Apple OS X User Manual
MainStage 3
User Guide
For OS X
K Apple Inc.
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Contents
9 Chapter 1: Introducing MainStage
9 What is MainStage?
10 MainStage for keyboard controllers
10 MainStage for electric guitars
10 MainStage for vocals, drums, and other instruments
11 How to use MainStage in your music setup
12 MainStage in live performance
13 Chapter 2: Set up your system
13 Setup overview
14 Connect MIDI devices
14 MIDI devices overview
15 Connect a USB music keyboard
15 Connect MIDI keyboards and modules
17 Multichannel MIDI devices
17 Turn o internally generated sounds
18 Connect audio devices
18 Audio devices overview
18 Connect a microphone
19 Connect an electric instrument
20 Connect an audio interface
21 Speakers and other audio devices
21 Eects plug-ins and MainStage
22 Chapter 3: The MainStage interface
22 The MainStage window
23 Layout mode
24 Edit mode
25 Perform mode
26 Resize the workspace
27 Chapter 4: Get started with MainStage
27 Before you start
27 Choose a template
29 Select patch settings in the Patch Library
30 Add a patch
31 Select and play patches
31 Add a channel strip
33 Change a channel strip setting
34 Learn a controller assignment
34 Map a screen control
36 Try out Perform mode
36 Use Quick Help
3
37 Chapter 5: Work in Edit mode
37 Edit mode overview
38 Work with patches in Edit mode
38 Select items in the Patch List
39 Copy, paste, and delete patches
39 Reorder and move patches in the Patch List
40 Create a patch from several patches
40 Set the time signature for patches
40 Change the tempo when you select a patch
41 Set program change and bank numbers
42 Defer patch changes
42 Instantly silence the previous patch
42 Change patch icons
43 Change the tuning for a patch
45 Work with channel strips in Edit mode
45 Channel strips overview
46 Show signal ow channel strips
47 Show the metronome channel strip
47 Create an alias of a channel strip
48 Add a patch bus
48 Channel Strip Inspector
49 Choose channel strip settings
50 Rename channel strips
50 Change channel strip colors
51 Change channel strip icons
51 Use feedback protection with channel strips
52 Work with software instrument channel strips
55 Use the EXS24 mkII Instrument Editor in MainStage
56 Use multiple instrument outputs
57 Use external MIDI instruments in MainStage
58 Delete channel strips
59 Create keyboard layers and splits
59 Layers and splits overview
59 Dene the key range
61 Set oating split points
61 Set the velocity range
62 Work with graphs
64 Create controller transforms
65 Work with plug-ins in Edit mode
65 Work with plug-ins overview
65 Add and remove plug-ins
65 Move and copy plug-ins
66 Use Channel EQ
66 Use plug-in settings
67 Adjust plug-in parameters
68 Use other plug-in window controls
Contents 4
69 Map screen controls
69 Screen controls overview
69 Map screen controls to channel strip and plug-in parameters
71 Map screen controls to actions
73 Map a screen control to multiple parameters
74 Edit the saved value for a mapped parameter
74 Set drum pads or buttons to use note velocity
75 Use parameter mapping graphs
75 Map screen controls to all channel strips in a patch
75 Undo screen control parameter mappings
75 Remove screen control mappings
76 Work in the Assignments and Mappings tab
76 Assignments and mappings overview
77 Create and delete assignments and mappings
78 Edit assignments and mappings
78 Edit Hardware Input parameters
78 Block incoming controller messages
79 Edit screen control parameters in Edit mode
79 Screen control parameters in Edit mode overview
79 Replace parameter labels
79 Choose custom colors for screen controls
79 Change the appearance of a background or grouped screen control
80 Set screen controls to show the hardware value
80 Set parameter change behavior for screen controls
81 Set hardware matching behavior for screen controls
81 Reset and compare changes to a patch
82 Override concert- and set-level mappings
83 Work with sets in Edit mode
83 Work with sets overview
83 Create sets
83 Rename sets
83 Set the time signature for sets
84 Change the tempo when you select a set
84 Change the tuning for sets
84 Collapse sets in the Patch List
84 Override concert-level key ranges for a set
85 Delete sets
85 Add a channel strip at the set level
86 Share patches and sets between concerts
86 Record the audio output of a concert
Contents 5
87 Chapter 6: Work with concerts
87 Open and close concerts
88 Save concerts
89 How saving aects parameter values
90 Set the time signature for a concert
90 Use tempo in a MainStage concert
90 Tempo overview
91 Tap the tempo
91 Get the tempo from MIDI Input
92 Dene the source for program change messages
92 Set the pan law for a concert
92 Change the tuning for a concert
92 Silence MIDI notes
93 Mute audio output
94 Work at the concert level
94 Concert level overview
95 Control the overall volume of a concert
96 Add concert-wide eects
97 Use auxes to control channel strip output
98 Add channel strips at the concert level
99 The MainStage clock
100 Control the metronome
101 Chapter 7: Work in Layout mode
101 Layout mode overview
102 Work with screen controls in Layout mode
102 Screen controls overview
103 Screen control types
104 Add screen controls to a layout
105 Copy and paste screen controls
106 Move screen controls
106 Resize screen controls
107 Align and distribute screen controls
108 Adjust the shelf for a shelf control
109 Group screen controls
110 Delete screen controls
111 Assign hardware controls to screen controls
