MainStage User Guide
- Welcome
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- Overview of Edit mode
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- Select patches and sets in the Patch List
- Copy, paste, and delete patches
- Reorder and move patches in the Patch List
- Add patches
- Create a patch from several patches
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- Overview of the Patch Settings Inspector
- Select patch settings in the Patch Library
- Set the time signature for patches
- Change the tempo when you select a patch
- Set program change and bank numbers
- Defer patch changes
- Instantly silence the previous patch
- Change patch icons
- Transpose the pitch of incoming notes for a patch
- Change the tuning for a patch
- Add text notes to a patch
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- Overview of channel strips
- Add a channel strip
- Change a channel strip setting
- Configure channel strip components
- Show signal flow channel strips
- Hide the metronome channel strip
- Create an alias of a channel strip
- Add a patch bus
- Set channel strip pan or balance positions
- Set channel strip volume levels
- Mute and solo channel strips
- Use multiple instrument outputs
- Use external MIDI instruments
- Reorganize channel strips
- Delete channel strips
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- Overview of the Channel Strip Inspector
- Choose channel strip settings
- Rename channel strips
- Change channel strip colors
- Change channel strip icons
- Use feedback protection with channel strips
- Set keyboard input for a software instrument channel strip
- Transpose individual software instruments
- Filter MIDI messages
- Scale channel strip velocity
- Set channel strips to ignore Hermode tuning
- Override concert- and set-level key ranges
- Add text notes to a channel strip in the Channel Strip Inspector
- Route audio via send effects
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- Screen Control Inspector overview
- Replace parameter labels
- Choose custom colors for screen controls
- Change background or grouped screen control appearance
- Set screen controls to show the hardware value
- Set parameter change behavior for screen controls
- Set hardware matching behavior for screen controls
- Reset and compare changes to a patch
- Override concert- and set-level mappings
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- Overview of mapping screen controls
- Map to channel strip and plug-in parameters
- Map screen controls to actions
- Map a screen control to multiple parameters
- Use screen controls to display PDF document pages
- Edit the saved value for a mapped parameter
- Set drum pads or buttons to use note velocity
- Map screen controls to all channel strips in a patch
- Undo screen control parameter mappings
- Remove screen control mappings
- Work with graphs
- Create controller transforms
- Share patches and sets between concerts
- Record the audio output of a concert
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- Overview of concerts
- Create a concert
- Open and close concerts
- Save concerts
- How saving affects parameter values
- Clean up concerts
- Consolidate assets in a concert
- Rename the current concert
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- Overview of the Concert Settings Inspector
- Set MIDI Routing to channel strips
- Transpose incoming note pitch for a concert
- Define the program change message source
- Send unused program changes to channel strips
- Set the time signature for a concert
- Change the tuning for a concert
- Set the pan law for a concert
- Add text notes to a concert
- Control the metronome
- Silence MIDI notes
- Mute audio output
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- Layout mode overview
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- Screen control parameter editing overview
- Lift and stamp screen control parameters
- Reset screen control parameters
- Common screen control parameters
- Keyboard screen control parameters
- MIDI activity screen control parameters
- Drum pad screen control parameters
- Waveform screen control parameters
- Selector screen control parameters
- Text screen control parameters
- Background screen control parameters
- How MainStage passes through MIDI messages
- Export and import layouts
- Change the aspect ratio of a layout
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- Before performing live
- Use Perform mode
- Screen controls in performance
- Tempo changes during performance
- Tips for performing with keyboard controllers
- Tips for performing with guitars and other instruments
- Tune guitars and other instruments with the Tuner
- The Playback plug-in in performance
- Record your performances
- After the performance
- Tips for complex hardware setups
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- Overview of keyboard shortcuts and command sets
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- Concerts and layouts keyboard shortcuts
- Patches and sets (Edit mode) keyboard shortcuts
