Effects overview in MainStage
MainStage provides an extensive suite of software effect plug-ins that can be used in your concerts.
See the Add and remove plug-ins in MainStage, Use plug-in settings and Adjust plug-in parameters sections.
Effects categories include both insert effects and processors that are principally designed for mastering use. Because you’re free to use almost all plug-ins as you see fit, there are few restrictions on the use of effects anywhere in the signal path.
Most effects can be used in mono, stereo, or dual mono channels.
Effects categories cover essential studio processors, such as compression, gating, limiting, equalization, and metering utilities. Both vintage and modern style compressors are emulated, making it easy to attain the sonic characteristics you need. See Dynamics processors and Metering tools.
EQ options are extensive. The Linear Phase EQ is perfect for sculpting your primary vocal and instrument parts. Match EQ analyzes existing audio and allows you to impose an analyzed sonic “fingerprint” on other audio parts. The vintage EQ collection delivers emulations of three classic analog EQ units known for their distinctive sonic coloration. See Equalizers.
A comprehensive collection of reverb, delay, and modulation effects is available to enhance your productions. Among these are the unique ChromaVerb, the Quantec Room Simulator, and the sophisticated and highly configurable Delay Designer and Space Designer plug-ins. Delay Designer lets you create precise, complex, and rhythmic delays. Space Designer is a convolution reverb that uses recordings of real-world spaces, such as concert halls and canyons, that you can impose on your audio, effectively placing your instrument or vocal in the space. See Reverb effects and Delay effects.
Modulation processors include phasing, flanging, ring modulation, vintage rotary speaker emulation, and rich chorus effects. See Modulation effects.
If you’re a guitarist or are using the classic B3 organ, Rhodes, Clavinet, or Mellotron emulations provided by the included vintage instruments, you can choose from a vast collection of retro and modern effect pedals and amplifier simulations. See Amps and pedals.
A number of powerful Distortion and Filter effects further expand your options. The filters include vocoder-like utilities and the Spectral Gate plug-in that offer control over the formant and spectral characteristics of your sounds.
Adding a further string to your bow are the flexible, powerful, and fun multi effects units that combine a collection of processors and modulators in one place. See Multi effects. These are ideal for use with urban and dance floor-oriented tracks, but can truly transform any sound you want to run through them.
You can manipulate pitch with the Pitch Correction, Pitch Shifter and Vocal Transformer effects. These can be used for subtle corrections or for heavy Cher-like processing of vocals and instruments. See Pitch effects.
A selection of MIDI plug-ins includes a flexible arpeggiator, chord memorizer, transposer, and more. These can be inserted in instrument channels and process MIDI data in real time. If you have an interest in creating your own MIDI processing (or generation) utilities, the Scripter plug-in enables you to build custom JavaScript plug-ins. See MIDI plug-ins.
Rounding out the collection are spatial and frequency enhancement plug-ins, and useful studio utilities such as a test oscillator. See Imaging processors, Specialized effects, and Utilities and tools.