14 DAY TRIAL // MainStage, Apple’s live gig tool for musicians who like to take their Mac up on stage, has received a fresh update this week, complementing some additional enhancements in Logic Pro X and Logic Remote.
A live performance tool, MainStage 3.1 allows music composers and DJs to add their sounds from Logic Pro X and GarageBand and bring their entire sound portfolio up on stage for a memorable gig.
A DJs best friend
Keyboards and vocals can be combined in a single Patch, and you can switch between Patches without stopping sound output or cutting off held notes. Custom keyboard Patches can be created using splits and layers, the Arpeggiator, and other MIDI plug-ins, while the app’s 64-bit architecture allows you to squeeze every drop of performance out of the RAM fitted on your Mac.
We didn’t know it was music week at Apple. For one reason or another, the Cupertino giant decided to beef up almost its entire array of music production offerings, releasing new versions of Logic Pro X and its companion app (Logic Remote), and now an updated version of MainStage is making an appearance.
Mix your best sets yet
Version 3.1 ships with a redesigned Compressor plug-in that boasts a Retina-ready interface and 7 models including the new Classic VCA. The GUI is also scalable, allowing you to keep your most-used knobs and sliders conveniently under your fingers.
You can now create wavetables from imported audio with Retro Synth, which is able to stack up to 8 voices. Over 200 new synth patches and 10 classic Mellotron instruments are included in this update, and the Plug-in Manager now allows users to mess around with the menu.
Perhaps the most exciting new ability in MainStage 3.1 is the this: “Turn your favorite hardware synthesizers into sampled instruments using new Auto Sampler plug-in.” If you’re the type who doesn’t just settle with interfering with a playback, this enhancement will probably make your day. And give you a reason to dust up some old hardware as well.
Also new in MainStage, using the new Key Command editor, you can now assign and manage custom shortcuts.