3.5

111MainStage Effects
You can reduce or eliminate unwanted frequencies, and you can raise quieter frequencies
to make them more pronounced. You can adjust the center frequencies of bands 2 through
7 to affect a specific frequency—either one you want to emphasize, such as the root
note of the music, or one you want to eliminate, such as hum or other noise. While doing
so, change the Qparameter or parameters so that only a narrow range of frequencies is
affected, or widen it to alter a broader frequency area.
You can adjust the decibel scale of the graphic display by vertically dragging either the left
or right edge of the display, where thedB scale is shown, when the Analyzer is not active.
When the Analyzer is active, dragging the left edge adjusts the AnalyzerdB scale, and
dragging the right edge adjusts the lineardB scale.
To increase the resolution of the EQcurve display in the area around the zero line, drag
thedB scale, on the left side of the graphic display upward. Drag downward to decrease
the resolution.
Process Mid-Side recordings with Channel EQ
Mid-Side routing effectively splits a stereo signal into separate stereo and mono signals.
This allows discrete processing of each signal. See Stereo miking techniques for a
description of Mid-Side (MS) recordings.
1. In MainStage, insert a Channel EQ instance for each mode in the channel strip: one for
Mid, one for Side. You can also choose to insert a third instance for a stereo signal, if an
overall EQ is useful.
2. Choose a mode from the Processing pop-up menu:
• Mid Only: You hear only the sound of identical signals in each side, such as lead
vocals, and mono signals, such as bass or guitar parts.
• Side Only: You hear only the sound of the different signals in each side, such as
reverbs or backing vocals.
3. Turn on the Analyzer if required. See MainStage Channel EQ Analyzer.
4. Adjust the frequency parameters of the Channel EQ instance running in Side mode.
One typical use would be to reduce the low frequencies and perhaps boost the upper
frequencies. This cleans up the bottom end and enhances stereo effects present in the
signal.
5. Adjust the frequency parameters of the Channel EQ instance running in Mid mode.
Often used to boost or sculpt the low frequencies of signals such as bass.
MainStage Channel EQ Analyzer
The Analyzer uses a mathematical process called a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to provide
a real-time curve of all frequency components in the incoming signal. This is superimposed
over any EQcurves you have set. The Analyzer curve uses the same scale as the
EQcurves, making it easy to recognize important frequencies in the incoming audio. This
also simplifies the task of setting EQcurves to raise or lower the levels of frequencies and
frequency ranges.
The bands derived from FFTanalysis are scaled logarithmically—there are more bands in
higher octaves than in lower octaves.