How to use Click Tracks and Backing Tracks in MainStage

QLab is the industry standard for playing audio in theatre but musicians (especially keyboard players) are using MainStage more and more. Playing backing tracks (or click tracks with your band) can easily be handled by MainStage also. In this video I look at using MainStage for playing your backing tracks and importing the click track to keep your band sync'd.

Thanks to this video, our rehearsals are gonna be incredibly awesome!!! THANK YOU MAN!!!

[dordenbivings]

This is the perfect video for the exact time I needed it! Thank you very much.

[Aquafox_music]

Wow thank you so much!! This helped me a lot as a musical director. You ROCK!! 🤘🏻💕

[donlakakwaaijazz]

you just made it so easy and simple, thanks

[danielepatania]

Reallly Well done video
Just I was searching for!!
Thanks a lot

Today I will try to configure MS to play backings and VST togheter
Then I’ll try to send also program changes to my keyboards

Have a good music
Daniele from Italy

[louisrost]

Thank you so much for making this video, it's great.

[mikusguitarius]

Awesome video!! So clear and helpful... thanks!

[rodrigorampazzo]

Thanks a lot for this, it is really helpful indeed. I am facing an issue, I do not seem to have an extra output (3-4) for the click and I am using the same audio interface as you. Any tips on how I can sort it out?
Thanks in advance

[maxmcmahon]

Perfect video as always. For my production I decided against Qlab because it is too expensive. I won’t be playing keyboard though, just conducting. Is there a way to change the patch to the next number with the same button as the play signal and have the last playback still running? I tend to forget to switch the song after it’s done and this isn’t even during a show but just during rehearsals. Thanks in advance.

EDIT: I got it!

[matejajezdic]

Great video! I seem to be having a problem that's not being discussed on the internet. I assigned two buttons on the keyboard I'm using (Arturia KeyLab Essential 61) to change patches, but I might accidentally press the "next patch" button one too many and leave that set, resulting in a playback stop. Is there a way to just stay in one set and circle back to the first patch when I go through all of them in that set? If I go to the next set and the playback stops, it'll undoubtedly be a disaster. Thanks!

[robhodge]

Great video, thank you! If using an interface with two outputs, is there a way to run this so that the drummer receives both the click and the backing track, and FOH receives just the backing track (realise this might have to be mono)? Would it require another mixer for the drummer?

[tanner]

If I'm only using one patch to play along with the backing track, is there any issue with setting up the Playback plug-in at the patch level and not the "set" level? I do have multiple patches (in the concert) that each have their own Playback --- but in each case there's only 1 patch needed.

[happylaura]

Is there a way with MainStage to do the following?= Automatic change sounds while a Track is playing, I mean, between 0-20 seconds I need an Organ sound, then, between 20-50, I need a trumpet sound, is there a way to program it and make those sounds change automatically depending the song time? Thank you in advance.

[illiabalaban]

Hello, thanks for your video! Maybe someone could tell me which minimum characteristics are required for mac to make Mainstage work well both for backingtrack and keyboard playing at the same time?

[BenjaminGinsberg]

Not very helpful. Need info on how to tweak the settings *inside* of Qlab, before then working on Mainstage.