Select patches and sets in the MainStage Patch List

You access patches in a concert by selecting them in the Patch List. You can play the selected patch using a MIDI controller (for patches with a software instrument channel strip) or with a connected electric instrument or microphone (for patches with an audio channel strip).

All of the patches and sets in a concert appear in the Patch List. The patch number appears to the left of the patch icon in the Patch List. In Patch Selection mode, you can easily search for patches by typing the patch number or the first few letters of the patch name.

You can also skip patches or sets in the Patch List. When you skip a patch or set, using the Command key together with the arrow keys to select items passes over the patch or set and the next (non-skipped) item is selected. However, you can still select the item by clicking it or using just the arrow keys. Skipped items are also skipped when you use the patch selector in Perform mode.

Select a patch in the Patch List

In the MainStage Patch List to the left of the workspace, click the patch.
With the patch selected, you can start playing instantly.

Select multiple patches in the patch list

In MainStage, do either of the following:

To select consecutive patches: Click the first patch you want to select in the Patch List, then Shift-click the last patch in the patch list you want to select. All patches between the two patches will be selected.
To select multiple, nonconsecutive patches: Command-Click the patches you wish to select.

You can play only one of the selected patches at a time (the first patch you have selected in the Patch List).

Select a patch using key commands

In MainStage, do any of the following:

To select the previous (higher) patch: Press the Up Arrow key.
To select the next (lower) patch: Press the Down Arrow key.
To select the previous patch: Press Command–Up Arrow.
To select the next patch: Press Command–Down Arrow.
To select the first patch in the previous set: Press Command–Left Arrow.
To select the first patch in the next set: Press Command–Right Arrow.

Note: When you use the Command-Arrow key commands listed above to select different patches, the selected screen control remains selected in the workspace. This makes it easy to see how a screen control is configured in different patches.

Select a patch by typing its patch number

In MainStage, click the border of the Patch List to select it.
Press F to enter Patch Selection mode.
With the Patch List selected, type the patch number.

Note: If you select another part of the interface after selecting a patch, you’ll need to follow all three steps to select another patch by typing it’s number. However, if the Patch List is still selected, you can skip step one.

Select a patch or set by name

In MainStage, click the border of the Patch List to select it.
Press F to enter Patch Selection mode.
With the Patch List selected, start typing the name of the patch or set. After you type enough letters to uniquely identify it, the patch or set is selected.

Note: If you select another part of the interface after selecting a patch, you’ll need to follow all three steps to select another patch by typing it’s name. However, if the Patch List is still selected, you can skip Step One.

You can also select a patch by typing its name in Perform mode. For information, see Select patches in MainStage by typing.

Select a patch while keeping workspace focus

Normally when you select a patch, the screen controls in the workspace change to reflect the new patch selection and the window focus changes to the Patch List. However, sometimes when working with screen controls in the workspace you may want to hear how your changes affect other patches and keep the window focus on the workspace and screen control you have selected. This keyboard shortcut lets you change patches without losing your current screen control selection and workplace focus.

Option-select a patch in the MainStage Patch List.

Skip a patch or set

In MainStage, select the patch or set in the Patch List.
Choose Skip from the Action pop-up menu in the Patch List.
The item appears as a thin line in the Patch List.

Set a skipped patch or set to no longer be skipped

In MainStage, select the item (patch or set) in the MainStage Patch List.
Choose Don’t Skip from the Action pop-up menu in the Patch List.
The item returns to full size in the Patch List.

Note: You can select multiple patches in the Patch List, and edit the parameters common to all the selected patches. The heading “Multiple Selection” appears in the header of the Patch List, and only parameters shared by all the selected patches are available.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: PDF

MainStage Instruments: PDF

MainStage Effects: PDF

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