Alchemy master voice section in MainStage

Master voice section controls are shown only in advanced view. Click the Advanced button to switch to advanced view, then click the Global button.

An individual voice generated in the source section is passed through the main filters, then into the master voice section where controls are provided for the amplitude, pan, and coarse and fine-tuning of the voice. The voice is then mixed with other voices at the input of the Effects section.

The master voice section also provides high-level control over various attributes of a preset such as polyphony, tuning, and glide.

Master voice controls

Vol knob: Adjust the level of the voice. By default, AHDSR 1 modulates this parameter.
Note: When an AHDSR envelope is assigned to modulate master volume, the modulation depth cannot be adjusted. This is because setting the depth below its default of 100% would cause notes to remain above zero amplitude indefinitely, resulting in hung notes. This rule applies to other modulators, such as an MSEG, where you also require a mod depth setting of 100% unless you actually want notes to sustain indefinitely.
Pan knob: Adjust the stereo position of the voice. Acts as a pan control for mono sounds and as a balance control for stereo sounds.
Coarse/Fine Tune knobs: Adjust the pitch of the voice in semitones (Coarse) and cents (Fine=1/100 of a semitone).
All/A/B/C/D buttons: Select All to set global voice parameters, which override individual source settings. Select A/B/C/D to set individual source voice parameters. All of the following parameters can be set globally or per source.
Trigger Mode pop-up menu: Determine how trigger events affect audio signals and glides (portamento). This parameter interacts with the Num and Glide controls and can be used globally or per source.
Note: A trigger signal causes certain processes to execute from the beginning. These include: the playback of samples and modulators, including LFO, AHDSR, MSEG, and Sequencer. Individual modulators also have their own trigger options.
- Always: If the Num value is 1, a trigger is generated at the start of each legato group, and portamento occurs at the start of every note. For all other Num values, a trigger is generated at the start of every note, and portamento occurs at the start of every note.
- Retrigger: A trigger is generated at the start of every note, and portamento occurs at the start of every note.
- Legato: If the Num value is 1, a trigger is generated at the start of each legato group, and portamento occurs at the start of each legato group. For all other Num values, behavior is unchanged when you play single notes. When you play a chord, each note of the chord is triggered individually.
Num(ber of voices) pop-up menu: Set the maximum polyphony of a preset (up to 32 voices) when used globally, or maximum polyphony per source. A value of 1 results in a monophonic preset or source.
Tip: Aim for the lowest possible polyphony value for the preset because this helps to reduce CPU load.
Voice Priority pop-up menu: Choose the Newest (last played), Oldest (first played), Lowest or Highest (pitch) note to be prioritized when polyphony is exceeded. This parameter can be used globally or per source.
Rate/Time buttons: The portamento (glide) mode can be set to Rate or Time. This parameter can be used globally or per source.
- Rate: Alchemy glides from note to note at a fixed rate set with the Glide knob. Longer glides require more time. Shown as a percentage of the overall envelope length.
- Time: Alchemy glides from note to note over a fixed amount of time (in msec) set with the Glide knob. Longer glides occur at a faster rate.
Glide knob: Set the portamento rate or time. Glide causes slides from one note pitch to the next. This parameter can be used globally or per source.
Pitch bend Up/Down pop-up menus: Set the maximum range for upward and downward pitch bend modulation, typically performed with your keyboard pitch wheel. Can be set globally or per source.
Note: Individual sources can be set to respond to pitch bend or to ignore it. This is determined with the Keyscale parameter on each source subpage. Pitch bend is also available as a modulator, allowing further control over the pitch bend response of each source. See Alchemy source subpage controls in MainStage.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: PDF

MainStage Instruments: PDF

MainStage Effects: PDF

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