MainStage 3
User Guide
For OS X
KKApple Inc.
Copyright © 2013 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.
Your rights to the software are governed by the accompanying software license agreement. The owner or authorized user of a valid copy of the MainStage software may reproduce this publication for the purpose of learning to use such software. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, such as selling copies of this publication or for providing paid for support services.
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Apple, the Apple logo, AppleScript, Finder, FireWire,
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019-2555
9 Chapter 1: Introducing MainStage
9What is MainStage?
10MainStage for keyboard controllers
10MainStage for electric guitars
10MainStage for vocals, drums, and other instruments
11How to use MainStage in your music setup
12MainStage in live performance
13Chapter 2: Set up your system
13Setup overview
14Connect MIDI devices
14MIDI devices overview
15Connect a USB music keyboard
15 Connect MIDI keyboards and modules
17 Multichannel MIDI devices
17Turn off internally generated sounds
18Connect audio devices
18Audio devices overview
18Connect a microphone
19Connect an electric instrument
20Connect an audio interface
21Speakers and other audio devices
21Effects plug-ins and MainStage
22Chapter 3: The MainStage interface
22The MainStage window
23Layout mode
24Edit mode
25Perform mode
26Resize the workspace
27Chapter 4: Get started with MainStage
27Before you start
27Choose a template
29Select patch settings in the Patch Library
30Add a patch
31Select and play patches
31Add a channel strip
33Change a channel strip setting
34Learn a controller assignment
34Map a screen control
36Try out Perform mode
36Use Quick Help
3
37 Chapter 5: Work in Edit mode
37Edit mode overview
38Work with patches in Edit mode
38Select items in the Patch List
39Copy, paste, and delete patches
39Reorder and move patches in the Patch List
40Create a patch from several patches
40 Set the time signature for patches
40Change the tempo when you select a patch
41Set program change and bank numbers
42Defer patch changes
42Instantly silence the previous patch
42Change patch icons
43Change the tuning for a patch
45Work with channel strips in Edit mode
45Channel strips overview
46Show signal flow channel strips
47Show the metronome channel strip
47Create an alias of a channel strip
48Add a patch bus
48Channel Strip Inspector
49Choose channel strip settings
50Rename channel strips
50Change channel strip colors
51Change channel strip icons
51Use feedback protection with channel strips
52Work with software instrument channel strips
55Use the EXS24 mkII Instrument Editor in MainStage
56Use multiple instrument outputs
57Use external MIDI instruments in MainStage
58Delete channel strips
59Create keyboard layers and splits
59 Layers and splits overview
59 Define the key range
61Set floating split points
61Set the velocity range
62Work with graphs
64Create controller transforms
65Work with plug-ins in Edit mode
65Work with plug-ins overview
65Add and remove plug-ins
65Move and copy plug-ins
66Use Channel EQ
66Use plug-in settings
67Adjust plug-in parameters
68Use 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
73Map a screen control to multiple parameters
74Edit the saved value for a mapped parameter
74Set drum pads or buttons to use note velocity
75Use parameter mapping graphs
75Map screen controls to all channel strips in a patch
75Undo screen control parameter mappings
75Remove screen control mappings
76Work in the Assignments and Mappings tab
76Assignments and mappings overview
77Create and delete assignments and mappings
78Edit assignments and mappings
78 Edit Hardware Input parameters
78Block incoming controller messages
79Edit screen control parameters in Edit mode
79Screen control parameters in Edit mode overview
79Replace parameter labels
79Choose custom colors for screen controls
79Change the appearance of a background or grouped screen control
80Set screen controls to show the hardware value
80Set parameter change behavior for screen controls
81Set hardware matching behavior for screen controls
81Reset and compare changes to a patch
82Override concertand set-level mappings
83Work with sets in Edit mode
83Work with sets overview
83Create sets
83Rename sets
83Set the time signature for sets
84Change the tempo when you select a set
84Change the tuning for sets
84Collapse sets in the Patch List
84Override concert-level key ranges for a set
85Delete sets
85Add a channel strip at the set level
86Share patches and sets between concerts
86Record the audio output of a concert
Contents |
5 |
87 Chapter 6: Work with concerts
87Open and close concerts
88Save concerts
89How saving affects parameter values
90Set the time signature for a concert
90Use tempo in a MainStage concert
90Tempo overview
91Tap the tempo
91Get the tempo from MIDI Input
92Define the source for program change messages
92Set the pan law for a concert
92Change the tuning for a concert
92Silence MIDI notes
93Mute audio output
94Work at the concert level
94Concert level overview
95Control the overall volume of a concert
96Add concert-wide effects
97Use auxes to control channel strip output
98Add channel strips at the concert level
99The MainStage clock
100Control the metronome
101Chapter 7: Work in Layout mode
101Layout mode overview
102Work with screen controls in Layout mode
102Screen controls overview
103Screen control types
104Add screen controls to a layout
105Copy and paste screen controls
106Move screen controls
106Resize screen controls
107Align and distribute screen controls
108Adjust the shelf for a shelf control
109Group screen controls
110Delete screen controls
111Assign hardware controls to screen controls
111Controller assignments overview
111Knob assignments
112Button assignments
113Edit screen control parameters
113Screen control parameter editing overview
113Lift and stamp screen control parameters
114Common screen control parameters
115Keyboard screen control parameters
