Sample libraries compatible with Mainstage

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Sample libraries compatible with Mainstage

OK - So I've got Mainstage loaded and that makes me very happy. (and thank you to everyone who helped me with that chore!-I'm still waiting for my UltraLite, but that's another post 🙂 However, I have scrolled through the available sounds and now I would like to add more sounds from different libraries.

I know MS uses AU so, is there a way I can use sounds from other libraries and load them directly into MS, or do I need to use a stand alone sampler triggered from MS? I know there may be many steps I am missing here, but any help is greatly appreciated!

mbpro17, Mac OS X (10.6.1)

Posted on Dec 20, 2009 8:02 AM

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Answer 1

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Thomjinx

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125 points

Dec 21, 2009 7:56 PM in response to drumthumb

What kinds of sounds do you want to add? And are you sure you have scrolled through all of MS/Logic's sounds? It take most people more than a day.

Realistic emulative sounds are usually done with a sampler. The exceptions to this in Logic is that Hammond-type organ sounds are done very well by EVB3, Hohner Clavinet sounds by EVD6, and Electric Piano sounds by EVP88.

Logic and MainStage's sampler is EXS24. You can easily add any sample content that is in EXS format.

There are lots of EXS format sound libraries out there. That is your easiest and most efficient way to add additional sounds.

EXS will also import sampled instruments in Akai, Soundfont, Samplecell DLS and Giga formats.
Sometimes this conversion process works very well, sometimes less so.

There are other software samplers that will run as AU plug-ins from within MS and Logic.
These will require more CPU muscle than EXS, but not usually as much as a big software synth.

Native Instrument's Kontakt, MOTU's Mach 5 and IK Multimedia's Sampletank are 3 popular Sampler plug-ins. Kontakt is probably the most sophisticated, IMHO. Mach 5 is probably the best at loading other sampler formats.

Non-emulative, pure synth sounds are created in Logic by ES2, ES1, Sculpture and a few lesser ones.
There are also lots of 3rd party AU plug-ins that are excellent synths.

If you tell me what kinds of sounds you are looking for, we can make better suggestions.

-Thomjinx

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Answer 2

Thomjinx

Level 1

125 points

Dec 22, 2009 6:54 AM in response to drumthumb

drumthumb,

I play a lot of musicals too and sometimes with a MalletKat! I also play EWI in pit orchestras a lot.

Dave Samuels Marimba and Vibes is a library I have used for a long time. I think I imported it from Akai format, but I don't remember for sure.

I find that I use sounds from many different libraries, East-West, Garritan, Miroslav Philharmonik, Some Kurzweil and Akai 3rd party sounds that I converted with Chicken Systems Translator, McGill University samples, Prosonus and a few that I have multisampled myself.

I have also been able to tweak some usable plastic-mallet sounding things that are very playable in Sculpture, but programming that one is not for the faint of heart. Or at least it is different from regular Subtractive synth stuff.

I still haven't found a complete timpani set that I am in love with, but I keep looking.

Sometimes if you have an EXS sample that is close to what you want, you can tweak the filters in EXS or add an EQ to your channel strip that will make it better.

I don't know of anything better than MS for what you are trying to do.

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Answer 3

Thomjinx

Level 1

125 points

Dec 22, 2009 8:15 AM in response to drumthumb

I know what you mean about subs!

But in a pit orchestra, I would rather have a MalletKat!

It can cover for ALL of the mallet instruments, takes up less space, and there are no open mics!

I have not used the Vienna stuff myself, but it has a great rep.

Just remember, if you can use EXS compatible sounds, it will use less CPU resources than if you have to run a 3rd party sampler. If you have a fast Mac, the 3rd party stuff shouldn't be a problem.

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Answer 4

drumthumb Author

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15 points

Dec 21, 2009 10:10 PM in response to drumthumb

I have scrolled through most of Logic’s sounds. I am in the process of programming my first musical with MS, and I find it incredible easy and intuitive. This is a show which will use a typical piano-keyboard controller. I found the sounds in Logic exceptional!

In the process of finding sounds to use, I have discovered more sounds than I first realized were there, but I also plan on using MS for live performance in musicals to trigger percussion sounds using a MalletKAT controller, and as such I need realistic and very specific percussion sounds.

I’m looking for sounds such as xylophone, crotales, chimes (tubular bells) glockenspiel, timpani, vibes, marimba. While the sounds contained in Logic are very good, I’m interested in samples of percussion instruments being played with plastic, brass, rubber mallets, etc. - differences which few would notice, but I find important.

Thanks for the help!

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Answer 5

drumthumb Author

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15 points

Dec 22, 2009 7:46 AM in response to drumthumb

WOW! Another MalletKAT user! It’s lonely here in Chicago! I’ve called people to sub for me and they were so scared of the KAT they walked out during the rehearsal! (and I try to make my set-up ‘stupid-proof’)

Right now I’m using the Proteus 2 Orchestral which has worked out wonderfully for 15 years. But I recently began looking for better sounds. I teach high school and I just finished programming Act one of our musical last night – I was so amazed at how easy it was, I laughed out loud several times when I though about how I use to do it!

