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).
Can Stemly play audio over Bluetooth?▼
Yes. If no USB audio interface is connected, Stemly can send sound to a paired Bluetooth speaker or headphones — the same way the built-in Music app does. Enable Headphone Stereo Mode in Settings, pair your Bluetooth device in iOS Settings, and play a song. All tracks are mixed down into one stereo signal (left/right), since Bluetooth only carries 2 channels.
USB always takes priority — connect a USB audio interface and Stemly automatically switches to full multi-channel output, even mid-song. Note that Bluetooth audio has noticeably more latency (roughly 100–200ms) than a USB interface, so for live multi-channel monitoring on stage a wired USB connection is still recommended.
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.
Can I add lyrics for a song with no backing track?▼
Yes. In the Lyrics tab, tap the blue + button next to the folder icon and type a title — no audio tracks needed. It appears in the list like any other song, so you can tap “Create new lyrics file” and add the text. It also shows up in Songs/PlayList, but tapping Play does nothing (safely, no sound) — it exists purely to carry lyrics for songs you play fully live.
What is the Jukebox tab?▼
Jukebox is a separate audio file player built into Stemly (6th tab, available in Advanced mode) for playing ordinary music from your device during breaks — offline, with no Spotify needed. It has its own folder, so it never touches your show songs. Tap a file to play it now, tap + to add it to the Up Next queue (you can save a queue as a playlist). Browse by folders or A–Z, use the seek bar, Loop and XFade (crossfade of 1–10 s), and set the volume separately from your show (it starts at 10%). Drag across the waveform with one finger to loop a section of a track (pinch to zoom for precision). Long-press a title and choose Rename to rename the file on disk.
Does Stemly have an equalizer?▼
Yes — Stemly EQ is built in: a 4-band EQ for every output channel (low shelf, two bells, high shelf), with no extra hardware or purchase. Tap the EQ button in a fader header and drag the four numbered points on the curve (left/right = frequency, up/down = gain, ±6 dB shown). Reset Eq flattens the channel. On iPad in landscape the curve opens in a window (close it with Done). A linked stereo fader (e.g. 23+24) has one EQ for both channels; after you split the pair into mono, each channel has its own EQ. Tap Save Mix to store the EQ together with the fader levels — it is saved per song and restored when you load it again.
Headphones / 2-channel output: when Stemly plays through a 2-channel output (iPad speaker, headphones), the EQ window automatically edits “Out 1+2”, so you hear the correction even for songs routed to channels 23+24. The same applies with Force 2 outputs (1+2). This EQ is stored separately and does not carry over to the multichannel (e.g. mixer) setup.
How does the queue work in Queue mode (iPad)?▼
In Queue mode the queue sits at the top of the song list on the left, in playing order with position numbers (up to 10 songs on iPad, 5 on iPhone). The fixed QUEUE (n/max) bar (on iPhone: Q n/5) jumps back to the top of the queue; Clear All (Clr All on iPhone) empties it after a confirmation. Numbers appear only in the queue, not in the alphabetical list. To remove one song, swipe its row left and tap Remove. Tapping a queued song only selects it — press PLAY (2 taps) to start. A song that has been played drops out of the queue automatically.
Why is Jukebox locked, and why did it stop when I pressed PLAY?▼
Jukebox is deliberately locked while a Stemly song is playing (banner “Stemly is playing — Jukebox is locked”), so break music can never start over your show by accident. If Jukebox is playing and you press PLAY in Stemly, Jukebox stops and releases the memory it used, leaving all of it to your show.
Can Stemly auto-play the next song for me?▼
Yes — enable Auto Advance in Settings → Play Mode. Set a gap of 0–30 seconds; when a song ends on its own, Stemly waits that long (with a visible countdown banner) and then automatically plays the next song in the playlist — handy for talking to the crowd without touching Play. Tap Cancel on the banner to skip the automatic transition — or simply tap any other song (in the list or via the A–Z letter bar) during the countdown, which cancels it the same way. Your manual choice always wins. Your STOP button is completely unaffected — Auto Advance only reacts to a song ending naturally, never to a manual stop.
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.
Stemly Lyrics FAQ
How do I start the lyrics server?▼
Open Stemly Lyrics, load your songs, then tap Start Server. The app displays an IP address — share it with your band. Each member opens a browser on their device and types that address. No app to install, no account needed.
