MainStage Guru Patch Changes

[@reysandoval5075]

YES!!! You are Heaven Sent!! Thank you to Matt for his question and thank you Jim for the answer!

[@tomtut8431]

Thank you for Mainstage Guru. You explain it clearly. It’s a big help. I’ve looked everywhere to find a solution to this : I wanted to have synth layers drop in and out during a song. I’m using one midi controller keyboard. I achieved this by just having separate instruments on different patches. I assign trigger keys on the keyboard to patch change up and down. So I will have say 4 patches for 1 song. Then I create a new ‘set’ and treat this set as the next song in my concert. My problem is that the patch change down trigger is not restricted from moving onto the next set or ‘song’. I wondered if there was a way to prevent this. Again many thanks for all of your work it's a huge help.

[@S1WEN]

very helpful, exactly what I needed! Thank you so much :)

[@miketrickey8143]

Yes thank you! i am a guitar play and Keyboard player in my band and i use a Line 6 Helix to run my setlists and this changes my patches on my Helix via USB Midi. I also wanted to send some information the other way and this is what i have been struggling with!

[@YARDMANMX]

Great I this info is very used full as I am setting up for a new years gig

[@DaveCollison]

Looking at your patch list, I’d really love to be at one of your gigs. Sadly, I’m in the UK.

[@jamesmarsh1947]

Kudos on and thanks for a great video! I'd enjoy seeing a walkthru of your custom Mainstage layout. In particular, I'm curious about the large number of piano-keyboard icons stacked up over there. Do you lug that many controllers to a gig? Or ... ? Thanks!

[@MainStageGuru]

Hi there James - thanks so much for the kind words. The multiple instances of keyboards on my MainStage layout is my persona workaround for using different MIDI Channels of the same Keyboard. The top two are MIDI Channels 1 and 2 of my Yamaha EX5. The next 4 are MIDI Channels 1, 2, 3, and 15 of my Korg Kronos, and the final one is for my Roland Ax Edge. This way I can place channels strips across different MIDI Channel instances and then change sounds with the press of a button on my controller instead of creating another patch. There are probably more elegant ways to achieve similar results, but that is what has worked for me over the many years I've been using that concert in MainStage. :) Cheers!

[@jamesmarsh1947]

@@MainStageGuru Thanks for that explanation. Great idea; makes perfect sense to me!

[@reysandoval5075]

I'm assuming that I can control both a Roland FA07 and a Yamaha MODX7 with Mainstage as the master, but I have to assign a different MIDI Channel to each of the mentioned synths, correct?

[@MainStageGuru]

As long as you have dedicated MIDI Destinations as set up in Audio / MIDI Setup, you won't need a different MIDI channel. You select an external Instrument Channel Strip and select whichever keyboard you want to manage. And you'll do that for each keyboard, and in each patch. So as long as you're set up correct in the beginning, you should have no issues.

[@reysandoval5075]

@@MainStageGuru Thank You!!

[@reysandoval5075]

The Roland FA 07 works perfect!! The Yamaha MODX 7 is a very hard one to figure out. Yikes.

[@dordenbivings4872]

Jim - this is EXACTLY the video I was looking for! Very well done video. I am an OG (old guy ;-)) who is new to Mainstage. I am just now learning the power of this tool. I've gotten brave enough to integrate MainStage into my live performances, where I also use an old Korg X5. I'm also the front man, so you KNOW I can't be fumbling around with patch changes in front of an audience. Your video helped me make the connection! Thank you VERY MUCH! I have been seeking guidance on this topic for weeks. Can you help me get over a hurdle? I can program the patch changes from MainStage to my Korg keyboard as long as I stay in one mode (let's say COMBI mode) . However, if I want to access a patch in the PROGRAM mode I have to switch that manually on my keyboard (which almost defeats the intended purpose). Can you offer a way to get around that? Is there a way to access a patch exclusively without having to change the mode? Thanks again!