115MIDI activity screen control parameters
116Drum pad screen control parameters
116Waveform screen control parameters
117Selector screen control parameters
117 Text screen control parameters
117 Background screen control parameters
Contents |
6 |
118How MainStage passes through MIDI messages
118Export layouts
119Import a layout
119Change the aspect ratio of a layout
120Chapter 8: Perform live with MainStage
120Before the performance
120Use Perform mode
121Select patches in performance
121Select patches in performance overview
121Select patches using key commands
121Select patches by typing
122Select patches using actions
122Select patches using program change messages
122Screen controls in performance
122Tempo changes in performance
123Tips for performing with keyboard controllers
123Tips for performing with guitars and other instruments
124Tune guitars and other instruments with the Tuner
125The Playback plug-in in performance
126Record your performances
126 After the performance
126Tips for complex hardware setups
127Appendix A: The Playback plug-in
127Playback plug-in overview
128The Playback interface
129Use the Playback waveform display
130Playback transport and function buttons
131Playback information display
132Playback Sync, Snap To, and Play From parameters
133Use the Playback group functions
134Use the Playback Action menu and File field
135Use markers with the Playback plug-in
136Use the Playback plug-in in a concert
136Add a Playback plug-in
137Add an audio file to the Playback plug-in
138Set the Sync mode for the Playback plug-in
138Choose the flex mode for the Playback plug-in
139Add screen controls for the Playback plug-in
140Tips for using the Playback plug-in
140 Assign Playback plug-ins to groups
Contents |
7 |
141 Appendix B: The Loopback plug-in
141Loopback plug-in overview
142The Loopback interface
143Loopback waveform display
143Loopback transport and function controls
144Loopback information display
145Loopback Sync, Snap To, and Play From parameters
145Use the Loopback group functions
146Loopback Action menu
147Add a Loopback plug-in
148Appendix C: MainStage preferences
148Preferences overview
148General preferences
149Audio preferences
151MIDI preferences
151Display preferences
152 Appendix D: Key commands
152 Concerts and layouts
152Patches and sets (Edit mode)
153Editing
153 Actions
153Parameter mapping (Edit mode)
154Channel strips (Edit mode)
154Screen controls (Layout mode)
154Perform in Full Screen
155Window and view
155Help and support
156Appendix E: MainStage actions
156Actions overview
156Table of actions
Contents |
8 |
Introducing MainStage |
1 |
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MainStage is a music application designed for use in live performance. MainStage turns your computer into a powerful multi-instrument and effects 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.
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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 effects such as overdrive, reverb, and compression.
Vocalists, drummers, and other musicians can sing and play with multi-effects 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 effects.You can add channel strips, choose channel strip settings, add instruments and effects, and edit their parameters to customize your sounds.You can even mix channel strips of different 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.
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Hardware control |
MainStage screen control |
Channel strip or |
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plug-in parameter |
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 workflow.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.
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 fingertips 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.
If you play an electric guitar, you can use MainStage as a powerful, customizable multi-effects 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 effects including the Amp Designer and Pedalboard plug-ins designed specifically for use with electric guitar.You can also use EQ, compression, reverb, overdrive, and other effects in your guitar patches.You can control volume, effect blend, or expression with an expression pedal, and use a foot switch to select patches hands-free when you perform.
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 effects 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 |
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 effects, 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 define key ranges for channel strips to create keyboard layers and splits, scale expression and other parameters using transforms, and filter 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 flexibility, 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 significantly 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 |
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 effects, and control other concert-wide settings.
By default, the workspace fills your computer screen, optimizing available screen space for your onscreen layout.You can also choose Perform in Window to have the workspace fill 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 effects such as reverb and delay, you can set a predefined 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 |
|
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 effects plug-ins and when playing sample-based software instruments. It is recommended that you do not run other processoror 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
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 different presets or“scenes”that reconfigure 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 different 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 configuration
MainStage can automatically configure the screen controls in a concert to support many popular MIDI controllers. If you are using a device that supports automatic configuration, 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 configuration.
