The MainStage Playback plug-in in performance

You can use the Playback plug-in to play backing tracks or other audio files while you are performing. Playback can be triggered either when you select a patch or set or by using a button or other screen control. You can control other Playback parameters to which you have mapped screen controls, including fading out the sound and looping playback. For files containing marker information, you can also use markers to switch playback to different sections of the audio file. You can start and stop playback of multiple Playback plug-in instances using the Group menu.

Where you add an instance of the Playback plug-in depends on how you want to use it. If you want to play back an audio file while you play a single patch, you can add it to the patch. If you add a Playback plug-in at the set level, you can select different patches in the set and have the audio file continue playing. This can be useful, for example, if the set includes all the patches you use in a song, and the Playback plug-in plays an audio file with a backing track for the song. If you add a Playback plug-in at the concert level, you can select different patches in the concert and have the audio file continue playing. The ability to use the plug-in at any level gives you a great deal of creative freedom in how you use it.

You can use the Playback plug-in in software instrument channel strips in a patch or at the set or concert level.

The Playback plug-in is designed so that it can be used in a variety of ways. Following are a few ideas for how to use the Playback plug-in in different situations. You can try them out or use them as a starting point for your own creative uses.

Add a Playback plug-in to a patch and use it to play a backing track while you play an instrument on another channel strip in the patch.
Add a Playback plug-in at the set level and use it to play a backing track that continues while you select and play different patches in the set.
Add a Playback plug-in at the concert level and use it to play a backing track or sound effect while you select and play different patches in the concert.
Add multiple instances of the Playback plug-in at the set or concert level, and use them to play and remix different backing tracks.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: Apple Books | PDF

MainStage Instruments: Apple Books | PDF

MainStage Effects: Apple Books | PDF

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