Set program change and bank numbers

Set program change and bank numbers

When you add a patch to a concert, the patch is given a MIDI program change number (the lowest available number) until all available program change numbers are taken. You can select patches using program change numbers in performance by assigning buttons on a MIDI device to send program change messages. The program change number can be edited in the Patch Inspector.

To select more than 128 patches, you can also set the bank number for a patch.

You can reset program change numbers for all active (non-skipped) patches in a concert. When you reset program change numbers, patches are assigned program change numbers based on their order in the Patch List, starting from the top. The program change numbers for skipped (inactive) patches are not reset.

To select patches by bank, first send the bank select message, then the program change message.

Note: Some devices send program change numbers in the range of 0–127, while other devices use the range of 1–128. You can set which range of program change numbers MainStage uses in MainStage > Preferences > MIDI.

Edit the program change number for the selected patch

  1. In the Attributes pane of the Patch Inspector, select the Program Change checkbox.

  2. Using the value slider, set the program change number.

Set the bank number for the selected patch

  1. In the Attributes tab of the Patch Inspector, select the Bank Select checkbox.

  2. Using the value slider, set the bank number.

Reset program change numbers for active patches in a concert

  • Choose Reset Program Change Numbers from the Action pop-up menu for the Patch List (or press Option-Shift-Command-R).

Reset program change and bank select numbers in the Patch List

  • Choose Reset Bank and Program Numbers from the Action pop-up menu for the Patch List.

Show bank and program change numbers in the Patch List

  • Choose Show Bank and Program Numbers from the Action pop-up menu for the Patch List.

The MIDI standard allows program change numbers with values from 0 to 127. If all available program change numbers in a concert are already in use, any new patches added to the concert are given program change number zero (0), but the number is inactive (the checkbox is not selected). Bank changes are not supported.

If you edit a program change number so that it is the same as an existing program change number, the word “Duplicate” appears in red next to the Program Change value slider. If two or more patches have the same program change number, and the numbers are active, the patch that appears first (highest) in the Patch List or patch selector is selected when you send the program change message with the corresponding value.

Using Reset Bank and Program Numbers sets the bank automatically based on sets. This allows you to browse sets using bank select numbers, and browse patches using program change numbers, to access a large number of patches.

You can assign buttons and other controls to send program change messages and use them to select patches in the concert. For information about assigning buttons, see Button assignments.