Mainstage 3 Is Here!

In case you haven't heard yet, Mainstage 3 was just released by Apple with lots of new updates and features. I'm downloading it as we speak so as soon as I get it installed and get a feel for some of the differences I'll let you know what I find! I did discover that you have to have at least Mountain Lion 10.8.4 installed to run it so if you're like me and tend to be behind on updating your OS you'll finally be forced to make the plunge. Here's a quick link to Apple's website if you want to learn more about Mainstage 3:

http://www.apple.com/mainstage/

Poll: What's Your Favorite Synth Software

Software synths are now dominating the the studio and stage! They are cheaper and sound better than ever before and there are TONS of great companies out there to choose from! There are the big companies everyone knows about and there are small companies or even just an individual creating plugins in their basement that totally rock! The question is what are you using?

OK, I'll start. Here are the current plugins that dominate my keyboard rig: Omnisphere, Stylus RMX, Arturia Analog Factory, Native Instruments FM8, and Reason 5. Now that I've spilled the beans on my rig it's your turn!

Create A Click Track In Mainstage

My Click Track Controls

Using click tracks have started to become a standard practice for many worship teams as it can really tighten up your timing and make it much easier to integrate loops and timed effects. What's great about using the internal metronome in Mainstage is that it will automatically change to the tempo you set for each patch. It can also be routed to alternate outputs so you can send it to your team's in-ear monitors without sending it to the main mix. Here is a quick and easy setup guide.

Step 1 - Create An On-Screen Control

Go to Layout Mode and create a button on your screen and then assign it to a button on your MIDI controller so that you can trigger your click track live. I have integrated my on-screen click button with the Tempo info and MIDI message light so I can see all related info in one easy place.

Step 2 - Assign Your Control To The Metronome

Go back to Edit Mode and click on the concert level. This is important because you want the click to work on all patches inside the concert. Once you're there, click on the button you created and go down to the Screen Control Inspector and select Actions > Metronome. You can now press the button on screen or the assigned MIDI controller button and you should hear the click start and stop.

Step 3 - Assign The Metronome To Alternate Outputs

If you have an audio interface with multiple outputs you can easily assign it to a different set of outputs to be fed to your team's in-ears. Go to Mainstage > Preferences, go to the Metronome section and select the Output drop down menu and select the outputs you want to send the metronome to.

Related Posts

Setting Up Stylus RMX In Mainstage - Step 1

An Introduction to Mainstage - The Performance Page

Behind the Scenes of Mainstage - The Edit Page

Customizing Your Design In Mainstage - The Layout Page

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3 Simple Ways To Optimize Your Computer For Live Performance

Setting Up Stylus RMX In Mainstage - Step 3

In the final video of this series I show you how to assign the on-screen controls you created in the last step to the Stylus RMX plugin. When you are done you will be setup to use Stylus RMX live!!! Enjoy.

Related Posts

Create On Screen Controls for Stylus RMX - Step 2

Setting Up Stylus RMX In Mainstage - Step 1

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Video Series Topics - Professional Tutorials

So I have decided that I am going to produce several professional tutorials covering topics like the ones I have posted on this blog. What I would like to know is what topics would you like covered. I am already working on several series involving: Mainstage and live applications, working with different software plugins such as Stylus RMX and Omnisphere, and lastly some videos showing keyboard players how to play certain sounds in a worship setting. There's room for plenty more so please let me know your thoughts!

Setting Up Stylus RMX In Mainstage - Step 2

Now that you know how to create a channel for Stylus RMX I move on to showing you how to create on screen controls. I walk you through how to create buttons to start and stop the loops, independent loop volume controls, and how to assign them to your MIDI controller so that you don't have to reach over to your computer to control the software. Enjoy!

Coming soon in my third and final video I will teach you how to assign the on screen controls you created to the Stylus RMX plugin. This is the last step to making your setup with Stylus RMX in Mainstage complete!

Related Posts

Setting Up Stylus RMX In Mainstage - Step 1

An Introduction to Mainstage - The Performance Page

Behind the Scenes of Mainstage - The Edit Page

Customizing Your Design In Mainstage - The Layout Page

So You Want to Use Your Computer Live

3 Simple Ways To Optimize Your Computer For Live Performance

Setting Up Stylus RMX In Mainstage - Step 1

Per a commenter's request I have started working on a video series that shows you how to setup Stylus RMX in Mainstage. In Step 1 I walk you through setting up a software channel to load Stylus RMX into, where to load it, and how to get it setup to make sound out of your interface. In the next video (coming soon) I'll show you the second step which is creating on screen controls for Stylus RMX. Enjoy!

This video is best watched in HD or at a higher resolution than just what shows up in this blog post so if you click the video after it starts playing it will open up YouTube and you can watch it in HD.

Related Posts

An Introduction to Mainstage - The Performance Page

Behind the Scenes of Mainstage - The Edit Page

Customizing Your Design In Mainstage - The Layout Page

So You Want to Use Your Computer Live

3 Simple Ways To Optimize Your Computer For Live Performance