts, and such alterations in silent pauses are unacceptable in a musical performance. The MMidi protocol and the applications that use it will help musicians on the internet collaborate and interact musically. It supplements the MIDI data format to compensate for unreliable or unpredictable network service.