3.5

154MainStage User Guide
When you assign a knob screen control using the Assign button, MainStage attempts
to determine which type of knob or rotary control on your hardware is sending the MIDI
message and sets the value in the Type pop-up menu in the ScreenControl Inspector to the
correct value. For absolute controllers, the correct value is Absolute; for relative controllers,
the correct value can be either Relative (2’s complement) or Relative (Sign magnitude),
depending on the type of relative controller. In most cases, there is no need to change the
default values unless you intend to use the knob for a specific, non-standard purpose.
When you assign a knob screen control, be sure Absolute is chosen from the Type pop-
up menu if the hardware controller is an absolute rotary controller, or one of the Relative
values is chosen if the hardware controller is a continuous rotary encoder. Moving the knob
through its full range of motion helps ensure that MainStage correctly determines the type
of knob you are assigning.
Button assignments in MainStage
MIDI controllers can have different types of buttons. Some buttons send a single value
each time you press them, while others alternate between two values when pressed. Other
buttons can send separate values when they are pressed and released (this type of button
is called a momentary or temporary button).
When you assign a button screen control using the Assign button, MainStage attempts to
determine which type of button on your hardware is sending the MIDI message and sets
the value in the Type pop-up menu in the ScreenControl Inspector to the correct value for
that button type. To enable MainStage to determine the correct value, press the button
exactly three times during the Learn process. Pressing the button three times helps ensure
that MainStage determines if the button is a single value, an alternating value (binary), or a
momentary button. In most cases, there is no need to change the default values unless you
intend to use the button for a specific, non-standard purpose.
You can change the function of a momentary button to match the function of a single value
or alternating value button in MainStage.
Change the function of a momentary button
1. In the MainStage Layout mode, be sure the button screen control is selected.
2. In the ScreenControl Inspector, choose either Single Value or Alternating Value from
the Type pop-up menu.
Choose Single Value if you want the button to function as a single value button, or
choose Alternating Value if you want the button to function as an alternating value
button. You cannot change the function of a single value or alternating value button to
match the function of a momentary button.