Editing Screen Control Parameters

When you select a screen control in Layout mode, the parameters for the screen control appear in the Screen Control Inspector where you can edit them. Most screen controls share the same common parameters, but some types have different parameters according to their function. The parameters for each type are described in the following section.

For most Hardware Input parameters, there is no need to change the default values MainStage sets when you learn a controller assignment unless you intend to use the screen control for a specific, non-standard purpose.

To edit screen control parameters
  1. In Layout mode, select the screen control. (When you drag a screen control to the workspace, it is selected.)

  2. In the Screen Control Inspector, edit the parameters for the selected screen control by choosing the menu item, typing text, clicking the button, or selecting the checkbox for the parameters you want to edit.

Lifting and Stamping Screen Control Parameters

You can “lift,” or copy, certain parameters from a screen control and “stamp” them onto other screen controls. This makes it easy to give multiple screen controls the same size, appearance, and text attributes to create a uniform look in your layout. Parameters affected by lift and stamp include the parameters in the Appearance and Text Labels headings in the Screen Control Inspector (except the control type), as well as the size of the screen control.

To lift parameters from a screen control
  • Control-click the screen control in the workspace, then choose Lift Attributes from the shortcut menu.

To stamp parameters onto another screen control
  • Control-click the screen control in the workspace, then choose Stamp Attributes from the shortcut menu.

    You can Shift-click to select multiple screen controls, then Control-click the selection.

Common Screen Control Parameters

You can edit the following common parameters for button, knob, fader, knob, pedal, footswitch, mod/pitch wheel, meter, VU meter, organ drawbar, progress indicator, and parameter text screen controls.

Hardware Input
Appearance
  • Color selector: Choose the color for the active part of the screen control, which visually displays its current value in performance. (This parameter is not available for text or meter screen controls.)
Text Labels
  • Color selector: Choose the color for the text labels.
  • Add hardware label checkbox and field: Select the checkbox, then type a hardware label in the field to display it on the top line of the control’s text display.

Keyboard Screen Control Parameters

If you are using a keyboard controller or another MIDI device that sends MIDI note messages, your layout should include a keyboard (or MIDI activity) screen control. You can edit the following parameters for keyboard screen controls.

Hardware Assignment
  • Velocity Sensitivity slider: Sets the velocity sensitivity for the keyboard. Less means that higher velocities are required to trigger the maximum value, while More means that lower velocities trigger the maximum value.
Settings
  • Name field: Enter a name for the keyboard. The name appears in the Input pop-up menu in the Channel Strip Inspector, where you can select the device the channel strip responds to.
  • Number of Keys value slider: Enter the number of keys to display on the keyboard screen control.
  • Lowest Key value slider: Enter the note name for the lowest key.
  • Lowest Key Learn button: Click the Learn button, then press the lowest key to have MainStage learn it.

    The Number of Keys and Low Key affect only the visual appearance of the screen control. They do not affect what notes are received from your keyboard controller.

Layer Display
  • Display keyboard layers checkbox: When active, a layer is displayed above the keyboard in the workspace for each software instrument channel strip in a patch. The layers show the name and color of the channel strip and respond when you play the keyboard.
  • Height value slider: Sets the height of the layer display that appears above the keyboard.

MIDI Activity Screen Control Parameters

MIDI activity screen controls can indicate when MIDI note messages are received and can also be used as smaller, “noteless” keyboard screen controls. You can edit the following parameters for MIDI activity screen controls.

Hardware Input
  • Velocity Sensitivity slider: Set the amount of sensitivity for incoming MIDI data.
Settings
  • Name field: Type a name for the screen control.
Appearance
  • Color selector: Choose the color for the MIDI activity light.

Drum Pad Screen Control Parameters

You can use drum pad screen controls with hardware drum pads. You can edit the following parameters for drum pad screen controls.

Hardware Input
  • Note value slider: Change the MIDI note for the drum pad to a different value than the learned value.
Appearance
  • Color selector: Choose the color for the active part of the screen control, so that you can easily see when the drum pad is pressed.
Text Labels
  • Color selector: Choose the color for the active part of the text label.
  • Justification buttons: Click to set the text justification (left, center, or right).
  • Add hardware label checkbox and field: Select the checkbox, then enter hardware label text in the field to display it on the top line of the control’s text display.

Waveform Screen Control Parameters

You can use waveform screen controls to display the audio waveform of the audio file for a Playback plug-in. You can edit the Color and Hide Ruler parameters for waveform screen controls.

  • Color selector: Choose the color for the waveform display.
  • Hide Ruler checkbox: When selected, the ruler at the top of the waveform display is not visible.

Selector Parameters

You can use selector screen controls to display and select patches and sets, or to display and select markers in audio files used by a Playback plug-in. You can edit the following parameters for selector (patch or marker selector) screen controls.

  • View Patches and Sets button: When active, both patches and sets are shown in the selector.
  • Dual Column Display checkbox: When selected, sets are displayed in the left column and patches are displayed in the right column.
  • Patches or markers button: When active, only patches are shown in the selector.
  • Items to Display value slider: Set the number of items (lines) visible in the selector.
  • Color selector: Choose the color for selected items in the selector.
  • Set Justification buttons: Click to set whether sets are left, center, or right justified in the selector.
  • Patch Justification buttons: Click to set whether patches are left, center, or right justified in the selector.

Text Screen Control Parameters

You can edit the following parameters for text screen controls after adding text to the text field.

  • Font button: Select text, then click to show the Font menu from which you can select the font, style, color, and size.
  • Alignment buttons: Select whether the selected text is left, right, or center aligned, or justified.
  • Text field: Enter the text you want to display onscreen.
  • Show frame around text checkbox: When selected, a darker frame appears around the text, showing the borders of the screen control.

Background Screen Control Parameters

You can use backgrounds for grouped controls. You can edit the following parameters for background screen controls.

  • Name field: Enter a name for the grouped control in the Name field.
  • Description field: Enter a description for the grouped control in the Description field.
  • Panel button and well: Click the Panel button, then choose a panel or texture for the background from the menu that appears.
  • Image button and well: Click the Image button, then drag an image into the well to use it for the background.
  • Select button: Click to open an Open File dialog to browse and select an image.
  • Stretch to Fit checkbox: When selected, the image stretches to fill the area of the background as completely as possible.