
Lyrekos enables people anywhere in the world to sing and make music together as if they were in the same room. This article introduces what Lyrekos is, why it exists, and the core idea that makes it work.

<VideoEmbed id="1183957827" title="Intro to Lyrekos" />

## The Problem: Why Zoom Doesn't Work for Music

Many of us tried to use Zoom and other video conferencing platforms to sing or play music together — and discovered that the result was cacophony. It sounded terrible, and it felt fundamentally wrong.

The reason is latency. Because of the inevitable delays in the network, a singer in Hong Kong would have to respond to a note sung in New York *before she heard it*. That's physically impossible. Ensemble music requires synchronization within about 20–30 milliseconds. Typical internet delays are five to ten times that.

This isn't a Zoom problem — it's a physics problem. No amount of faster hardware or better software can make a signal travel faster than the speed of light across thousands of miles of fiber.

For a deeper look at the physics behind this, see [Why Zoom Fails for Music (and What Actually Works)](/blog/why-zoom-fails-for-music).

## The Breakthrough Behind Lyrekos

The insight behind Lyrekos came from a very old joke.

A man, a little lost walking down 57th Street in New York, spotted a well-dressed man carrying a violin case. He asked: *"How do you get to Carnegie Hall?"* The violinist replied: *"Practice, practice, practice."*

What we realized is that very little of the music people hear or sing in a year is completely new to the world. Almost everything has structure — melody, harmony, rhythm — that can be anticipated. We don't need to violate the laws of physics to make the result sound great. We need to use what we already know.

Lyrekos uses that principle: instead of trying to eliminate latency (which physics won't allow), it sidesteps the problem entirely by synchronizing recordings after the fact. Every participant records locally with precise timing. Lyrekos then aligns all the tracks computationally — producing a mix that sounds like everyone performed together in the same room. And, it is done in near real time.

## What This Means in Practice

- **No special equipment.** Lyrekos runs in a standard web browser (Chrome). No software to install, no audio interface required.
- **Any distance.** The synchronization accuracy is consistent whether participants are across town or across time zones.
- **Any ensemble size.** From a one-on-one lesson to a full choir, the same approach scales. Each participant is synchronized with every other participant.

## Ready to Get Started?

Once you understand the idea behind Lyrekos, the next step is getting your device set up:

- [Getting Set Up](/help/getting-set-up) — configure your browser and audio for your first session
- [Getting Started for the Leader](/help/getting-started-leader) — if you'll be hosting sessions
- [Getting Started for the Performer](/help/getting-started-performer) — if you'll be joining sessions
- [Distance Is No Longer a Delay](/blog/first-demo) — watch the Lyrekos demo


Intro to Lyrekos


Getting set up for Lyrekos is straightforward — if you can run Zoom, you can almost certainly run Lyrekos. Here is everything you need to know before your first session.

<VideoEmbed id="1183149678" title="Getting Set Up for Lyrekos" />

## The Quick Checklist

![Lyrekos setup checklist showing internet, computer, and audio requirements](/images/help/setup-checklist.jpg)

Three things to have ready:

1. **A good Internet connection** — if it works for Zoom, Teams, or Meet, it works for Lyrekos.
2. **A computer running the Chrome browser** — any modern laptop or desktop will do.
3. **Earbuds or headphones** — strongly recommended, especially for singing.

That's it. No software to download, no special audio interface, no account to create before your first session.

## Internet Connection

Any broadband connection that supports video conferencing is sufficient. Lyrekos works over both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth — no hardwired ethernet connection is required.

![Bluetooth and Wi-Fi icons with "Yes!" indicating both work with Lyrekos](/images/help/setup-wifi-bluetooth.jpg)

## Computer and Browser

Lyrekos currently runs only on the **Chrome browser**. Other browsers will be supported in a future release.

![Chrome browser logo with "Yes!" and note that other browsers will be supported later](/images/help/setup-chrome.jpg)

### Supported operating systems

![Supported operating systems: macOS, Windows, ChromeOS, Linux](/images/help/setup-os-support.jpg)

macOS, Windows, ChromeOS, and Linux are all supported, as long as you run Chrome.

