Controller assignments overview

To use MainStage with a MIDI controller, you assign hardware controls on the controller (such as faders, knobs, buttons, drum pads, and pedals) to screen controls in the workspace. After you assign a hardware control to a screen control, the screen control receives the MIDI messages from the hardware control. You only need to make controller assignments once for a concert as long as you use it with the same hardware.

You assign hardware controls to screen controls using the Learn process, which is described in Learn a controller assignment. You can also assign hardware controls in the Assignments & Mappings table. For information, see Assignments and mappings overview.

When you assign a hardware control using the Assign button, MainStage determines the type of MIDI message the control sends when you move it and the range of values the control is capable of sending. When you map the screen control to a channel strip parameter or an action, MainStage converts (or “maps”) the range of values sent by the hardware control to the optimal range of values usable by the parameter.

For example, many faders, knobs, and other MIDI controls send a range of numeric values between 0 and 127. You could map a hardware knob with this range of values to control the frequency parameter of an EQ effect, which has a range of usable values between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. When you map the screen control for the knob to the EQ frequency parameter, MainStage converts the values sent by the hardware knob to be distributed between the minimum (20 Hz) and maximum (20 kHz) values for the parameter.