Overview

Status: Available | Released: Jan 15th, 2009

As a live performance tool, MainStage is more than just a keyboardist's dream ... in fact, if you're a guitar player, MainStage will let you build custom amps and foot pedals combinations that give you all of the worlds best guitar rigs and effects in software emulation.

In this tutorial you'll learn how to create custom guitar rigs, including modeling amps to achieve signature sounds, setting up DSP effects, and working with tone to ensure your guitar sounds exactly the way you want it to, you'll also learn a few cool tips and tricks for fading between stacked amps and setting up your guitar to work seamlessly with MainStage.

This tutorial is produced by Jim Dalrymple, legendary in the Mac community for being the co-founder of MacCentral and the "Editor at Large" of Macworld.com! But if you've spent any time in the east-coast rock scene, you also know that Jim is equally legendary for his amazing guitar skills and rock-star lifestyle. His chops are in full effect in this seminal MainStage tutorial!

Outline

Section 1: 01 Introduction

Section 2: 02 MainStage Interface

Section 3: 03 Working With Concerts

Section 4: 04 Layouts

Section 5: 05 Patches

Section 6: 06 Sets

Section 7: 07 Conclusion

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Reviews

Jon Wride wrote on December 2, 2010

I really like the approach and style of this tutorial. Unfortunately I failed to appreciate that it relates to the previous version of Mainstage as I have Mainstage 2 and, clearly, the menu layout is completely different meaning that many of the hints and tips are completely obsolete and there is only a limited amount of information relevant to my version of Mainstage. I do think this could have been clearer on the website
(1)
Matt wrote on January 6, 2010

A pretty good tutorial. I had been messing with Mainstage, and this helped me to learn a few features that I'd missed during my tinkering. In future tutorials, it would be nice to show how to use AmpliTube 2 as a Mainstage plugin as well (it's a little tricky to setup), and maybe how to use a foot controller (like the new Apogee Gio).
(1)
max Gouverne wrote on August 4, 2009

Fine course for version 1---I am awaiting an update for version 2----especially on loopback and playback
(1)
Chachi wrote on July 7, 2009

This was a very informative video, although the instructor speaks a bit too slowly for our taste. Set playback to 1.5x and you're good to go! Anyway, thanks in part to this video, our band now uses MainStage at every gig.
(2)
Dave Golden wrote on March 14, 2009

It was great. Do you have anything that can teach how to use a foot controller with Mainstage? That's what I really need next.
(1)
C Barretta wrote on February 18, 2009

Definitely a very informative video. Hopefully if there are more tips and tricks available in another MS tutorial that would be geat.
(4)
George Rafael wrote on February 9, 2009

Excellent. Jim comes across very sincere and down to earth in these 'MainStage-Creating Guitar Rigs' tutorials. I found them to be very clear and very thorough as he takes you through step by step. I've only had to watch the videos once and now I'm right on top of the program. Cheers!
(3)
Scott C. wrote on January 25, 2009

A solid basic overview of what you can do with Main Stage using your Guitar, and Rigs. I enjoyed the down to earth approaches that will help any one who is not familiar with this over looked powerhouse, to help you prepare for those: gigs, home recordings, experimentation and lets not forget those special Live Shows, or maybe even a rehearsal hall with a new group band members. I'm pleased to know that Jim, has taken the essence of Main Stage and put forth it's wonder qualities in a straight forward user friendly approach.
(11)