Host or join a Live session

This guide is for producers and engineers who want people to hear a session as it happens, and for the people listening. Live streams one app's sound (your DAW) from the desktop app to up to 10 invited listeners at once. Listeners use a browser or their phone. VYNLT doesn't record Live sessions.

You need the desktop app on a Mac with macOS 14.2 or later, or Windows 10 (version 2004 or later) or 11. Your organization must allow Live: an admin turns it on with Allow Live sessions in Settings → Organizations → Sharing & downloads.

Go Live

1. In the desktop app, choose Go Live (in the sidebar under This computer, or Go Live… in the File menu).
2. Under Application to stream, pick your DAW. Only that app's sound is sent, not notifications or other apps. Choose Refresh if it isn't listed. If you use the VYNLT plugin, you can pick the plugin instead, or press Go Live from this track in it.
3. Pick the Workspace and type a Session name.
4. Under Talkback microphone, pick a microphone, or leave it Off.
5. Read the note about audio quality and tick I understand.
6. Choose Go Live.

Invite listeners

1. Type their email addresses under Invite and choose Invite. They need a VYNLT account with that address (a free one is fine).
2. Or choose Copy link and send it yourself. It still only opens for invited people.

While you're live

• Hold to talk sends your microphone while you hold it. Your voice goes on its own channel, never into the music. Use headphones to avoid feedback.
• Tick Hi-Fi for listeners (lossless 24-bit, beta) to let listeners switch to lossless audio. It runs about 1.5 seconds behind.
• Bounce this marks the moment. After you bounce, VYNLT suggests the file in your Drafts, with the notes made up to that point.
• Listener notes arrive under Chat and notes. Tick notes and choose Attach to add them to a draft or version.
• Choose End, then End session, to stop. Every listener stops hearing it and the link stops working.

Listening (for invited listeners)

1. Open the link from the email and sign in with the address it was sent to. Verify your email first if you're asked.
2. Tap Play.
3. To talk, hold Hold to talk. To leave a note for the host, type in Note for the host and choose Send.
4. Tick Hi-Fi (lossless, beta) for lossless audio. It is about 1.5 seconds behind and uses more data.
5. Choose Leave when you're done.

On iPhone

• Use Safari and tap Play yourself: iPhone only starts audio after a tap.
• Turn the volume up with the phone's buttons. The volume slider doesn't work on iPhone.
• If the sound stops after a call or the lock screen, tap Tap to resume.
• Still nothing? Check the silent switch, then refresh the page and tap Play again.

Common problems

• "No sound is coming from" your app. Press play in your DAW. On a Mac, if it is playing, turn on VYNLT in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen & System Audio Recording (System Audio Recording Only), then quit and reopen VYNLT.
• Silence on Windows. If your DAW uses an ASIO driver or exclusive mode, Windows can't pass its sound on. Choose a Windows output (WASAPI shared mode, or the Windows default device) in the DAW's audio settings, or stream from the VYNLT plugin.
• Listeners hear it too high and too fast. This happened on Macs when the project and audio interface ran at different sample rates. Update the desktop app to version 0.3.2 or later.
• Talkback doesn't work. Allow the microphone: on a Mac in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone; on Windows in Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone (turn on microphone access for desktop apps).
• "Live is switched off for this organization." An admin can turn on Allow Live sessions (see above).
• "Host disconnected. Reconnecting…" The host's connection dropped. Stay on the page: it reconnects by itself.