> **Leaders:** We recommend a laptop or notebook computer rather than a smartphone. The Leader interface has more controls on screen, and they are easier to manage on a larger display. Performers and audience members can use any screen size.

### iOS and iPadOS — not yet

iPhones and iPads are not currently supported. This is a browser limitation, not a hardware one — Chrome on iOS does not yet provide the audio APIs Lyrekos needs. MacBooks running Chrome work perfectly.

![iPhone and iPad with a red "no" symbol — iOS not yet supported by Lyrekos](/images/help/setup-ios.jpg)

## Audio Setup

### Earbuds or headphones (recommended)

The main reason to use earbuds or headphones is **feedback prevention**: if your speakers are on while you sing or play, the sound leaks back into your microphone. This matters most for *a cappella* singing. For most other scenarios you can get by with your laptop's built-in speaker and mic.

![Wired earbuds and AirPods — both work well with Lyrekos](/images/help/setup-earbuds.jpg)

### External microphone + headphones (best quality)

If you want the best possible audio, a dedicated USB or analog microphone combined with over-ear headphones is outstanding. Any quality mic will do — you do not need studio-grade equipment.

![External microphone on a stand next to over-ear headphones for optimal Lyrekos audio quality](/images/help/setup-mic-headphones.jpg)

## AirPods: Three Settings to Change

If you use AirPods or AirPods Pro with Lyrekos, three specific settings will give you the best experience. Open **System Settings → AirPods** (macOS) or the AirPods settings in the Bluetooth menu and set:

![AirPods Pro settings screen showing Automatic Ear Detection turned off, Noise Control set to Off, and Microphone set to Always Left AirPod](/images/help/setup-airpods.png)

1. **Automatic Ear Detection → Off.** This is the most important one. If Automatic Ear Detection is on, removing an AirPod from your ear can pause audio or interrupt the session mid-calibration. Turn it off.

2. **Noise Control → Off.** Noise cancellation and transparency mode both process the audio in ways that can affect fidelity. For music, keep it simple and leave both off.

3. **Microphone → I always use Left AirPod.** Setting a fixed microphone means you always know which AirPod mic to position closest to speaker in the other AirPod for calibration.

## Adding a Video Background (Mac)

Chrome on macOS lets you set a virtual background image for your camera — useful if you want to show a logo, sheet music, or any other image behind you during a session.

Click the **video camera icon in the Mac menu bar** (top-right of the screen while Chrome is running), then choose **Background**.

![How to add a background image in Chrome on a Mac — click the camera icon in the menu bar, then select Background to choose or upload an image](/images/help/setup-background-image.png)

> **Tip:** If your background image contains text or a logo, upload both a normal and a horizontally-mirrored version. Chrome sometimes mirrors the camera feed, so having both on hand lets you quickly switch to whichever looks correct to the other participants.

## Disable Chrome-Wide Echo Cancellation if calibration is problematic

This is a one-time Chrome setting that we have found is **sometimes** required for Lyrekos calibration to work correctly. Chrome has a built-in echo cancellation feature that, when enabled, processes your audio in ways that can interfere with Lyrekos's timing measurements during calibration. 

To disable it:

1. In Chrome, navigate to `chrome://flags`
2. Search for **echo cancellation**
3. Find **Chrome-wide echo cancellation** and set it to **Disabled**
4. Restart Chrome

![Chrome flags page showing Chrome-wide echo cancellation set to Disabled — required for Lyrekos calibration to work correctly](/images/help/setup-chrome-echo-cancel.png)

**If** you need to do this, you only need to do it once. The setting persists across sessions.

## One Important Note

Lyrekos uses your computer's microphone and camera exclusively while a session is running. **You cannot run Zoom, Teams, Meet, or any other application that uses your camera and microphone at the same time as Lyrekos** — they will compete for the same resources. If you only have one microphone and camera, close other conferencing apps before starting a Lyrekos session.

## You're Ready

That's the complete setup. The next step before making music together is a quick one-time calibration process.

