MainStage 3.6.5

Sample Alchemy additive effect controls in MainStage

The parameters in this section are shown when Additive is selected in a synthesis module. The controls also vary depending on the selected additive effect.

Click one of the handles labeled A/B/C/D to select the source you want to edit.

Figure. Sample Alchemy additive effect controls.

Harmonic

The Harmonic effect allows you to control groups of partial levels, with controls relating to harmonic intervals.

Odd/Even knob: Set the balance between odd or even harmonics. Low values increase the level of odd-numbered partials (1, 3, 5, 7, and so on), making the sound more hollow. High values increase the level of even harmonics (retaining the fundamental tone: harmonic/partial 1) to make the sound brighter and sweeter.
Fifths knob: Set the level of the fundamental tone and all partials at fifth intervals (7 semitones) above it. Higher values boost harmonics 1, 3, 9, 27, and so on, with a corresponding reduction in the levels of other harmonics. Low values have the reverse effect and can make the sound more cutting and edgy.
Octaves knob: Set the level of the fundamental tone and all partials at whole octave intervals above it. Set to zero to completely remove harmonics 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and so on, while boosting the levels of non-octave harmonics. Set to higher values to boost the levels of octave harmonics while reducing the levels of other harmonics.
Fundamental knob: Set the level of the fundamental tone and all partials above it. Set to zero to completely remove the fundamental tone. Set to 100% to hear the fundamental tone in isolation. Higher values tend to make the sound thicker.

Partials Lock

Partials Lock is an effect that sets all of the partials to the same zero phase value at the start. It sets the partials to have no variation in pitch over the course of the sound, resulting in a clean, artificial sound.

Symmetry knob: Alter the symmetry, or shape, of the sine waves by lengthening the first half of the waveform while shortening the second, or the reverse. The audible effect is similar when the knob is turned in either direction. Symmetry alters waveforms until they are no longer pure sine waves in shape, resulting in each partial developing independent harmonics and making the sound brighter.
Odd/Even knob: Set the balance between odd or even harmonics. Low values increase the level of odd-numbered partials (1, 3, 5, 7, and so on), making the sound more hollow. High values increase the level of even harmonics (retaining the fundamental tone: harmonic/partial 1) to make the sound brighter and sweeter.
Num Partials knob: Set the number of additive partials that are generated. The number of oscillators required depends on the sound. For example, a flute has a limited number of harmonics and requires fewer partials than a cello or a violin. The playable register can also affect the number of oscillators required: high notes will accommodate only a small number of higher harmonics before reaching the limits of audibility, whereas low bass notes may have hundreds of harmonics without reaching the limit. Always set Num Partials to the lowest number of partials that are required by the sound because this helps reduce CPU load.
Pitch Var knob: Tune all partials simultaneously. This occurs before processing by the additive effect modules that stretch/shift partial tunings. Set to 0% to tune all partials in a perfect harmonic series. Set to 100% to make each partial follow the pitch fluctuations detected in the original audio file. The sonic impact of this parameter is highly dependent on the audio material: sounds with strong inharmonic content, such as bells, are dramatically changed by reducing pitch variations. If all partials are tuned to the harmonic series, however, the knob has no influence on the sound.

Partials

Partials is an effect that allows you to manipulate the spectral content of a sound by modifying individual partials within the sound.

Odd/Even knob: Set the balance between odd and even harmonics. Low values increase the level of odd-numbered partials (1, 3, 5, 7, and so on), making the sound more hollow. High values increase the level of even harmonics (retaining the fundamental tone: harmonic/partial 1) to make the sound brighter and sweeter.
Symmetry knob: Alter the symmetry, or shape, of sine waves by lengthening the first half of the waveform while shortening the second, or the reverse. The audible effect is similar when the knob is turned in either direction. Symmetry alters waveforms until they are no longer pure sine waves in shape, resulting in each partial developing independent harmonics and making the sound brighter.
Pitch Var knob: Tune all partials simultaneously. This occurs before processing by the additive effect modules that stretch/shift partial tunings. Set to 0% to tune all partials in a perfect harmonic series. Set to 100% to make each partial follow the pitch fluctuations detected in the original audio file. The sonic impact of this parameter is highly dependent on the audio material: sounds with strong inharmonic content, such as bells, are dramatically changed by reducing pitch variations. If all partials are tuned to the harmonic series, however, the knob has no influence on the sound.
Num Partials knob: Set the number of additive partials that are generated. The number of oscillators required depends on the sound. For example, a flute has a limited number of harmonics and requires fewer partials than a cello or a violin. The playable register can also affect the number of oscillators required: high notes will accommodate only a small number of higher harmonics before reaching the limits of audibility, whereas low bass notes may have hundreds of harmonics without reaching the limit. Always set Num Partials to the lowest number of partials that are required by the sound because this helps reduce CPU load.

Formant

Formant is an effect that allows you to shape the spectral content of a sound by emphasizing or attenuating specific frequency bands.

Shift knob: Shift all synthesized formant filters up or down in semitones. Higher values can make sounds seem brighter or thinner. Lower values can create a darker, thicker character.
Key Track knob: Determine how the formant filter tracks notes on the keyboard. At 100%, filter resonances shift up or down in pitch with the note. Set to lower values to reduce key tracking, which may make some sounds playable over a wider keyboard range.
Size knob: Stretch the formant filter to alter the perceived size of the resonant chamber. Size works in conjunction with the Center knob.
Center knob: Set the center frequency for the formant stretch that you set with the Size knob. Resonances below the center frequency are shifted upward as the Size value is increased. A corresponding downward shift occurs to resonances above the center frequency.
Note: The Center knob has no effect when the Size knob is set to 100%.

Formant Synth

Formant Synth is an effect that applies a vocal formant effect to shape the timbre of the synthesized sound.

Shift knob: Shift the formants up or down in semitones. Higher values can make sounds seem brighter or thinner. Lower values can create a darker, thicker character.
Size knob: Stretch the formant filter to alter the perceived size of the resonant chamber. Size works in conjunction with the Center knob.
Center knob: Set the center frequency for the formant stretch that you set with the Size knob. Resonances below the center frequency are shifted upward as the Size value is increased. A corresponding downward shift occurs to resonances above the center frequency. Note: The Center knob has no effect when the Size knob is set to 100%.
Vowel: Morph smoothly through the four filter shapes: A, E, I, and O. The displayed value indicates position. Whole numbers indicate a particular filter unit, and fractional values indicate a position between filters.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: PDF

MainStage Instruments: PDF

MainStage Effects: PDF

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