Do You Need An Audio Interface To Use MainStage?

[@dipanshusingh93]

Can it work without daw during live performance

[@kingkingroma]

Hi im using scarlett solo, and im using motif XF. It only has 1 instrument port. How to use a mono out to my FOH? Should i just use the Left output? Thanks

[@amorebrewer36]

Hi! So currently I have my MacBook and MainStage plugged into our snake (with a headphone Jack into 1/4 inch cord) which then plugs into our mixer. However the synth sounds super muddy and none of the lower end sounds are cutting through. Do you have any advice on how to make this sound better?

[@CatherallAudio]

I would suggest getting an audio interface or a DI box to see if it improves the sound. DI boxes are typically a bit more affordable if you want to try that first.

[@calvinchong8740]

Thanks for this. Can I ask a dumb question about mainstage and the Focusrite. If I set up an audio channel and connect my 2i2 to Mainstage, my input is channel 1. Should my output channel be set to channel 1 if I plug in a headphone into the Focusrite headphone jack? If I am not connected to any other speaker, I presume input 1 is the default and only available option right?

[@CatherallAudio]

If you’re using a Focusrite 2i2 you will use output 1-2. That way it’s in stereo.

[@calvinchong8740]

@@CatherallAudio thanks - I find your videos on MainStage really helpful!

[@t.s.5668]

Question for you Cathedrall. My band complains about a weak signal output of my set up. It's hard to make it loud enough to work in the band. I use a Nord as midi controller, MacBook Pro and then a Focusrite 2i2. Could the low signal be caused by my audio interface. What are your experiences?

[@CatherallAudio]

I doubt it's the audio interface unless it's really old and damaged somehow. There's a number of things that could be causing it, the most likely is probably your gain staging within the concert to make sure everything is balance and able to be pushed loud enough without clipping in your concert, then you can boost the main knob on the Focusrite 2i2 to get it balanced with your band.

[@t.s.5668]

@@CatherallAudio Thanks good to know it's probably not my interface then. I will check the gain levels. They say I need to buy a new interface, but then I know it's probably not necessary. This one is brand new.

[@HedyMelodies]

subscribed

[@anthonyabruscato5098]

How do you feel about using the player’s keyboard as an audio interface? Would using a 2i2 or equivalent be better than that?

[@CatherallAudio]

What type of keyboard are you meaning?

[@anthonyabruscato5098]

@@CatherallAudio We have a Yamaha MX88. I've been able to use the keyboard's stereo outputs as the interface in MainStage for the MX88, an M-Audio controller, and a DTX.

[@CatherallAudio]

That’s definitely a really good option as well! Have you been happy with the results?

[@anthonyabruscato5098]

@@CatherallAudio It works pretty well for the most part, but there’s a fair bit of hum even with DIs on each line that I haven’t been able to get rid of.

[@t.s.5668]

this guy is the best

[@zhaoxie8928]

It has no midi,, ? Can we use that during live performances in my keyboard?

[@CatherallAudio]

The Scarlett 2i2 can be used during live performances. You can look into the Behringer U-Phoria series or the Presonus AudioBox. They are both at a similar price point and have MIDI in/out ports.

[@zhaoxie8928]

@@CatherallAudio sir, my keyoard is Roland xps 30 it has usb connection to laptop, and when i touch keys, using kontkat6 software, it has no sound,, im a beginner to this thing,, pls help

[@josephemmanuelgerard287]

Hi! I am new to DAW. Is Roland UA - 55 Quad Capture compatible with Mac Book Pro M2 (connecting port: USB Thunder Bolt 4) as interface for Main Stage 3?

[@CatherallAudio]

It looks like that specific model is not yet compatible with the Apple M1 or M2 chips.

[@jacobspikekraus9442]

If I want to run a click track but still have the 'front of house' control the monitor mixes (with the 2i2 for example), would I route the click into mono channel 1, other backing tracks together into mono channel 2, and then rely on the sound engineer to send the click only to the monitor mix instead of the main output? If used that way in mono, which output of the 2i2 is channel 1, and which channel 2? L or R?

[@CatherallAudio]

You could do it that away, I would personally suggest not running your main signal in mono. With that setup channel 1 would be the L and channel 2 would be the R

[@jordanhope7251]

Do you need a DI box to run from the audio interface to your mixer? If the interface had a left and right output, how do I get it into the one channel on my mixer?

[@CatherallAudio]

You don’t need a DI box if you’re using an audio interface. You’ll want to use two channels on your mixer for the synth sounds. You’re losing a lot of nuance and texture to the synth soundscape if you only run it with one channel in the mixer(ie: mono)

[@Rockerinhell]

@@CatherallAudio What kind of cables would be the best option to connect the interface outputs to the mixer inputs? I use the TRS to XLR that one would use to plug the interface to studio monitors; I plug them into the MIC level inputs of the mixer or into a snake. Is that the right way to do it?

[@CatherallAudio]

TRS to XLR works well or you can just use a TRS to TRS cable as well if the mixer has line level inputs.

[@Rockerinhell]

@@CatherallAudio Thanks! I would use TRS to TRS but the mixer might not always be close. At venues they always put a DI box for keyboards and I simply don't use it and plug in my interface directly into the XLR that the DI box was using, but I wasn't sure it was a right way.

[@jpetvolosanoliosia]

Just buy a keylargo mixer from radial engineering and you are set!!!

[@Anthixy]

Here we go 👌

[@ZTAudio]

Using the headphone output is just horrible advice.