Choose the flex mode for the Playback plug-in in MainStage

For audio files containing tempo information, you can choose between different flex modes for playing back audio. Each flex mode is optimized for playback of a certain type of audio file, and you can choose which flex mode an instance of the Playback plug-in uses to play back the audio file you added. The available flex modes are:

• Slicing: Slices the audio at transient markers and plays each slice at its original speed. Slicing is a good choice for general use, particularly for rhythmic parts.

• Rhythmic: Based on the time-stretching algorithm used for Apple Loops, Rhythmic is best suited for playing non-monophonic audio, such as rhythmic guitars, rhythmic keyboard parts, and Apple Loops.

• Speed: Time-stretches audio by playing the source faster or slower, including changing the pitch. Speed is recommended for percussive parts.

• Polyphonic: Based on a phase vocoder, Polyphonic time-stretches audio, delivering high sonic quality with suitable polyphonic audio. It is recommended for complex polyphonic parts and is good for all kinds of chords—such as guitar, piano, and choir—and for complex mixes.

Because each flex mode can produce different results depending on the audio, it is recommended that you try out different flex modes for each instance of the Playback plug-in to determine which provides the best playback for your audio files.