The Problem With Most Free DAW Monitoring Plugins

If you want to stream your DAW's output to your phone for a quick reference listen — checking how your mix translates on earbuds, walking the room, or letting a client hear from their seat — there are a few free tools that do it. Most of them are VST3 or AU only.

That's fine in Ableton, Logic, or Studio One. It's a dead end in Pro Tools, which uses the AAX format exclusively for real-time insert effects. Auxfeed ships as a proper AAX plugin, so it loads directly into Pro Tools and sits in your signal path without any workarounds.

What You Need

  • Auxfeed plugin — download the installer from auxfeed.com. AAX is included in both the macOS and Windows installers, no separate download required.
  • Auxfeed app — free on iOS and Android.
  • The same Wi-Fi network — your DAW machine and phone need to be on the same Wi-Fi. No accounts, no configuration, no IP addresses to look up.

Note on Pro Tools First: Pro Tools First, Avid's free tier, restricts third-party plugins to those sold through the Avid Marketplace. Auxfeed is distributed directly from auxfeed.com and is not currently on the Avid Marketplace, so this workflow requires Pro Tools (paid subscription or perpetual license) — on macOS or Windows.

Setup: Step by Step

Step 1 — Download and Install Auxfeed

Grab the installer from auxfeed.com. Run it on your Mac or Windows machine. The installer places the AAX binary in the correct location (/Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins on macOS; the equivalent PACE-managed folder on Windows) alongside the AU and VST3 builds.

Step 2 — Find It in the Pro Tools Plugin Manager

Open Pro Tools. If you don't see Auxfeed immediately in the insert menu, open Setup > Plug-in Manager and click Scan. Auxfeed is an AAX Native plugin — it runs on your CPU, so no HDX hardware is required. Once scanned, it appears in the insert menu under its category.

Step 3 — Insert Auxfeed on the Master Fader

This is the right place for it. Create a Master Fader track if you don't already have one (Track > New > Master Fader). Then click an insert slot on the Master Fader and select Auxfeed from the list.

Inserts on the Master Fader in Pro Tools are post-fader, which means they receive the signal after your fader position is applied. Auxfeed passes audio through transparently — it reads the stream and re-emits it to the phone without touching what continues downstream to your output bus or bounce.

Step 4 — Configure the Plugin

Open the Auxfeed plugin window. Choose your codec:

  • PCM — lossless, full quality. Best for critical listening on a fast Wi-Fi network.
  • Opus — compressed, lower bandwidth. Good for congested networks.
  • AAC — available on macOS when streaming to iOS (Apple AudioToolbox). Not available on Android.

Optionally give your stream a name — useful if multiple engineers are running Auxfeed sessions on the same Wi-Fi.

Step 5 — Open the Auxfeed App and Press Play

Open the Auxfeed app on your iPhone or Android. It uses Bonjour/mDNS to find active streams automatically — no IP address, no pairing code. Your session appears in the list. Tap it, press play in Pro Tools, and you're monitoring in real time.

iOS and Android Both Work

The plugin side runs on macOS or Windows. The app side is the same experience on iOS and Android. The only codec difference: AAC is available when streaming from macOS to iOS. Android uses PCM or Opus, both transparent at normal studio bandwidths.

If You're Already Using LISTENTO

LISTENTO is the standard for sending audio to remote clients over the internet — it's excellent for that use case, and it costs money. If you're paying for LISTENTO for remote delivery and separately want a free option for in-studio monitoring on your phone, Auxfeed handles that without a subscription or internet connection. The two tools solve different problems and aren't mutually exclusive.

One Tip: Position Auxfeed After Your Limiter

If you have a bus limiter or mastering chain on your Master Fader, insert Auxfeed after those processors. That way what you hear in the app is what the mix sounds like after limiting — the same thing a streaming platform or mastered file will present. The Auxfeed app includes real-time LUFS metering so you can check integrated loudness while you work, without switching screens.

Download Auxfeed Free

The plugin and both apps are free. No account required for in-studio Wi-Fi use.

For a complete guide to using your phone as a reference monitor while mixing, see Phone as Studio Monitor — The Engineer’s Guide.

Download Auxfeed at auxfeed.com — macOS and Windows installers include AAX, AU, and VST3.