**Next step:** [Calibration](/help/calibration) — a brief process that lets Lyrekos measure your specific audio setup.


Getting Set Up


Calibration is how Lyrekos measures the round-trip delay of audio through your specific device — from speaker to microphone. It runs in seconds, stores the result, and uses it to keep everyone in sync during a session. Every participant can calibrate their own device before joining.

You only need to recalibrate when you change microphones or speakers. Otherwise, Lyrekos reuses the stored result automatically.

## Before You Calibrate: Position Your Audio Devices

Calibration works by playing a brief tone through your speaker and measuring how long it takes for your microphone to pick it up. For this to work, **your microphone needs to physically hear what is coming out of your speaker** — so you need to put them near each other.

![Calibration requires the microphone to hear what is coming out of the speaker. Put them together and turn the volume up. If using AirPods, turn Automatic Ear Detection OFF before calibrating.](/images/help/calibration-audio-setup.jpg)

**How to position your audio for calibration:**

- **Earbuds or wired headphones:** Hold one earbud up near the microphone (or bring the mic close to the earbud). Turn the volume up.
- **AirPods:** Hold one AirPod near the microphone. Turn the volume up. **Important: turn Automatic Ear Detection OFF before calibrating** — otherwise the AirPod may pause when you remove it from your ear, interrupting the calibration signal.
- **External mic + headphones:** Hold one headphone cup near the microphone. Turn the volume up.
- **Built-in laptop mic and speaker:** No positioning needed — they are already close to each other.

> **Volume matters.** If the calibration tone is too quiet, the microphone may not register it reliably. Turn your speaker volume up before running calibration.

## How to Run Calibration

### Option A: Before logging in

Calibration is step 2 on the login screen at [app.Lyrekos.com](https://app.lyrekos.com). You can calibrate before entering your username — useful if you want to verify your setup is working before a session begins.

![Lyrekos login screen showing the Calibrate step highlighted, with Recalibrate and Continue buttons](/images/help/calibration-before-login.jpg)

Click **Calibrate** to expand the step, then click **Recalibrate** to run it. The result is shown quickly. Click **Continue** when done.

### Option B: After logging in

You can also recalibrate from within a live session. In your **Device Settings** panel, scroll down to the **Calibration** section and click **Recalibrate**.

![Lyrekos performer panel showing the Recalibrate button in the Device Settings section during a live session](/images/help/calibration-after-login.jpg)

The Calibration section shows your current reading and the timestamp of when it was last run. If something sounds out of sync mid-session, recalibrating is the first thing to try.

## If Calibration Doesn't Work

![Troubleshooting calibration: check volume, microphone selection, and Chrome echo cancellation settings](/images/help/calibration-troubleshooting.jpg)

If calibration fails or gives an unexpected result, check these in order:

1. **Is the volume up high enough?** The calibration tone needs to be audible to your microphone. Turn it up.
2. **Is the right microphone selected?** Tap on the mic cable or the microphone body with your fingernail and watch the level meter on the Select Devices screen — you should see it respond. If not, you have the wrong input selected.
3. **Is Chrome echo cancellation enabled?** If so, it will interfere with the calibration signal. Go to `chrome://flags`, find **Chrome-wide echo cancellation**, and set it to **Disabled**. Restart Chrome and try again. (See [Getting Set Up](/help/getting-set-up) for details.)
4. **Music sounds out of sync after a session starts?** Recalibrate. This is especially important if you have switched microphones or speakers since your last session — the stored calibration is tied to your previous device combination.

## Next Steps

- [Getting Started for the Leader](/help/getting-started-leader) — running your first session as the host
- [Getting Started for the Performer](/help/getting-started-performer) — joining a session as a participant


Calibration


The Leader is the person who controls the session — who sings, who listens, what is recorded, and what plays back. This guide walks you through logging in, understanding the control panel, and running your first session.

Before starting, make sure you have completed [Getting Set Up](/help/getting-set-up) and [Calibration](/help/calibration).

## Step 1: Go to app.Lyrekos.com

Open Chrome and navigate to **[app.Lyrekos.com](https://app.lyrekos.com)**. You will land on the login screen, which has three steps you complete in order: select your audio and video devices, calibrate, then log in and choose your role.

