Live Performance Tips

Preventing Phone Call Interruptions

One of the most common concerns for live performers: what happens if someone calls my phone mid-show? An incoming call can interrupt audio playback and take over your screen at the worst possible moment. Here's how to prevent it.

Option 1: Focus Mode / Do Not Disturb (Recommended)

This is the simplest and most reliable solution. When Do Not Disturb is enabled, all calls, texts, and notifications are silenced. Nothing will interrupt your audio or take over the screen.

1. Open Control Centre (swipe down from the top-right corner).
2. Tap Focus, then select Do Not Disturb.
3. Your show will run completely uninterrupted.

Option 2: Airplane Mode + WiFi

If you want to completely eliminate the possibility of a call, turn on Airplane Mode. This disables all cellular connectivity: no calls, no texts, no mobile data.

If you need WiFi for features like Art-Net DMX or Show Transfer, simply re-enable WiFi after turning on Airplane Mode. You'll have network access without any risk of phone calls.

What Happens If You Don't?

Since iOS 14, incoming calls appear as a small banner at the top of the screen rather than taking over the full display. So even without Do Not Disturb, a call won't completely hijack qPlayer. However, the ringtone or vibration can still be disruptive, and answering the call would pause your audio. It's always best to enable DND before showtime.

Pre-Show Checklist

Run through these steps before every performance to make sure everything goes smoothly.

1. Enable Do Not Disturb or your custom Live Show Focus mode.
2. Connect your audio: plug in your USB audio interface, wired headphone adapter, or check your Bluetooth connection. Verify the correct device appears in Settings → Audio Interface.
3. Open your setlist and let qPlayer prepare all media. Wait for the preparation banner to complete before starting.
4. Test playback: play the first cue briefly to confirm audio is routing correctly to all outputs.
5. If using HDMI/external display, connect the cable and verify the confidence monitor shows your content.
6. If using DMX lighting, confirm your Art-Net node is on the same WiFi network and test a scene.
7. Connect your Apple Watch (if using remote control) and verify the Now Playing screen appears.
8. On Mac, open Show Readiness (the seal icon in the toolbar) for a one-panel check across audio, video, and lighting.
9. Plug in power: connect to a charger or battery pack for long shows.

Battery & Power

Audio playback, USB output, HDMI video, and DMX control all draw significant power. For any show longer than an hour, always connect to a power source.

• USB-C hubs with power delivery: If you're using a USB audio interface and HDMI simultaneously, use a powered USB-C hub with pass-through charging.
• Battery packs: A portable battery pack works well for outdoor gigs or stages without mains power. Choose one with at least 20W USB-C output.
• Low Power Mode: Avoid enabling Low Power Mode during a show, as it can throttle background processes and reduce performance.

Screen Lock & Auto-Lock

qPlayer automatically prevents your screen from sleeping while the Player view is open. You don't need to change any settings. The screen stays on as long as you're in the player.

If you navigate away from the player (e.g. to check Settings), your device's normal auto-lock timer will apply. Return to the Player view to keep the screen awake.

Backup & Redundancy

Live shows are unpredictable. A solid backup plan means the show always goes on.

• Stereo Fallback: If your USB audio interface disconnects mid-song, qPlayer automatically downmixes your multichannel audio to stereo through the device's built-in output. Use Mute from Stereo Mix per cue to exclude click, talkback, or in-ear-only channels from the downmix. Learn more →
• Second device: Use Show Transfer to send your show to a backup iPhone or iPad via AirDrop or LAN Transfer, so it's always ready to take over.
• Offline by default: All media is stored locally on your device. No internet required during the show.
• Wired over wireless: Always prefer wired audio connections over Bluetooth. Wired connections are more reliable and have zero latency.

Mac Show Machine Tips

A Mac, especially a Mac mini, makes an excellent dedicated show playback device. Here are tips for getting the most out of it.

• No phone interruptions. Unlike an iPhone, a Mac won't receive phone calls or texts during your show. No need for Do Not Disturb: there's nothing to disturb.
• Multi-display setup. Connect video to one display (for the audience) and teleprompter to another (for the presenter). Configure both in Output Preferences.
• Keyboard control. Use Space for GO and Escape for Stop. You can run an entire show with just a keyboard, no mouse needed.
• Dedicated machine. A Mac mini can be racked or mounted at the side of stage. Cable everything up at soundcheck and leave it running.
• Author on your laptop, perform on the mini. Use Show Transfer (AirDrop or LAN) to send your finished show from your authoring Mac to the show machine.
• Wired Ethernet for DMX. Mac supports wired Ethernet for Art-Net and sACN, no Wi-Fi dependency for lighting control.