Alchemy Transform pad in MainStage

When simple view is active, or if the Perform button is on in the Perform/Arp/Effects section in other views, the performance controls subpage is displayed.

Alchemy presets contain eight snapshots of performance control settings, numbered 1 to 8. By default, snapshot 1 is selected. This is indicated by the framing box.

Figure. Transform pad and other performance controls.

Transform pad controls

In addition to the parameters outlined, you can Control-click directly on snapshots in the Transform pad to open a shortcut menu with a number of snapshot and other commands. See the tasks in this section for details about use of these commands.

Transform pad: Drag the framing box to different positions to morph between performance snapshots in real time. The performance control knobs update, modulating the associated parameters.
Action menu button: Open a pop-up menu with a number of snapshot-related commands.
- Copy Snapshot: Store all performance control settings of the selected snapshot in a buffer.
- Paste Snapshot: Paste all performance control settings from the buffer to the selected snapshot.
- Copy 1 To All: Copy all performance control settings of snapshot 1 into snapshots 2 to 8.
- Clear: Capture the current performance control values and apply them directly to target parameters, preserving the current sound. Following use of the command, all performance control and Transform pad assignments are cleared, all controls are reset to zero, and the knob and pad name fields are wiped.
- Randomize Snapshots: Create random performance control values for all snapshots except the currently active snapshot.
- Auto Assign All: Automatically assign all performance controls to appropriate parameters in the current preset. This command also generates a random set of snapshots that are derived from the settings in snapshot 1. This is the quickest way to start with the performance controls.
- Auto Assign Empty: Automatically assign all unused performance controls to appropriate parameters in the current preset. Existing performance control assignments are not affected, and no snapshot settings are created.
- Snapshot Update: Enable to immediately write changes of performance control values to the nearest Transform pad snapshot. This prevents the performance knob from reverting to its previous position when you move a performance knob and then move the Transform pad framing box slightly.
  Tip: This parameter is on by default, but you can enable or disable it as preferred and then save the default preset in the plug-in header to recall this behavior in new presets.
Octave pop-up menu: Define an octave range used to switch between Transform pad positions when you play notes within the specified range.
Rate field: Drag vertically or use the arrows to set the speed of movement (interpolation) between snapshots when switching from a MIDI keyboard.
ModWheel pop-up menu: Assign your keyboard modulation wheel to a performance control. This can be any knob, the x- or y-axis of pads, or the envelope controls. Set to None to disable modwheel control of performance controls. A setting of None is remembered between presets. See Alchemy performance control knobs in MainStage, Alchemy XY pads in MainStage, and Alchemy performance control envelopes in MainStage.
Each modwheel target offers an inverted option. This is useful when using a spring-loaded modulation wheel as it stops the target performance control from closing when the modulation wheel is released.
Snap Vol field: Set the intensity of change from one snapshot to the next. In essence, this sets an initial level between snapshots.
All snapshots should be approximately the same volume, with a peak level around -5dB. You should also be mindful of relative volume levels between snapshots. For example, a soft pad and a distorted lead could both peak at -5dB, but the lead may seem louder. In this scenario, lower the volume of the lead, rather than increase the pad level, so that relative volume levels seem similar between the pad and lead sounds.

Create and store a Transform pad snapshot

Unique variations should be created for each snapshot. Though the degree of variation is up to you, the changes should be significant, rather than simple filter or effect level changes. If your snapshots all sound like basic variations of the same sound, look at changing your performance control assignments to make them more flexible and complex. This will allow you to create more interesting and dynamic snapshots.

In Alchemy in MainStage, click the Transform pad snapshot you want to use.
Set each of the performance controls as required.
Control-click anywhere on the Transform pad, then choose Store Current Snapshot from the shortcut menu.
Note: Store Current Snapshot only applies if; Update Snapshot is disabled in the Transform pad File pop-up menu, if the framing box is not directly aligned with a Transform pad slot, or if you want to save the current settings to a different Transform pad slot.

Name or rename the selected Transform pad snapshot

Aim for a unique and descriptive name for each snapshot. Keep things simple and clear; if snapshot 1 is a bass, snapshot 2 is a pad, and snapshot 3 is arpeggiated, this should be represented in the name. If your variations are less straightforward to differentiate, use a name that describes the effect on the sound.

Note: Snapshot names are indexed and appear as text search results in the Browser. Snapshot names are also passed to Smart Controls.

In Alchemy in MainStage, click the Transform pad snapshot you want to name or rename.
Control-click anywhere on the Transform pad, then choose Rename Current from the shortcut menu.
Enter text in the highlighted text input field, then press Enter.

Replicate the selected Transform pad snapshot

In Alchemy in MainStage, click the Transform pad snapshot you want to replicate.
Control-click anywhere on the Transform pad, then choose Store Current Snapshot from the shortcut menu.
Control-click anywhere on the Transform pad, then choose Store Snapshot > (target snapshot) 1-8, or All from the shortcut menu.
The stored snapshot is replicated in the target snapshot. If All is chosen, all eight snapshots are identical.

Swap a Transform pad snapshot

In Alchemy in MainStage, click the Transform pad snapshot you want to swap.
Control-click anywhere on the Transform pad, then choose Swap Current Snapshot from the shortcut menu.
Choose the target snapshot 1-8 from the submenu.
The positions of the two snapshots are swapped.

Switch between Transform pad snapshots with your MIDI keyboard

In Alchemy in MainStage, select a MIDI note name, such as C4 from the Octave pop-up menu below the Transform pad.
The first eight notes of the chosen octave are assigned to snapshots 1–8.
Press one of the assigned keys on your controller to select the corresponding snapshot.
Note: MIDI notes assigned to snapshots do not trigger Alchemy voices. Choose Off from the Octave menu to make notes play across the entire range of MIDI note numbers.
Drag vertically in the Rate field to set the speed of movement between snapshots. You may also want to adjust the Snap Vol field value to set initial levels between snapshots.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: PDF

MainStage Instruments: PDF

MainStage Effects: PDF

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