![Lyrekos login screen at app.Lyrekos.com showing the three-step setup: Select Devices, Calibrate, Login](/images/help/leader-login.png)

## Step 2: Select Your Devices and Check Your Audio

Before logging in, expand **Select Devices** to confirm your microphone, speakers, and camera are correct. If you are using an external microphone, this is a good moment to tap the mic cable with your fingernail — you will see the level meter respond, confirming sound is getting in. You can also run a quick self-calibration from this screen.

![Lyrekos Select Devices screen showing microphone, speaker, and camera selection options](/images/help/leader-device-selection.png)

## Step 3: Log In and Choose the Leader Role

Enter your username, select your session, and choose **Leader** from the role dropdown. 

![Lyrekos login screen showing role selection dropdown with Leader highlighted. Note: there can be only one Leader at a time.](/images/help/leader-role-selection.png)

> **There can be only one Leader at a time.** If someone else is already logged in as Leader for the same session, you will need to coordinate with them before switching.

## The Leader Control Panel

Once you log in as Leader, you have full control over the session.

![The Lyrekos Leader Control Panel showing the Ensemble panel, Actions panel, video conference view, chat, and device settings](/images/help/leader-control-panel.png)

The left sidebar provides access to all Leader tools. Mouse over it to expand the navigation at any time.

![Lyrekos left sidebar showing: Leader Console, Library, Record Demo, Report Problem, Monitor, Chirp Loopback, Logout](/images/help/leader-sidebar.png)

## What the Leader Can Do

From the control panel the Leader can:

- **Initiate calibration** for any participant in the ensemble
- **Use the Library** — upload, download, record, or play backing tracks
- **Invite participants** — generate separate links for Performers and Audience members
- **Assign roles** to each participant (see Roles below)
- **Adjust sound settings** — mix levels for themselves and participants
- **Report problems** or submit feature requests directly from the app
- **Chat** with everyone in the session or message one specific person privately

## Roles

Every participant in a Lyrekos session has a role. The Leader assigns roles and can change them at any time. Note that these modes **only** matter when sound is being recorded. If people are in conversation, like with Zoom, or if the Leader is playing back some recorded material, these roles have no effect.

There are three top-level participant types:

- **Leader** — controls who sings, who listens, and what is recorded. Can be a conductor, teacher, maestro, or director. There is only one Leader per session.
- **Performer** — allowed to create music as part of the session. A Performer can hold any of the participant roles below.
- **Audience** — allowed to listen only.

The Leader and Performer can each be assigned one of the following participant roles:

| Participant role | What they do |
|------|-------------|
| **Soloist** | Often but not always the Leader. Responsible for recording or uploading tracks or stems and for sending out live or prerecorded audio to all accompanists and audience members. Can be either the Leader or a Performer. |
| **Accompanist** | Hears what comes from the Soloist and responds appropriately. |
| **Listener** | Listens. Talks if in Conversation mode. Listening is the only role an Audience member can take. |

The Leader can set each participant's role directly from the Ensemble panel:

![Lyrekos Ensemble panel showing Soloist, Accompanist, and Listener role columns for each participant](/images/help/leader-roles-ensemble.png)

## Operating Modes and the Actions Panel

The controls available to the Leader — and what participants can do — are context dependent and change depending on which mode you select. The Actions panel reflects the current configuration.

![Three side-by-side views of the Lyrekos Actions panel showing different control options depending on the selected role mode: recording-focused, accompaniment mode, and playback mode](/images/help/leader-role-controls.png)

Modes are covered in detail in [Lyrekos Modes](/help/lyrekos-modes).

## The Library

The Library is where you manage the audio tracks used in your sessions. You can upload single tracks or create **multi-track recordings** — for example, individual SATB parts that Lyrekos combines into one synchronized mix. Whenever you are recording, each participant's contribution is recorded in a separate synchronized track. This is quite different from what common video conferencing tools do. The Leader has mixer control. 

![Lyrekos Library screen showing single-track and multi-track views with uploaded audio files including Amazing Grace parts](/images/help/leader-library.png)

Tracks can be reordered by dragging. Select a track to make it available for playback from the Leader Console.