111 Controller assignments overview
111 Knob assignments
112 Button assignments
113 Edit screen control parameters
113 Screen control parameter editing overview
113 Lift and stamp screen control parameters
114 Common screen control parameters
115 Keyboard screen control parameters
115 MIDI activity screen control parameters
116 Drum pad screen control parameters
116 Waveform screen control parameters
117 Selector screen control parameters
117 Text screen control parameters
117 Background screen control parameters
Contents 6
118 How MainStage passes through MIDI messages
118 Export layouts
119 Import a layout
119 Change the aspect ratio of a layout
120 Chapter 8: Perform live with MainStage
120 Before the performance
120 Use Perform mode
121 Select patches in performance
121 Select patches in performance overview
121 Select patches using key commands
121 Select patches by typing
122 Select patches using actions
122 Select patches using program change messages
122 Screen controls in performance
122 Tempo changes in performance
123 Tips for performing with keyboard controllers
123 Tips for performing with guitars and other instruments
124 Tune guitars and other instruments with the Tuner
125 The Playback plug-in in performance
126 Record your performances
126 After the performance
126 Tips for complex hardware setups
127 Appendix A: The Playback plug-in
127 Playback plug-in overview
128 The Playback interface
129 Use the Playback waveform display
130 Playback transport and function buttons
131 Playback information display
132 Playback Sync, Snap To, and Play From parameters
133 Use the Playback group functions
134 Use the Playback Action menu and File eld
135 Use markers with the Playback plug-in
136 Use the Playback plug-in in a concert
136 Add a Playback plug-in
137 Add an audio le to the Playback plug-in
138 Set the Sync mode for the Playback plug-in
138 Choose the ex mode for the Playback plug-in
139 Add screen controls for the Playback plug-in
140 Tips for using the Playback plug-in
140 Assign Playback plug-ins to groups
Contents 7
141 Appendix B: The Loopback plug-in
141 Loopback plug-in overview
142 The Loopback interface
143 Loopback waveform display
143 Loopback transport and function controls
144 Loopback information display
145 Loopback Sync, Snap To, and Play From parameters
145 Use the Loopback group functions
146 Loopback Action menu
147 Add a Loopback plug-in
148 Appendix C: MainStage preferences
148 Preferences overview
148 General preferences
149 Audio preferences
151 MIDI preferences
151 Display preferences
152 Appendix D: Key commands
152 Concerts and layouts
152 Patches and sets (Edit mode)
153 Editing
153 Actions
153 Parameter mapping (Edit mode)
154 Channel strips (Edit mode)
154 Screen controls (Layout mode)
154 Perform in Full Screen
155 Window and view
155 Help and support
156 Appendix E: MainStage actions
156 Actions overview
156 Table of actions
Contents 8
Introducing MainStage
1
What is MainStage?
MainStage is a music application designed for use in live performance. MainStage turns your
computer into a powerful multi-instrument and eects processor that you can use on stage
when you perform. Whether you sing or play a keyboard, guitar, or another instrument, you can
use MainStage when you perform live.
•
Using a USB or MIDI keyboard controller, you can play a wide variety of software instruments,
including pianos and other keyboards, synthesizers, strings, horns, percussion, and more.
•
If you play electric guitar, you can play through virtual amps and use eects such as overdrive,
reverb, and compression.
•
Vocalists, drummers, and other musicians can sing and play with multi-eects setups using
a microphone.
In MainStage, you organize and access your sounds in concerts. A concert can store all the sounds
you’ll use in an entire performance or a series of performances. In a MainStage concert, individual
sounds are stored as patches, and each patch can contain one or more channel strips, each with
its own instruments and eects. You can add channel strips, choose channel strip settings, add
instruments and eects, and edit their parameters to customize your sounds. You can even mix
channel strips of dierent types in a single patch.
You organize patches for a concert in the Patch List, which includes grouping them into sets,
which are folders where you can store patches you want to keep together.
Each concert includes a visual interface, called a layout, with screen controls that you use to
modify your patches in live performance. Screen controls include keyboards, faders, knobs,
buttons, pedals, drum pads, and other hardware controls and displays. You make connections
between your MIDI devices and your MainStage concert by assigning hardware controls to
the screen controls in the concert, then map the screen controls to channel strip and plug-in
parameters, completing the connection so you can easily manipulate the parameters for each
patch in the concert.
Parameter
mapping
Channel strip or
plug-in parameter
Hardware control
Controller
assignment
MainStage screen control
9
You can also map screen controls to actions, which provide the ability to select patches, control
the Tuner or metronome, provide visual feedback, and perform other functions.
MainStage lets you quickly and easily make controller assignments and parameter mappings
to speed your workow. You can customize your layout to match the controls on your MIDI
hardware, to optimize the use of available screen space, or in other ways that suit your needs.
