3.5

130MainStage Instruments
4. Click the Step button to switch to step edit mode, then choose Velocity from the pop-up
menu.
5. Adjust step levels for the Velocity sequence to introduce volume changes. Try turning
down all even numbered steps for a groovier feel, or Option-click specific steps to
disable them, thus creating a rest for that step.
6. Choose Length from the pop-up menu to display the length sequence. Experiment with
shorter or longer notes for different steps: try lengthening odd numbered steps and
shortening even numbered steps to enhance the groove.
7. Try tying a step to the next step by clicking the link symbol at the bottom. Experiment
with tying different steps to generate different rhythms and with tying multiple
subsequent steps to create a long note that spans several steps.
Create a step sequencer style pattern with pitch glides in Alchemy
1. In MainStage, from the Name bar, click the File button and choose Initialize Preset from
the pop-up menu to reset all Alchemy parameters to default settings.
2. Click the Arp button to show the arpeggiator section. All is selected by default.
3. Turn the Mode knob to select Up, Down, Up/Down, or Down/Up mode.
4. Set the Rate knob to 1/4. You can also choose to use a small Swing knob value to create
a looser feel.
5. Click the Multi button to switch to Multi edit mode.
6. Turn off several steps in the top Gate row to create a different rhythmic pattern. As an
option, you can also adjust the Pan knobs to position steps left or right in the stereo
field.
7. Click buttons in the Tie row to tie two or more steps.
8. Drag vertically in a Tune field for one of your tied steps. This results in a pitch change
partway through the note. Values of +/- 12 semitones can work well to produce octave
shifts up or down, but other values can also produce useful results: try +7 semitones for
example, or -2.
9. Switch to advanced view if required, then click the Global button, and set the Num(ber)
of voices to 1 to create a monophonic preset. See MainStage Alchemy master voice
section.
10. Set the voice mode to Legato.
11. Click the Time button to set the Glide mode.
12. Set a small Glide knob value, such as 50ms or lower, to introduce pitch glides for tied
and detuned steps. This results in smooth, rather than jarring, pitch transitions.
Create synchronized rhythmic pulsing chord patterns in Alchemy
1. In MainStage, from the Name bar, click the File button and choose Initialize Preset from
the pop-up menu to reset all Alchemy parameters to default settings.
2. Click the Arp button to show the arpeggiator section. All is selected by default.
3. Turn the Mode knob to Chord.
4. Set the Rate knob to 1/4. You can also choose to use a small Swing knob value to create
a looser feel.