How to control the upper & lower manuals of a MainStage3 organ AU?

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Level 2

352 points

How to control the upper & lower manuals of a MainStage3 organ AU?

This is probably simple, but I'm a novice with midi in general let alone midi controllers, keyboards and DAWs.

I have MainStage 3 setup with a Yamaha 61-key midi keyboard and a Novation 25-key midi controller.

In addition to MainStage's B3 Organ instruments that are built into that program, I have access through MS3 to my Native Instruments' Vintage Organs audio units.

My dilemma is - how do I assign upper manual and lower manual keyboard settings to either the Yamaha, the Novation, or even a split keyboard on either?

In other words, I open the setting for the audio units/instruments, make changes to their upper and lower drawbars (which are beautifully rendered in either MS3 or NI), close the settings window - - now scratch my head - - where is either the upper or lower manuals sending to?

Is it simple? I have to set the drawbars simultaneously, both upper and lower. It just doesn't connect in my head how or where those separate manuals are now played on my hardware. How do I assign or map 1/2 of an instrument's setting?

I'm wondering if this is some setting that involves a different midi channel for the parts of the organ (upper, lower, foot pedals)? If so, that is where I also get lost - remember: I'm a midi novice.

Hope the question makes sense. If not please ask questions.

Thanks in advance for any help.

iMac (27-inch Mid 2010), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), 16gb RAM / 1tb int'l - 1tb ext'l

Posted on May 4, 2014 5:27 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

CCTM

Level 6

13,045 points

May 4, 2014 6:49 AM in response to DHodges

Hi

The Vintage organ is generally set up to operate over 3 MIDI channels (Upper=1, Lower=2, Pedals=3).

You can access the 2 manuals using 2 controller keyboards by setting two up in layout mode ( or use 2 Activity monitors) correctly assigned to the controller keys you have.

In the organ patch, select the organ Instrument channel strip and assign it to have a Multi-Timbral MIDI Input in the Channel Strip Inspector

Choose the required keyboard/MIDI channel assignments in the Multi-timbral popup.

CCT

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Answer 2

DHodges Author

Level 2

352 points

May 5, 2014 3:38 AM in response to CCTM

Thanks, CCTM. I will walk myself through your suggestions when I'm next in MainStage 3. It sounds like I'd thought - simple. Just a little bit buried for those of us unfamiliar with the inner workings of DAWs et al. I am amazed at all of the little things within these audio units of which I know nothing about. (What's a 'BUS'?; I didn't know what Multi-timbral was, but your answer sheds some light on that one, etc.). I think I need to look up a 'MIDI for Dummies' book or something similar.

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Answer 3

CCTM

Level 6

13,045 points

May 5, 2014 10:14 AM in response to DHodges

Hi

DHodges wrote:

TI didn't know what Multi-timbral was, but your answer sheds some light on that one, etc.).

Multi-Timbral = a synth (or plugin) that plays different sounds independently on different MIDI channels. The Vintage Organ plug is not a perfect example, since the 3 sounds can be pretty similar, but nonetheless, it is multi-timbral.

CCT

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