Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm hoping to start using MainStage 2 or a similar program to simultaneously manage bass guitar and software keys in live performances (supposedly this is accomplished by putting multiple channel strips into an active patch). Does anyone happen to have experience with the software or have any alternatives they would recommend? This (using a laptop and a complex hardware setup in live performances) is relatively new territory to me and while initially it isn't seeming too overwhelming I could be getting in over my head before I even know it.

Ableton 8 is very popular in the Denver music scene but I don't really want to shell out the cash for it.

Now there's always the standard caveat about using computers live, but don't worry, I've heard that one...

I have MainStage 2 but have only fooled around with it a bit, and never in an actual live performance setting. Based on what I've read I believe that it can indeed do what you want it to do using multiple channel strips, and from my limited experience with it it seems well-designed and particularly user-friendly if you're already familiar with using Logic. However, I should caution that don't have enough experience using it to really assess its ease of use in a time-sensitive live setting.

In terms of the quality of the emulations, they sound great to my ears, although I've mainly fooled around with the keyboard and guitar amp modellers and haven't done much fiddling with the bass rigs.

My sense is that if you're already a Mac user you should give Mainstage 2 a try -- its only $30, so its a pretty low-risk investment and I think there's a good chance it will suit your needs.

I'm learning now it has some loop functions that I can possibly assign to keys on my keyboard--that would make life a lot better too. I think I had better at least give it a try as it's sounding like 90% of what I need it to be if not 100.