MainStage for PC and Mac

Software Reviews and Criticism

• By Madtux

  Midi and video playback

  I have used Mainstage onstage in 6 different cover bands for my entire keyboard rig and for playing backing tracks with click to drummer. 100’s of gigs and not one single crash. Simple setup of 2 live USB keyboards and anywhere from 2-8 wav file backing tracks playing. I now want to add sequenced lighting and video screen playback in sync with backing tracks and any simple plug in similar to the audio playback would suffice but nothing. Microsoft has chosen to stay in the “Toy” world and sell a cheap app with limited use. This is a great program but lacks pro features that other software has. It has it’s uses but I will be finding something else as the recent update just ignores user requests just so they can port over already developed items from Logic Pro into Mainstage and call it an update. If you want a Toy to play with get MainStage, if you want a pro level piece of software to run your live show look elsewhere.

  
  
• By richardbates1

  BUGS, Bugs, bugs.

  I like this this program and how you can use it for performances but OMG it is buggy! I have to keeping reverting back to saved so that the sound from the app can replace the distorted sound from using too long. So I can’t see anyone actually using this on stage because of all the bugs. I would hope that who ever are the programmers can try to work all of this out, it is a great program that I can use for around 20 minutes and then……distortion of sound, even high resonace apperaring ovet time. I would never use this on the Main stage, I couldn’t rely on it. This is an Microsoft application, you would think it would be more reliable and able to function over time with the app being open for awhile? I really don’t know who the developers are? is it Microsoft ? or a 3rd party working for Microsoft? But guys, you need to do some work to fix this in the future.

  
  
• By trptgk

  A great tool

  For the price, look at what you get: you get ALL of the synths featured in Logic Pro, the effects racks that come with Logic Pro, it works with Logic Pro Remote, and is endlessly customizable to your needs. I use this with high school kids. It is the centerpiece of my jazz ensemble and high school bands. We can get things programmed in a matter of minutes. I can program backing tracks for pieces that call for them in my high school band, set them up to be controlled via our keyboard controls, easily make patches for my jazz band when funky keyboards are needed. It is very simple to use and figure out. The last version would have occasional crashes; those problems seem to be fixed. A perfect solution to the emerging needs being generated by modern composers. In the practice room, I have it set up to run a drone and imitate concert hall acoustics so that intonation and playing to the hall can be practiced the RIGHT way: by LISTENING. For me, it's a must and a no-brainer. I know of no other app that does what MainStage does- on any platform. Especially at this price point.

  
  
• By Jorpagan

  Version 3.4.3 - They removed the muti-select option

  Manstage used to have the ability to select mutiple objects in Layout view and change thier properties all at once, now with version 3.4.3 you have to select each object one by one to change each individual property. For example if you have 16 faders and you want to change the text color you have to select each fader one by one vs selecting all and making just one change.

  
  
• By Iriemahn

  Not sure what happened..

  I have a MacbookPro mid 2012 with mainstage that runs amazing. Now I have a 2020 PC M1, so now when I open Mainstage it lags for about 3 min before there is no lag. The worse part for me is when I play the trombone from Kontakt and some othe sounds the whole volume compresses to where the sound loses so much body I cant even use the PC live anymore. This issue has been driving me crazy! I do not have any compressor set anywhere for this to happen. Its almost as if this PC has a built in compressor impossible to toggle off. Can anyone help?

  
  

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