Which devices can receive the lyrics?▼
Any device with a modern browser: iPhone, Android phone, iPad, Android tablet, Mac, Windows laptop — anything on the same Wi-Fi network. No special app required on the receiving device.
Does it require an internet connection?▼
No. Stemly Lyrics works entirely on your local Wi-Fi network — no internet needed. Ideal for venues, churches or outdoor stages. All lyrics stay private on your local network.
What file formats are supported?▼
Stemly Lyrics supports RTF, TXT and PDF files. RTF gives the most control — set fonts, sizes and colours. Import files from iCloud Drive, Dropbox or any Files app location.
Can I edit lyrics on my Mac and use them on iPad?▼
Yes. Edit the .txt or .rtf file on your Mac (in Stemly, or any text editor), then copy it to your iPad — AirDrop, iCloud Drive or the Files app — into Files → On My iPad → Stemly → Lyrics. Stemly matches lyrics files to songs by filename, so keep the same name and it will overwrite the existing text automatically.
💡 Simple tip for Mac owners: typing on a full keyboard is much faster than on iPad — edit your lyrics on the Mac, then just copy the finished file over.
Do lyrics change automatically when I switch songs?▼
Yes. When you navigate to a new song, the server automatically pushes the update to all connected browsers. Every band member sees the new lyrics immediately — no manual refresh needed.
How do I create a setlist?▼
Open Playlists → tap + to create a new setlist → add songs in show order. During the show, step through songs one by one. All connected devices follow automatically.
Can I use Stemly Lyrics without Stemly?▼
Yes — Stemly Lyrics is a completely standalone app. No backing tracks needed. It works with any setup: acoustic bands, cover bands, worship teams, theater productions and choirs.
How does chord transposition work?▼
Stemly Lyrics automatically detects chord lines in your RTF or TXT files — chords appear above the lyrics text in the Lyrics tab. Tap ♯ or ♭ in the header to transpose up or down by one semitone. The original file is never modified — transposition resets to 0 when you switch to another song.
How do I use the built-in metronome?▼
The metronome is built into the PDF Scores view. Set the BPM using the metronome controls — the value is saved per score file and survives app reinstall. Tap the metronome icon to start or stop the click. Each PDF score remembers its own BPM independently.
💡 Tip: Songs with a missing lyrics file are highlighted in red — so you always know before the show if anything is missing.
Stemly Remote FAQ
How do I connect Stemly Remote to Stemly?▼
Launch Stemly first on the host device, then open Stemly Remote on the remote device — they connect automatically via Wi-Fi (MultipeerConnectivity). No pairing codes required. A green dot in the top bar confirms the connection.
If the connection drops, Stemly Remote retries automatically every 2 seconds — no action needed.
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.
Do I need a Wi-Fi router?▼
No router needed. Stemly Remote uses direct device-to-device connection via Wi-Fi (MultipeerConnectivity) — no internet required. Both devices can also be in Airplane Mode and Stemly Remote will connect via Bluetooth, which is not blocked by Airplane Mode. Ideal for venues where you cannot connect to the house network.
What can I control from Stemly Remote?▼
From Stemly Remote you can:
• Browse all songs (View Song — sorted A–Z with alphabet bar) or browse by playlist (View Playlist)
• Select any song to load it instantly on Stemly
• PLAY the loaded song (2 taps) and STOP playback (3 taps)
• Queue a song during playback — it loads automatically when the host stops
• See lyrics in the right column, synced to the current song
• Monitor live playback status: NOW PLAYING (green) or STOP (grey) in the top bar
What is the Song / Playlist view toggle?▼
At the top of the Stemly Remote screen there is a toggle between two views:
• View Song (orange) — shows all songs from all playlists sorted A–Z. Tap a letter on the left to jump instantly to that section.
• View Playlist (green) — shows your playlists. Tap a playlist to see its songs in order, with the alphabet bar on the side.
When the host starts playing, Stemly Remote automatically switches to Song view after 2 seconds.
How does song queuing work?▼
When Stemly is NOW PLAYING, tapping a song in Stemly Remote does not interrupt playback — it queues the song (yellow highlight). The queued song is immediately reflected on the host — it appears highlighted in orange with a “NEXT” label in the Stemly Songs list. To remove it from the queue, tap the trash icon 🗑 next to it.