## Next Steps

- [Lyrekos Modes](/help/lyrekos-modes) — a deeper look at how Record, Accompanist, and Playback modes work
- [Teaching Music Online: A Practical Guide for Educators](/blog/teaching-with-lyrekos) — how to structure remote lessons and ensemble sessions with Lyrekos


Getting Started for the Leader


It is useful to think about Lyrekos in terms of four modes. The Leader switches between them during a session depending on what the group is doing.

1. **Conversation** — the default. Everyone can talk with everyone else. (Audience excepted)
2. **Live** — the Soloist sings or plays live, and that sound is recorded and sent to all participants. All sound is recorded in a multitrack manner. Roles matter in this mode.
3. **Unison** — a backing track plays from the Library; accompanists (and optionally the leader) sing along, and their recordings are separately synchronized. Roles matter in this mode.
4. **Playback** — previously recorded material is shared with everyone.

---

## Conversation Mode

Conversation mode is the default. If you are not doing anything else, you are in Conversation mode.

In Conversation mode, everyone can talk with everyone else — with one exception: Audience members are muted. They can hear but not speak. This makes Conversation mode behave like any other video conferencing system.

![Lyrekos Conversation mode showing the Role and Participant panels with Listener roles active for Teacher and Student-1](/images/help/modes-conversation.jpg)

A typical use: the Leader talks through the session plan, takes questions from Performers, and gets confirmation everyone is ready before switching to Live or Unison mode.

---

## Live Mode

In Live mode, the **Soloist** is singing or playing music. That sound goes out to all accompanists and audience members in near-real-time, and is also being recorded and can be saved to the Library.

The Leader is often the Soloist, but can designate any Performer as Soloist instead. **There is only ever one Soloist at a time.**

### Live mode: recording a backing track

The simplest use of Live mode is the Leader (as Soloist) performing a piece to create a backing track for later use. The Actions panel shows **Record** mode with the red Record button. Alternatively, the leader can go to the library (side bar) and pre-record a track directly.

![Lyrekos Live mode showing the Actions panel in Record mode with the red Record button active and the Mix Console](/images/help/modes-live-record.jpg)

### Live mode: leading a group

In Live mode the Soloist can also lead a group of Accompanists performing simultaneously. Each Accompanist's recording is synchronized with the Soloist's. The combined result can be heard by the audience and any Listeners in near-real-time. A multi-track synchronized recording is also produced, which the leader can decide to save in the library.

**What each person hears during Live mode:**
- The Soloist hears only themselves live.
- Each Accompanist hears the Soloist and themselves.
- The Audience hears the Soloist and all Accompanists synchronized.

![Lyrekos Live mode with a group — Teacher (You) as Soloist and Student-1 as Accompanist, showing the Ensemble panel and Mix Console](/images/help/modes-live-group.jpg)

---

## Unison Mode

In Unison mode, the Leader plays a backing track from the Library. Accompanists sing or play along with it. Their recordings are captured separately and synchronized, and the combined result is heard by the Leader, the Audience, and any Listeners in near-real-time.

The Leader can choose whether to sing along with the Accompanists or to listen only. Both variants use the same **Playback** setting in the Actions panel with a green Play button.

![Lyrekos Unison mode showing the Actions panel in Playback mode with a backing track selected and the green Play button](/images/help/modes-unison.jpg)

**What each person hears during Unison mode:**
- Accompanists hear the backing track and themselves.
- The Leader (if listening only) hears the synchronized result of all tracks.
- The Audience hears the full synchronized mix.

All tracks are recorded and can be saved to the Library.

---

## Playback Mode

In Playback mode, the Leader selects any track — or any synchronized collection of tracks — from the Library and plays it for everyone. The Leader controls the mix and can adjust levels for each track in real time.

![Lyrekos Playback mode showing a multi-track Amazing Grace selection in the Actions panel with the Mix Console faders visible](/images/help/modes-playback.jpg)

Playback mode is used to review what was just recorded, share a finished piece with the audience, or play a reference track before a session.

