🎛️ Operator Setup Guide

Everything a DJ or venue operator needs to go live — software setup, audio routing, QR codes, and network planning.

Setup Steps WiFi Guide DJ Support
🎛️

OPERATOR SETUP GUIDE

Everything the venue operator or DJ needs to go live in under 5 minutes.

1

INSTALL THE APP

Download Silent Disco WiFi for macOS and open it. No configuration wizard, no command line. The admin dashboard opens automatically in your browser.

  • Runs on macOS 12 or newer — MacBook, Mac mini, or iMac
  • Connect the Mac to the venue router via Ethernet (WiFi works too)
  • No external server or cloud account required — runs 100% locally
2

VIRTUAL AUDIO CABLES AUTO-INSTALL

On first launch the app silently installs BlackHole — a virtual audio cable that lets any app on your Mac send its audio to a Silent Disco channel. No downloads or settings needed from you.

  • Three isolated virtual cables — one per channel (Blue / Red / Green)
  • Route Spotify, DJ software, a media player, or any system audio to any channel
  • Works alongside your existing audio setup without conflicts
3

SELECT YOUR AUDIO SOURCE PER CHANNEL

Each of the three channels can use a different source simultaneously.

📁

Folder / AI DJ

Point a channel at a folder of MP3s. The built-in player auto-shuffles and crossfades all night — no manual DJ required.

  1. Open admin → DJ Player section
  2. Click Browse… and pick your music folder
  3. Set crossfade time (default 4s)
  4. Click Start — the AI DJ takes over
🎵

Single Track / Loop

Load one MP3, WAV, FLAC, or AAC file and loop it. Perfect for a branded sound or a pre-mixed set.

  1. Open admin → DJ Player section
  2. Click Upload Track
  3. Toggle Loop on
  4. Click Play
Live DJ
🎚️

USB Audio Input

Plug in your DJ controller, mixer, or USB audio interface. The software detects it and streams the live mix directly to that channel.

  1. Plug USB audio device into the Mac
  2. Open admin → Audio Inputs
  3. Click ↺ Refresh Devices
  4. Pick your device, set L/R channels, click Apply
4

NAME & ASSIGN CHANNELS

Open admin → Channels. Rename Blue/Red/Green to anything (e.g. "House", "Latin", "Chill"). Guests see the name on their channel selector. Assign a source to each channel and adjust gain as needed.

🔵 Blue — Live USB DJ Board
🔴 Red — Folder AI DJ (House)
🟢 Green — Playlist Loop
5

PRINT THE QR CODE

The app reads your venue network and generates the correct patron URL automatically. Open admin → Settings → Listener QR Code. Download a high-res PNG or vector SVG and print at any size. Post them around the venue.

  • QR code auto-updates when you move to a new venue or network
  • Print on A4, A3, or 24″ poster — scales without loss
  • Place at entrances, on tables, and at the bar so guests can scan from anywhere
6

GO LIVE

Post the QR codes, start your music, and the dashboard shows every listener connecting in real time. Watch the VU meters, track which channel each guest is on, and restart any stream with one click if something gets stuck.

  • Live Meters — dB levels for all 3 channels, updated every second
  • Listeners Table — device, browser, IP, connection time, channel
  • Restart Audio Engine — one button to recover from any stuck state
📶

WIFI SETUP GUIDE

Choosing the right network setup makes the difference between a smooth night and a choppy one.

2.4 GHz

Longer Range, Higher Congestion

  • ✓ Penetrates walls and long distances better
  • ✓ More forgiving for guests who wander
  • ⚠ Shared with Bluetooth, microwaves, neighbours
  • ⚠ Max ~20–25 concurrent listeners per AP before quality drops
  • ⚠ Older channel width (20 MHz) = less total bandwidth
Best for: Open outdoor events, single-room venues under 50 guests
5 GHz

Faster, Cleaner, More Listeners

  • ✓ Much less interference — cleaner audio stream
  • ✓ 80 MHz channels = 4× the throughput of 2.4 GHz
  • ✓ 50–80 concurrent listeners per AP before saturation
  • ⚠ Shorter range — walls reduce signal significantly
  • ⚠ All guests must be in good coverage of at least one AP
Best for: Indoor venues, dance clubs, 50+ guests — use 5 GHz whenever possible

📡 Access Point Capacity — What to Expect

🏠

Home Router (single)

Consumer ISP router or single home AP. Fine for testing and small private events.

~15–30 listeners

2.4 GHz: 15–20 max before audio stutters. 5 GHz: 25–30 with good placement. Interference from other WiFi networks in the building will reduce this further.

🏢

Business / Mesh AP

Ubiquiti, TP-Link Omada, Cisco Meraki, or quality mesh system (Eero Pro, Orbi).

~50–100 per AP

5 GHz with 80 MHz channels easily handles 60–80 concurrent listeners. Multiple APs multiply capacity — 3 APs = 150–300+ listeners total with proper placement.

