Set Ultrabeat step length and velocity in MainStage

The Velocity/Gate row lets you set the length (gate time) and velocity of notes in the Trigger row. Both parameters are displayed as a single graphical bar.

The bar height represents note velocity.
The bar width indicates the note length (gate time).

Change the length and velocity values for each step

In MainStage, do either of the following:

To change the velocity, drag the blue bar vertically.
To change the note length (gate time), drag the blue bar horizontally.

The gate time is divided into four equal sections, making it easy to set rhythmically accurate note lengths. For the one-shot envelope to react to gate time, it is necessary to either turn on the Gate function in the sound itself (see Ultrabeat trigger mode) or use envelopes in sustain mode (see Ultrabeat envelope parameters), in conjunction with rhythmically useful (short) decay times.

Reset all velocity and gate values to default settings

In MainStage, the Reset button is shown at the left of the velocity/gate row. Click to reset all velocity and gate values.
The default velocity setting is 75 percent. The default gate value is all four sections active.

Use the Ultrabeat velocity/gate shortcut menu

In MainStage, Control-click any step in the velocity/gate row to open a shortcut menu that has the following commands:
- Alter Vel(ocities): Changes the velocity values of all steps by a random amount, while retaining the selected beats (the Trigger row remains unchanged).
- Alter Gate (Time): Changes the note lengths of all steps by a random amount, while retaining the selected beats (the Trigger row remains unchanged).
- Randomize Vel(ocities): Creates a new, random velocity value.
- Randomize Gate (Time): Creates a new, random gate value.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: PDF

MainStage Instruments: PDF

MainStage Effects: PDF

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