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Quick Start Guide: Your First Monitoring with StageWave

Connect in 3 steps and start rehearsing today

Welcome to StageWave! If you're looking to bring wireless monitoring to your band without investing thousands of dollars in complex hardware, you're in the right place.

As of our 2026 version, StageWave offers a free lifetime connection. Any musician can create an account, connect, and monitor their mix at no cost.

This guide will show you how to connect your basic setup in just 3 steps so you can start rehearsing today.

What do you need? (Hardware)

For the magic to work, you only need four items you probably already have in your rehearsal space or church:

  1. Digital mixer or audio interface.
  2. Computer (PC or Mac).
  3. 5GHz WiFi router.
  4. Smartphones and headphones for each musician.

Where do I download the apps? Sign in to your dashboard; there you’ll find StageWave Server (PC/Mac) and links to the mobile app on the App Store and Play Store.

Connection in 3 simple steps

The physical setup for StageWave literally requires two cables:

Step 1: Audio to computer

Connect your mixer or audio interface to your computer via USB cable (or whatever connection your device uses, such as Dante).

  • Note for Windows: Make sure you have the original ASIO drivers for your mixer installed.

Step 2: Network to router

Connect your computer to the WiFi router using a network cable (CAT6 minimum).

  • Golden rule: Never connect the computer to the router via WiFi; this connection between the PC and the router must always be wired to ensure stability.

Step 3: Musicians to the system

Musicians should connect their smartphones to the same 5 GHz WiFi network as the computer (the one from your router). On the StageWave Server screen you’ll see a QR code: they can scan it with their phone camera to connect faster. Make sure the correct audio device is selected in Audio Devices (left section of the Server).

  • Open the StageWave mobile app, select your mix, and connect your headphones. That's it!

Sound professional from minute one

You don't need to be an audio engineer to get a good mix. With the Presets feature (introduced in StageWave 2026), you can shape your sound with no effort:

  • Channel presets: Choose a preset for voice, acoustic guitar, bass, or kick and it will adjust automatically.
  • Master presets: Apply global settings like Bright & Tight or Wide Stage to balance your whole mix with one tap.

Ready for the next level?

Before your first official rehearsal, we recommend reviewing these articles so everything runs smoothly: