Alchemy browser results list in MainStage

Shown in browse view, the browser results list displays all presets matching the current search criteria. A number of columns are shown from left to right.

Browser results list parameters

Category column: Shows preset categories.
Subcategory column: Shows subcategories of preset categories.
Attributes columns: Show the articulation, Genre, Newer Than, Older Than, Sound Designer, Sound Library, Timbre, or User Tags attributes. Click column headers to choose an attribute from a pop-up menu.
Attributes are used to refine the preset results list and to apply attributes to presets when in Edit mode.
Tip: Combine Attributes columns such as Newer Than and Sound Designer to show presets that you created within a date range, without also showing supplied presets installed in the same date range.
Rating column: Shows user ratings. Click the column header to sort the results list. A second click reverses the current sort order.
The highest rated presets appear first in the list. User-rated presets always take precedence over unrated presets. Three dim stars indicate that a preset has not yet been rated.
Preset column: Shows preset names. Click the column header to sort the results list. A second click reverses the current sort order.
The number of presets returned by the current search criteria is displayed to the right of the Preset column header.
Comments field: Shows preset comments.
User Tags field: Shows existing user tags.
User Tags button: Open a pop-up menu with commands for creating and deleting user tags. A list of existing user tags is shown below the menu commands.
Edit button: Open an enlarged view of the Preset browser window that provides text entry fields for user tags and comments.
Close button: Closes the enlarged view of the Preset browser window.
Search field: Use to type a search term for presets.

Set criteria to refine the preset results list

In Alchemy in MainStage, click an entry such as Guitars in the Category column to limit the preset results list to include only presets belonging to the Guitars category.
Click an entry such as Acoustic in the Subcategory column to further limit the preset results list to include only presets belonging to the Acoustic subcategory of the parent category (Guitars, in this example).
Click the header of one or more attribute columns to open a pop-up menu where you can choose the attributes you want to use.
Click a category in each attribute column.
You can choose multiple entries in any column by doing one or more of the following:
- Click an entry, then hold down Shift while clicking another entry in the same column. All items between the clicked entries are selected and used as search criteria for the preset results list.
- Hold down Command, then click any entries you want to use as search criteria.
- Click the All entry at the top of a column to reset the selection criteria.

Use the search field

The search field is used for manual searching of presets by name, attributes, user comments, artist name, or tags. The most recent search term is saved and recalled with the project.

In Alchemy in MainStage, type your search term, then click the magnifying glass icon or press Enter.
The Preset browser results list updates to reflect your search criteria, and the first preset is loaded.
You can refine a text search with the minus symbol. For example, to search for all presets matching analog but not bass, use the search term analog -bass.
This may also be used to remove all bass presets from the results list by entering only -bass in the search field. Presets in the Bass category and presets with bass or basses in the preset name, user tags, or comments field are removed from the preset results list.
To clear the current search term, click the search field and make sure all text is selected, then press the Delete key.

Use preset edit mode

Preset edit mode displays all attribute columns in an enlarged Preset browser window. Edits made to multiple selected presets apply attributes, user tags, or comments to all presets in the group. All changes made in edit mode are immediately applied and saved in the preset database. The Sound Designer is determined by the settings in Settings > My Info > Artist Name. If this is not set, “Unknown Artist” is shown.

Note: It is not possible to change the Sound Library for a preset; this column is displayed for reference only.

In Alchemy in MainStage, click the Edit button to switch to preset edit mode.
Click a preset name. You can also use the Previous and Next buttons in the Name bar to select a preset. To select multiple presets, do one of the following:
- Click an entry, then hold down Shift while clicking another entry in the same column. All items between the clicked entries are selected and are available for edits.
- Hold down Command, then click any entries you want to add for editing.
Type in the User Tags or Comments fields, as required.
Terms entered in these fields can be searched using the text search function.
Change the Category, Subcategory, or Attributes for the preset.
Changing the preset category updates only the preset category database. The preset itself is not moved to a new category folder on disk.
Click the Edit button to exit preset edit mode.

Create, remove, and delete user tags

In Alchemy in MainStage, select the preset that requires user tag changes.
Click the User Tags button, then choose New Tag from the pop-up menu.
The Enter New Tag field is shown.
Type in the Enter New Tag field, then click OK. Click Cancel if you do not want to switch to a new tag or want to close the Enter New Tag field.
The user tag is added to the New Tag pop-up menu, and the Enter New Tag field closes. The new tag is shown below the menu commands in the pop-up menu.
Click the User Tags button, then choose the newly created tag name from the pop-up menu.
The new tag is assigned to the preset. This is indicated by a tick beside the tag name.
To remove an assigned tag, click the User Tags button, then choose the tag name from the pop-up menu. Assigned tags are indicated by a tick beside the tag name.
The tag is removed from the preset, but the tag is not deleted. No tick is shown beside the tag name. This tag can be reassigned to another preset.
To delete a user tag, click the User Tags button, then choose the tag from the Delete Tag submenu.
The tag is immediately removed.

Rate a preset

In Alchemy in MainStage, click a preset name to select it.
Click a star in the Ratings column to set the rating between 1 and 5. Unrated presets display 3 stars.
Note: You can limit the preset results list to match any star rating by entering the number of stars in the text search field. A search for **** displays only 4-star rated presets.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: PDF

MainStage Instruments: PDF

MainStage Effects: PDF

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