---

## Saving Recordings

In both Live and Unison modes, everything is recorded in separate but synchronized tracks. The Leader decides whether to save these to the Library at the end of each take.

There is also a dedicated option in the Library for the Leader to record a backing track directly — separate from the Ensemble Actions panel.

---

## What the Audience Sees

Audience members have a View panel showing video of the Leader and Performers. Audience members themselves do not appear in the video feed — they are invisible to the performers.

![The Lyrekos audience view showing the Leader and Sub-Leader video panels. Audience members do not appear in the video.](/images/help/modes-audience-view.jpg)

---

## Real-World Examples

### The teaching circle

A practical sequence for a music lesson:

1. **Conversation mode** — the teacher (Leader and Soloist) explains the lesson plan and takes questions.
2. **Live mode** — the teacher performs the piece the students will try. It is recorded in the Library.
3. **Conversation mode** — the teacher says "now play along with me."
4. **Unison mode** — the teacher plays the just-recorded performance back as a backing track. Students sing or play along. The synchronized result is heard by the teacher in near-real-time.
5. **Playback mode** — the teacher plays the combined recording back for everyone and adjusts the mix.

### The strong lead

For groups with mixed ability levels:

1. First pass through Unison mode: only the strongest performers are set as Accompanists. Weaker performers stay silent as Listeners. The combined result is saved as a new backing track.
2. Second pass through Unison mode: the new backing track (now containing the strong performers) plays back. All performers — including those who stayed quiet the first time — join in. The result is a fuller, more supported sound. Students who sang the first time can sing again or listen.

### All together now

For large ensemble or worship scenarios:

The Leader is the Soloist. A group of subleaders are Performers set as Accompanists who sing along with the Leader. An Audience of hundreds also joins in informally. This all runs in Live mode. The Leader hears only themselves; each subleader hears themselves and the Leader; the Audience hears all performers synchronized and sings along, each hearing themselves plus the full synchronized mix.

---

## Next Steps

- [Getting Started for the Leader](/help/getting-started-leader) — the full Leader control panel walkthrough
- [Lyrekos' Flexible Building Blocks](/blog/lyrekos-building-blocks) — a deeper look at how the modes work together with diagrams


Lyrekos Modes


As a Performer, your job is to show up, calibrate, and make music. The Leader handles the session setup — you just need to get connected and checked in. This guide walks through joining a session from start to finish.

Before you begin, make sure you have completed [Getting Set Up](/help/getting-set-up).

## Step 1: Get Your Session Link

The easiest way to join a Lyrekos session is via a link your Leader sends you — by email, calendar invite, or SMS. Click the link and it opens directly in your browser. You will need to enter the screen name you will use.

![Email showing a Lyrekos session link — click it to open app.Lyrekos.com in Chrome and enter your name](/images/help/performer-login-link.jpg)

> **Important: open the link in Chrome.** If it opens in another browser, copy the URL and paste it into Chrome. Lyrekos currently requires Chrome. We do not currently support iOS.

### Or go directly to app.Lyrekos.com

If you already know your session name, you can navigate directly to [app.Lyrekos.com](https://app.lyrekos.com) and log in from there.

![The Lyrekos login screen at app.Lyrekos.com showing the three steps: Select Devices, Calibrate, Login](/images/help/performer-login-direct.jpg)

## Step 2: Check Your Audio and Video

Before calibrating, expand **Select Devices** to confirm your microphone, speakers, and camera are correct.

![Lyrekos Select Devices screen showing microphone and speaker dropdowns, Test Mic and Test Speaker buttons, and camera preview](/images/help/performer-device-check.jpg)

If you are using an external microphone, tap the mic body with your fingernail and watch the level meter — you should see it respond. It is easy to accidentally have the wrong input selected, so this check is worth doing every time. 

## Step 3: Calibrate

Calibration is step 2 on the login screen. Expand the **Calibrate** section and click **Recalibrate**. The process takes a few seconds. Click **Continue** when done.

![Lyrekos login screen showing the Calibrate step with Recalibrate and Continue buttons](/images/help/performer-calibration.jpg)

Lyrekos stores your calibration result and reuses it each session. You only need to recalibrate if you switch microphones or speakers. See [Calibration](/help/calibration) for full details and troubleshooting.