When the host stops playback, Stemly Remote automatically loads the queued song. Press PLAY twice to start it.
Note: Selecting a song while the host is playing only queues it — it never interrupts the current track. Stop playback first to load a different song immediately.
Can I see song lyrics on Stemly Remote?▼
Yes. Lyrics appear automatically in the right column of Stemly Remote whenever you select a song or the host changes tracks. The yellow header shows the current song title.
Requirement: in Stemly → Lyrics tab → a folder containing RTF or TXT lyrics files must be selected.
Why does PLAY require 2 taps and STOP require 3?▼
This is intentional — a safety feature for live performance. Accidentally stopping the music mid-show is one of the most common and embarrassing mistakes on stage.
Sequences: PLAY → PLAY? → starts | STOP → STOP? → STOP?? → stops
The tap count is adjustable in Stemly Settings.
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 device — this keeps playback running even if the host screen turns off.
Stemly Remote is not connecting — what should I check?▼
1. Make sure Stemly is open on the host device before opening Stemly Remote.
2. Check both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, or both have Bluetooth enabled.
3. Stemly Remote retries automatically every 2 seconds — wait a moment.
4. Close Stemly Remote completely and reopen it.
5. If still not connecting, restart both apps.
Is Stemly Remote really free?▼
Yes — Stemly Remote is completely free. No in-app purchases, no subscription. Stemly (the host app) is available separately on the App Store.
Does Stemly Remote work on iPad too?▼
Yes — Stemly Remote runs on both iPhone and iPad. 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.
💡 Tip: Place the iPad with Stemly in a secure position connected to your audio interface. Use Stemly Remote to trigger songs from anywhere on stage — no one needs to touch the host device during the show.
Stemly Split FAQ
What are the system requirements?▼
macOS 14.0 Sonoma or later • Apple Silicon or Intel Mac • ~300 MB disk space (AI model included — no download needed after install)
Does it work offline? Do I need an account?▼
100% offline. The AI model (~110 MB) is bundled inside the app — no internet connection, no sign-up, no account. Your audio never leaves your Mac.
What separation modes are available?▼
• Vocal + Music — vocal remover / karaoke (2 stems)
• 4 Stems — Vocals, Bass, Drums, Other
• 6 Stems — adds Guitar & Piano
• Custom — pick any combination of stems you need: Vocals, Bass, Other, Drums — or the drums already split into Kick, Snare and Cymbals
How do I split drums into Kick, Snare and Cymbals?▼
Option 1 — in Custom mode. Choose Custom and tick Kick, Snare and/or Cymbals in the Drums — split box. They are generated together, and you can combine them with Vocals, Bass or Other. Drums (whole) and the three drum parts are mutually exclusive — ticking one group switches the other off.
Option 2 — from a finished session (recommended for best quality). First separate the song in 4 Stems mode, then right-click the Drums stem and choose Split drums → Kick / Snare / Cymbals. This works both in the Results view and in the Live Mixer (right-click the Drums channel — Stemly Split jumps to the Split tab and starts automatically).
The output files are named TrackName_kick, TrackName_snare and TrackName_cymbals in the same _stems folder, in the format you selected in settings.
How does the drum split work — and what are its limits?▼
Kick, Snare and Cymbals are cut from the separated drums track by frequency range: Kick = low end (below ~150 Hz), Snare = mids (~150 Hz – 5 kHz), Cymbals = highs (above ~5 kHz). It is a fast, clean way to get separate tracks for mixing or practice, but it is not an AI per-instrument separation — toms and other mid-range drum sounds end up in the Snare stem, and the hi-hat sits in Cymbals. The three parts add up to the original drums track.
How long does separation take?▼
On an Apple Silicon Mac (M1/M2/M3/M4), a 4-minute song takes approximately 1.5–2 minutes. Processing time is similar for all modes because the full AI model runs each time. Intel Macs are slower — expect 3–5× real-time.
Is the free version limited?▼
The free version processes only the first 90 seconds of each track. All separation modes are available for free. Batch processing and full-length tracks require the full version. A banner in the Results view shows when a track was trimmed.
How do I unlock the full version?▼
One-time purchase directly in the app or via the App Store — no subscription, pay once and use forever on all your Macs with the same Apple ID. To restore a previous purchase on a new Mac, tap Restore Purchase in the app.
