Apple MainStage 2 - Manual (Page 154)

Using the Playback Action Menu and File Field
The Action menu is found to the top right of the waveform display and contains the
following items:
• Open File: Opens a dialog from which you can preview and choose a file to load into
the Playback plug-in.
• Remove File: Removes the file currently loaded in the Playback plug-in.
• Flex Mode: For audio files containing tempo information, you can choose one of the
following time-stretching modes:
• Slicing is a good choice for general use, particularly for rhythmic material such as
drum parts. It works by dividing the audio material at transient markers. Each slice
is played back at its original speed.
• Rhythmic is best suited for playing polyphonic rhythmic audio material such as rhythm
guitar or keyboard parts.
• Speed is recommended when the concert tempo is the same as (or close to) the
recorded tempo of the audio file. It produces an effect like slowing down or speeding
up a tape recorder, without the artifacts of time stretching.
• Polyphonic is designed for complex polyphonic audio material and is a good choice
for guitar, piano, and choir parts, or for complete mixes.
• Start on Patch Change: Starts playback when you select the patch (or set) containing
the Playback instance.
• Start with Play Action: Starts playback of the Playback plug-in when the MainStage clock
starts. “Start with Play Action” follows the current Play From setting—that is, it waits
until the next event specified in the Play From setting.
The File field, which is located to the left of the Action menu, shows the name of the
currently loaded audio file. You can load an audio file in several ways.
To load an audio file
Do one of the following:
µ
Click the File field to show an Open dialog, from which you can choose the file you want
to load.
µ
Choose Open File from the Action menu to show an Open dialog, from which you can
choose the file you want to load.
µ
Drag an audio file to the File field.
µ
Drag an audio file into the waveform display.
µ
Drag an audio file to the Instrument slot containing the Playback plug-in.
154 Appendix A The Playback Plug-in