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 |
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
mm 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.
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:
mm 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.
Keyboard
Computer
Out port
In port
MIDI interface
Chapter 2 Set up your system |
15 |
mm For keyboards with tone generators: You should also connect the MIDI Out port of the MIDI interface to the keyboard MIDI In port. If your MIDI interface offers 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.
Keyboard
Computer
Out port |
In port |
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In port |
Out port |
Tone generator |
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In port |
MIDI interface |
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mm 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.
Keyboard
Computer |
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MIDI Thru port |
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Out port |
In port |
In port |
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Tone generator |
MIDI Thru port |
In port |
Out port |
In port |
MIDI interface
Tone generator
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 |
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 specific MIDI Out ports.
In effect, 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 different 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 offers several MIDI inputs, you can connect the MIDI outputs of other MIDI expanders and controllers to it.
Turn offinternally 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 off this function, the device’s internal tone generation is suppressed.
Suppress a device’s internally generated sounds mm On the device, turn on the Local Off function.
If you can’t find the Local Off 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 Off.
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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 effects 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.
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:
mm Connect the microphone to an input on the audio interface using a standard XLR cable.
XLR connector
mm 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)
mm Connect an audio interface to your computer’s USB or FireWire port, then connect a microphone to the audio interface.
mm Connect an audio mixer or console to an audio interface, then connect the interface to your computer.
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mm 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)
mm 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.
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 effects 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:
mm 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)
mm 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
mm 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 specifications 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.
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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 preamplifier and connect the preamplifier to your computer.
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 confirm 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:
mm 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)
mm 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.
mm 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.
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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.
You can use the included effects plug-ins in MainStage channel strips. For more information about the included effects plug-ins, refer to the MainStage Instruments and MainStage Effects manuals.You can also use Apple and third-party Audio Units effects installed on your computer in MainStage channel strips.
Some effects, including Space Designer, require intensive real-time processing of the audio signal. Using Space Designer on individual patches can affect the performance of your concert, and in some cases result in audio dropouts or glitches, particularly if you set the audio buffer 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 effects 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 affect the performance of your concert.
For information about adding and configuring plug-ins in MainStage, see Work with plug-ins overview on page 65.
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The MainStage interface |
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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 fills 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.
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The main features of the MainStage window include:
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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.
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•• Inspectors: Inspectors appear below (in Edit mode) or along the left side of the MainStage window (in Layout mode) when you select different 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 different modes, each suited to a different task.
Some features are common to all modes, while others are exclusive to a particular mode.
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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 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.
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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.
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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.
Patch List
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Patch List: Shows the patches and sets in the concert. You can add patches and sets to the
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.
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By default, Perform mode opens in full screen.The workspace fills 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.
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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
1Move the pointer to the space between the workspace and the inspector. The pointer becomes a resize pointer.
2Drag up or down to resize the workspace.
Resize the workspace vertically
1Move the pointer to the space between the workspace and the Channel Strips area. The pointer becomes a resize pointer.
2Drag left or right to resize the workspace.
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Get started with MainStage |
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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 first 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.
You start by opening MainStage and creating a new concert from a template.
MainStage includes templates for different musical instruments, including Keyboards, Guitar Rigs,
Drums, Vocals, and more. You can choose a concert template in the Choose Template dialog, which appears the first time you open MainStage and when you create a new concert or close a concert.
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Open MainStage
mm Double-click the MainStage icon in your Applications folder, or click the MainStage icon in the Dock.
Choose a concert template
1Choose File > New (or press Command-N).
2In 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.
3Click 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.
4Scroll through the available templates to find the one you want to use, then select it.
5Click 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 different patch settings to find the one you want to use.
For more information about opening concerts, see Open and close concerts on page 87.
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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
1Look through the settings in the Patch Library to find the one you want to use.
2Click the patch setting.
You can start playing the patch immediately using the selected patch setting.
Search for patch settings by name
1Choose Find in Library from the Action pop-up menu in the upper-right corner of the
Patch Inspector.
2Enter the name of the patch setting you want to find.
3Click Find.
The first patch setting with the text you entered appears selected in the Patch Library.
4To find 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 file appears as a patch in the Patch Library unless you have selected a different location for saving the file. Clicking the saved file in the Patch Library causes an alert to appear when the individual patches are opened from the .patch file.
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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
1Click 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.
2Select 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.
3If 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
1Double-click the patch in the Patch List.
A field 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 field.
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