I dragged a file but the app asks me to choose a folder — why?▼
macOS security prevents apps from writing to certain protected locations (such as ~/Music or ~/Downloads) automatically. When Stemly Split detects this, it asks you to choose an output folder. You can choose any folder on your Mac or external drive — your choice is remembered for the session.
Where are stems saved?▼
Stems are saved in a _stems folder named after the original file — e.g. MySong_stems/. If the source file is in a protected location, the app will ask you to choose an output folder. You can also use the folder browser (left panel) to select a folder first — stems will be saved there automatically.
What file formats are supported?▼
Input: WAV, AIFF, FLAC, M4A, MP3
Output: WAV 32-bit (lossless) • AIFF 24-bit (lossless) • AAC 256 kbps • AAC 128 kbps
Sample rate: original, 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz (your choice in settings)
What is the Live Mixer?▼
After separation, the Live Mixer lets you play all stems simultaneously with individual faders, mute, solo and a Master volume fader. Blend stems in real time and export the result as a single stereo file in WAV or AAC format.
What does the Master fader do?▼
The Master fader (white, far right of the mixer) controls the overall output level of all stems at once without touching individual faders. It works in real time during playback and is applied when exporting the mix. Use it for fade-outs or to match loudness to your system. The Master resets to 100% when you open a new session.
Can I process multiple files at once?▼
Yes — use the Batch tab. Select a folder, choose the separation mode, and Stemly Split processes all audio files one by one. All sessions are saved automatically and accessible in the Sessions tab. Batch processing requires the full version.
The quality is not perfect — is that normal?▼
AI stem separation is not perfect — some bleed between stems is normal, especially with heavily produced tracks. For best results: use lossless source files (WAV or AIFF), choose Best Quality mode in settings, and avoid heavily compressed MP3 input.
Can I use separated stems commercially?▼
The app imposes no royalty or licensing obligations on the output files. However, the copyright of the original recording belongs to its rights holder — always clear usage rights before any commercial use.
💡 Tip: For best separation quality use lossless source files (WAV or AIFF at 44.1/48 kHz). Heavily compressed MP3 input may introduce artifacts, especially in high-frequency stems (cymbals, sibilance in vocals). Use Best Quality processing mode for the cleanest results.
Stemly Rec FAQ
System requirements▼
iPad with iPadOS 17.6 or later (iPad only). iPad Air, Pro or mini — M-series recommended for 32 channels. Recordings use about 11.5 MB per channel per minute (32-bit float mono WAV, 48 kHz). No internet connection is needed.
Which audio interfaces and mixers work?▼
All class-compliant USB audio interfaces and digital mixers with USB output — no drivers needed (for example Focusrite Scarlett, MOTU M, Behringer UMC / X-USB, Apogee Quartet, Allen & Heath, Soundcraft). Connect with USB-C, or the Lightning to USB Camera Adapter on older iPads. Stemly Rec supports up to 32 inputs at 48 kHz.
The top bar shows fewer channels than my interface has▼
Reconnect the interface and check that it is in its multichannel / class-compliant USB mode. Use a powered USB hub if the interface is bus-powered. An orange dot next to the name means iPadOS is using the built-in microphone instead of your interface.
How do I start recording?▼
In REC mode arm the channels you need (REC on each strip, or ARM ALL), optionally type a session name, then tap the record button. Every armed channel is saved as a mono 32-bit float WAV named CHxx_SessionName.wav, and all tracks have exactly the same length.
How long can I record? How much storage is left?▼
The bottom bar shows LEFT: the remaining recording time for the free storage and the number of armed channels (about 11.5 MB per channel per minute at 48 kHz, 32-bit float). Example: 12 channels need about 2.3 MB per second, so 100 GB is roughly 12 hours. LEFT turns orange below 10 minutes and red below 2 minutes. Free space on the iPad, or in the folder you picked with Documents (e.g. iCloud), is what counts.
Do faders, gain, mute or solo change the recording?▼
No. Files always contain the clean input signal. Fader, gain, pan, mute, solo and links only affect what you hear (monitor and playback) and the exported stereo mix.
Can I hear the inputs before I record?▼
Yes. With a USB interface connected, the inputs are monitored in REC mode and the level meters are active even when you are not recording. MON switches the monitor on or off. With the built-in microphone, monitoring works only while recording to avoid feedback — use headphones.
