Can I output the metronome in one channel and audio in another?

Can I output the metronome in one channel and audio in another?

If you're a band that is using click tracks, it may be advantageous to output the click through the left channel and then audio in mono through the right channel.  OnSong has the ability to do this, but there are a few caveats to keep in mind.

Channel Setup
To set up channels, go into the Utilities Menu by tapping on the gear icon in the Menubar and then choose Settings.  Tap on the Live Settings option and then choose Audio Playback.  Locate the Pan section and then set this to Right.  Likewise, go back to Live Settings and choose Metronome and then Audio Settings and locate the Pan section and slide all the way to the Left.  Now OnSong is configured to send backing tracks and metronome to different channels.

Choosing Tracks
The first caveat is that this method will only work on tracks that OnSong can play through its backing track player.  This is because tracks played through the Apple Music app or Spotify will only be able to be played back in stereo.  OnSong will play tracks imported into your OnSong Media Library through the OnSong player.  If you've linked to tracks in your iTunes Music Library, OnSong will play those by default if possible.  However iTunes Music tracks that are streamed or have digital rights management (DRM) applied can only be played through the Apple Music app.  Since most music these days is DRM-free, you will likely just want to make sure that you download the track in the Music app for offline playback by locating the track in the Music app and tapping on the "download" icon.

Audio Interface
One question that comes up is how to output the audio from the iOS/iPadOS device to your PA system. While it's possible to connect an 1/8" stereo aux cable and connect that to inputs on a sound board, this can be problematic when splitting channels.  In our experience we've found that the built-in headphone jack on Apple devices does not electrically isolate the channels.  This causes some of the click track to be heard in the other track, even through OnSong does not send any signal to the other track.  To solve this issue, we recommend using an audio interface that works with your iOS/iPadOS device.  This will digitally isolate the channels and prevent bleed.  If also provides for a better signal to the PA system.

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