How to use Click Tracks and Backing Tracks in MainStage

QLab is the industry standard for playing audio in theatre but musicians (especially keyboard players) are using MainStage more and more. Playing backing tracks (or click tracks with your band) can easily be handled by MainStage also. In this video I look at using MainStage for playing your backing tracks and importing the click track to keep your band sync'd.

[@dordenbivings4872]

This is the perfect video for the exact time I needed it! Thank you very much.

Thanks to this video, our rehearsals are gonna be incredibly awesome!!! THANK YOU MAN!!!

[@donlakakwaaijazz5220]

you just made it so easy and simple,thanks

[@danielepatania]

Reallly Well done video Just I was searching for!! Thanks a lot Today I will try to configure MS to play backings and VST togheter Then I’ll try to send also program changes to my keyboards Have a good music Daniele from Italy

[@MusicDirectorOnline]

Thanks Daniele....good luck with your program changes :)

[@mikusguitarius]

Awesome video!! So clear and helpful... thanks!

[@MusicDirectorOnline]

Glad it was helpful!

[@louisrost]

Thank you so much for making this video, it's great.

[@MusicDirectorOnline]

Glad you liked it!

[@maxmcmahon5401]

Perfect video as always. For my production I decided against Qlab because it is too expensive. I won’t be playing keyboard though, just conducting. Is there a way to change the patch to the next number with the same button as the play signal and have the last playback still running? I tend to forget to switch the song after it’s done and this isn’t even during a show but just during rehearsals. Thanks in advance. EDIT: I got it!

[@MusicDirectorOnline]

Hi Max. Thanks for your comment. I'm not a huge expert in Mainstage but as far as I know you can't do what you suggest - its one button = one command. Are you using a click track? If so, you can still use the free version of Qlab but remember it will only allow two output channels. If not using a click then Qlab (free) will work, if you ARE using a click, you could use one channel for the track and one for the click. But as far as Mainstage is concerned you need to advance to the next patch before 'play' is available.

[@robhodge1151]

Great video, thank you! If using an interface with two outputs, is there a way to run this so that the drummer receives both the click and the backing track, and FOH receives just the backing track (realise this might have to be mono)? Would it require another mixer for the drummer?

[@MusicDirectorOnline]

Hi Rob. Thanks. The track you need to be mono yes but with only two outputs from your interface, there are a couple of ways. Firstly you could send both channels (track and click) to FOH and they can then send a mix of both to the drummer, alternatively the setup in the band could have a small mixer that could split the signal and direct either or both to whoever needs it. Hope that makes sense. Rob

[@evamartin3392]

Heyyyy, i'm having exactly the same problem, please Rob tell me you've had fix the problem, I'm desesperate, HELP.

[@tanner6871]

If I'm only using one patch to play along with the backing track, is there any issue with setting up the Playback plug-in at the patch level and not the "set" level? I do have multiple patches (in the concert) that each have their own Playback --- but in each case there's only 1 patch needed.

[@MusicDirectorOnline]

No problem with what whatsoever, but if you ever add a second patch, it must go to the set level.

[@illiabalaban7953]

Hello, thanks for your video! Maybe someone could tell me which minimum characteristics are required for mac to make Mainstage work well both for backingtrack and keyboard playing at the same time?

[@MusicDirectorOnline]

I'm not an expert in computer specification but a lot will depend on if you're going to be using sound outside the Mainstage library. If the Mainstage provided sound are all you will use, the basic Macbook Pro will suffice.

[@illiabalaban7953]

@@MusicDirectorOnline Thanks a lot for the answer. All the best!)

Great video! I seem to be having a problem that's not being discussed on the internet. I assigned two buttons on the keyboard I'm using (Arturia KeyLab Essential 61) to change patches, but I might accidentally press the "next patch" button one too many and leave that set, resulting in a playback stop. Is there a way to just stay in one set and circle back to the first patch when I go through all of them in that set? If I go to the next set and the playback stops, it'll undoubtedly be a disaster. Thanks!

[@MusicDirectorOnline]

Hi there. Apologies for late reply as I've been away. There isn't a way round this (to the best of my knowledge. You need to put all your patches you're going to use while the backing is playing - even if you play some patches more than once during the track. In this case just keep copying the patches in the order you need them and paste them as an alias each time. As soon as you leave the Set, the playback will ALWAYS stop. You can't circle back.....well you can but why would you? Question though....why are you using two buttons to change a patch?

@@MusicDirectorOnline Thanks for replying. I’m using one button to go to the next patch, and the other one to go back to the previous patch. Let’s say I’m using an electric piano, and I switch to a synth-lead patch for the solo, then I need to go back to the electric piano for the rest of the song. I’ll just have to put some patches around the ones I’m using, just as a safety measure.

[@MusicDirectorOnline]

If you start with piano, then a synth and then back to a piano, you don't 'go back', you add the piano again. Always place patches in the order you need them. Don't move back in the order....the order you place them is the order you use them.

@@MusicDirectorOnline That makes sense. Thanks for replying 😊

[@ChrisBulleGoyri]

Great video! Thanks for it. Question: can I do vamps and devamps in mainstage just as in Qlab?

[@happylaura0]

Is there a way with MainStage to do the following?= Automatic change sounds while a Track is playing, I mean, between 0-20 seconds I need an Organ sound, then, between 20-50, I need a trumpet sound, is there a way to program it and make those sounds change automatically depending the song time? Thank you in advance.

[@MusicDirectorOnline]

Hi there Laura. The short answer is no. The longer answer is that it can be done with different software like QLab but its VERY involved and more complicated that you need it to be when concentrating on playing. This is largely due to having to deal with audio (the track) and MIDI, that changes your patches (or sounds). Any keyboard player is used to changing patches but Mainstage won't solve that issue unfortunately. Hope this helps.

[@happylaura0]

Very well explained. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@bohemiatributo]

Wonderful, thank you!!!

[@MusicDirectorOnline]

Glad you enjoyed it!