Connecting Your Equipment for MainStage

Table of Contents

Step 1: Set Up Your Keyboard

Step 2: Set Up Your Computer

Step 3: Set Up Your Audio Interface

Step 4: Connect MIDI from the Keyboard to the Audio Interface

If You Are Using Internal Keyboard Sounds

If You Cannot Use 5-Pin MIDI

Step 5: Connect Audio from the Interface to Your Amp or Sound System

If You Are Sending Keyboard Audio Back into MainStage

Step 6: Connect Your Pedals

If Your Keyboard Does Not Have Enough Pedal Inputs

Optional: Use Keyboard Notes for Patch Changes

Step 7: Open MainStage and Select Your Audio Output

Step 8: Assign Your Keyboard in Layout Mode

Step 9: Assign Your Pedals and Controls

Step 10: Test in Edit or Perform Mode

Troubleshooting

Intro

This guide walks you through the basic equipment connections for using KeyboardTEK programming in MainStage.

Your exact setup may vary depending on your keyboard, audio interface, pedals, computer, and sound system. Use this as a general setup guide, and consult your keyboard, audio interface, or sound designer when needed.

Equipment You May Need

A typical MainStage setup includes:

• A physical keyboard or MIDI controller
• A Mac laptop or Mac mini
• An audio interface
• A 5-pin DIN MIDI cable
• A USB cable for your audio interface
• One or two 1/4-inch audio cables
• Sustain pedal
• Optional patch-change pedal
• Optional expression / volume pedal
• Keyboard amp, monitor, DI box, or connection to front-of-house sound

Step 1: Set Up Your Keyboard

Set up your physical keyboard and connect its power adapter.

Turn the keyboard on before opening MainStage.

Step 2: Set Up Your Computer

Set up your Mac in a safe and stable location.

If you are using a laptop, use a proper laptop stand.

If you are using a Mac Mini, place it on a table or in a rack-mounted setup. You will also need a monitor. A small portable monitor can work well for this type of setup.

If you are using a Mac Mini or a setup without a built-in keyboard and trackpad, we recommend using a wired keyboard and trackpad or mouse.

Avoid wireless keyboards and mice when possible. Wireless devices can be less reliable in a performance environment and may interfere with other wireless equipment, such as microphones.

Step 3: Set Up Your Audio Interface

Place your audio interface somewhere safe and accessible.

Some audio interfaces require an external power adapter. Others are powered by USB from the computer.

If the interface is small enough, you can secure it to the top of your keyboard with Velcro or gaff tape for easy access.

If you are using a Mac Mini in a rack, a rack-mounted audio interface may be a better option.

Before connecting the audio interface to your computer, install any required software drivers from the manufacturer.

Once the drivers are installed, connect the audio interface to your computer using the USB cable provided with the interface.

Step 4: Connect MIDI from the Keyboard to the Audio Interface

Use a 5-pin DIN MIDI cable to connect your keyboard to your audio interface.

Connect:

Keyboard MIDI Out > Audio Interface MIDI In

This sends your keyboard performance data into MainStage.

If you are only using MainStage sounds and instruments, this may be the only MIDI connection you need.

If You Are Using Internal Keyboard Sounds

If you plan to use sounds from inside your keyboard in addition to MainStage sounds, you will also need a second MIDI cable.

Connect:

Audio Interface MIDI Out > Keyboard MIDI In

This allows MainStage to send MIDI data back to your keyboard.

You only need this additional MIDI connection if you are using internal sounds from the keyboard.

If You Cannot Use 5-Pin MIDI

If your keyboard or audio interface does not have 5-pin MIDI connections, you may need to connect your keyboard directly to your computer using a USB A-to-B cable, sometimes called a printer cable.

This is not our recommended connection method when 5-pin MIDI is available.

If you connect by USB, you may need to install the correct software driver for your keyboard and macOS version.

Step 5: Connect Audio from the Interface to Your Amp or Sound System

Connect audio from your interface to your amp, monitor, DI box, or front-of-house sound system.

For mono:

Audio Interface Main Out > Amp / Monitor / DI / Sound System

For stereo:

Audio Interface Main Outputs L/R > Amp / Monitor / DI / Sound System

Check with your sound designer or audio engineer about how they want to receive your sound.

In many theatre setups, the audio interface may connect to a DI box, which then sends signal to the main sound board. Your personal monitor or amp may also connect through that setup.

If You Are Sending Keyboard Audio Back into MainStage

If you are using internal sounds from your keyboard, you will also need to send the keyboard’s audio output into your audio interface.

For mono:

Keyboard Audio Out L/Mono > Audio Interface Input

For stereo:

Keyboard Audio Out L/Mono and R > Two Audio Interface Inputs

Make sure your audio interface has enough available inputs and outputs for this setup.

Step 6: Connect Your Pedals

Connect your pedals to the pedal inputs on the back of your keyboard.

