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| Mainstage Users https://www.stickist.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10899 |
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| Author: | Skydiver [ Sun Apr 03, 2016 9:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | Mainstage Users |
I want to start a MainStage Users topic. There are currently no active topics/strings regarding MainStage. (last one I found was in 2012...) I believe that there are a good number of people using it and many who are interested in learning more. Here is a link to Apple's MainStage webpage for more information. http://www.apple.com/mainstage/ I have been using it for a very short time now and finding it to be an amazing tool. From my very short amount of time with it I've learned a lot and have many questions and I imagine I am not the only one here in the same boat... Sorry... this is a Mac only program... but PC users may still be interested in learning especially when the program is only $29.99... |
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| Author: | Sominus [ Sun Apr 03, 2016 9:50 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mainstage Users |
I have Mainstage and Logic Pro. I will be honest and say that while I have gotten some good sounds out of it at home with my guitar rig, I have not used it in performance because I don't feel like I could fix a problem on stage if something went wrong.. That is simply a lack of experience using the tool on my part. In my opinion it is not a trivial tool to use, but it is extremely powerful in that it can replace banks of electronics quickly in a very small package. Combined with Bluetooth footboard controllers, you've got a great musician's tool in a small footprint. |
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| Author: | Jayesskerr [ Sun Apr 03, 2016 9:52 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mainstage Users |
It's also super handy when dealing with Logic, and extra nice if you have an Apogee Gio... I was sorely tempted to go the interface-computer route, but I need indestructibility in my gear hahaha |
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| Author: | Skydiver [ Sun Apr 03, 2016 9:59 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mainstage Users |
Here is my story... I recently came across videos of MainStage on YouTube and saw many of the functions it can offer... Virtual Instruments / Virtual Amps / Pedalboard effects / backing track (s) playback / looper(s) / mixing / monitor mixes ... and so much more! For those who may not know... I play my NS/Stick (in stereo) along to drum loops and sing. At a minimum I have four signal chains to worry about and if I use stereo effects then this can go up to eight channels. I also want to incorporate my novation Circuit and will need more channels... I've had some interesting challenges to incorporate all this to make it viable in a live situation on one big pedalboard using mini-mixers and Direct Boxes (DI) to interface with the front of house. I've also incorporated the capability for my own private headphone mix. You can probably imagine the complexity to get all this on to one pedalboard... and to be honest I'm coming up short on what I need to do... Here is a list of functions/signal chains I want: - Bass Side effects and amp - Melody Side effects and amp - Drum Loop/backing track playback (I make my drum loops in Logic) - Loopers synced to the song/tempo/drum loops - Vocals with effects - Stereo mix of all of the above - Headphone/Monitor Mix - Give the Front of House (FOH) mixer the capability to mix each signal chain (Drums, Bass side, Melody Side, Vocals) I have found that MainStage should be able to do all of this... and MORE! There is some learning curve but since I already use Logic for recording the channel strips are very familiar to me. Creating the workspace to what I need has been a bit of a challenge but I'm catching up pretty quickly. So far I have been able to set up Bass Side, Melody Side, Drum Loops using Playback and sync with live looping using Loopback. Still have to get vocals and all the effects I like with it. So far I am very impressed with the sounds I get. It's tough to understand all the functions of the playback and loopback to get them to sync the way I want them to. Also understanding the different levels (Concert/Set/Patch) and making the right changes in each of those. I have a Mac Mini (late 2012 with i7 core w/ 16gb memory) using the Behringer Zynyx UFX1204 as a firewire interface with my Stick plugged right into HiZ inputs on Channels 1 and 2. The biggest issue I am coming up against is that the program seems to crap out once in a while and the sound all sound garbled/digital distorted and I have to restart the program. I'm not sure if' it's some kind of interface issue or something with the program yet but will dig deeper into it. I'm interested on what computers (processor, memory) people are using. If everything works out I would buy a used Macbook and a rack mount interface so I want to know what actually works for others. I also ordered the Keith McMillan SoftStep (first edition found used on eBay for $120) so I can do all the effect changes / loop changes / etc. with a footswitch. I find that the Whammy plugin doesn't sound as good as the hardware. I may also keep my Fender Runaway feedback pedal if the Softube plugin doesn't work for me. With the Softstep it will be a pretty light pedalboard. Looking forward to hearing what others are doing with MainStage and what works and what doesn't. I think there is going to be quite a bit of discussion on processing since this is so heavily depending not he computer. I'm very interested in hearing how it's worked out for people in a live situation. Any crashes? |
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| Author: | Skydiver [ Sun Apr 03, 2016 10:03 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mainstage Users |
Jayesskerr wrote: I was sorely tempted to go the interface-computer route, but I need indestructibility in my gear hahaha I agree. The destructibility part is nagging at me... but I see many people with computers on stage now (mostly keyboard players) so the crash factor must be minimal now. |
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| Author: | EricTheGray [ Sun Apr 03, 2016 11:11 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mainstage Users |
I have MainStage and Logic and I'm tempted to use it as the center of my rig. I don't play out much and I use my computer for everything in my job. Having to hook it all up before I can play has been a factor in my resistance to using it more. If I did want to use it I would not be worried about stability on stage. A modern mac with the latest OS will be very stable. I would turn off everything that could interfere and take resources. I have a Behringer FCB1010 midi foot controller that works great with MainStage. -Eric |
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| Author: | Skydiver [ Sun Apr 03, 2016 1:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mainstage Users |
EricTheGray wrote: I have MainStage and Logic and I'm tempted to use it as the center of my rig. I don't play out much and I use my computer for everything in my job. Having to hook it all up before I can play has been a factor in my resistance to using it more. If I did want to use it I would not be worried about stability on stage. A modern mac with the latest OS will be very stable. I would turn off everything that could interfere and take resources. I have a Behringer FCB1010 midi foot controller that works great with MainStage. -Eric I'm thinking about what would be the best set up for most efficient set up and tear down. I've been thinking of a pedalboard with everything on it but that means the computer may be out front and get trampled on... so I think the solution will need to have the computer and interface somewhere beer can't get on and won't be trampled then a pedalboard for the few things you have to step on. I even thought about rack mounting my Mac Mini and getting a rack mount monitor. I will cross that bridge when I get there... For now I am trying to get it to make sense and I'm still waiting on the SoftStep to arrive. I think then I can put it through it's paces on my MacMini and decide where to go from there... |
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| Author: | rclere [ Sun Apr 03, 2016 7:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mainstage Users |
I use logic on my iMac27, my live rig is still a hardware pedal board... Line 6 Helix, and what a great piece of gear it is! Running both sides of the Stick through it into my QSC K12 pwrd monitors.... I have a friend who is a multi-instrumentalist, and he uses Logic/Mainstage for his woodwinds, wind synth and guitar. he has never had a problem with his rig. |
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| Author: | Skydiver [ Sun Apr 03, 2016 9:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mainstage Users |
rclere wrote: I use logic on my iMac27, my live rig is still a hardware pedal board... Line 6 Helix, and what a great piece of gear it is! Running both sides of the Stick through it into my QSC K12 pwrd monitors.... I have a friend who is a multi-instrumentalist, and he uses Logic/Mainstage for his woodwinds, wind synth and guitar. he has never had a problem with his rig. The Helix does look sweet! but when I start including vocal and drum/backing tracks on my pedalboard it gets pretty big... Right now I have the TC-Helicon VoiceLive 3 Extreme and it's great for a guitar player/singer. Sounds great! I use it for vocals and melody side of my NS and also backing tracks. However... backing tracks are so rigid that I can't improvise or extend/shorten sections when I feel the need... so I'm back to loops. |
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| Author: | Skydiver [ Mon Apr 04, 2016 7:18 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Mainstage Users |
I'm interested what computer and what interfaces are being used out there... What computer? Model year, processor, memory, etc. What interface do you use? USB (1,2,3)? Firewire? Thunderbolt? Are you hearing/feeling any latency? |
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