Sample Alchemy sources in MainStage

Sample Alchemy sound-generating modules are called sources. Four independent sources (labeled A/B/C/D) are available in each preset, and each source has an identical set of controls.

Source components are shown when you click the A, B, C, and D buttons to select the source you want to edit. Some parameters can be set globally or per source. Global parameters override individual source settings.

The components in each source are displayed in three modules: source, synthesis, and filter.

Sample Lock button: Click the lock to keep the current sample when changing presets.
Sample pop-up menu: Load a new sample, export the current sample, or show the current sample in the Finder.
Source buttons: Turn a source on or off. When turned on, a source is a sound-generating module indicated by a handle labeled A/B/C/D that is positioned on the waveform.
Mixer button: Show or hide the mixer pane. The mixer lets you adjust the volume for each source.
Mixer sliders: Adjust the volume for each source. A dot indicates which source you’re currently adjusting.
Snap pop-up menu: Choose a Snap value. If you select the Play or Motion edit mode, the Snap value affects the movement of source handles. In Trim mode, the Snap value affects edits to loop start and end markers in the waveform display. The following options are available in the Snap pop-up menu:
- Auto: The Snap value is automatically set to the best value based on the selected mode and the sample.
- Off: Turn snap off.
- Transients: Snap to transients in the sample.
- Beat: Snap to beat values in the sample.
- Fixed: Set the Snap value to allow source handles to move only on the Y axis (vertically) in play modes and Motion mode.
Zoom button: Tap Zoom to access the horizontal zoom slider. Drag left or right to view a specific waveform section, or adjust the slider’s handles for more or less detail.
Mod Matrix button: Show or hide the Mod Matrix pane, which you can use to assign up to four independent routings of modulation to a target.
Source handles: Click the handles labeled A/B/C/D to hear the sample preview. Drag left or right to adjust the playback position, and drag up or down to adjust the first parameter in the source module. When preview mode is turned on in the More menu settings and you click a handle, Sample Alchemy plays a single MIDI note that you can record to a MIDI region in Logic Pro. See Sample Alchemy More menu in MainStage. You can record handle movements using automation or directly in Sample Alchemy using Motion mode. See Record handle movements to a MIDI region and Sample Alchemy Motion mode in MainStage.
Source module: Adjust the parameters for the selected source. The first parameter available here changes depending on the selected play mode. For example, in Classic mode you can control the speed at which the sound is played, and in Loop mode you can control the loop speed. The other parameters in this column let you set the panning and tuning for each source.
Source pop-up menu: Choose the source (A/B/C/D) you want to edit, or choose Select All to edit all sources.
Synthesis module: Choose from multiple sound-generating modes based on different methods of synthesis. Here you can set a synthesis mode for each source. See Sample Alchemy synthesis modes.
Filter module: Set the filter for each source or globally. See Sample Alchemy filters.

Source module parameters

Playback Speed knob: Set the sample playback speed of the sample. Set low speed values to create gradually evolving textures.
Playback Speed Sync button: Turn on to synchronize the playback speed with the project tempo. Turn off to freely set the playback speed. This button is active only when the loaded sample contains tempo information.
Loop Speed knob: Set the sample loop speed between the start point and end point.
Loop Speed Sync button: Turn on to synchronize the loop speed with the project tempo. Turn off to freely set the loop speed. This button is active only when the loaded sample contains tempo information.
Scrub Jitter knob: Set the depth of the jitter action.
Bow Rate knob: Set the rate of the bow action.
Bow Rate Sync button: Turn on to set the rate in tempo-synced note values instead of Hz. Turn off to freely set the bow rate.
Arp Rate knob: Set the duration of the arpeggiator steps. The arpeggiator is synchronized with the project tempo, and the Rate is set from whole notes (1) to 1/32 notes. Dotted and triplet subdivisions provide more complex and expressive rhythmic patterns.
Pan knob: Set the source output position in the stereo field.
Tune Coarse knob: Tune the selected source in semitone increments.
Tune Fine knob: Tune the selected source pitch in cent increments.

Turn on a source in Sample Alchemy

Click a source button (A/B/C/D) to turn on a source.

Turn off a source in Sample Alchemy

Click a highlighted source button (A/B/C/D) to turn off a source.

Select a source in Sample Alchemy

Click a source handle (A/B/C/D) to select a source.

Select multiple sources in Sample Alchemy

Click the Source menu on the lower left side of Sample Alchemy, then choose Select All.

Mix sources in Sample Alchemy

Click the Mixer button on the upper-left side of Sample Alchemy, then drag a volume level up or down.

Record handle movements to a MIDI region

Select the track that has the Sample Alchemy plug-in loaded.
Open the Sample Alchemy plug-in window with a sample loaded.
In the Track inspector, ensure that the Internal MIDI In > Instrument Output submenu has this track selected.
Start recording your project and move the handles in Sample Alchemy.

The MIDI region records a MIDI note every time you click a handle, and the movement of the handle is recorded as region automation.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: PDF

MainStage Instruments: PDF

MainStage Effects: PDF

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