Typical pedal connections:

• Sustain pedal → Sustain input
• Patch-change pedal → Switch or assignable pedal input
• Expression / volume pedal → Expression input

Some keyboards label pedal inputs as Assignable. If your keyboard uses assignable pedal inputs, you may need to configure the pedal behavior in your keyboard’s internal menu.

Common MIDI CC assignments:

• Sustain: CC64
• Expression: CC11
• Patch change pedal: CC20 or CC66 Sostenuto

Consult your keyboard manual for instructions on assigning pedal inputs.

If Your Keyboard Does Not Have Enough Pedal Inputs

Some keyboards do not have enough inputs for sustain, expression, and patch-change pedals.

If this is the case, you may need an additional MIDI pedal interface or adapter.

Examples include:

• Logidy UMI3
• Audiofront MIDI Expression Quattro
• Beat Bars E&F2M adapter

Optional: Use Keyboard Notes for Patch Changes

You do not have to use a patch-change pedal.

KeyboardTEK programming is pre-mapped so you can use keyboard notes to move through patches:

• Lowest A: Next patch
• Lowest B-flat: Previous patch
• Highest C: Panic

You can also choose to set your volumes manually for the performance instead of using an expression pedal.

Step 7: Open MainStage and Select Your Audio Output

After your equipment is connected, open the MainStage concert.

First, select your audio interface as the audio output.

1. Go to MainStage > Settings.
2. Open the Audio settings.
3. Under Audio Output, choose your audio interface.

If your interface drivers are installed correctly and the interface is connected, it should appear in this list.

If you do not have an audio interface connected, you may see options such as Built-In Output, computer speakers, or headphone output. We do not recommend relying on the built-in computer output for performance.

Step 8: Assign Your Keyboard in Layout Mode

Once the audio output is selected, assign your keyboard in MainStage.

1. Click Layout mode.
2. Click the on-screen keyboard in the workspace.
3. In the Screen Control Inspector, click Assign. The button should turn red.
4. Play a few notes on your physical keyboard.
5. Confirm that the on-screen keyboard responds.
6. Click Assign again to turn assignment mode off.

You may not hear sound during this assignment step. The goal here is to confirm that MainStage is receiving MIDI from your keyboard.

Step 9: Assign Your Pedals and Controls

Use the same assignment process for your pedals and other controls.

For each screen control:

1. Click the on-screen control in the MainStage workspace.
2. Click Assign so it turns red.
3. Move or press the corresponding physical control.
4. Confirm that the on-screen control responds.
5. Click Assign again to turn assignment mode off.

Assign any controls you are using, including:

• Sustain pedal
• Patch-change pedal
• Expression / volume pedal
• Next button
• Previous button
• Panic button
• Volume fader

KeyboardTEK programming commonly uses:

• Lowest A for Next
• Lowest B-flat for Previous
• Highest C for Panic

Step 10: Test in Edit or Perform Mode

After all assignments are complete, go to Edit or Perform mode and test the concert.

Confirm that:

• You can hear sound through the correct audio output.
• The keyboard triggers MainStage sounds.
• Sustain works correctly.
• Patch changes work correctly.
• The expression or volume pedal controls the expected volume.
• Next, Previous, and Panic controls work as expected.

Once everything is assigned and tested, you are ready to play.

Troubleshooting

My audio interface does not appear in MainStage

Make sure the interface is connected and powered on. If the interface requires a driver, install the correct driver for your macOS version, then restart MainStage.

My keyboard does not move the on-screen keyboard

Check the MIDI connection. If using 5-pin MIDI, confirm that MIDI Out from the keyboard is connected to MIDI In on the audio interface.

I do not hear sound

Confirm that MainStage is set to the correct audio output under MainStage > Settings > Audio. Also check the physical outputs from your audio interface to your amp, DI box, monitor, or sound system.

My pedals do not work

Confirm that each pedal is connected to the correct input on your keyboard. If the input is assignable, check your keyboard’s internal settings and confirm that the pedal is sending the correct MIDI CC.

Patch changes are not working

Confirm that your patch-change pedal or keyboard note is assigned correctly in Layout mode. KeyboardTEK programming is usually mapped with lowest A for Next and lowest B-flat for Previous.

I hear double notes when I play

If your keyboard has internal sounds and you hear doubled notes or unwanted piano sounds on every patch, check whether Local Control is turned on. For most MainStage-only setups, Local Control should be off or the keyboard’s internal sound should be muted.

Apple MainStage Help

For general MainStage questions not specific to KeyboardTEK programming, you can also use Apple’s built-in MainStage Help. In MainStage, choose Help > Quick Help or Help > MainStage Help.

Still Having Trouble?

Contact KeyboardTEK Support if you have followed these steps and your MainStage concert still is not responding as expected.

When contacting support, please include:

• The name of the show
• Your keyboard model
• Your audio interface model
• Whether you are using 5-pin MIDI or USB MIDI
• Which pedals you are using
• Whether the on-screen keyboard moves in Layout mode
• Whether you can hear audio from MainStage
• A photo or screenshot of your physical connections, if possible