3.5

140MainStage User Guide
5. For audio channel strips, choose mono or stereo format from the Format pop-up menu.
Important: Audio channel strips can produce feedback, particularly if you are using a
microphone for audio input. When you add an audio channel strip, the volume of the
channel strip is set to 0dB. Gradually raise the volume fader on the channel strip until
you hear sound on the channel. You can also turn on Feedback Protection in MainStage
> Preferences > Audio.
6. Click Create.
7. For software instrument channel strips, you can define the key range for the channel
strip in the Channel Strip Inspector so that the concert-level channel strip does not
overlap software instruments you plan to use in your patches and sets.
For information about defining the key range of a channel strip, see Overview of layers
and splits in MainStage.
When you add a channel strip at the concert level, you can map screen controls to the
channel strip only at the concert level, not for individual patches or sets.
The MainStage clock
Some plug-ins, including the Playback and Ultrabeat plug-ins, require a time source, and
use beat and tempo information in order to play in time.
Additionally, some third-party applications and plug-ins using their own sequencer or
playback engine may behave differently than the included plug-ins. These applications
(which include Reason and Reaktor) require a play message from the host application
to begin playback and require a stop message to end playback. They may also require
a continue (also sometimes called “resume”) message to continue playback from their
current time position.
MainStage includes an internal beat clock or “time base” that you can use to control
the playback of these plug-ins. The MainStage clock generates beat, time position, and
tempo information so sequencer-oriented plug-ins can start, stop, and play in time.
The MainStage clock operates similarly to the song position in LogicPro or other DAW
applications.
You can send play and stop messages in the following ways:
• Using the Play/Stop button in the toolbar, if it is visible
• Using the Metronome button in the toolbar, if it is visible (turning on the metronome
also starts the MainStage clock, if it is not already running)
• Using a screen control mapped to the Play/Stop, Play, or Stop action
• Using a screen control mapped to the Continue action, to resume playback of a third-
party plug-in (but not a Playback plug-in)