[@soundsofseriesformainstage3735]

Hi Dorden - very sorry for missing your question in your reply. The key will be in the MIDI Implementation chart of your specific Korg keyboard. There should be a setting that will allow you to change modes through MIDI. AS LONG AS that can be handled through a bank select command (MSB or LSB), then you can set that up inside the Mainstage Program window. You should be able to find the implementation charge towards the back of your manual. It's a hard read, but it should give you specific commands to change from program, to combi, to song. As for me, I'm using a Kronos in Setlist mode and using Combi's to set up and change patches in MainStage. I find that the most convenient. However I realize other Korg products don't have Setlist mode and it would be easier to set up from MainStage and select from there. Best of luck!

[@dordenbivings4872]

@@soundsofseriesformainstage3735 Thank you! And thanks again for your help!

[@marcosrogers8858]

Hello, I would like to know if it is possible to use the modulation lever on the Roland keyboards to activate the organ's rotary. mine works, however, I have to keep the lever pressed for the rotary (fast) to continue working. Grateful

[@tanner6871]

Very helpful video! I'm really enjoying your Rush soundset - nice job programming.😀

[@MainStageGuru]

Awesome, thank you!

[@francisdesrochers3000]

What is the simpliest setup to use my Kronos and a midi controller in Mainstage for outputs? Do I have to send the sound of a soundcard PLUS my Kronos? I would like to benefit off my simple setup with my Kronos and add some VSTs but I don’t want it to make me carry a ton of additional gear. Thank you for the advice!

[@MainStageGuru]

Hi Francis, While it IS possible to use the Kronos as an audio interface, I've found the USB connectivity to be unreliable for performance purposes. What you CAN do is find an audio interface where you can mix the outputs of the computer while inputing the Kronos into the interfaces inputs. I would recommend a very small Audio and MIDI Interface. you could put both of them in a very small rack, and then extend audio and MIDI to / from the Kronos. It'll make setup quick and easy, and maintain a setup that would be more trouble free. If you'd like more details, I could offer some suggestions - just let me know. :)

[@frederiqries8831]

Thanks so much Jim.🎉😊

[@johwoo1]

Hello, my synth is a Krog Krome, I use mainstage 3.5 I’d like to use the presets from my Krog Combi and also use the patch list for mainstage simultaneously… Thank you!

[@nickbaptiste3047]

Thanks for the videos. Now switching over to mainstage. I'm getting hange(stuck notes from the time Istartup and play my first patch and when I switch to another patch it holds out the sound. Can you please help?thanks

[@YARDMANMX]

One question On my split patches I would like deactivate the sustain pedal on some sounds on the upper active while having it activated on the piano

[@MainStageGuru]

Hi there Sylvester. Thanks for joining my channel. If your using a recent version of MainStage (3.4.4 or later) you can filter the sustain pedal at the channel strip level. Simply highlight the channel strip you'd like to have sustain disabled, then go to the channel strip inspector window (center screen bottom). Click on the MIDI Input tab, then click the "+" button at the very bottom of the screen. That will bring up a way to map, change, or filter controllers. When you click on the "+" button it will likely default to Pitch Bend. Click on it and instead select Controller 64 - Sustain. Then where it says "Unchanged" under output controller, click it and select "Filter" At this point the sustain pedal will no longer effect that particular channel strip.

[@deancol4080]

Thanks for posting; this was very helpful! I just started to jump in on using Mainstage (3) for replacing my live rig (Grand Piano, Rhodes Piano, B3 Organ, String pads, various synths) I'm trying to workout how to configure the effects (apply them, turn them on and off, etc) for the Rhodes Piano. Rhodes - no effect Rhodes - Tremolo Rhodes - Chorus Rhodes - Phaser etc I suppose one way would be to create a separate patch for each setting. But I would like to keep the timbre of my Rhodes sound independent of the effects that I want to apply. How would this be accomplished in MainStage? Any suggestions would be helpful. Hopefully, my question makes sense. Thanks again....

