3.5

86MainStage Effects
• Gain knob and field: Set the amount of gain after input scaling.
• Out Ceiling knob and field: Set the maximum output level, or ceiling. The signal does not
rise above this.
• Lookahead knob and field: Set the playback buffer size (how far in the future the file is
analyzed for peaks). Also see the Optimal Lookahead parameter. Values lower than the
optimal buffer size are indicated in red.
• Remove DC Offset button: Turn on to activate a highpass filter that removes direct
current (DC) from the signal. DC can be introduced by lower-quality audio hardware.
• True Peak Detection button: Turn on to detect inter-sample peaks in the signal.
• Optimal Lookahead field and button: Use the Apply button to set the optimal playback
buffer size. This changes the value shown for the Lookahead parameter.
Note: The Optimal Lookahead value is automatically determined and cannot be changed
directly.
Compressor
MainStage Compressor overview
Compressor emulates the sound and response of several professional-level compressors. It
tightens up your audio by reducing sounds that exceed a certain threshold level, smoothing
out the dynamics and increasing the overall volume—the perceived loudness. Compression
helps bring the key parts of a track or mix into focus, while preventing softer parts from
becoming inaudible. It is probably the most versatile and widely used sound-shaping tool in
mixing, next to EQ.
You can use Compressor with individual tracks, including vocal, instrumental, and effects
tracks, as well as on the overall mix. Usually you insert Compressor directly into a channel
strip, but it can be used on aux channels or elsewhere in the signal path.