3.5

141MainStage Instruments
Alchemy tutorials
MainStage Alchemy tutorial introduction
The following sections contain information to assist you as you start to explore sound
creation in Alchemy.
Given the flexibility and variety of Alchemy synthesis engines, you can take a number of
different approaches to sound design.
• If you prefer to tweak existing settings, it may be more suitable to use features that
affect the entire instrument. At the simplest level this is achieved with performance
controls such as the Transform pad. See MainStage Alchemy basic synthesis tweaks
and MainStage Alchemy performance controls.
• If you prefer to build sounds from scratch—parameter by parameter—you can. See
MainStage Alchemy source overview and Create MainStage Alchemy sounds from
scratch.
• Alchemy also features advanced morphing capabilities that facilitate cross-synthesis to
create new sounds. See MainStage Alchemy elemental morphs overview.
Whatever approach you favor, you can achieve new and interesting results. Experiment and
familiarize yourself with each approach. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, and often
a combination of methods may strike the best balance for your needs.
When programming a sound from scratch in Alchemy, the best approach is to work on each
component of the sound in isolation.
To start, you need a plain vanilla setting. You can revert to this setting by choosing File >
Initialize Preset in the Name bar. The default setting is sonically uninteresting but provides
a useful starting point for several examples.
MainStage Alchemy basic synthesis tweaks
Alchemy provides thousands of ready-made presets for you to explore. These are not
only a great resource for musical inspiration but can also provide numerous insights into
how sound designers have created them. Even if you’re not inclined to program your own
sounds from scratch, some small tweaks to existing presets can provide that “perfect”
sound for your projects or performances.
Note: Images shown in tutorials are not specific to presets used in tasks. They are included
as a guide to help you find areas and parameters in the Alchemy interface.