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Chapter 2 Set up your system 14
Connect MIDI devices
MIDI devices overview
MainStage works with many USB and MIDI keyboard controllers as well as with MIDI devices
such as foot pedals and switches. To work with MainStage, MIDI devices must send standard
MIDI control messages. MainStage receives standard MIDI messages and can be used to control
external MIDI devices using external MIDI instrument channel strips.
Controller presets
Some keyboard controllers allow you to choose dierent presets or “scenes” that recongure the
messages sent by the controls on the device. In most cases, you should choose a generic preset
that sends standard MIDI messages rather than system exclusive messages or messages intended
for a particular application. After you have assigned hardware controls to screen controls in
MainStage, do not change the preset on the MIDI device, or your assignments might be lost.
In some cases, you can change the message type the controller sends by choosing a dierent
preset or by reprogramming the device. Some devices may include software that you can use
to reprogram knobs, buttons, and other controls. For information about reprogramming a MIDI
device, see the documentation that came with the device.
MIDI devices that support automatic conguration
MainStage can automatically congure the screen controls in a concert to support many popular
MIDI controllers. If you are using a device that supports automatic conguration, MainStage
alerts you to select the appropriate preset on your device when you open a new concert. After
you select the preset on your MIDI device, the screen controls in the concert are assigned to the
corresponding controls on your hardware device so you can use them in MainStage with no
further conguration.
MIDI devices that send special MIDI message types
Certain types of hardware controls such as knobs (rotary controls) and buttons are capable of
sending several types of MIDI messages. When you assign these controls to MainStage screen
controls using the Learn process, MainStage analyzes the incoming MIDI data to determine
which type of message the hardware control is sending. In order for MainStage to learn these
controls correctly, be sure to turn knobs through their full range of motion and to press buttons
exactly three times during the Learn process.
Some MIDI controllers can send nonstandard or proprietary MIDI messages. MainStage cannot
process or respond to nonstandard MIDI messages, to “registered” or “non-registered” parameter
messages, or to system exclusive (SysEx) messages. MainStage can process some system real-
time messages and MIDI Machine Control (MMC) messages when you assign a hardware control
that sends these messages to a screen control.
Some devices have buttons that send program change messages. You can use these buttons
to send program change messages to MainStage, but you cannot assign them to control other
parameters using MainStage screen controls.