MainStage for keyboard controllers
If you perform using a USB or MIDI keyboard controller, you can play and control MainStage
patches with software instruments using your controller. You can assign faders, knobs, buttons,
and other controls on the keyboard controller to screen controls in your concert, and then map
those screen controls to parameters in your patches. You can choose exactly the parameters
you want to have at your ngertips for each patch and access them from your controller as
you perform.
You can use MainStage with other MIDI controllers, including sustain pedals, expression pedals,
foot switches, MIDI guitars, and wind controllers that send standard MIDI messages. You can also
control external hardware synthesizers, ReWire applications, and other software instruments
using external instrument channel strips.
MainStage for electric guitars
If you play an electric guitar, you can use MainStage as a powerful, customizable multi-eects
processor. After you connect your instrument to your computer using an audio interface, you
send your guitar’s audio signal to audio channel strips in your patches, where you can add eects
including the Amp Designer and Pedalboard plug-ins designed specically for use with electric
guitar. You can also use EQ, compression, reverb, overdrive, and other eects in your guitar
patches. You can control volume, eect blend, or expression with an expression pedal, and use a
foot switch to select patches hands-free when you perform.
MainStage for vocals, drums, and other instruments
Vocalists and acoustic musicians can use MainStage by sending the audio output from a
microphone connected to their computer to audio channel strips in their patches. You can
use MainStage with Core Audio-compatible audio devices, such as audio interfaces and digital
mixers, for input from instruments and microphones, and for audio output to speakers, monitors,
a mixing board, or a public address (PA) system. In MainStage, you can access a wide range of
eects in your patches.
Drummers can also use MainStage by sending the audio output from microphones to audio
channel strips in their patches or by using drum pads or a virtual drum kit to control the
EXS24 mkII sampler, Ultrabeat, and percussion-oriented plug-ins.
Chapter 1 Introducing MainStage 10
How to use MainStage in your music setup
You can add MainStage to your music equipment setup by following these steps:
Create a concert from a template
You start by creating a new concert from a template for keyboard, guitar, vocals, or another
instrument. MainStage recognizes many popular MIDI controllers and automatically assigns
hardware controls on the controller to corresponding screen controls in the workspace,
simplifying hardware setup. For more information, see Choose a template.
Add and edit patches to customize your sounds
You add patches for the sounds you want to play and edit the patches by adding channel strips,
instruments, and eects, and adjusting their parameters to “dial in” your custom sounds. In
Edit mode, you can select and play patches, choose channel strip settings, and edit channel strip
and plug-in parameters. You can quickly dene key ranges for channel strips to create keyboard
layers and splits, scale expression and other parameters using transforms, and lter incoming
MIDI messages. Your patches are “live” so you can hear the results of your edits instantly. For more
information, see Edit mode overview.
Organize patches for easy access
In Edit mode, you can order patches in the Patch List, organize patches in sets for added
exibility, and add channel strips at the set level, so they are available with every patch in the set.
For information about organizing patches, see Reorder and move patches in the Patch List. For
information about creating and editing sets, see Work with sets overview.
Customize the visual layout of your concert
In Layout mode, you arrange screen controls to create the visual layout for the concert.
Screen controls include keyboards, knobs, faders, and other hardware controls, as well as
controls to display parameter and system information, text and images, and a patch selector.
You can group controls and add grouped controls to your layout. For more information, see
Screen controls overview.
Make connections between MainStage and your music hardware
In Layout mode, you connect hardware controls on your MIDI devices to screen controls in
your layout by assigning the hardware controls to screen controls. You can move and resize
screen controls in the workspace, and customize the visual display of parameter values and
other information. You only need to make controller assignments once for an entire concert,
minimizing the amount of work required to connect your hardware with your computer. For
more information, see Controller assignments overview.
Map screen controls to the parameters you want to control
Edit mode is where you map screen controls to channel strip parameters. You can map the
parameters you want to modify for each patch to easily control them from your hardware when
you perform live. You can also map screen controls to MainStage actions, such as selecting
the next patch to play. For more information, see Map screen controls to channel strip and
plug-in parameters.
You need not follow these steps in a strict order; however, in most cases you will likely want
to create your layout before making hardware assignments and make hardware assignments
before you map screen controls. If you use a concert template without signicantly modifying its
layout, you can concentrate on editing and organizing your custom patches and mapping their
parameters to the screen controls in your layout.
Chapter 1 Introducing MainStage 11
MainStage in live performance
After you have created your custom patches in a concert, you’re ready to play. In Perform mode,
you can select patches and start playing instantly. MainStage switches seamlessly between
patches and sustains notes from the previous patch while you start playing the newly selected
one. You can view patch names, parameter values, and audio output levels in real time, adjust
concert-wide eects, and control other concert-wide settings.
By default, the workspace lls your computer screen, optimizing available screen space for
your onscreen layout. You can also choose Perform in Window to have the workspace ll the
MainStage window, while retaining access to the Finder and to other applications.
