When shopping for a new keyboard to use as a MIDI controller for MainStage, two important things to consider are action and price. The recommendations below are the best options in their respective price points. All three models offer superior keyboard action, as well as built-in keyboard sounds for emergency situations.
How to Clean In-Ear Monitors
Custom in-ear monitors are expensive pieces of equipment, and it’s important to keep them clean to ensure optimal performance. The outer shell of the IEM is easy enough to clean. You don’t need any special products. Just wipe it every so often with a slightly damp cloth, making sure you don’t get any water into the canal.
How to Invert Sustain Pedal Polarity in MainStage
Sustain pedal polarity is manufacturer-dependent. Some manufacturers use a value of 0 for “pedal on,” and others use 127. When a sustain pedal and keyboard are incompatible, sounds in MainStage will be sustained when the pedal is not depressed.
Which Mac Should I Get for MainStage?
You’re excited about the possibilities of using MainStage live. You’re excited to get your very first Mac, or you’re looking to upgrade from your current computer. There are so many options nowadays. Do you need a laptop, or would a desktop be a better option? Continue reading for the answers.
The Best Portable MIDI Keyboards
The portable MIDI controller industry is a very crowded space. There are literally hundreds of models to choose from. Here are three of our favorite models for work on the go — one for ultimate portability, one for serious production capability in a small package, and one that strikes a balance between functionality and affordability.
The Definitive Guide to Using Kontakt with MainStage
Apple MainStage and Native Instruments Kontakt have a history of not getting along with each other. Google “Kontakt with MainStage,” and you’ll be bombarded with dozens of support threads without any real solution.
How to Launch AppleScripts with MainStage
AppleScript is a powerful scripting language for Mac OS X. It lets you to do cool things like control iTunes, launch applications and files, and even shut down your computer. A little known fact is that you can launch AppleScripts with MainStage. Here’s how you do it. AppleScripts can be assigned to any controller in MainStage via the Assignments & Mappings window. In the screenshot below, CC#85 is mapped to a screen control element named “Launch AppleScript”.
How to Rebuild a Corrupt MainStage Concert
A corrupt MainStage concert has got to be one of the worst things in the world, especially if you’ve been working on it for a long time. While all may seem lost, it’s actually possible to rebuild a MainStage concert in some cases. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to turn a corrupt MainStage concert into a patch file that can be easily imported into a new concert file.#### Create & Import the Patch File
How to Enable the Sustain Pedal in Vintage B3 Organ
Vintage B3 Organ is a Hammond B3 emulation plugin, which ships with MainStage 3 and Logic Pro X. It’s a great sounding virtual instrument, and emulates many Hammond B3 physical traits as well — such as the lack of a sustain pedal. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to enable sustain in the Virtual B3 Organ plugin.
How to Gain Stage Properly in Apple MainStage
In the world of audio, gain staging refers to optimizing the level of a signal from source to output, while minimizing noise and distortion. The principles of gain staging can be applied to everything from plugging an iPhone into a PA system to recording vocals for Beyoncé’s next album. Proper gain staging is also vital when creating patches in MainStage. In this post, I’ll share a few tips and tricks on how to properly gain stage to maximize dynamic range and sound quality in Apple MainStage.