Troubleshooting

The questions that come up most: the mic, sound, headphones, timing, the iPhone, a Chromebook, installing, offline and sign-in links.

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The browser won't let me use the mic

When the mic is blocked, we say The mic is blocked for Stackapella, show the steps for your own browser, and try again by ourselves the moment it's allowed.
Chrome: click the icon at the far left of the address bar and turn on Microphone. Edge: click the lock, then Permissions for this site, and set Microphone to Allow. Firefox: click the crossed-out microphone in the address bar, then the × next to Blocked, and choose Allow when it asks again.
Safari on a Mac: choose Safari, then Settings, then Websites, then Microphone, and set stackapella.com to Allow. Safari on iPhone: tap the page menu at the edge of the address bar, then Website Settings, and set Microphone to Allow.
A Mac and Windows have a switch of their own too: on a Mac, System Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Microphone, and turn your browser on there; in Windows, Settings, then Privacy & security, then Microphone, and turn on Microphone access and Let desktop apps access your microphone.
Inside another app's browser, like Instagram's or Facebook's, the mic often can't work. Open the link in Safari or Chrome.

In Your comfortable note, the first lesson, a few seconds of nothing brings up No sound from your mic, or that we hear it only very quietly, with a level meter, the Microphone to pick, and Things to check.
Pick the mic you sing into, and check it isn't muted: a switch on a headset, or your computer's sound settings. Turn your computer's input level up.
With an audio interface: plug the mic into input 1, because a browser hears the first input. Turn that input's gain up until its light flickers when you sing, and turn on 48V phantom power for a condenser mic.
On a Mac with the lid closed, the built-in mic hears nothing: pick another.
If a take in the studio comes out silent, we say so. Pick another mic, then record again.

Wear headphones to record. The other parts play while you record so you can sing along, and headphones keep them out of your take.
On speakers, the mic hears the other parts too, and they end up in your take like an echo. We record your mic as it is, with the browser's echo removal off, so your voice isn't changed. In the course, choose No headphones, and the sound under your voice rests while you sing.
Wired headphones keep the timing tightest. Bluetooth works, but adds a delay that can change while you sing: run a timing check first, and check it often. A wireless mic, like AirPods used as one, changes its delay too.

Every phone, computer and pair of headphones adds a small delay. The timing check measures yours, so each part lands where you sang it. We ask for it the first time you record with a mic, and again when you change headphones or mics.
To run it again, open a song in the studio, then Microphone and timing: in the More menu on a phone, or the mic at the top on a bigger screen.
One take still off? After a take in Sing, nudge it earlier or later by ear, or let us line it up for you. In the studio, tap a track to open its row: the minus and plus beside Timing move it 10 ms at a time.
Drifting more as the song goes on? That's usually Bluetooth: switch to wired headphones, or run the check before each take.

Use Safari 16.4 or newer, and add Stackapella to your home screen: Share, then Add to Home Screen. Safari keeps an installed app's songs, and reminders work only there.
Keep the phone unlocked while you record. A call, a locked screen or another app stops the take, and we keep it up to that moment.
The mic won't start? Another app may be using it, like a call or a voice note. Close it. If it still won't start, close Safari completely, by swiping it away, and open it again.
Hear nothing at all? Turn the volume up with the side buttons, and switch Silent mode off.
If takes seem out of time, try turning off Low Power Mode, then run the timing check again.

Stackapella runs in Chrome on a Chromebook as on any computer. Allow the mic as you would in Chrome, then install it from Chrome to open it from your launcher.
If the mic is allowed but silent, check the Chromebook's own microphone access is on, in its settings under privacy.

Stackapella runs in your browser and installs from it: on a computer or Android, the Install button on the home page; on an iPhone, Share, then Add to Home Screen.
Installed, it opens like an app, keeps your songs safer, and updates itself: when a new version is ready, we say so.

The app opens without a connection once you've opened it online on that device. The four free songs come with it, and your own songs are kept on the device, so they open offline too.
A song from your account, like a Plus song or one your choir shares, needs a connection the first time you start it. After that, it opens offline.
A real singer's guide voice is saved on your device the first time it plays, so after that it plays offline too. If one can't load, that part uses our practice voice, and the real voice is tried again when you're back online.
A Plus song needs a quick check online before you change it again. You can still play it.
The course, Sing and the studio work offline, Export too. Sharing, signing in, choir groups, Plus, Storage, reminders and sending a message to us need a connection: each says so if you're offline. Your work stays on the device, and goes to your account when you're back.

A sign-in link works for 15 minutes, and only once. An old one says This link has expired: tap Send a new link. One already used says This link was already used: sign in again.
Accepting an invite sends the link to your email. Nothing after a minute? Check your spam folder, then tap Send it again.

Still stuck? Tell us what you tried: it sends the details we need, like your browser and your last timing check.