Quick Sampler Mod Matrix pane in MainStage

Quick Sampler LFOs and envelopes are known as modulation generators. These modulation sources are used to control modulation targets, such as oscillator pitch or filter cutoff.

You can assign up to four independent routings of modulation sources and targets in the Mod Matrix pane.

If you’re new to synthesizers and the concepts behind modulation generators, such as LFOs and envelopes, see Synthesizer basics overview.

Quick Sampler provides two LFOs and dedicated Pitch, Filter, and Amplitude envelopes that can also be assigned as modulation sources or targets in the Mod Matrix pane.

Your keyboard modulation wheel, aftertouch, pitch bend, velocity, and MIDI continuous controller features can also be assigned as real-time control sources for Quick Sampler parameters in the Mod Matrix.

Figure. Quick Sampler Mod Matrix pane, showing four modulation routings.

Mod Matrix parameters

Source pop-up menu: Choose a modulation source.
Target pop-up menu: Choose a modulation target.
Amount slider: Set the maximum value or intensity of modulation.

Set up a modulation routing

You can assign Quick Sampler LFOs and envelopes as modulation sources or targets in the Mod Matrix pane.

You can also assign your keyboard modulation wheel, aftertouch, pitch bend, velocity, and MIDI continuous controllers as real-time control sources for Quick Sampler target parameters in the Mod Matrix pane.

Figure. Quick Sampler controller assignment parameters, showing envelope assignments.

In the Mod Matrix pane:

Choose a modulation target from the Target pop-up menu.
Choose a modulation source from the Source pop-up menu.
As an example: Use Velocity Inverted to modulate a target with a soft keystrike, and no modulation when struck firmly.
Note: The envelope modulators shown in the image are hard-wired to control Pitch, Filter, and Amplitude, but you can also assign them as sources to modulate other Quick Sampler parameters in the Mod Matrix pane. The envelopes and LFOs are also available as modulation targets.
Set the maximum value or intensity of modulation with the Amount slider.

Set up a modulation routing of sample or loop start and end, or loop position

The Sample Start & End, Loop Start & End, and Loop Position targets can be quantized in musical values. For example, if you modulate the loop position (the entire loop) using an LFO, a quantization of one bar moves the loop back and forth along the time line in one bar increments instead of the usual smooth LFO motion.

You could also choose to assign your keyboard modulation wheel as a real-time control source for Loop Position, or perhaps to Sample Start or Loop Start, providing you with direct, physical control of these parameters.

In the Mod Matrix pane:

Choose an LFO from the Source pop-up menu.
Choose a Sample Start or End, Loop Start or End, or Loop Position option from the Target pop-up menu.
The quantization value you choose in the modulation Target pop-up menu applies to all modulation routings assigned to this target.
- Sample Start or End: Choose None, or Bar, Beat, or Triplet values to rhythmically modulate the sample start or end position.
- Loop Start or End: Choose None, or Bar, Beat, or Triplet values to rhythmically modulate the loop start or end position.
- Loop Position: Choose None, or Bar, Beat, or Triplet values to rhythmically modulate the loop position.
Set the amount of modulation with the Amount slider.
As an optional second modulation routing, set up your keyboard modulation wheel (Mod Wheel) as the source, and Loop Start as the target.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: PDF

MainStage Instruments: PDF

MainStage Effects: PDF

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