- Editing keyboard shortcuts
- Actions keyboard shortcuts
- Parameter mapping (Edit mode) keyboard shortcuts
- Channel strips (Edit mode) keyboard shortcuts
- Screen controls (Layout mode) keyboard shortcuts
- Perform in Full Screen keyboard shortcuts
- Window and view keyboard shortcuts
- Help and support keyboard shortcuts
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- Learn about Effects
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- Learn about Amps and Pedals
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- Bass Amp Designer overview
- Bass amplifier models
- Bass cabinet models
- Build a custom combo
- Amplifier signal flow
- Pre-amp signal flow
- Use the D.I. box
- Amplifier controls
- Bass Amp Designer effects overview
- Bass Amp Designer EQ
- Bass Amp Designer compressor
- Bass Amp Designer Graphic EQ
- Bass Amp Designer Parametric EQ
- Bass Amp Designer microphone controls
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- Learn about Delay effects
- Echo controls
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- MainStage Loopback overview
- Add a Loopback instance in MainStage
- MainStage Loopback interface
- MainStage Loopback waveform display
- MainStage Loopback transport and function controls
- MainStage Loopback information display
- MainStage Loopback Sync, Snap To, and Play From parameters
- Use the MainStage Loopback group functions
- MainStage Loopback Action menu
- Sample Delay controls
- Stereo Delay controls
- Tape Delay controls
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- Use MIDI plug-ins
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- Arpeggiator overview
- Arpeggiator control parameters
- Note order parameters overview
- Note order variations
- Note order inversions
- Arpeggiator pattern parameters overview
- Use Live mode
- Use Grid mode
- Arpeggiator options parameters
- Arpeggiator keyboard parameters
- Use keyboard parameters
- Assign controller parameters
- Modifier MIDI plug-in controls
- Note Repeater MIDI plug-in controls
- Randomizer MIDI plug-in controls
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- Use the Scripter MIDI plug-in
- Use the Script Editor
- Scripter API overview
- MIDI processing functions overview
- HandleMIDI function
- ProcessMIDI function
- GetParameter function
- SetParameter function
- ParameterChanged function
- Reset function
- JavaScript objects overview
- Use the JavaScript Event object
- Use the JavaScript TimingInfo object
- Use the Trace object
- Use the MIDI event beatPos property
- Use the JavaScript MIDI object
- Create Scripter controls
- Transposer MIDI plug-in controls
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- Learn about included Instruments
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- Alchemy overview
- Name bar
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- Alchemy source overview
- Source master controls
- Import browser
- Source subpage controls
- Source filter controls
- Source filter use tips
- Source elements overview
- Additive element controls
- Additive element effects
- Spectral element controls
- Spectral element effects
- Pitch correction controls
- Formant filter controls
- Granular element controls
- Sampler element controls
- VA element controls
- Source modulations
- Morph controls
- Master voice section
- Alchemy extended parameters
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- MainStage Quick Sampler overview
- Add content to MainStage Quick Sampler
- MainStage Quick Sampler waveform display
- Use Flex in MainStage Quick Sampler
- MainStage Quick Sampler Pitch controls
- MainStage Quick Sampler Filter controls
- Quick Sampler filter types
- MainStage Quick Sampler Amp controls
- MainStage Quick Sampler extended parameters
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- MainStage Playback plug-in overview
- Add a MainStage Playback plug-in
- MainStage Playback interface
- Use the MainStage Playback waveform display
- MainStage Playback transport and function buttons
- MainStage Playback information display
- MainStage Playback Sync, Snap To, and Play From parameters
- Use the MainStage Playback group functions
- Use the MainStage Playback Action menu and File field
- Use markers with the MainStage Playback plug-in
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- Sculpture overview
- Sculpture interface
- Global parameters
- Amplitude envelope parameters
- Use the Waveshaper
- Filter parameters
- Output parameters
- Assign MIDI controllers
- Extended parameters
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Change the tuning for a patch in MainStage
By default, patches use the same tuning method as the concert (or the set, if they are in a set with its own tuning method). You can change the tuning for a patch so that it uses a different tuning. When you change the tuning for a patch, it overrides any concert- or set-level tuning method. Available tuning methods include:
Use parent tuning: The patch uses the same tuning as the set (if it is in a set with its own tuning method) or the concert.