What do LINK and Gain do?▼
LINK joins neighbouring channels (1+2, 3+4, …) so their faders, mute and solo move together — ideal for stereo pairs. Gain is a digital trim from −12 to +12 dB in 11 steps (centre = 0 dB) used in monitoring, playback and export; it does not change the recorded files.
Where are my recordings? Can I see them in the Files app?▼
Open Files → On My iPad → Stemly Rec, or the folder you picked with the Documents button. Each session has its own folder with the CHxx WAV files, the saved mix and any exported stereo mix. Choose an iCloud Drive folder to back them up automatically.
How do I play back and mix a recording?▼
Switch to PLAY, tap Select session and choose a recording. The mix saved with the session is restored. Use faders, gain, pan, mute, solo and links — changes are heard immediately, and your mix is saved automatically with the session.
How do I mark song sections (markers)?▼
In PLAY mode tap + next to the flag button while the song plays to add a marker at the current position. The flag button opens the list: tap a time to jump there, rename the marker, swipe to delete, or tap LOOP to repeat the section from that marker to the next one. Markers are saved with the session and appear as ticks on the position slider.
How do I loop a section (A–B loop)?▼
In PLAY mode press A at the start and B at the end of the part you want to repeat while the song plays — the loop starts automatically. LOOP toggles it and × clears it. In DIRECT mode the loop is seamless; in MIX mode there is a very short gap at the jump. Tip: the orange bar on the position slider shows the loop.
What does the VSC button do?▼
VSC prepares a virtual soundcheck in one tap. After a recording it disarms all channels, switches to PLAY in DIRECT mode and loads the last recorded session (or the newest one). Then set the console channel source to USB and press play — every track returns to its own USB output. Monitoring of the inputs is switched off to avoid feedback with the console. The button is disabled while recording.
What is DIRECT mode (virtual soundcheck)?▼
In PLAY mode tap MIX to switch to DIRECT. Every track is then sent to its own USB output (CH n → OUT n) so a digital mixer receives the recorded band on separate channels — you can set up the sound without the musicians. The app mix (faders, gain, pan) is bypassed; mute and solo still work.
In DIRECT mode only 2 outputs are used▼
The number of outputs comes from your interface (shown next to the button as n OUT). Put the interface into its multichannel / class-compliant USB mode and reconnect it. Tracks above the available outputs are not sent.
Can I choose which track goes to which output?▼
Yes. In PLAY mode the ROUTING button becomes OUT ROUTING. Pick an output (OUT1, OUT2, …) for each track, or — to switch the track off in DIRECT mode. Several tracks on one output are summed (marked with Σ). RESET 1:1 restores CH n → OUT n. The routing is remembered.
How do I export a stereo mix?▼
In PLAY mode tap EXPORT, enter a file name and wait for the render. The share sheet lets you save to Files, send via AirDrop or open the file in another app. Format: stereo WAV, 32-bit float, 48 kHz, peaks limited to −1 dBFS.
Can I open the tracks in a DAW?▼
Yes. Copy the session folder to your computer and import the CHxx files into Reaper, Logic, Pro Tools, Cubase or any DAW. They are aligned to the same start and the channel names are stored in the files (iXML / INFO metadata).
My mix sounds mono▼
All channels are centred by default. Spread them with Pan, or link neighbouring channels and pan one left and the other right.
What is the Stemly Demo session?▼
A short multitrack song (drums, guitar, pad, piano, solo guitar and bass) installed on first launch so you can try PLAY mode straight away. Stereo stems are split into L / R channels. You can delete it in the Files app; it will not be installed again.
Does recording continue when the iPad is locked or the app is in the background?▼
Yes. Stemly Rec records in the background — you can lock the iPad or switch to another app (iOS shows the orange microphone indicator). Monitoring without recording pauses in the background. Do not force-quit the app or unplug the interface during a take.
Recording stopped or has gaps▼
A phone call or Siri can interrupt recording for a moment; it resumes afterwards, but the track keeps the gap. Also make sure the interface stayed connected, use a powered USB hub and check that the iPad has enough free storage.
Where can I find the manual and contact support?▼
Open the User Manual card above, or tap About in the bottom right corner of the app. For anything else write to support@bandistudio.eu — we reply within 24 hours on working days.