Anyway – thanks for the input! I was looking at the Vienna sample libraries for percussion, but I’ll look in to the others you mentioned. Have you had any experience with the Vienna libraries? They seem pretty thorough.
Thanks!

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Answer 6

drumthumb Author

Level 1

15 points

Dec 22, 2009 9:23 AM in response to drumthumb

Thanks for all the info! I'll be programming Act 2 today. And I did find more sounds linked to Garage Band through the EXS24 (Tibetan Singing Bowls -awesome) I'm sure I'll be posting again soon with more questions. Thanks for the help!

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Answer 7

Feb 12, 2010 8:08 PM in response to drumthumb

I don't know my way around this forum yet > I just tried to email you. I'm a keyboard player , band director for junior high and high school . I'd like to start using Mainstage. I play in different bands (gigs) , play for musicals , church etc. Please help . I don't have anywhere i can go to test drive Mainstage where I live just the internet. I need to make my purchase as soon as possible b/c theres an end of the year musical at my school coming up. I'll need as much help as I can get. I need to get the Mac computer 1st. What will i need where i won't have any problems in the future. One of the bands i play in , the owner of the band just spent $4500 on a mac pro but he bought it with all bells and whistles , i think his hard drive is like a flash drive. amazing. I won't be spending that much. Please help

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Answer 8

drumthumb Author

Level 1

15 points

Feb 20, 2010 10:14 AM in response to RIR

Hey MalletKAt-er – I’ve been using my MalletKAT for the last 15 years with the same set-up (MalletKAT > Proteus 2 Orchestral > another Proteus 2 Orchestral (for redundancy) > into Roland KC550 amp. The sounds are wonderful - I like them b/cause they were sampled dry. This way, the acoustics of the venue will effect my sounds exactly as they effect all of the other acoustic instruments in the pit. It has been absolutely bulletproof for me. The only problems I’ve ever had occurred b/cause of operator error. (D’oh!)

I’m going to make the switch this summer to my MacBook Pro only and my KAT. The problem I’ve got now is switching sounds. Every time I press the patch change pedal on my KAT, it changes the patch in MS just fine, but it also changes the patch on the KAT which sometimes switches to different splits or MIDI channels. I have to sit down with it for a weekend and figure it out.

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Answer 9

drumthumb Author

Level 1

15 points

Feb 20, 2010 10:50 AM in response to Fabian Barbin

Hey Fabian - Well, it won't be cheap. A 2-octave MalletKAT (which is perfect for pit work - my 3-octave MKpro is sometimes a little too big to squeeze into some pits) costs about $1,600. A 2-octave hard case (don't get a padded bag if you plan on tossing it in the back of a van or in the trunk of a car) is about $225. You'll need a keyboard stand - about $20. I think Alternate Mode also offers education discounts for their MalletKAT. You can contact them directly. http://www.alternatemode.com/contact.shtml

Then a 13" Mac to run MS is about $1,100 w/education discount. MainStage itself is a $500 investment. (don’t get the education discount for the software – major upgrades cost extra unless you buy the full, non-education version)

So you're looking at about $3,445 to get started. But MainStage has got wonderful product support and this forum has helped me from day one. I'd still be lost in the owners' manuals or on the phone endlessly w/tech support if it weren't for the convivial and helpful MS users in this forum.

I believe Apple is committed to supporting MainStage plus, I think it is the most powerful, intuitive program available for live performance. I also think it is 100 times easier to program the KAT for shows using MainStage. If you have any other questions, I’ll try to help, and if I can’t I know someone in this forum will have an answer.

Good luck!

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Answer 10

Thomjinx

Level 1

125 points

Feb 22, 2010 7:40 AM in response to drumthumb

I am currently using my MalletKat in a musical production of Frankenstein and it is wonderful! Compared to working with hardware samplers/modules, I can edit a patch in a fraction of the time it used to take.

I am playing both music and sound effects from the MK and with a multi-output interface (MOTU Ultralite in my case) I can have the music instruments coming out of one stereo pair of outputs and the sound effects coming out of a different pair of outputs. That way the house sound guy has separate channels for effects and music.

A Music Director/keyboard player friend of mine is using MS as his only onstage sound module and is delighted with it too. Splits, layers, patch changes....it does everything so well.

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Answer 11

Mar 9, 2010 5:06 PM in response to drumthumb

i think i confused you. i'm a keyboard player who plays for musicals but not percussion. just woodwind , brasswind , and string stuff. just a little perc here and there. still thinking about using main stage, i like the $1100 educational price on mac i know the program cost $500 now i'll probably need an audio interface , midi interface. i read on another forum that in order to play just 3 or 4 sounds at once you need 4g of RAM. wow! I stack sounds all the time on my keyboards , didn't realize the computer too so much RAM in order to do this. Tell me again what do i need besides the computer and program.

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Answer 12

RIR

Level 1

0 points

Feb 11, 2010 3:57 AM in response to drumthumb

Drumthumb....I am another MalletKat user in Chicago......let's talk!!!

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