## Step 4: Log In and Join

Expand the **Login** step, enter your username, select your session and role, then click Continue. Your Leader will have told you which role to select — typically Performer.

## The Performer Panel

Once you are in, you will see the performer panel. On the right, you can see video of the other participants. On the lower left is the **Device Settings** panel, where you can adjust your microphone, speakers, and camera, and run a recalibration at any time.

![The Lyrekos performer panel showing the conversation view, device settings, camera preview, and Recalibrate button](/images/help/performer-panel.jpg)

## The Side Panel

Hover over the left edge of the screen to reveal the side panel. From here you can submit bug reports or feature requests, and log out when the session is over.

![Lyrekos performer side panel showing Performer, About Us, Report Problem, and Logout options](/images/help/performer-sidebar.jpg)

## Your Role

As a Performer, the Leader assigns you one of three participant roles:

- **Soloist** — responsible for recording or uploading tracks and sending audio out to all participants. Can be either the Leader or a Performer.
- **Accompanist** — hears what comes from the Soloist and responds appropriately.
- **Listener** — listens and talks in Conversation mode.

The Leader can change your role at any time during the session. You will see the controls on your panel update accordingly. Roles only matter during recording. 

## Chat

The Chat bar at the bottom of the performer panel lets you send text messages to everyone in the session, or to one specific person. Expand it by clicking on it.

## Next Steps

- [Calibration](/help/calibration) — what to do if calibration doesn't work
- [Troubleshooting](/help/troubleshooting) — common issues and fixes


Getting Started for the Performer


## Device & Browser Compatibility

### Does Lyrekos work on an iPhone or iPad?

Not yet. We expect to support iOS in a future release. MacBooks running Chrome work perfectly.

### What browser do I need?

Chrome is required. Other browsers will be supported in a future release. If you click a session link and it opens in Safari or Firefox, copy the URL and paste it into Chrome.

### What operating systems does Lyrekos support?

macOS, Windows, ChromeOS, and Linux — as long as you run the Chrome browser.

### Does Lyrekos work over Wi-Fi?

Yes. Wi-Fi is fine. You do not need a wired ethernet connection. Bluetooth audio devices (AirPods, Bluetooth headphones) also work.

### Do I need special hardware?

No. Any modern laptop with Chrome installed is sufficient. No special audio interface, no dedicated microphone, and no software download is required. Earbuds or headphones recommended – otherwise when recording, the reference track will bleed into the recording.

---

## How Lyrekos Works

### How is Lyrekos different from Zoom or Teams?

Zoom and other video conferencing tools try to transmit audio in real time. Network latency makes this impossible for music — a singer in Hong Kong would have to respond to a note played in New York before she heard it. Lyrekos sidesteps this problem entirely: every participant records locally with precise timing, and Lyrekos synchronizes all the recordings after the fact. The result sounds like everyone performed together in the same room.

### Can I use Lyrekos and Zoom at the same time?

No. Zoom and Lyrekos both need exclusive access to your microphone and camera. Running them simultaneously causes them to compete for resources. Close Zoom (or any other conferencing app) before starting a Lyrekos session.

### Does Lyrekos require a backing track?

Supports backing tracks, does not require them.

---

## Sessions & Roles

### How many Leaders can a session have?

Only one Leader at a time. If you need to hand off control, the current Leader can log out and the next person can log in as Leader.

### What is the difference between a Soloist, Accompanist, and Listener?

These are the three participant roles a Leader or Performer can hold:

- **Soloist** — responsible for recording or uploading tracks and sending audio out to all participants. Often the Leader, but can be a Performer.
- **Accompanist** — hears what comes from the Soloist and responds appropriately.
- **Listener** — listens and talks in Conversation mode. The only role an Audience member can take.

These roles only matter while recording.

### Can an Audience member sing or play?

No. Audience members can only listen. If someone needs to perform, the Leader should change their role to Performer. This requires logging out as an Audience member and logging in as a Performer. The Leader will usually send an invite with a Performer link in this case. 