Equal tempered tuning: The standard tuning for most Western music, with an equal distance between all semitone intervals.
Fixed: Lets you choose from a number of fixed tuning scales and keys. Fixed Tuning mode tunes musical keys (to different degrees) for scaled tuning systems, and delivers a key signature character. When playing mostly white keys (in the Pure setting, and with C as the root key), C major is the main focus, and tuning is scaled to that chord. An A major chord that is played immediately after a C major (and is therefore subject to C major scaled tuning) is affected somewhat by the scaled tuning effect, but does not sound completely tempered. If you normally play polyphonic music, this mode (when using the Pure setting) sounds most pleasing to your ears. The Fixed Tuning scales are ideal for a number of baroque and medieval instruments and styles of music.
User: Lets you detune (set the deviation from equal tempered tuning) each semitone in steps.
Hermode Tuning: Dynamically adjusts the tuning of an electronic instrument to create clear frequencies for every fifth and third interval in all possible chord and interval progressions. Because all tuning requirements cannot be satisfied simultaneously with any one Hermode Tuning setting, you can set different Hermode Tuning modes and degrees of effect.
When you choose Fixed, Hermode, or User as the tuning method, additional tuning controls appear in the Tuning tab. You can edit these controls to adjust the chosen tuning.
Change the tuning method for a patch
In the Tuning tab of the MainStage Patch Settings Inspector, choose the tuning you want the patch to use from the Method pop-up menu.
Edit Fixed Tuning parameters
If you choose Fixed Tuning in MainStage, you can edit any of the following parameters:
Type pop-up menu: Choose from the most important historic tuning scales, as well as a few others.
Root Key pop-up menu: Choose a global key (C-B) for the chosen scale. This provides an easy way to reference the chosen scale to any root note.
Copy to User button: Copies the chosen scale to use as a basis for a User tuning.
Edit Hermode Tuning parameters
In MainStage:
If you choose Hermode Tuning, you can choose a mode from the Type pop-up menu:
Classic (3/5-all): This mode provides a broad and regular tuning of pure 5ths and 3rds. In cases of conflict, the degree of purity is temporarily reduced. This mode can be used for all types of music. The value of the Depth parameter indicates the degree of the 5th and 3rd purity. A setting of 100% determines maximum purity. A 10% value is the lowest purity setting. Off sets the tuning to an equal tempered scale.
Pop/Jazz (3/5/7-all): 5ths, 3rds, and 7ths are changed in this mode. It is great for Pop and Jazz styles, especially when using sustained chords. It is less suitable for polyphonic music because the detuning of the natural 7th is significant. This mode should always be used with a Depth of 90% or 100% because other values render the natural 7th acoustically ineffective.
Baroque (3/5-adaptive): This mode tunes pure 5ths and 3rds (with changing characteristics). In tonal music, with a clear harmonic center, the middle chords are tuned very purely, whereas more distant chords are tuned with less purity. If the harmonic center becomes unclear, all chords are tuned with equal purity. As with the other mode parameters, a Depth value of 100% determines the highest purity, and a value of 10%, the lowest purity.
Depth slider: Drag to set the degree of effect between 0% and 100%.
Edit User Tuning parameters
In MainStage:
If you choose User Tuning, you can edit any of the following parameters:
Semitone boxes: Detune each semitone in steps, by dragging vertically in each semitone box until you reach the value you want. Or, you can double-click in each semitone box and enter a value. Press Return or click in another box to exit text entry mode.
Reset button: Resets all of your tuning adjustments to their default values.
Upper slider: Determines the deviation (from the equal tempered scale) in the treble end of the sound. The higher the value, the farther down the low notes are tuned. A setting of 0 results in an equal tempered scale tuning.
Stretch Lower slider: Determines the deviation (from the equal tempered scale) in the bass end of the sound. The higher the value, the further down the low notes are tuned. A setting of 0 results in an equal tempered scale tuning.
Root Key pop-up menu: Lets you choose a global key (C-B) for the chosen scale. This provides an easy way to reference the chosen scale to any root note.