| MainStage | |
|---|---|
 | |
 A screenshot of MainStage 3 | |
| Developer | Apple Inc. |
| Stable release | |
| Operating system | macOS (13.5 and later) |
| Platform | |
| Size | 6 GB (plus 72 GB of optional content) |
| Available in | English,French,German,Japanese,Korean,Simplified Chinese,Spanish |
| Type | MIDIsequencer andvirtual instrument host |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | www |
MainStage is a musicapplication developed byApple Inc. designed for use in live performance.
MainStage works in a similar way and has a similaruser interface toLogic Pro, although the focus is on live use[4] rather than features like recording and editing that are available in aDAW such as Logic. Instead of a timeline for instance, there is an editable "Workspace".[5] This allows a user to drag out an object that acts as a software representation of a hardware controller like a button, knob or fader and assign that to a parameter such as volume, pan or even more complex things.MainStage comes bundled with a number ofsampled software instruments (such as pianos, guitars, drum kits and pads) as well as effects.[6] These instruments can be played using a pre-recordedMIDI file or via acontroller device that uses the MIDI protocol, such as a keyboard or drum pad. It can also act as a "host" and centralize anythird-partyvirtual instruments oraudio units that users might have installed on their computers. Virtual instruments that can be used with MainStage can also be used with Logic Pro.
A MainStage concert can display a patch list which displays all thepatches created by a user for that concert. Each patch might have a different instrument or effect assigned to it and various parameters can be changed during a performance by cycling through the list.
Other features include:[7]
The first version of MainStage was introduced on September 12, 2007, alongsideLogic Studio.[8]
The second version, MainStage 2, was released on July 23, 2009, along with updated releases of many of the other applications in the Logic Studio package. Version 2.1 released in January 2010, introduced a 64-bit mode.[2] Since version 2.2, updates are available only from theMac App Store.[9]
MainStage 3 was released alongsideLogic Pro X on July 16, 2013, as a paid update and available only as a download from the Mac App Store. There is a freeiPad companion app available designed for use with Logic Pro X, MainStage 3 andGarageBand, which can act as a hardware controller for various parameters.[10]
With the release of the version 3.5 on November 12, 2020, the long-standing compatibility withOS X 10.9 or later was dropped due to the new requirement ofMetal; MainStage became only available for10.15 or later. With the release of the version 3.6 on March 14, 2022, MainStage was only available forBig Sur andMonterey. As of version 3.6.5 released in November 2023, support for Monterey is dropped and the software is only available forVentura (13.5 or later) andSonoma.[11]