Use 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.