How to Setup a Stereo Backing Track Rig on MainStage (Pro)

Part 2 of our backing track adventure on MainStage! We're building a rig that means we can have the backing track and click in stereo, and even send custom mixes out to our band mates!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Want some stuff from this video to get you started? Consider these affiliate links to help out Drum Electric!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Follow us:

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Yamaha Recording Custom
10x8, 12x9, 14x14, 16x16, 22x18, 14x5.5 Aluminium snare.

Meinl Cymbals L to R:
15" Byzance Jazz Thin Hats
20" Byzance Trash Crash
20" Byzance Extra Dry Medium Ride
20" Byzance Extra Thin Hand Hammered Crash

Sabian 19" AA Holy China

[DrumElectric]

NEW MainStage Backing Track course! Looking at nothing, all the way through to building a full backing track rig on MainStage that can be controlled with MIDI!

Watch on Skillshare

OR

If you just want to buy the whole course:

[PazoDKM]

Finally! An actual tutorial on Mainstage for backingtracks! Thanks!

[JerridFoiles]

This is now my third video of yours I've watched (yes, part 1 was #2). I'm a drummer doing some research on MainStage, and I'm just glad to find a source that isn't religious based. Thanks for these tutorials. Keep them coming, because I just clicked subscribe.

[jacklifeson]

I know this vid is a year old now, but one thing i wanted to mention (and if you talked about it and I missed it, my apologies)...I had to convert my Playback plugin on each track to mono in order to route it to my outputs. I wanted to have the click go to output one (im using a stereo DI box) and the rest to two but I only had Main as a choice until i made them mono.

[Drumaastra]

This is the best video out there. Thanks brother for putting this out, Brother . It was super clear. Question : In my setup, I have a Vdrums with TD50X module triggered through VST(SD3), We use Behringer mixer to route our 5 piece band instruments. I don't have or I cannot have Scarlet in my setup?? How should I route the output through mixer. I hope my question is clear.

[petereder]

That is exactly the drum channel i was looking for!! Thanks, Harry - awesome drumming and inspiring hybrid drumming set up insights!

[nick_mcl]

Is there a way to trigger midi output from Mainstage (either PC or CC) based on where the playback position is? I'd like to use Mainstage as the trigger to my midi controller to change patches on other devices.

[annestinemusik]

Hello :)

I'm a bit new to Mainstage. I have done everything as you say in the video. But isn't it supposed that the Mainstage's upper PLAY button (next to record), which is also activated by the SPACEBAR, should start the track. Or? (because it doesn't)

ThankYou for great videos!! <3

[AndrewColyerMusic]

This was a GREAT video! Thank you so much! 😀🎹🎶

[ellxsound]

could you make a video of the most general playback rig set up on ableton? that would be super helpful!

[joshthedm]

Great videos on how to accomplish this! I am still learning a lot of mainstage.
Question: can I use my XR18 as my USB interface and then use those 6 auxes to send to the stage snake for sound engineer to mix in? I am still struggling to understand how to get the stems to the sound engineer for mixing. Then, he will mix those like any normal input and be able to control our IEMs as he does now. Does this sound accurate?

[brianbuongiorno]

Nice tutorial! Thanks! Question: I am using Logic ProX with a Scarlett 4i4 to run all my tracks and click. When using MainStage, is it necessary to bounce each of the tracks as a sound file, or can MainStage just access the tracks from Logic directly? Also, could MainStage be used as an in-ear mixer just for the drummer, and therefore replace any physical mixer? This would assume that I plug in any mics used directly into the Scarlet. Thanks!

[eschuurm]

Really helpful video! I'm new to MS and this was EXACTLY what I was looking for.

Couple of questions... My rig is like yours, set up so 3 different musicians can get unique mixes in stereo sent to their IEMs. In your video your click track came from an audio track in a Playback module. How would I configure things if I wanted to use the metronome in MS for the click track? I would need to be able to set it to different levels for each of the musicians.

Second question: As in your video, my rig is configured so the monitor sends to the musicians are stereo pairs. Is there an easy way to toggle this so it can be a single mono send to the musicians IEMs?

[ptarkush]

Great stuff..how do you get all the playbacks to sync together ?

[daledalesson]

Hey great video! I was wondering, how do you send the correct backing track mix to the correct band members in-ears? Do you send them from the sound card into the same cable snake on stage as every live instrument plugs into and the sound guy sends the correct backing tracks to the right band members in-ears, or does the band have to fix everything on stage with cables and adapters? Really would appreciate help on this!

[bryantwilson]

Great video! I was hoping that this one would go into using Mainstage to send multiple outs as backing tracks. I’ve worked live sound for some party bands who send 7-8 different outputs as tracks. They all use Ableton, but I’m sure there is a way to do it in mainstage. In any case, great video and this at least gives me a starting point!

[ThePit]

Thanks for the video! Is there a way for me to have more than 8 tracks/stems on mainstage? I need more...

[PhiiRob]

The jokes are cheesy but the info is steezy - awesome stuff dude, thanks so much for making this :)

[DavidMacVicar]

Is the idea then...you duplicate the stereo rig for every single song you play back in the set?