The MainStage Window
Some features of the MainStage interface are common to all modes, while others are exclusive to certain modes.
The main features of the MainStage window include:
Toolbar: Includes buttons for quick access to common commands and tools. You can customize the toolbar so that the commands you use most frequently are readily available.
Activity Monitor: Shows your computer’s processor and memory usage, and shows the input from your MIDI devices as you edit and perform.
Workspace: The “canvas” where you customize your onscreen layout, assign hardware controls to screen controls, and view your concerts while you perform.
Screen controls: The onscreen objects that correspond to the controls on your hardware devices. You can add and arrange screen controls in the workspace, assign hardware controls to screen controls, and then map them to parameters you want to control for each patch in your concert. There are three types of screen controls: panel controls, shelf controls, and grouped controls.
Channel strips: Channel strips are where you build and customize your sounds. MainStage channel strips are similar to channel strips in Logic Pro, with Insert, Sends, and I/O menus as well as level meters, faders, pan knobs, and other controls.
Inspectors: Inspectors appear below (in Edit mode) or along the left side of the MainStage window (in Layout mode) when you select different items onscreen. The Inspectors allow you to edit parameters and attributes for patches, sets, screen controls, channel strips, and the concert. Most Inspectors feature tabs that make it easy to quickly access the parameters you want to edit.
To make working easier, MainStage features three different modes, each suited to a different task. You audition, edit, and organize your sounds and map screen controls in Edit mode. You customize the visual arrangement of controls onscreen and make controller assignments in Layout mode. You use Perform mode when you perform live.