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Chapter 8 Perform live with MainStage 123
Tips for performing with keyboard controllers
If you are using one of the Keyboards templates designed for use with a MIDI-compatible
keyboard controller, you can play your keyboard and use MainStage as a sophisticated sound
module and multi-eects processor. The patches in the template make extensive use of the
software instrument plug-ins included with MainStage as well as a wide range of eects plug-ins.
If you plan to use multiple keyboard controllers when you perform, you can choose whether
screen controls respond to MIDI messages from all controllers or only a specic controller and
whether channel strips receive input from all controllers or only a single controller.
In Layout mode, screen controls can be set to respond to MIDI input on all MIDI ports and
channels or to only a specic device or channel. To have a screen control respond to MIDI input
from all controllers, choose All from both the Device and Channel pop-up menus in the Layout
Inspector. To have a screen control respond to a specic controller or to the same channel as the
keyboard screen control, choose that controller from the Device pop-up menu.
In Edit mode, you set the device from which a channel strip receives MIDI input in the Input tab
of the (software instrument) Channel Strip Inspector. By default, channel strips receive input from
the rst controller in the layout. You can set a channel strip to receive input from another device
in the Input pop-up menu.
Tips for performing with guitars and other instruments
If you are using one of the Guitar Rigs templates designed for use with electric guitar, you can
play your electric guitar and use MainStage as a multi-eects processor. The patches in the
template make extensive use of the Amp Designer amp simulation plug-in and the Pedalboard
eects plug-ins as well as other eects commonly used with guitars.
Guitar patches with Pedalboard-style screen controls can be assigned to a foot switch, allowing
you to bypass dierent eects in the channel strip. Some patches also allow you to switch
between channel strips with dierent eects using an expression pedal.
When playing guitars and other low-impedance instruments, be sure they are connected to an
audio input that matches the impedance of the instrument. Connecting a guitar to a standard
line-level audio input may produce a lower volume level for the guitar’s output than intended.
You can also use MainStage with vocals, or any sound captured with a microphone, using an
audio interface connected to your computer and choosing the audio input channel in audio
channel strips in your patches.
For guitar patches that use multiple channel strips, you can control the overall volume of the
patch using a foot pedal. Using the following procedure, you can set the overall volume for the
patch (that is, for all channel strips) so it starts playing at the set volume level but still control
subsequent volume changes using the foot pedal.