3.5

31MainStage User Guide
Connect external devices
Overview of connecting external devices to
MainStage
You can use MainStage with a wide variety of MIDI controllers and CoreAudio-compliant
audio devices. The following sections provide basic setup information for using MIDI and
audio devices with MainStage.
MainStage is a 64-bit application. Real-time generation and processing of digital audio
requires intensive processing by your computer. If you plan to work on large or complex
projects, using a computer with a faster processor and extra random-access memory
(RAM) installed can facilitate your productivity. Additional RAM is useful particularly
when using a large number of effects plug-ins and when playing sample-based software
instruments. It is recommended that you do not run other processor- or RAM-intensive
applications simultaneously with MainStage, particularly when performing live.
In Perform mode (both Perform in Window and Perform in Full Screen), Time Machine
backups are disabled automatically. This avoids any impact on your performance.
Connect MIDI devices
Overview of connecting MIDI devices to MainStage
MainStage works with many USB and MIDI keyboard controllers and with MIDI devices such
as foot pedals and switches. MIDI devices must send standard MIDI control messages.
MainStage receives standard MIDI messages, and can be used to control external MIDI
devices using external MIDI instrument channel strips.
Controller presets
Some keyboard controllers allow you to choose different presets or “scenes” that
reconfigure the messages sent by the controls on the device. In most cases, you should
choose a generic preset that sends standard MIDI messages rather than system exclusive
messages or messages intended for a particular application. After you have assigned
hardware controls to screen controls in MainStage, do not change the preset on the
MIDI device, or your assignments might be lost.