Use MainStage Delay Designer sync mode

Delay Designer can either synchronize to the project tempo or can run independently. When you are in synchronized mode (sync mode), taps snap to a grid of musically relevant positions, based on note durations. You can also set a Swing value in sync mode, which varies the precise timing of the grid, resulting in a laid-back, less robotic feel for each tap. When you are not in sync mode, taps don’t snap to a grid, nor can you apply the Swing value.

When sync mode is on, a grid that matches the chosen Grid parameter value is shown in the Identification bar. All taps are moved toward the closest delay time value on the grid. Subsequently created or moved taps are snapped to positions on the grid.

When you save a Delay Designer setting, the sync mode status, Grid, grid position of each tap, and Swing values are all saved. This ensures that a setting loaded into a project with a different tempo retains the relative positions, and rhythm, of all taps—at the new tempo.

Note: Delay Designer has a maximum delay time of 10 seconds. This means that if you load a setting into a project with a slower tempo (than the tempo saved with the setting), some taps may fall outside the 10 second limit. In such cases, these taps do not play but are retained as part of the setting.

Sync parameters

Sync button: Turn synchronized mode on or off.
Grid pop-up menu: Choose a grid resolution from several musical note durations. The grid resolution (and project tempo) sets the length of each grid increment. As you change grid resolutions, the increments shown in the Identification bar change accordingly. This also determines a step limitation for all taps.
For example, imagine a project with a tempo of 120 bpm. The Grid pop-up menu value is set to 1/16 notes. At this tempo and grid resolution, each grid increment is 125 milliseconds (ms) apart. If Tap A is currently set to 380 ms, turning on sync mode shifts Tap A to 375 ms. If you try to move Tap A forward in time, it snaps to 500 ms, 625 ms, 750 ms, and so on. At a resolution of 1/8 notes, the steps are 250 milliseconds apart, so Tap A automatically snaps to the nearest division (500 ms) and could be moved to 750 ms, 1000 ms, 1250 ms, and so on.
Swing field: Determine how close to the absolute grid position every second grid increment will be.
- A setting of 50% means that every grid increment has the same value.
- Settings below 50% result in every second increment being shorter in time.
- Settings above 50% result in every second grid increment being longer in time.
Tip: Use subtle grid position variations of every second increment (values between 45% and 55%) to create a less rigid rhythmic feel. High Swing values are unsubtle because they place every second increment directly beside the subsequent increment. Make use of higher values to create interesting and intricate double rhythms with some taps, while retaining the grid to lock other taps into more rigid synchronization with the project tempo.

Helpful?

MainStage User Guide

Use MainStage Delay Designer sync mode

Sync parameters