You can use MainStage with multiple MIDI controllers, microphones, musical instruments,
and other music equipment. For time-based eects such as reverb and delay, you can set a
predened tempo, use MIDI input for tempo changes, or tap the tempo as you perform.
For tips and other information, see the Perform live with MainStage chapter.
Chapter 1 Introducing MainStage 12
Set up your system
2
Setup overview
You can use MainStage with a wide variety of MIDI controllers and Core Audio-compliant audio
devices. The following sections provide basic information about using MIDI and audio devices
with MainStage.
Real-time generation and processing of digital audio requires intensive processing by your
computer. If you plan to work on large or complex projects, using a computer with a faster
processor and extra random-access memory (RAM) installed can facilitate your productivity.
Additional RAM is useful particularly when using a large number of eects plug-ins and when
playing sample-based software instruments. It is recommended that you do not run other
processor- or RAM-intensive applications simultaneously with MainStage, particularly when
performing live.
You also have the option to open MainStage in 64-bit mode, which allows you to access large
amounts of memory—when working with software instruments that require loading very large
sound libraries, for example. To open MainStage in 64-bit mode, Control-click the MainStage icon
in the Applications folder, choose Get Info from the shortcut menu, then deselect the “Open in
32-bit mode” checkbox.
In Perform mode (both Perform in Window and Perform in Full Screen), Time Machine backups
are disabled automatically. This avoids any impact on your performance.
13
Connect MIDI devices
MIDI devices overview
MainStage works with many USB and MIDI keyboard controllers as well as with MIDI devices
such as foot pedals and switches. To work with MainStage, MIDI devices must send standard
MIDI control messages. MainStage receives standard MIDI messages and can be used to control
external MIDI devices using external MIDI instrument channel strips.
Controller presets
Some keyboard controllers allow you to choose dierent presets or “scenes” that recongure the
messages sent by the controls on the device. In most cases, you should choose a generic preset
that sends standard MIDI messages rather than system exclusive messages or messages intended
for a particular application. After you have assigned hardware controls to screen controls in
MainStage, do not change the preset on the MIDI device, or your assignments might be lost.
In some cases, you can change the message type the controller sends by choosing a dierent
preset or by reprogramming the device. Some devices may include software that you can use
to reprogram knobs, buttons, and other controls. For information about reprogramming a MIDI
device, see the documentation that came with the device.
MIDI devices that support automatic conguration
MainStage can automatically congure the screen controls in a concert to support many popular
MIDI controllers. If you are using a device that supports automatic conguration, MainStage
alerts you to select the appropriate preset on your device when you open a new concert. After
you select the preset on your MIDI device, the screen controls in the concert are assigned to the
corresponding controls on your hardware device so you can use them in MainStage with no
further conguration.
MIDI devices that send special MIDI message types
Certain types of hardware controls such as knobs (rotary controls) and buttons are capable of
sending several types of MIDI messages. When you assign these controls to MainStage screen
controls using the Learn process, MainStage analyzes the incoming MIDI data to determine
which type of message the hardware control is sending. In order for MainStage to learn these
controls correctly, be sure to turn knobs through their full range of motion and to press buttons
exactly three times during the Learn process.
Some MIDI controllers can send nonstandard or proprietary MIDI messages. MainStage cannot
process or respond to nonstandard MIDI messages, to “registered” or “non-registered” parameter
messages, or to system exclusive (SysEx) messages. MainStage can process some system realtime messages and MIDI Machine Control (MMC) messages when you assign a hardware control
that sends these messages to a screen control.
Some devices have buttons that send program change messages. You can use these buttons
to send program change messages to MainStage, but you cannot assign them to control other
parameters using MainStage screen controls.
Chapter 2 Set up your system 14
Connect a USB music keyboard
Keyboard
You can connect a USB music keyboard to your computer to play software instrument patches or
to use with external MIDI devices such as synthesizers or sound modules.
Connect a USB music keyboard to your computer
m If the keyboard has a USB port: Connect the USB cable from the keyboard to your computer.
USB (Universal Serial Bus)
Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the keyboard, which may include installing the
correct driver on your computer. Check the manufacturer’s website for the latest driver software.
If you are using a MIDI interface, be sure to follow the instructions that came with the interface.
Connect MIDI keyboards and modules
You can connect a MIDI keyboard to your computer to play software instrument patches or to
use with external MIDI devices such as synthesizers or sound modules.
When you connect a device with MIDI In and MIDI Out ports, be sure to connect the MIDI Out
port to a MIDI In port on a MIDI interface, and connect the MIDI In port on the keyboard to a
MIDI Out port on the MIDI interface using MIDI cables.
MIDI Connector
Connect a MIDI keyboard
Do one of the following:
m For keyboard controllers without tone generators: You only need to connect the MIDI Out port of
the keyboard to a MIDI In port on your MIDI interface, using a MIDI cable.
