Use a Windows PC for backing tracks and effects while your phone handles the livestream.
Quick answer: MAONO P1 can send your microphone, backing track, and sound effects to a phone livestream. In this workflow, a Windows PC runs ProStudio 2 and plays the music and effects, while the phone handles the camera and broadcast. Keep the PC connected throughout the stream.
You might already have the phone on a tripod and a song ready to sing. Then comes the awkward part: getting the audience to hear the backing track at the same time as your microphone. Turning up a speaker beside the phone may get music into the room, but it gives you little control over what the audience hears.
Why a simple livestream can become a routing problem
A phone livestream needs one finished mix that combines your voice, music, and any planned effects before the sound reaches the phone. The main question is where those sources meet and which output sends the mix to the livestream app.
Recording software uses terms such as input, output, monitoring, track arming, and playback. Those settings matter when recording a song, but a livestream adds one more destination: the phone sending the show to viewers.
When mixing audio helps a phone livestream
For a singing session, your vocal and backing track need to reach the audience together. Between songs, you may want to lower the music and answer a comment. A short sound effect can mark a request or introduce the next segment.
The same need appears in music-sharing streams. A DJ or host may want to send music to the phone while keeping a microphone ready for introductions, requests, or a quick reply to chat. The music must remain audible while the host can speak clearly over it.
How the sound reaches your phone
Think of the phone as the destination for the finished audio. P1 handles the microphone connection and the link to the phone; the computer prepares playback and software effects. MAONO P1 supports a USB connection to the computer and a separate OTG connection to the phone.
- Microphone to P1 microphone input
- Windows PC running ProStudio 2 to P1 USB-C port for data and power
- P1 OTG port to the livestreaming phone for USB audio
- Headphones to P1 headphone output
Keep both USB connections in place while streaming. The PC connection carries audio and supplies power in this workflow.
Set up the mic and playback before opening the live
Prepare the equipment
Have MAONO P1, an XLR microphone and cable, wired headphones, your livestreaming phone, and a compatible Windows PC ready. ProStudio 2 currently requires Windows 10 64-bit or later. Install it on the PC you will use for music and effects.
Use a USB data cable between the PC and P1. For a USB-C phone, choose a data connection supported by P1 and the phone. For a Lightning iPhone, follow MAONO's instructions for the required MFi-certified cable or adapter. A charging-only cable will not carry audio.
If your microphone needs 48V phantom power, enable it after connecting the mic and switch it off before unplugging. See the MAONO P1 FAQ for current power, cable, and mobile connection guidance.
Build the mix in ProStudio 2
Set up the Stream mix in ProStudio 2 before opening the livestream app. These steps send the microphone, computer playback, and SoundPad to the phone.
- Open ProStudio 2 and confirm that it recognizes P1. Select Simple Mode and leave DAW Exclusive Mode off.
- In a virtual input channel, open the App Status Bar and select your music player. Play a track and check that the channel meter moves. If the player controls its own audio output, set its output in the player too.
- Include the microphone, music virtual channel, and SoundPad in Stream. Check that each channel is enabled and its Stream send is unmuted. Raise the Stream faders from silence to start building the mix.
- In the output controls, select OTG for Stream. This sends the mix to the phone. Check the Stream master level and mute state.
- Select Stream for the headphone output if you want to monitor that mix. Headphone and OTG routing are separate settings. Confirm the final result from a listener's device.
Choose one backing track for the first test. Start with a section you know well so you can tell immediately if the audience is missing an instrument or your vocal is too quiet. Close unrelated audio applications before the test.
Choose the effects you actually need
SoundPad plays clips such as applause or an introduction. To process your voice, import a suitable VST3 effect on the microphone's physical input channel and enable it. Both functions run in ProStudio 2 on the PC. Keep Simple Mode active because DAW Exclusive Mode disables the internal mixer. See the ProStudio 2 mixing and effects guide for current controls.
An applause clip and reverb do different jobs. You might play applause between songs, while reverb changes the sound of your singing. Begin with the effect you plan to use on the next live and add others after checking the basic mix.
Balance the sound around your performance
Set your voice first, with the music stopped. Speak or sing at the volume you expect to use on the live, including the loudest line. If the P1 gain indicator shows red, reduce the microphone gain. Check again after changing your distance from the mic.
Start the backing track quietly and bring it up while you sing. For a cover performance, listen to whether the words remain clear during the chorus. For a chat stream, try a full sentence over the music at your normal speaking volume. Lower the music if you have to raise your voice to compete.
Use each channel's Stream fader to balance your voice against the music. Use the Stream master fader for the overall level sent to the phone. To control USB/OTG output with P1's large knob, enable USB/OTG binding in the ProStudio 2 Control Panel and check the setting before the stream.
Check what a viewer hears
Local headphone sound alone does not confirm what the livestream app is sending. Listen to a short test from a second device with headphones, or ask someone you trust to check the live. Keep that device's speaker muted to prevent feedback.
- Speak into the microphone with the music stopped. Confirm that the stream carries your voice.
- Stop speaking and play the backing track. Check that the audience can hear it.
- Trigger the planned sound effect once and compare its level with your voice.
- Sing or speak over the music, then pause to read a comment. Check both the performance and the quiet gap.
Repeat the test in the livestream app you plan to use. Save the working configuration: phone model and OS, livestream app version, Windows and ProStudio 2 versions, and the exact cables or adapters.
If one sound is missing
Work through one source at a time. Start with the source that has disappeared, check its level and mute state, then check the destination. Changing several cables and settings together makes the cause harder to identify.
The audience hears your voice but no music
Check that the player is running and that its audio reaches the intended virtual input. If the channel shows activity, confirm that it is included in the Stream mix sent to OTG. Hearing the track locally does not prove it has reached the phone.
The voice sounds rough or comes through one side
Reduce gain if loud words distort. If a single microphone is heard on only one side, long-press Direct Monitor to enable P1's live stream mode. This provides mono output so the microphone can be heard on both sides. Confirm the result in the live app.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a microphone and background music together on TikTok Live?
Yes. MAONO P1 can combine the microphone and computer playback before the mix reaches the phone. Test the exact phone, cable, and TikTok Live setup before relying on it for a performance.
Do I need a computer for this setup?
Yes. This workflow needs a Windows PC running ProStudio 2 throughout the stream to provide music and software effects. The phone handles the camera and broadcast.
Can the livestreaming phone also play the backing track?
This guide uses computer playback. A phone app might not send its own music playback into the live, so check a supported workflow for the exact phone and apps you want to use.
What cable should I buy for my phone?
For a USB-C phone, choose a cable that carries USB audio and data, then check compatibility for your phone. For a Lightning iPhone, follow MAONO's instructions for an MFi-certified connection. A connector adapter alone does not establish audio compatibility.
Will viewers hear the effects I hear in my headphones?
Viewers hear effects included in the outgoing Stream mix. Headphone monitoring can differ from the OTG output, so trigger each effect during the viewer-side test.
Get your next song ready
Start with one microphone and one backing track. Once a listener can hear both at a comfortable level, add the effect you want to use and run through a short section of your show. Include the moment between songs, when you stop singing and start talking.
MAONO P1 gives this setup a direct connection to your phone, so you can keep the phone as your live camera while managing audio beside it. Before you buy, compare your microphone, computer, and phone connections with the current documentation.