MainStage Shows Missing Samples After Opening a Download
If MainStage opens your KeyboardTEK concert but shows a missing-sample warning, the concert may not have been fully downloaded, fully unzipped, or kept together with its required sample files.
Use this article to check the most common causes before contacting support.
Table of Contents
Do Not Open the Concert from Inside the ZIP File
Make Sure the Download Completed
Keep the Concert Package Intact
If You Recently Added an Update Patch
Check Storage and File Location
Do Not Open the Concert from Inside the ZIP File
Before opening the MainStage concert, fully unzip the downloaded file.
Do not open or run the MainStage concert directly from inside the ZIP file.
After unzipping, open the extracted MainStage concert file or folder.
Make Sure the Download Completed
A missing-sample warning can happen if the download was incomplete.
This is especially common with large MainStage downloads.
Try downloading the file again using a reliable internet connection. If possible, avoid school, business, or public networks that may block or interrupt large downloads.
If MainStage Asks to Download a Sound Pack
Some MainStage concerts may require Apple Sound Library content. If MainStage prompts you to download a required sound pack, allow the download to complete before testing the concert again.
You can also open the Sound Library from MainStage > Sound Library to manage or download additional content.
Use a Dedicated Unzip App
If the ZIP file downloaded fully but the concert shows missing samples, try unzipping the file again with a dedicated unzip app.
Recommended options include:
- Keka
- The Unarchiver
After unzipping again, open the newly extracted concert and test it before deleting the previous copy.
Keep the Concert Package Intact
A MainStage concert package may contain samples, sampler instruments, and other supporting files inside the concert package.
Do not rename, delete, move, or separate files from inside the MainStage package unless our Support Team specifically instructs you to do so.
Moving the concert without its required files, or changing the internal package contents, can cause missing-sample warnings.
If You Recently Added an Update Patch
If the missing-sample warning appears after adding a patch update, make sure any included sample folder and .exs file were copied into the correct places inside the MainStage package.
For update files:
- Copy the
.exsfile into the Sampler Instruments folder. - Copy the entire sample folder into the Samples folder.
The sample folder may have a name that looks random. Copy the entire folder exactly as provided.
Check Storage and File Location
Make sure the computer has enough free storage for both the downloaded ZIP file and the unzipped MainStage concert.
We recommends keeping at least 20–25% free disk space available for MainStage performance work.
If possible, keep the concert on the internal drive of the Mac you will use for performance rather than running it from a cloud-synced folder or unstable external drive.
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 our Support Team if MainStage still reports missing samples after you have re-downloaded and re-unzipped the files.
When contacting support, please include:
- The name of the show
- Your order number
- The file name you downloaded
- A screenshot of the missing-sample warning
- Whether you opened the file from a ZIP or from the unzipped folder
- Which unzip app you used
- Whether you recently added an update patch
- A screenshot of the contents of the unzipped folder, if possible