Computer
Out port
In port
MIDI interface
Chapter 2 Set up your system 15
m For keyboards with tone generators: You should also connect the MIDI Out port of the MIDI
Keyboard
Tone generator
Keyboard
interface to the keyboard MIDI In port. If your MIDI interface oers more than one MIDI output,
connect any other tone generators (or other MIDI devices, such as control surfaces that require
bidirectional MIDI communication) to these.
Computer
In port Out port
In port Out port
MIDI interface
In port
m If your MIDI interface has a single MIDI output: You need to connect the MIDI In of the second tone
generator to the keyboard MIDI Thru port. A third device can be connected to the MIDI Thru port
of the second unit, and so on.
Computer
In port Out port
Tone generator
In port Out port
MIDI interface
Tone generator
MIDI Thru port
In port
MIDI Thru port
In port
The MIDI Thru port replicates the signals coming into the MIDI In port of the device. It is
preferable to use a direct connection from the computer MIDI Out port to a device, rather than
chaining too many units, one after the other. Doing so can cause timing problems in the chain,
if numerous MIDI commands are sent quickly. This is due to the slight delays introduced by each
MIDI In to MIDI Thru transaction. As such, a multi input/output MIDI interface is recommended in
studios with several MIDI tone generators and controllers.
Chapter 2 Set up your system 16
Multichannel MIDI devices
Multitimbral MIDI devices can simultaneously receive MIDI data on multiple MIDI channels. Each
MIDI channel can be assigned a tone or sound, such as piano, strings, bass, and so on.
To take full advantage of the capabilities of such multitimbral devices, you should use separate
MIDI Out ports (from the computer MIDI interface to the MIDI In ports) for each device.
MainStage is capable of channelizing MIDI data (routing it to MIDI channels 1 to 16) and sending
the channelized data to specic MIDI Out ports.
In eect, having a multi-output MIDI interface is something like having more MIDI channels. In
this scenario, it would be like having 64 independent MIDI channels—with 16 channels per port
(A, B, C, and D).
Not only does this allow you to play up to 64 dierent sounds simultaneously through
your tone generators, it also allows full MIDI control for each channel of each device. This
becomes increasingly important when arranging and orchestrating such a large number of
instrument parts.
If your computer oers several MIDI inputs, you can connect the MIDI outputs of other MIDI
expanders and controllers to it.
Turn o internally generated sounds
If your MIDI keyboard is also a sound generator, you will likely want to stop the device from
generating its own sounds while you are using it with MainStage, to avoid doubling notes
between the device and the MainStage patch you are playing.
Most MIDI synthesizers and other MIDI controllers with tone generation capabilities include a
function known as Local Control. By turning o this function, the device’s internal tone generation
is suppressed.
Suppress a device’s internally generated sounds
m On the device, turn on the Local O function.
If you can’t nd the Local O function in the MIDI menu of your keyboard, consult its manual
on sequencer use. Some keyboards allow you to select from Local, MIDI, or Both for each of
their Parts (individual MIDI channels/sounds in multitimbral MIDI devices). The MIDI setting, if
applicable to your keyboard, is the equivalent of Local O.
Chapter 2 Set up your system 17
Connect audio devices
Audio devices overview
MainStage works with Core Audio-compliant audio devices, including FireWire, USB, ExpressCard,
and PCI audio interfaces. You can connect microphones, electronic musical instruments, and
other musical equipment to your computer, or to an audio interface or other audio device,
and use them with MainStage. For information about choosing audio drivers, see Audio
preferences on page 149.
MainStage can require a large amount of available RAM to play sample-based software
instruments or when you are using complex eects setups. It is recommended that you test
your system and the concerts you plan to use before you perform using MainStage to make
sure there is enough available memory to select and play the patches you want to use without
causing audio drop-outs or distortion.
Connect a microphone
You can connect a microphone to your computer to capture your voice, an instrument, or any
other sound to use as audio input when you perform. You can connect a microphone to your
computer’s audio input port, a USB port, or to an audio interface connected to your computer.
You can also use the built-in microphone in your computer.
Connect a microphone to your computer
Do one of the following:
m Connect the microphone to an input on the audio interface using a standard XLR cable.
XLR connector
m Connect a USB microphone to a USB port on your computer. Choose the USB microphone as the
audio input source in the Audio preferences pane, then choose the input from the Input pop-up
menu on audio channel strips in your concert.
USB (Universal Serial Bus)
FireWire 400 (6-pin)
(Sometimes labeled iLINK)
FireWire 400 (4-pin)
FireWire 800 (9-pin)
m Connect an audio interface to your computer’s USB or FireWire port, then connect a microphone
to the audio interface.
m Connect an audio mixer or console to an audio interface, then connect the interface to
your computer.
Chapter 2 Set up your system 18
m If your computer has an audio input port, connect the microphone to the audio input port, then
choose Built-in Input as the audio input source in the Audio preferences pane.
Stereo miniplug connector (unbalanced)
m If you are using your computer’s built-in microphone, choose Built-in Microphone as the audio
input source in the Audio preferences pane. No additional steps are necessary to connect
the microphone.
