Here are some ideas about how to make the most of Performance Tracks
Turn the volume up
Don’t do this if you are listening to your phone or tablet directly with headphones!
However, if you are sending the signal to a mixer or DI box, the higher the volume you play the tracks, the better – as long as it doesn’t distort. This keeps noise at bay.
Enable “Do Not Disturb”
You don’t want the audience to hear notifications during your show, so find the “Do not disturb” setting (sometimes called “Blocking mode” and enable that. You might also lower the volume of notifications to be zero.
Set your device to stay unlocked with the screen on during shows
How lame would it be if you went to hit “play” on your phone or tablet, and you had to fumble with buttons and passcodes first? Like you just introduced the song, and the audience is ready to hear it; you got the timing all worked out… and how everyone’s waiting?
In your phone or tablet, you can change how long to keep the screen on. This is usually under “Display” and is called something like “Sleep.” You may also need to look under “Security” to see if there is a setting called “Lock after X minutes.”
I usually set mine to keep the display on for 5 minutes or so. That way, if there is some unforeseen delay, the device won’t lock on me.
Use a DI box
What are they, even? A DI box (for “Direct Input”) helps match the signal from your phone or tablet to the sound mixer. It makes the signal cleaner by keeping noise out. It makes a bigger difference over long distances, and when there are a lot of electronics around – which tends to happen on stage!
They look something like this, and can be had for $20US or so. The exact kind you need might vary, but one like this one is the most typical.
More useful tips
This video walks you through the gear you’ll need, as well as how to hook it all up: