Use Your Hardware Synths in MainStage! 

Thank you for a very informative tutorial. Very well explained and easy to understand even if I just started using Mainstage about a month ago and it blows my mind by its capabilities for a very affordable price.

Sorry, I forgot to say I’m using a Korg Kronos as my external hardware instrument

Thank you so much for this video... it really did go over my head and I will have to watch again a few times to make sure I understand correctly... I am also completely lost when it comes to Program changes, etc... everything under Midi Output / Input etc... I don't think I have seen a video of yours dedicated to these topics for the channel strips... I am now at a "Mess Level" with all my Aliases, etc... and I think program change and those little details could probably help me organize my life hehehehhe I hope I didn't miss it. :) :) Thank you as always for your knowledge.

James thank you for all of your work on Mainstage. I took the leap through watching your videos. You have a wonderfully reassuring manner. Your videos are real tutorials. Thank you. 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 changes are not restricted from moving down onto the next set or ‘song’. So it’s too risky for live performance. I wondered if there was a way to prevent this Again many thanks for all of your help.

great video. wealth of info, thank you much. ill be back again over n over especially concerning program change. Did you need to boot in recovery to install loopback, my Mac asked to do that?

Hello. Thank you for this instructional! I have been trying to connect my Roland sh-d4 to my Mac to used in MainStage along with software instruments patches I have already there. My idea is to have the sound module available for extra sounds and for the drums as well! I have had some relative success but I am not quite there. Thank you for showing that a MiDi ext channel strip is needed! I have a couple of questions for you: 1- How do you have your Motif-Rack connected to your interface? With actual audio cables? from Out to In on the interface? 2-ho do you control the volume of the Motif through MainStage? Through an assigned control? I tried to use the the proper volume knob on my module and does not do anything... Thanks a lot.

Hi. I get the concept of using the Focusrite interface software mixer so not to create an echo. What if I’m using an interface that has additional inputs but no software mixer? I use a UA Volt 4 with headphones. Would I turn the monitor knob off to avoid a midi echo of the Kronos? Thanks

Is it possible to send PC to software instruments? For example, if I want to have a korg triton extreme vsti on the top of the concert, and Every time I change my patch, send a PC to this instrument? I’ve tried it using IAC mid with a dedicated bus, but it don’t work

Can this be done with an older Casio that doesn't have usb out but just 5 pin midi?

Hi there. Is there a way of changing patches of 3rd party plugins through a midi controller?