Connect an electric instrument
You can connect an electric instrument, such as an electric guitar or a bass, to your computer to
use with MainStage. You can set the guitar as the audio input for patches with an audio channel
strip and use the amps and pedalboard eects to shape your guitar sound. There are several
ways to connect an electric instrument to your computer.
Connect an electric instrument to your computer
Do one of the following:
m Connect an audio interface to your computer’s USB or FireWire port, then connect an electric
instrument to the audio interface.
USB (Universal Serial Bus)
FireWire 400 (6-pin)
(Sometimes labeled iLINK)
FireWire 400 (4-pin)
FireWire 800 (9-pin)
m Connect the electric instrument to a channel on the audio interface or the adapter cable, using a
standard 1/4-inch instrument cable.
1/4-inch Tip-Ring Sleeve (TRS) connector
1/4-inch Tip-Sleeve (TS) connector
m If your computer has an audio input port, connect an electric instrument to the audio input port
using an adapter cable. Choose Built-in Input as the input source.
Stereo miniplug connector (unbalanced)
After you connect an electric instrument, you choose the port to which it is connected as the
audio input source in the Audio preferences pane.
If you connect your electric instrument to an audio interface, check the manufacturer’s
specications to make sure the interface is compatible with OS X and Core Audio. Also make
sure the audio interface uses a format supported by your computer. Follow the manufacturer’s
instructions, which might include installing the correct driver on your computer.
Chapter 2 Set up your system 19
Connecting some electric instruments, such as electric guitars, to your computer’s audio input
port may result in a low-level input signal. To increase the input signal, you can connect the
guitar to a preamplier and connect the preamplier to your computer.
Connect an audio interface
Using an audio interface, you can connect microphones, instruments, and other music
equipment to your computer to use with MainStage. You can also connect a mixer, speakers or
monitors, headphones, and other equipment to hear the audio output from your concert.
MainStage supports plug-and-play for audio interfaces, making it possible to connect and turn
on a new audio interface while MainStage is open. An alert appears when you connect a new
device, and prompts you to select and conrm the audio interface and driver that you want to
use.
All digital audio interfaces can be susceptible to latency—a noticeable delay between the time
the audio signal is produced and when you hear it. You should always attach your audio interface
directly to the computer, rather than through a hub or daisy-chaining it through another device.
Doing so can cause an unacceptable amount of latency, particularly with slower USB 1.1 devices.
Connect an audio interface to your computer
Do one of the following:
m Connect an audio interface to your computer’s USB or FireWire port.
USB (Universal Serial Bus)
FireWire 400 (6-pin)
(Sometimes labeled iLINK)
FireWire 400 (4-pin)
FireWire 800 (9-pin)
m Connect an audio interface to a PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) card installed
in your computer. PCIe provides extremely high bandwidth and fast data transfer rates, allowing
audio input and output at the highest possible sample rates and bit depths.
m Connect an audio interface to an ExpressCard/34 slot installed in your computer. ExpressCard/34
supports both PCIe and USB 2.0 connectivity. ExpressCards available include audio interfaces,
hard disk controller (eSATA) cards, networking, wireless adapters, and more.
After connecting an audio interface to your computer, be sure to choose the audio interface
as audio input source in the Audio preferences pane. After choosing the audio interface as the
input device, you can set the individual inputs on the audio interface as the input source for the
audio channel strips in your concert.
Chapter 2 Set up your system 20
Speakers and other audio devices
You can connect speakers or monitors to your computer to hear your projects with better audio
quality. A variety of speakers is available that you can connect to your computer or to your audio
interface. How you connect them depends on your system and the type of speakers you use.
After connecting speakers or monitors to your computer, be sure to set them as your audio
output. For details, see Audio preferences.
Eects plug-ins and MainStage
You can use the included eects plug-ins in MainStage channel strips. For more information
about the included eects plug-ins, refer to the MainStage Instruments and MainStage Eects
manuals. You can also use Apple and third-party Audio Units eects installed on your computer
in MainStage channel strips.
Some eects, including Space Designer, require intensive real-time processing of the audio
signal. Using Space Designer on individual patches can aect the performance of your concert,
and in some cases result in audio dropouts or glitches, particularly if you set the audio buer to
a smaller size. For this reason, it is recommended that you use Space Designer sparingly in your
concerts, and use a few Space Designer instances on auxiliary channel strips shared between
multiple patches, rather than in individual patches.
Some Audio Units plug-ins can introduce latency. Using eects that introduce latency, such
as compressors and limiters, can produce undesirable or unpredictable results during live
performance. Other Audio Units plug-ins, particularly instrument and amp modeling plug-ins,
require high levels of real-time processing and can aect the performance of your concert.
For information about adding and conguring plug-ins in MainStage, see Work with plug-ins
overview on page 65.
Chapter 2 Set up your system 21
Workspace with
The MainStage interface
3
The MainStage window
You do all your work in MainStage in a single window. The MainStage window makes it easy to
work with your patches and your concert’s layout. When you open MainStage, the workspace lls
the center of the window, with inspectors and other editing areas on the sides and below. When
you are ready to perform, you can choose Perform mode to maximize computer performance
and display space for easy viewing on stage.