### How do Performers join a session?

The Leader sends a Performer link by email, calendar, or SMS. Performers click the link to open app.Lyrekos.com in Chrome, enter their name, calibrate, and select their role. They can also navigate directly to [app.Lyrekos.com](https://app.lyrekos.com) if they already know the session name.

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## Setup & Audio

### Why does calibration need the mic and speaker close together?

Calibration works by playing a brief tone through your speaker and measuring how long it takes for your microphone to hear it. For this to work, your microphone needs to physically pick up the speaker's output. Put one earbud or headphone cup near your microphone during the calibration process, then put them back on as normal.

### Do I need to calibrate every session?

No. Lyrekos stores your calibration result and reuses it automatically. You only need to recalibrate if you switch microphones or speakers.

### Why doesn't my calibration work?

The three most common causes are: (1) volume is too low for the microphone to pick up the tone — turn it up; (2) the wrong microphone is selected — tap the mic with your fingernail and watch the level meter to confirm. See [Calibration](/help/calibration) for a full troubleshooting checklist.

### Can I use AirPods with Lyrekos?

Yes, with one important settings: turn **Automatic Ear Detection off** (otherwise removing an AirPod can interrupt calibration). Use System Settings → AirPods on macOS. 

### Why does music sound out of sync?

The most likely cause is a stale calibration. If you have changed microphones or speakers since your last session, Lyrekos is using measurements from your old setup. Open Device Settings in the app and click **Recalibrate**.

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## Modes

### What are the four Lyrekos modes?

Lyrekos has four operating modes that the Leader switches between during a session:

1. **Conversation** — the default. Everyone can talk with everyone else (Audience members are muted).
2. **Live** — the Soloist performs live; that sound goes to all participants and is recorded. Accompanists may sing or play along depending the Roles setting; multi-track recordings are synchronized.
3. **Unison** — a backing track from the Library plays; Accompanists sing or play along; multi-track recordings are synchronized.
4. **Playback** — previously recorded material is shared with everyone; the Leader controls the mix.

### What is the difference between a Soloist, Accompanist, and Listener? 

These roles are only meaningful during a recording session.
**Soloist** - only role is to be a reference. 
**Accompanist** - hears the reference and performs along
**Listener** - during a recording session, just hears the mix
Note that a reference can be a recorded track or live soloist and all recordings are multitrack.


### What mode is active when a session starts?

Conversation mode is the default. You are always in Conversation mode unless the Leader has explicitly switched to Live, Unison, or Playback.

### What is the difference between Live mode and Unison mode?

In **Live** mode, the Soloist performs in real time and their live audio drives the session — accompanists hear the Soloist directly. In **Unison** mode, a pre-recorded backing track from the Library is played; Accompanists sing or play along with the recording rather than with a live performer. Live mode creates recordings; Unison mode plays them back while capturing new performances on top.

### Can there be more than one Soloist?

No. There is only ever one Soloist at a time. The Leader is often the Soloist, but can designate any Performer as Soloist instead.

### Can Audience members speak?

No — Audience members are muted and can only listen. A Listener role allows listening and speaking, but it is a Performer role, not an Audience role.

### Are recordings saved automatically?

No. In Live and Unison modes, all tracks are captured separately in synchrony, but the Leader decides whether to save them to the Library. Nothing is saved without the Leader explicitly choosing to keep it.

### What do Audience members see on their screen?

Audience members have a View panel showing video of the Leader and Performers. Audience members themselves do not appear in the video feed — they are invisible to the performers.

### Can an Audience member sing or play?
Leader doesn’t specifically change the role.  Leader can have them logout, and send them a Performer link.

### How do Performers join a session?
Either they are registered users in the role of performer.  The leader can also sent out links at any time and an unregistered person can join the session in the role of performer.
 
### Why doesn't my calibration work?
Likely because volume is set too low or the mic that is operational is not the one you think it is. It is possible that you need to remove Chrome wide echo cancellation
 
### What are the four Lyrekos modes?
**Conversation** – just like Zoom!
**Live** – soloist is the reference
**Unison** - a backing track is the reference
**Playback** - of a previously recorded track or tracks

		

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