[@MainStageGuru]

Hi Dean - thanks for your kind comments. One way that I know this can happen is by placing buttons in your layout that would be "On / Off" switches for each effect you're looking to add or mute. Then in each patch after the channel strip is applied and the Rhodes is selected, highlight the button and navigate to the Screen Control Inspector. Click on the option for the Electric Piano and select the Tremolo, Chorus, Phaser, etc. - each button will turn on / off one effect. That why while you're playing you can click a button and add that effect. Clicking the button again will turn it off. - Jim. -

[@deancol4080]

@@MainStageGuru Thanks so much for your response Jim! I actually did figure this out last night. My hang up is that I'm using an old Kurzweil controller (SP76) that has no midi controls to turn the Mainstage layout buttons on and off. However, I figured out that I could assign the layout on/off buttons to the high notes (C#, D, D#, E) on the Kurzweil to turn on and off the effects. This will suit my needs well. Thanks again. Btw, thanks for making your sounds available for sale on your website; there is a lot of good stuff on there that will make life easier...lol

[@anindyadatta698]

I use MainStage in MacBook Pro 2015, with 16gb ram and 1TB SSD. But when I switch one patch immediately to another the 1st patch remains For 2 seconds then the 2nd patch sounds. Please help me if there is any settings to solve this problem. I play Indian music where we have to use many patches frequently. For your information I use fantom 06 as midi keyboard ❤❤❤

[@keysureshm]

How Much Ram Your Using on Computer... My MacBook Pro 8GB Ram Not Enough For me.🤔

[@MainStageGuru]

Hi Suresh, If you're only using the plugins that come with MainStage, 8Gig RAM would be enough. When you start adding 3rd part VI's though, that's where things start to consume RAM. All of my computers and all of the systems I recommend to my clients use a MINIMUM of 16 Gigs RAM.

[@keysureshm]

@@MainStageGuru Thank u Soo much.

[@2007Knickers]

Hi Guru. I can get my Yamaha YC61 to change patch on MainStage but am failing to do the reverse. I can change programmes 1-8 but cannot go to the next bank of 1-8. I have used the bank change and copied the YC manual but still only selects first bank. Bank select is on. Transmit on 14 from MainStage and 16 to MainStage. Help please!

[@soundsofseriesformainstage3735]

Hi there Percy, Without having a YC61 myself it would be impossible for me to determine exactly what the bottleneck is in your situation. But here are a couple of things to try. You mentioned that you're getting programs to change but not banks. According to the YC61 manual, there is a setting for both Patches and Banks that need to be turned on. While they both default to On, you may need to make sure they are indeed both on for starters. There is also information on page 62 of the manual dealing with MIDI Implementation that you may need to review and decipher, including: Bank Select will be actually executed when a Program Change message is received. Bank Select and Program Change numbers that are not supported by this instrument will be ignored. So both the program change and MSB / LSB need to be correct or it will be ignored. The joys of troubleshooting such a setup can be cumbersome, but once you find the magic formula it will always be the same. Good luck!

[@2007Knickers]

Thanks for your reply. Can I ask one more thing please? The MSB for the YC says Dec 63 Hex 3F and the LSB Dec 0 Hex 00. So is it 63 and 0 for first Live set? What is the Hex numbers? Thanks

[@MainStageGuru]

@@2007Knickers - Fantastic question. I sadly haven't converted hex code since the 80's, so I'm really rusty. HOWEVER, this person programmed a converter on the web that you might be able to use to get your answer. Check it out: www.bwalk.com.au/Convert/Convert.html

[@keysureshm]

Awesome work.But I can't Do it with My Yamaha Modx6.I Need to Install Any Drivers...?

[@MainStageGuru]

You may need a driver. Older Yamaha products needed specific drivers, but some of the newer ones are USB MIDI Class Compliant and do not need drivers. If you can't get MainStage to change patches, make sure first that it's actually receiving patch changes. Open up the MIDI Monitor window in MainStage to confirm that. If you're getting MIDI Patch changes but MainStage is not reacting to it, make sure you've turned it on in your specific concert, and then make sure each patch is set to receive the patch change and react to it.

[@keysureshm]

I Have No luck 😔

[@keysureshm]

Even logic remote can change MainStage patch but Yamaha modx performance mode can’t change.

[@badhabit2112]

What did you see in MainStages MIDI Monitor? I need to know that to help you further.

[@keysureshm]

@@badhabit2112 will try and let u know