Toolbar
The main features of the MainStage window include:
•
Toolbar: Includes buttons for quick access to common commands and tools.
•
Activity Monitor: Shows your computer’s processor and memory usage, and shows the input
from your MIDI devices as you edit and perform.
•
Workspace: The “canvas” where you customize your onscreen layout, assign hardware controls
to screen controls, and view your concerts while you perform. You can also view assignments
and mappings for the concert.
•
Screen controls: The onscreen objects that correspond to the controls on your hardware
devices. You can add and arrange screen controls in the workspace, assign hardware controls
to screen controls, and then map them to parameters you want to control for each patch in
your concert.
•
Channel strips: Channel strips are where you build and customize your sounds. MainStage
channel strips feature Insert, Sends, and I/O menus as well as level meters, faders, pan knobs,
and other controls.
Activity Monitor
Inspector
screen controls
22
•
Inspectors: Inspectors appear below (in Edit mode) or along the left side of the MainStage
window (in Layout mode) when you select dierent items onscreen. The inspectors allow you
to edit parameters and attributes for patches, sets, screen controls, channel strips, and the
concert. Most inspectors feature tabs that make it easy to quickly access the parameters you
want to edit.
To make working easier, MainStage features three dierent modes, each suited to a dierent task.
Some features are common to all modes, while others are exclusive to a particular mode.
•
You audition, edit, and organize your sounds and map screen controls in Edit mode.
•
You customize the visual arrangement of controls onscreen and make controller assignments
in Layout mode.
•
You use Perform mode when you perform live.
Layout mode
Layout mode is where you customize your onscreen layout. You drag screen controls into the
workspace and arrange them onscreen to customize your layout. You can also make connections
between your MIDI hardware and your concert in Layout mode, by creating controller
assignments between your MIDI hardware and the screen controls.
Screen Control Inspector Screen Controls Palette
•
Screen Control Inspector: View and edit parameters for screen controls in the workspace,
including hardware input, appearance, and certain types of MIDI output parameters.
•
Screen Controls Palette: Drag screen controls from the palette into the workspace to add them
to your onscreen layout. The palette has four tabs so that you can view all screen controls
or only one type of screen control. Panel controls appear as two-dimensional objects in the
workspace, while shelf controls appear on an adjustable three-dimensional shelf. The Smart
Controls screen control adapts the controls available depending on what patch you select.
•
Layout buttons: Along the left side of the workspace is a series of buttons that you can use to
quickly position selected screen controls in the workspace. You can align, distribute, and group
selected screen controls.
In Layout mode, unlike the other modes in MainStage, you cannot select or edit
individual patches.
For information about working in Layout mode, see Layout mode overview.
Chapter 3 The MainStage interface 23
Edit mode
Patch List
Edit mode is where you create, edit, and organize your sounds. You can add patches, add
and edit channel strips, create keyboard layers and splits, and edit channel strip and plug-in
parameters. You also map screen controls to channel strip parameters and actions and edit
patch, set, and concert-level parameters in Edit mode.
Inspector (changes
depending on the selection)
•
Patch List: Shows the patches and sets in the concert. You can add patches and sets to the
Channel Strips area
Patch List, name them, and organize them. The Patch List includes an Action pop-up menu
with commands to create patches and sets, reset program change numbers, skip items, and
import and export patches and sets to use in other concerts.
•
Inspector: View and edit parameters for the currently selected patch, channel strip, screen
control, set, or for the concert. The name of the inspector indicates the type of item you are
currently inspecting.
•
Channel Strips area: View and edit the channel strips in your patches or at the concert or set
level. Channel strips appear in a vertical format with volume, pan, and other mixer controls.
You can also add channel strips and save channel strip settings.
•
Assignments & Mappings tab: Shows the assignments and mappings for the selected patch, set,
or concert. You can create new assignments and mappings, edit existing ones, and edit the
hardware input settings for an assignment.
For information about working in Edit mode, see Edit mode overview.
Chapter 3 The MainStage interface 24
Perform mode
By default, Perform mode opens in full screen. The workspace lls your entire computer display
so that your screen controls are as large as possible for maximum readability. Perform in Full
Screen optimizes your display for live performance when you want to use MainStage exclusively
while you play.
You can choose to have Perform mode open in a window rather than full screen. The toolbar
remains visible so that you can switch modes using the Mode buttons, use the Panic or
Master Mute button and the Tuner, and view CPU and memory levels and MIDI input in the
Activity Monitor. The browsers and inspectors are hidden to maximize the size of the workspace,
making screen controls larger and easier to read in onstage situations. You can still access the
Finder and switch to other applications but cannot open plug-in windows.
Perform mode disables OS-level Auto Save, Spotlight, and Time Machine.
For information about performing live with MainStage, see Before the performance and the
following sections in the Perform live with MainStage chapter.
Chapter 3 The MainStage interface 25
Resize the workspace
You can adjust both the horizontal and vertical size of the workspace to give more room to the
Patch List, the inspector, and the Channel Strips area.
