welshsteve

Not sure if anyone else has experienced this. I use the 8-track playback template and some of my older patches (songs with audio tracks cued up on playback plug in on 8 channels) always ask for locations of certain audio files. Not all of them, only some and the same ones each time it opens or that patch is loaded up. No amount of saving the patch once it's been reassigned and concert saved makes a difference. I have even built a show from scratch just to check, same thing.

I have had major issues. It never remembers the location of certain (and I mean it's the same several everytime) audio files. No amount of patch saving, set saving and concert saving after they're located makes a different. Close it down, open it again and the same prompt for the same audio files. They're in the same location as the other audios on the track too. Quite disappointed!

Great! Too bad it's buggy as a compost heap!!!! My main(stage) issue is that it never remembers certain locations of audio tracks, and I mean, it's the same ones it's asking me to locate. No amount of patch/set/concert saving make a bit of difference. They're all Caf files too. Gonna have to bin this software for what I want it for, don't have piece of mind its gonna work. And I had to install sierra to get it too, very disappointed. I even started from scratch with a fresh template and loaded all the filed onto new patches.

Apologies for late reply, chances are you've figured this already, but I don't see and issue with what you're wanting to do. There's a really good triggering plug in called "Dsp trigger" not very expensive either. Use a trigger (Ddrum, Roland, 2box etc or my personal fave, Trigerra Bix because it's the beater and not stuck to a mylar head) and not a mic though, you'd get MUCH better triggering dynamics. But you might find lately issues with the CPU having to process trigger and then a sound attached. It would probably be a lot less stress on the computer if you used something like a Roland TM-2 You could also trigger the snare too if you should feel the urge. A mate of mine had split the channels giving him 4 triggering inputs as the TM-2 has 2 dual trigger ins. I think they're about £165 for the TM-2 and £45 or something for the trigger.

As a side note, I wouldn't recommend using Mp3s. Aiff, Wav or Caf are the recommend format to use in Mainstage. I am told Mp3 require more processing to decode, uncompressed although larger in size, don't need this, or as much. Forgive me if I am not 100% correct in that. I had an issue with Qlab a few years ago and they told me the same info.

Have you messed with the I/O buffer? If it's set too low, it'll give you very low latency but it could be an overloading of the audio buffer. I have experienced this with a very low buffer size. Also the safety check box could help if it's not checked. You have decent amount of Ram? (excuse me if I haven't spotted that on your profile or in the original post)

Try messing with the I/O buffer in audio preferences/advanced. Safety I/O checked also. Too much will give you latency issues of course. I don't use it with Vst instruments so I'm a little unknowelgable. Is the high CPU usage causing problems other than the nagging knowledge it's running hot, like audio spikes or something. You have decent amount of RAM in your Mac too?

Do you save the patches, not just the concert? I always save patches individually as well as the concert on closing.

*UPDATE* Okay so I've played the concert, every song, maybe about 20 times the last few days and the only time I got the audio to drop out was when I had both the Mac AND the iPad connected via the desk's in built wifi. The mac is connected to the desk via the usb using the X18 as an interface with USB channels 1+2 routed to channels 17+18 (aux channel) anyway. As soon as I disconnected the mac's wifi from the desk, not one audio drop. I do occasionally get an audio spike of white noise, it's very random, doesn't happen very often. But the last two times I caught it, I noticed it showed up on one or two of the playback channels and on the same offending patch (song). Upon inspection, I noticed the audio files were different lengths for each track, only slightly, but different none the less. I remember a while a go seeing a tutorial saying about making sure all the stems are the same length. So I have re bounced them down to all the same format/length. In case anyone is having the same issue.

Update. Ran whole set in the house, not a problem. I'm trying to think I did anything different to the last few times. Maybe opening the Mac from shut down before playing through the set? Apart from that, nothing is different.

Okay so this happened to me a few years ago when I was using a much older version of MS and a Tascam interface which needed a driver. More recently in the last 6 months Tascam brought out a new driver and all worked well. Until recently, with said Tascam interface and now a behringer X18 desk as the interface. while pllaying through a tune all of a sudden, all outputs just drop-out for a second. Sometimes it happens once, other times, several times per song, other times, not at all. Nothing else is running and wifi/bluetooth is off. I/O bugger is at 1024 with safety buffer checked. No VST synths or midi, just 8 track audios which are either WAV, Aif or Caf files. After the rehearsal which setting down, I played the offending tracks on their own, NADA, Zip... all played fine. The only difference was no noise in the room, nothing as far as the computer was concerned had changed. I have a big gig on friday and we depend on MS to provide backing for all keys, percussions and some extra backing vox. I'd die is during a keyboard only section for this to happen. Any ideas?

I am having same issue with 8 track playback. It happened with an interface I have just sold (Tascam US1641) and now an behringer X18 desk.... I/O buffer set to max and also the safety buffer is checked, I am out of ideas and have a big gig coming up!

Did you figure out what causes the gaps, I am having it with 8 track playback now. It's been fine for ages, but the last few rehearsals, second gaps periodically, when it comes back in, tracks are in time with band so it's only audio gaps. I have a big gig coming up and we reply heavily on Mainstage for play back as some vocals, all keys and percussions are on tracks. Quite worrying!

You have no idea how much this helped me make a backing track... 4 years old and a major help, so thank you to everyone who's helped in this topic!!!!

Yes that's right.