Alchemy multiple segment envelopes in MainStage

Modulation components are shown only in advanced view. Click the Advanced button to switch to advanced view.

The Multiple Segment Envelope Generator (MSEG) allows complex modulation envelopes to be created and edited.

The MSEG display shows a graph of envelope generator output. The ruler along the top shows the time in seconds or in beats when Sync is activated. The envelope appears as series of points joined by lines or curves representing the different envelope segments. A Play icon scrolls across the display, tracking the progress of the envelope relative to the most recently played note.

Any number of points can be added to an envelope. The envelope segments linking these points can be linear or curved. A Sync function allows envelopes to be linked to a grid derived from the MainStage tempo to create elaborate rhythmic patterns.

Envelopes are created and edited in two basic ways: by adding, moving, or removing points, and by adjusting the curve of the envelope segments between points. See the Edit Mode pop-up menu information.

Two pale gray vertical lines also appear in the MSEG display, each with a small triangular handle shown in the ruler. These are the envelope loop markers. The marker with the left-facing handle sets the loop end point. The marker with the right-facing handle sets the loop start point.

The loop markers are moved by dragging the handles horizontally. The loop start marker cannot be moved to the right of the loop end marker, and the loop end marker cannot be moved to the left of the loop start marker. Loop markers always snap to the nearest point. Also see the Loop Mode pop-up menu information.

Figure. Multi segment envelope generator control panel.

MSEG controls

Current MSEG pop-up menu and field: Access each MSEG control panel by choosing a number from the pop-up menu or with the Previous and Next arrows. Alchemy provides up to 16 envelopes—one by default, but more if you create them when assigning modulators.
File button: Open a pop-up menu with a number of MSEG-related commands.
- Preset submenu: Choose a preset envelope shape. This can be used as is, or as a starting point for your own envelope shapes.
- Save: Save the current envelope. A dialog opens in which you can name and save the envelope file (*.mse). The new envelope name appears at the bottom of the Preset submenu.
- Copy/Paste: Use these commands to copy settings between envelopes.
- Clear: Initialize the MSEG.
- Randomize: Create a random envelope shape. This can be used as is, or as a starting point for your own envelope shapes.
Trigger pop-up menu: Choose On to retrigger the MSEG (start from zero) with each new played note. Off triggers the MSEG for the first note only. Voice On/FX Off modulates voice parameters only, not effects. In Off mode, the MSEG retriggers only for notes received after all other notes have been released.
Note: Settings from earlier application versions may not behave as expected because of the additional trigger option. Change to VoiceOn/FX Off to match the former version behavior, then resave the setting.
Sync button: Turn on to synchronize the MSEG with the project tempo. When you adjust or create envelope points, they snap to bars and beats. Turn off to set envelope point positions freely.
Snap Y pop-up menu and field: Quantize point levels (or y values), limiting them to exact fractions of the available range. For example, a Snap Y setting of 1/3 snaps point levels to the values 0, 1/3, 2/3, and 1 when a point is dragged. Off disables quantization and lets you set point levels freely. You can also step through Snap Y values with the Previous and Next buttons (the arrows).
Note: The Snap Y setting doesn’t move existing point levels into alignment with quantized positions; it only affects the response of points when created or dragged.
Loop Mode pop-up menu and field: Choose one of four MSEG loop modes.
- None: Looping is disabled. The loop markers remain visible in the MSEG display but have no effect in this mode.
- Continuous: The loop section plays continuously in a forward direction while a note is held and continues after the note is released.
- Sustain: The loop section is played while a note is held. When the note is released, the remainder (or release section) of the envelope plays.
- Forward/Back: The loop section plays alternately in a forward/backward direction while a note is held and continues after the note is released.
Edit Mode pop-up menu and field: Choose one of three modes that determine how the MSEG responds to edits.
- Normal: Only the selected point or points are moved. Non-selected points remain in their current positions.
- Slide: Dragging the selected point or points also moves all subsequent envelope points, retaining the relative distance between points.
- Stretch: Dragging the selected point or points to the left compresses earlier points and stretches later points. Dragging to the right stretches earlier points and compresses later points. In either case, the total length of the envelope is preserved.
MSEG display: Shows a graph of MSEG output, shown as points connected by lines.
Scroll bar and zoom controls: Drag the middle of the scroll bar to view envelope points that aren’t visible in the display area. Horizontally drag the zoom controls at either end of the scroll bar to resize the contents of the visible display area.

Add or remove an MSEG point

In Alchemy in MainStage, to add a point, click on or near a line at the required position in the MSEG display.
To remove a point, double-click it.
Note: Make sure the appropriate Snap Y option is active before creating points. Also be mindful of the Sync button state.

Move one or more MSEG points

In Alchemy in MainStage, drag a point to the required position.
The x-axis value (time position) and y-axis value (level) are shown at the pointer position as you drag.
Note: Hold down Command while dragging a point to restrict movement to the horizontal or vertical axis, whichever movement is performed first.
To move several adjacent points together as a group, first drag to select multiple points, then drag any point in the group to the required position.
Note: Make sure the appropriate Edit Mode option is active before moving points. Also be mindful of the Sync button state.

Adjust MSEG envelope segment curvature

In Alchemy in MainStage, you can adjust the curvature of each segment between points. Convex, linear, and concave envelope segments produce characteristically different effects.

Drag the line between points upward to make the segment progressively more convex.
Drag the line between points downward to make the segment progressively more concave.
Option-click the line to reset the segment to a linear slope.

Create an MSEG modulation routing for pitch control

Though this example is specific to pitch modulation, you can follow these steps to create a modulation routing for other parameters such as Pan or filter Cutoff.

In Alchemy in MainStage, click the File button in the Name bar and choose Initialize Preset from the pop-up menu to reset all Alchemy parameters to default settings.
In the master voice section, click the Coarse Tune knob, and assign MSEG 1 as its modulator.
In the modulation rack, set the MSEG 1 Depth control to 24 semitones.
If the MSEG control panel is not visible, click the MSEG button at the top of the modulation section.
From the Snap Y pop-up menu, choose 1/24.
Now an MSEG envelope can be used to control pitch in semitone increments, over a two-octave (a 24 semitone) range.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: PDF

MainStage Instruments: PDF

MainStage Effects: PDF

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