How is MainStage different from regular Logic?

No, MainStage is Logic, just with a different UI and certain features specific for live usage (patch/set/concert concept, etc). A simple routing job can be done with both apps, but certain things can be done better in MainStage, while others can only be done in Logic.

Just pick the tool that works best for you, its a matter of choice.

I find that Mainstage makes it ALOT easier to do live stuff than with Logic, especially if you are doing audio and midi. More "live" friendly Last year I was looking or a way to change a groups of tracks(audio and midi) via midi program change. I had a relationship with some Apple rep since I was working with Brian Moore Guitars.
Anyway my idea required major environment setup.

Mainstage is just easier and straight forward. I change patches of audio and software instruments with different effect and plugins via my pedalboard.
Definitely need 2 gigs of ram or more.

I am looking to do a review of it for my website.

Brian
www.guitarhelper.net

What I do NOT understand is if you can not capture a performance why bother?
Its a really great tool, but doesn't it make sense that mainstage has a patch rewire, anything in L8, so one can capture sound ideas?

I mean, unless I am missing something, there is no way to capture ideas with main stage and no way to open the many presets inside of logic. Am I wrong?

It would be like Absynth 4 and not being able to record the ideas you have. Why isn't main stage at least a plug in option in L8?

AM I MISSING SOMETHING?

Thanks, hit caps by accident. LOL.

You should actually expect a performance loss when using MainStage. It's set up for live use with low latency and more responsive accessing (AFAIK). So your plugs operate at lower buffer settings and such whereas Logic dynamically switches modes.

Hope this helps. There is some assumption in there because I expect everything that is 'live' to operate in low latency mode. It has it's pros and cons. Live setups using Logic would have to 'poke' standby channels (to get things to happen properly, or awake in time) and I assume this is not the case with MainStage.

J

Mainstage is for live performance. Not for recording or capturing a performance.
Think of it as a rack unit that has presets(patches), banks(sets) and groups(concerts) that can be customized with Apple's & third party plugins, audio and midi. You can have a preset with audio channel strips and instruments channels strips combined.

You can access the presets that are in Logic.

It makes it so much easier to use a Mac live now.

Brian
www.guitarhelper.net

There might be a performance loss from when using Mainstage compared to Logic 8, but the entire Logic 8 update has given me a performance INCREASE over using Logic 7. As I said in another post, I am able to do more with Mainstage than I was with Logic 7.