In Perform mode, you can view and select patches using the patch selector screen control in your layout. Patches and sets appear in the patch selector in the same order as in the Patch List in Edit mode. Skipped items do not appear in the patch selector and cannot be selected, but patches in collapsed sets do appear and can be selected. For information about skipping items, see Skipping Items in the Patch List.
When you select a patch, you can start playing it instantly. If you are sustaining notes from the previous patch, they will continue to be sustained until you release the notes or the sustain pedal. If the previous patch contains effects (such as a reverb or delay effect) with a release “tail,” the effect tail continues sounding for the amount of time set in the Silence Previous Patch pop-up menu in MainStage preferences. For more information, see Setting MainStage Preferences.
When performing, keep in mind the difference between patch parameters and parameters controlled at the concert level. When you select a patch, its parameters are set to the values at which you last saved the patch. If you have previously played the patch since you opened the concert, they are set to the values at which you left them when you played the patch. Parameters at the concert level, however, remain at their current value when you select new patches. For example, if you select a patch with a channel strip set to a volume 0 dB, but the Master volume fader at the concert level is set to −96 dB, you will hear silence, not full volume. Similarly, parameters controlled at the set level remain at their current value when you select a different patch in the set.
Also keep in mind that when you select a patch, the screen controls for knobs, faders, and other controls in the workspace show the parameter values for the patch, which may be different than the positions of the physical controls on your controller. When you move the physical controls, the screen controls instantly update to show the current value.
You can select patches in the patch selector using the following key commands:
Key command | Selection |
|---|---|
Up Arrow | The previous patch |
Down Arrow | The next patch |
Left Arrow | The first patch in the previous set |
Right Arrow | The first patch in the next set |
You can select a patch in the Patch List by typing the first few letters of its name.
Type the letter “f”, then begin typing the name of the patch.
Once you type enough letters to uniquely identify the patch name, the patch is selected.
To cancel typing, press Enter.
If you have mapped screen controls to actions for selecting patches, such as selecting the previous or next patch, you can select the patches using the physical controls assigned to those screen controls as you perform. You can also select sets or the concert using actions. Buttons are particularly useful for selecting patches, sets, or the concert using actions.
When selecting patches using actions, skipped patches are also skipped. For example, if you use a screen control mapped to select +10 patches, any skipped patches would not be counted in the +10.
For more information, see Using MainStage Actions.
If your MIDI device has buttons or other controls that send program change messages, you can select patches in your concert by program change number. You can use program change messages to select patches but not sets.
For information about how your MIDI device sends program change messages, consult the documentation that came with the device or the manufacturer’s website. For information about changing the program change number for a patch, see Setting Patch Program Change Numbers.