Resize the workspace horizontally
1 Move the pointer to the space between the workspace and the inspector.
The pointer becomes a resize pointer.
2 Drag up or down to resize the workspace.
Resize the workspace vertically
1 Move the pointer to the space between the workspace and the Channel Strips area.
The pointer becomes a resize pointer.
2 Drag left or right to resize the workspace.
Chapter 3 The MainStage interface 26
Get started with MainStage
4
Before you start
You can quickly start working in MainStage by choosing a concert template and trying out the
patch settings in the concert. This chapter provides a brief guided “walkthrough” you can follow
the rst time you open MainStage.
Before you start working in MainStage, you should connect the hardware equipment that you
plan to use, such as your keyboard controller, audio interface, instruments, or microphones, to
your computer. To use keyboard controllers and other MIDI devices with MainStage, the devices
should be capable of sending standard MIDI messages. If you’re not sure whether this is the case
for a particular device, consult the owner’s manual or the product website. For more information,
see MIDI devices overview and Audio devices overview.
Choose a template
You start by opening MainStage and creating a new concert from a template.
MainStage includes templates for dierent musical instruments, including Keyboards, Guitar Rigs,
Drums, Vocals, and more. You can choose a concert template in the Choose Template dialog,
which appears the rst time you open MainStage and when you create a new concert or close
a concert.
27
Open MainStage
m Double-click the MainStage icon in your Applications folder, or click the MainStage icon in the
Dock.
Choose a concert template
1 Choose File > New (or press Command-N).
2 In the Choose Template dialog, choose the devices you want to use for audio input and output
from the Audio Input and Audio Output pop-up menus.
3 Click the instrument category on the left you want to view templates for. You can also click Quick
Start and choose a simple keyboard or guitar template to start playing immediately.
A brief description below each template describes its features and intended use.
4 Scroll through the available templates to nd the one you want to use, then select it.
5 Click Choose, or double-click the template.
Choosing one of the Quick Start templates opens a new concert in Perform mode, so you can
start playing immediately. Choosing any other template opens a new concert in Edit mode. The
workspace appears in the center of the MainStage window, showing the screen controls in the
concert. To the left of the workspace is the Patch List, which shows the patches and sets in the
concert. The channel strips for the selected patch appear in the Channel Strips area to the right
of the workspace. The new concert may contain a single patch or several patches. Below the
workspace, the Patch Library is open, so you can easily audition dierent patch settings to nd
the one you want to use.
For more information about opening concerts, see Open and close concerts on page 87.
Chapter 4 Get started with MainStage 28
Select patch settings in the Patch Library
When you open a concert or select a patch, the Patch Library opens in the Patch Inspector below
the workspace. The Patch Library contains a variety of patches optimized for the instrument the
concert is designed for. You can quickly audition patch settings in the Patch Library and choose a
setting for the selected patch. You can also search for patch settings by name.
Select a patch setting
1 Look through the settings in the Patch Library to nd the one you want to use.
2 Click the patch setting.
You can start playing the patch immediately using the selected patch setting.
Search for patch settings by name
1 Choose Find in Library from the Action pop-up menu in the upper-right corner of the
Patch Inspector.
2 Enter the name of the patch setting you want to nd.
3 Click Find.
The rst patch setting with the text you entered appears selected in the Patch Library.
4 To nd subsequent patch settings with the same name, choose Find Again in Library from the
Action pop-up menu.
Note: If you have saved multiple patches using the Save as Set command (or the Export as Set
command in MainStage 1.0) in the Action pop-up menu, the saved le appears as a patch in the
Patch Library unless you have selected a dierent location for saving the le. Clicking the saved
le in the Patch Library causes an alert to appear when the individual patches are opened from
the .patch le.
Chapter 4 Get started with MainStage 29
Add a patch
You can add patches to the concert and organize them in the Patch List. The number of patches
is limited only by the amount of available memory in your system. When you add a patch to
a concert, the patch is selected so you can easily audition and select a patch setting from the
Patch Library.
When you add a patch, by default it takes the name of the channel strip added with it. You can
give each patch a custom name to make it easier to identify and distinguish between them.
Add a new patch
1 Click the Add Patch button (+), located in the upper-right corner of the Patch List.
The new patch appears in the Patch List, and the Patch Library is open in the Patch Inspector.
2 Select the patch setting you want to use from the Patch Library.
If you are using a keyboard controller, select a Keyboard patch. If you are playing an electric
guitar, select a Guitar Rig patch. For other instruments or vocals, you can choose a template from
the appropriate category or modify a keyboard or guitar template to suit your needs.
3 If the patch uses an audio channel strip, make sure the channel strip is set to use the correct
audio input, then gradually raise the volume fader on the channel strip until you hear sound on
the channel.
Rename a patch
1 Double-click the patch in the Patch List.
A eld appears with the patch name, which is selected.
Double-click the patch
name, then type a new
name.
2 Enter a new name in the patch name eld.
Chapter 4 Get started with MainStage 30
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