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Stemly FAQ
Which audio interfaces are supported?
Stemly works with all class-compliant USB audio interfaces — no drivers needed. Popular choices: Focusrite Scarlett, MOTU M series, Behringer UMC, Roland series. Connect via USB-C or Lightning (with Apple adapter).
How do I import backing tracks?
Open Project → tap + to create a new song → import WAV or AIFF files from the Files app (iCloud Drive, Dropbox, etc.). Assign each track to its audio output channel, set the name and save.
How does the Wi-Fi lyrics server work?
Stemly has a built-in Wi-Fi server. Tap Lyrics → Start Server. Band members open a browser on any device — iOS, Android, Mac, Windows — and enter the IP address shown on screen. Lyrics switch automatically as you navigate songs.
Why does STOP require 3 taps?
It’s intentional — a safety feature for live performance. Accidental stops on stage are the most common and embarrassing mistake. The button changes colour with each tap: STOP → STOP? → STOP?! — so you always know where you are. The threshold is adjustable in Settings.
How do I connect Stemly Remote?
Install Stemly Remote on any iPhone or iPad. Launch Stemly first on the host device, then Stemly Remote on the remote device — connection is automatic via Wi-Fi (MultipeerConnectivity), no pairing codes needed. A green dot in the top bar confirms the connection. If the connection drops, Stemly Remote retries every 2 seconds automatically.

Every device combination works: iPad host + iPhone remote, iPhone host + iPad remote, iPad + iPad, iPhone + iPhone. One host supports one Stemly Remote at a time.

Both devices can be in Airplane Mode — Stemly Remote then connects via Bluetooth, which is not blocked by Airplane Mode.

Recommended stage setup: Use a USB hub with a PD port (Power Delivery) and a USB-A port on the host. PD → charger; USB-A → audio interface or digital mixer. For older Apple devices: Apple Lightning OTG Camera Adapter.
How does song queuing work in Stemly Remote?
When the host is NOW PLAYING, tapping a song in Stemly Remote does not interrupt playback — it queues it (yellow highlight). The queued song is immediately sent to the host and appears highlighted in orange with a “NEXT” label in the Stemly Songs list — visible to the performer at a glance. Tap the trash icon 🗑 next to a queued song to remove it.

When the host stops, Stemly Remote automatically loads the queued song. Press PLAY twice to start.

Note: Selecting a song while the host is already playing only queues it — it never interrupts the current track. To load a different song immediately, stop playback first.
Stemly Remote disconnects when the screen locks — how to fix?
MultipeerConnectivity does not work when the device screen is locked. On the Stemly Remote device set:

Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock → Never

Also enable Background Audio in Stemly settings on the host — this keeps playback running even if the host screen turns off.
Can I use Stemly on iPhone?
Yes — one purchase covers both iPad and iPhone. On iPhone you get up to 6 tracks, full mixer, lyrics and playback. Project and Playlist Builder are iPad only.
What audio file formats are supported?
Audio files: WAV and AIFF are recommended. MP3 is also supported — useful on storage-limited devices such as iPhone 64 GB. For professional live use, WAV 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, 16-bit or 24-bit gives the best results.
Lyrics files: RTF, TXT and PDF are all supported. RTF gives the most formatting control.
Where should I store my audio files and lyrics to avoid losing them?
Never store files inside the Stemly app folder. The folder Files → On My iPad → Stemly belongs to the app and is permanently deleted when you uninstall Stemly.

Create your own folder outside the app — for example “Stemly Copyrdquo; — directly in On My iPad or in iCloud Drive. Keep three things there:
• Audio stems (WAV / AIFF / MP3)
• Database backup — JSON file exported from Settings
• Lyrics text files (RTF / TXT)

This folder is yours and survives app updates, reinstalls and full device restores.
Do stereo audio files get split automatically?
Yes. Stemly automatically splits every stereo file into a left channel (L) and a right channel (R). Each channel is sent to its own USB output line — no manual splitting needed. You can also unlink a stereo fader pair in the mixer to control L and R independently during the show.
Can I display lyrics on Android or Windows devices?
Yes — any device with a browser (Android, Windows, Mac) can receive lyrics. However, all devices must be on the same local Wi-Fi network.

Best solution: Bring your own portable router — no internet connection needed, local only. Do not rely on venue Wi-Fi: it is often unreliable or has device isolation enabled.

iOS devices only? No extra router needed — Apple devices connect directly and work even in Airplane Mode.
How do I connect Android or Windows to the lyrics server quickly?
Use the built-in QR code button. In the Lyrics tab, next to the server IP address, tap the QR button — a large QR code appears on a black screen. The musician points their Android camera at it and the browser opens automatically at the correct address. No typing needed.

If the host device changes (e.g. iPad ↔ iPhone), simply scan the QR code from the new host and the connection updates instantly.
Lyrics stopped updating on Android / Windows — what happened?
The most common cause is the host device screen turning off. When the iPad or iPhone running Stemly — Lyrics goes to sleep, the Wi-Fi server pauses and all receiving devices stop updating.

Prevention: Before every show, set Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock → Never on the host device.

Quick fix: Wake the host device (make sure Stemly is on screen), then refresh the browser on Android / Windows / Mac — synchronisation resumes immediately.
The song title is shown in red in the Lyrics tab — what does it mean?
A red title means the song title does not match the name of its lyrics text file on disk. The app cannot synchronise lyrics for that song.

How to fix: Check that the song title (entered in Project) and the lyrics file name on disk are exactly the same. Only when they match will lyrics load and switch automatically with the setlist.
What can the Bluetooth foot pedal do?
Any BT pedal that pairs as a standard Bluetooth keyboard (e.g. Joyo JSP-1) works with Stemly. After pairing in iOS Settings, tap the pedal icon in the Songs tab toolbar to open Foot Pedal Settings.

You can assign pedal buttons to two actions: PLAY and STOP. Each supports a 1-click or 2-click safety mode — the default is 2 clicks, matching the on-screen tap count. A ? appears while waiting for the second press. Settings survive app restarts.
Does Stemly show a countdown timer?
Yes. While a song is playing, the Lyrics tab header shows a live green countdown (-3:42) next to the song title — updating every second. The same countdown is broadcast to all Wi-Fi browser receivers via SSE and displayed at the top of every browser page without causing flicker or scroll in the lyrics.
Android Remote stays “Connected” even after Stemly is closed — is this fixed?
Yes. Stemly Remote Android uses a watchdog timer. If no data arrives from the Stemly host for ~45 seconds (e.g. Stemly was closed or Wi-Fi dropped), the app automatically shows red “Disconnected” and retries when Stemly is available again.
Audio stopped during the show — timer is running but no sound
This usually happens after the iPad screen auto-locked, another audio app (e.g. Spotify) was playing in the background, or the USB audio interface briefly disconnected. Stemly detects this automatically and shows a red “Audio Lost” banner at the top of the Songs tab.

Fix: Tap Restart Stemly in the red banner — the audio engine rebuilds in seconds. No need to close the app, restart the song, or reconnect the interface.

Prevention: Enable Background Audio in Stemly Settings and set Auto-Lock → Never before every show (Settings → Display & Brightness).
I saved mixer levels in the Songs tab but PlayList tab shows old values
This is fixed in the current version. Both the Songs tab and the PlayList tab now share the same mixer snapshot per song.

Move a fader or change a link/unlink state in either tab → an orange SAVE banner appears → tap SAVE. The saved levels and stereo/mono state are immediately visible in the other tab when you select the same song.
💡 Tip: Before contacting support, check the User Manual — most questions are answered there with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.