Use the Sampler Mod Matrix in MainStage

You can use the Mod Matrix pane to route any modulation Source to any modulation Target—much like the connections made in an old-fashioned telephone exchange or a studio patch bay. If you’re new to synthesizer modulation routings, see Modulation basics.

You can use up to twenty modulation routings of Source, Via, and Target—arranged in horizontal rows—simultaneously. You can select the same target in several parallel modulation routings, and you can also use the same Sources and the same Via controllers in multiple modulation routings of different Targets.

You can set the modulation intensity—how strongly the target parameter is influenced by the source parameter—with the Amount slider to the right of the modulation routing Source and Target.

The intensity of the modulation can itself be modulated: The Via parameter defines a further modulation source, which you can use to control the modulation intensity. When Via is active, you can specify upper and lower limits for the modulation intensity. See Use Sampler via sources.

Details on available Sources, Targets, and Via sources are found in Sampler modulation Sources, Sampler modulation Targets, and Sampler modulation Via sources.

Figure. Mod Matrix pane, showing modulation Targets, Via sources, modulation Sources, and modulation intensity sliders.

Mod Matrix parameters

Double-click a parameter value field to enter in a new value. Press Return to complete the operation.

Filter On/Off button: Turn on the Mod Matrix view filter to restrict the display of modulation routings to match the criteria set in the Filter pop-up menu.
Note: This is a visual filter only. It does not remove or disable non-matching modulation routings.
Filter pop-up menu: Choose a filter criteria to limit the display of modulation routings. Only routings that match this criteria are shown when the (view) Filter button is active.
- Filter by Source/Via: Only routings that contain the matching Source or Via source are shown.
- Filter by Target: Only routings that contain the matching Target are shown.
- Always select last clicked: The filter criteria is automatically set to show only routings that contain the matching Source, Via source, or Target of the most recently clicked parameter.
  Note: Only parameters that can be selected as Sources, Via sources, or Targets in the Mod Matrix pane can be clicked.
-/+ buttons: Delete or add a modulation routing.
Column sort buttons: Use to alphabetically sort all visible Source, Target, or Via routings. Click again to reverse the sort order.
On/Off button: Turn on the modulation routing, or turn off to disable (bypass) it, without losing settings.
Source pop-up menu: Choose the parameter you want to use as the modulator of the Target parameter.
Inv button: Invert the effect of the modulation Source. A negative value becomes positive, and vice versa.
Target pop-up menu: Choose the parameter you want to modulate.
(Max) Amount parameter: Drag to set the maximum modulation intensity when a Via source is active.
(Min) Amount parameter: Set the modulation intensity. When a Via source is active, this field sets the minimum modulation intensity with the Via controller set to its minimum value.
Amount parameter: Drag to set the modulation intensity. Drag either handle when a Via source is active. Drag the area between handles to move both.
Via pop-up menu: Via defines a further modulation source, which is used to control the modulation intensity. See Use Via sources in Sampler.
Inv button: Invert the effect of the Via modulation source. A negative value becomes positive, and vice versa.

The following tasks apply to all modulation routings.

Create a basic modulation routing

In the MainStage Sampler Mod Matrix pane, click the Plus button (+) at the top right to create a new modulation routing.
Tip: You can Control-click any target parameter in the Synth pane to open a shortcut menu where you can directly add a modulation source. This creates a new modulation routing with the chosen source and target parameters in the Mod Matrix.
Choose the parameter you want to modulate from the Target pop-up menu.
Choose the parameter you want to use as the modulator of the target from the Source pop-up menu.
Note: Sampler will automatically create a corresponding Envelope or LFO if it does not exist in the Modulators pane. For example, choosing LFO 3 from the Source or Target pop-up menu will create LFO 3 in the Modulators pane.
Drag the Amount slider handle to set a fixed modulation intensity.

Bypass a modulation routing

In the MainStage Sampler Mod Matrix pane, click the On/Off button to turn off a modulation routing.
This disables (bypasses) individual modulation routings without losing settings.

Remove a modulation routing

In the MainStage Sampler Mod Matrix pane, click the modulation routing you want to remove.
Click the Minus button (—) at the top right of the Mod Matrix pane to delete the modulation routing.
This completely removes the routing from the Mod Matrix pane.

Use the Mod Matrix view filter

The Mod Matrix view filter is useful when setting up new modulation routings and when dealing with complex instrument routings. You can use it to quickly find all routings that use an LFO, Velocity, or other criteria.

In MainStage Sampler, click the Filter On/Off button at the top left of the Mod Matrix pane to enable view filtering.
Choose the modulation routing criteria from the Filter pop-up menu at the top left of the Mod Matrix pane.
- Only routings which contain Targets or Sources that match the criteria are shown in the Mod Matrix pane.
- If you choose the Select last clicked entry, the view filter follows the most recently edited or clicked source or target parameter, and displays routings which use this Source or Target in the Mod Matrix pane.
- When the view filter is active, adding a modulation routing automatically adds a Source or Target that matches the current view filter criteria. For example, if the view filter criteria is LFO 1, creation of a new modulation routing will automatically add LFO 1 as a source.
Tip: You can Control-click any target parameter in the Synth pane to open a shortcut menu where you can choose the View Modulation command. This chooses the parameter as the modulation routing criteria from the Filter pop-up menu and turns on the view filter in the Mod Matrix pane.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: PDF

MainStage Instruments: PDF

MainStage Effects: PDF

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