🏟️

Enterprise / Multi-AP

Professional venue WiFi with dedicated SSID per event, channel planning, and roaming.

200–500+ listeners

For large venues: create a dedicated SSID for Silent Disco on 5 GHz. Disable band steering so all devices stay on 5 GHz. Set DTIM interval to 1 for lowest latency.

💡 Practical Setup Tips

📍
Place the Mac centrally

Run an Ethernet cable from the venue router to the Mac running Silent Disco WiFi. This eliminates any WiFi jitter on the server side — only clients use wireless.

🔒
Use a dedicated event SSID

If your router supports multiple SSIDs, create one called "Silent Disco" just for the event. This prevents other devices from competing for bandwidth and makes it easier for guests to find the network.

📏
Test the coverage first

Walk the venue with a phone connected to the event WiFi and open a streaming page before doors open. Identify dead zones and reposition APs or add a repeater if needed.

🔋
Home routers at big events

If you only have a home router, keep guests under 25 on 2.4 GHz or under 35 on 5 GHz. For anything larger, rent or borrow a business-class AP — Ubiquiti APs start around $100 and are available at event rental shops.

🚫
Turn off Bluetooth on the server Mac

If running on 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth on the same Mac can cause interference. Disable it in System Settings while the event is running.

📊
Watch the Listeners dashboard

The admin panel shows buffer health per listener. If multiple guests show "rebuffering" at the same time, it's a network issue — check AP placement before assuming software.

🎚️

DJ SUPPORT

How to connect your gear and run a live set through Silent Disco WiFi.

🎛️ Connecting Your DJ Controller / Mixer

Any USB audio device that macOS recognises works. This includes Pioneer DDJ, Denon SC, Native Instruments, Rane mixers, and generic USB interfaces.

  1. Plug your controller or USB audio interface into the Mac
  2. Open the Silent Disco admin → Audio Inputs
  3. Click ↺ Refresh Devices
  4. Your device appears in the dropdown — select it for the channel you want (Blue, Red, or Green)
  5. Set the Left and Right channel numbers (usually 1 and 2 for the main mix output)
  6. Click Apply — audio starts streaming within 1–2 seconds
Tip: Use a separate USB audio interface (Roland, Focusrite, MOTU) rather than the controller's built-in USB audio if possible. Dedicated interfaces have lower latency and better driver support.

🎚️ Gain Staging

The admin Live Meters show real-time dB levels for each channel. Aim for peaks between −12 dB and −6 dB for the cleanest audio delivery to listeners.

  • Too quiet (< −18 dB average): raise gain on the interface or channel card in admin
  • Clipping (0 dB): reduce gain — clipping causes distortion on listeners' headphones
  • The meters update every second — adjust on the fly without restarting
Tip: Set your mixer master output to roughly 70% of maximum, then fine-tune with the per-channel gain slider in the admin panel.

🔄 Switching Sources Mid-Event

You can change the audio source on any channel without interrupting other channels. Listeners will experience a 1–2 second gap on the switched channel while the new source connects.

  1. In admin → Audio Inputs, change the device or type for the channel
  2. Click Apply
  3. The channel restarts — other channels are unaffected
  4. Listeners on that channel auto-reconnect within seconds
Best practice: Announce channel switches to guests ("Red channel switching to live DJ in 30 seconds") so they're not caught off guard.

📁 DJ Player — Folder Mode Tips

The built-in DJ player is designed for unattended operation. Here's how to get the best results:

  • Use 320 kbps MP3 or FLAC files — lower quality shows at high volumes
  • Normalise your tracks before the event (use Apple Music's Sound Check or AudaCity's normalize)
  • Remove any tracks with sudden silence at the start — the crossfader works best with clean intros
  • You can add/remove files from the folder while the player is running — it rescans on each new track
  • Use the Skip button anytime to jump to the next track in the shuffle queue

⚠️ Troubleshooting Audio

  • No audio on a channel: Check the meter — if flat, the source isn't feeding signal. Check your USB device selection and gain.
  • Choppy or stuttering audio for all listeners: Network issue. Check WiFi signal strength across the venue and AP load.
  • One listener choppy, others fine: That guest's device has a weak WiFi connection. Ask them to move closer to an AP or switch to 5 GHz.
  • Audio cuts out briefly, then returns: Normal reconnect behaviour. If it happens repeatedly, check the buffer health column in the Listeners table.
  • Distortion on all listeners: Input is clipping. Lower the gain on your mixer's master output or in the admin channel gain slider.
  • Stream stuck after USB device reconnect: Open admin → Audio Inputs → click ↺ Refresh → re-select device → Apply.

📞 Need Help?

Our support team is available via email and phone for licensed operators. Include your license key and a brief description of the issue.

📧 [email protected] 📞 (573) 340-3263

For fastest response, include your order confirmation number and describe what you were doing when the issue occurred.