HDMI Video Output
qPlayer can output video to any external display via HDMI.
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Video walkthrough
Add video and a looping backdrop
Place a video clip in a Studio cue, then set a dynamic MP4 as your playlist's default backdrop so the screen stays alive between cues.
iPhone & iPad
- Connect a USB-C to HDMI adapter to your iPhone or iPad.
- Connect the HDMI cable from the adapter to your TV, projector, or LED wall.
- qPlayer will automatically detect the external display.
- Video and images assigned to cues will display on the external screen during playback.
Mac
- Connect an external display via USB-C, HDMI, or Thunderbolt.
- Open Settings → Output Preferences in qPlayer.
- Assign the display to the Video role.
- Enter Show Mode. Video content routes to the assigned display automatically.
Tip
For the best reliability on iPhone/iPad, use Apple's own USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter or a certified third-party adapter. Cheap adapters can cause intermittent disconnections.
AirPlay Wireless Output
You can wirelessly stream the video output to any Apple TV or AirPlay 2-compatible display.
- Ensure your device and Apple TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open Control Centre.
- Tap Screen Mirroring and select your Apple TV or display.
- qPlayer will send video content to the external display while keeping controls on your device.
Important
AirPlay adds 1-2 seconds of latency. For time-critical applications (synced lighting, click tracks), use a wired HDMI connection instead.
Multi-Display on Mac
qPlayer on Mac supports multiple external displays, each assigned a different role via Output Preferences.
Display Roles
- Video output: Send video cues and background images to a projector, LED wall, or monitor
- Prompt output: Send teleprompter text to a dedicated display (white text on black, large font, reading guide line)
- Confidence monitor: Preview both outputs on your main Mac screen
Setting Up
- Connect your external displays via USB-C, HDMI, or Thunderbolt.
- Open Settings → Output Preferences in qPlayer.
- Assign each display to a role: Video, Prompt, or None.
- Enter Show Mode. Content routes to the assigned displays automatically.
This means you can have video on one display (for the audience) and the teleprompter on another (for the presenter), all controlled from one Mac.
Tip
A Mac mini makes an excellent dedicated show machine. Connect it to your video display and prompt monitor, set up your show, and run it from Show Mode with keyboard shortcuts.
Adding Visual Media to Cues
Each cue can have a video or image attached. When that cue plays, the visual content displays on the connected external screen.
- Open the Edit Cue view.
- Scroll to Media & Routing.
- Tap Attach Image or Video and choose a source:
- From Photos: select from your camera roll or photo library.
- From Files: select from the Files app, iCloud Drive, or any connected storage provider.
- For videos, you can optionally mute the video's audio so only your backing track audio plays.
Supported video formats include MP4, MOV, and M4V. Images can be JPEG, PNG, or HEIF.
Default Backdrop (Image or Video)
Each setlist can have its own background image or looping MP4 video that displays on the external screen when no cue is playing, or between cues that don't have their own visual media. This is great for band logos, sponsor graphics, animated stage visuals, or a "show starting soon" message. Video backdrops loop continuously and silently across the entire setlist. They don't restart between cues.
Setting from the App
- Open your setlist and tap Edit.
- In the Background section, tap Set Backdrop and choose an image or video from your photo library.
Tip
If you briefly switch to another app (e.g. to check a message), qPlayer will automatically restore your backdrop on the external display when you return. For uninterrupted output while using another app, use Split View or Slide Over on iPad so qPlayer stays in the foreground.
Performance
Video backdrops add modest CPU and memory overhead. On older iPhones (e.g. iPhone 13 mini) running large multitrack audio sessions, prefer an image backdrop, or turn the Confidence Monitor off when no external display is connected. This skips all visual decoding so the device can focus on audio.
Confidence Monitor
The confidence monitor is a 16:9 preview shown on your device screen. It shows exactly what's being displayed on your external screen, so you never need to turn around to check your output.
The confidence monitor shows:
- Video playback when a video cue is playing
- Visual companion media (images or videos attached to audio cues)
- Standby screen (your setlist background image, or the branded logo) between cues
The confidence monitor updates in real-time, including fade transitions between cues. It appears automatically in the Player view, no setup required.
On Mac
On Mac, the confidence monitor shows previews of both the video output and prompt output panels. Each can be toggled independently using icons in the transport bar.
Hiding the Confidence Monitor
You can disable the confidence monitor on a per-setlist basis. This is useful when:
- You have a physical confidence monitor connected to the HDMI output and don't need the on-device preview.
- Your setlist is audio-only or DMX-only and you want the cue list to use the full screen.
- You want to use a video-rich setlist as an audio-only backup on a phone with no HDMI. Turning the monitor off skips all video decoding so video cues play as audio only.
- Open your setlist and tap Edit.
- Scroll to the Display section.
- Toggle Confidence Monitor off.
When the confidence monitor is off and no external display is connected, qPlayer skips backdrop and visual companion loading entirely, freeing CPU and memory for audio playback. As soon as you connect HDMI or re-enable the monitor mid-show, visuals come back automatically.
