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TUTORIALS

From first sound to first show

Twelve short tutorials, each with its steps written out underneath. Step through the real screens in order, or jump to the one you need.

Tutorials 01 and 03 use Pro sounds: start the free trial first, or use The EP and Wave Ambient instead.

Basics Building a set Shaping the sound Controllers and the stage

Basics

  1. Open Sounds on the nav rail.

    1 · Open Sounds on the nav rail.

  2. Tap The Grand, then try chords on the on-screen keys.

    2 · Tap The Grand, then try chords on the on-screen keys.

  3. Put it on channel 1.

    3 · Put it on channel 1.

  4. Then bring its fader up on the mixer.

    4 · Then bring its fader up on the mixer.

Step 1 of 4

01 · BASICS

Your first sound

The first time you open WaveStage, you’ll land in the Demo Set: three songs ready to play with GO. Try those first. To set up your own:

  1. Open Sounds on the nav rail.
  2. Tap The Grand, then try a few chords on the on-screen keys.
  3. Put it on channel 1 and bring its fader up.
Manual: Sounds and the Library →
  1. Plug your MIDI keyboard in. It shows in Settings › MIDI › Devices.

    1 · Plug your MIDI keyboard in. It shows in Settings › MIDI › Devices.

  2. In Response, set the pitch bend range. If your sustain pedal works backwards, turn on Invert sustain pedal.

    2 · In Response, set the pitch bend range. If your sustain pedal works backwards, turn on Invert sustain pedal.

  3. In Velocity, move the curve’s point until soft and hard playing both feel right.

    3 · In Velocity, move the curve’s point until soft and hard playing both feel right.

Step 1 of 3

02 · BASICS

Connect your keyboard

  1. Plug your MIDI keyboard in. You’ll see it in Settings › MIDI › Devices.
  2. In Response, set the pitch bend range. If your sustain pedal works backwards, turn on Invert sustain pedal.
  3. In Velocity, move the curve’s point until soft and hard playing both feel right.
Manual: MIDI and controllers →
  1. Put The Grand on channel 1, Orchestral Strings on 2 and Wave Ambient on 3.

    1 · Put The Grand on channel 1, Orchestral Strings on 2 and Wave Ambient on 3.

  2. Tap the SOUND handle at the right edge, then Layers.

    2 · Tap the SOUND handle at the right edge, then Layers.

  3. Drag the piano’s right end down to B3, and the strings and pad bands to start at C4.

    3 · Drag the piano’s right end down to B3, and the strings and pad bands to start at C4.

Step 1 of 3

03 · BASICS

Piano left, strings and pad right

  1. Put The Grand on channel 1, Orchestral Strings on 2 and Wave Ambient on 3.
  2. Tap the SOUND handle at the right edge, then Layers.
  3. Drag the piano’s right end down to B3, then drag the strings and pad bands to start at C4. Now your left hand plays piano and your right hand plays strings and pad.
Manual: Layers and splits →

Building a set

  1. Add a song with + on the Scenes page.

    1 · Add a song with + on the Scenes page.

  2. Set the mixer up for the intro, then tap + Capture. Give the scene a name and a colour, and tap Capture.

    2 · Set the mixer up for the intro, then tap + Capture. Give the scene a name and a colour, and tap Capture.

  3. Do the same for the verse and the chorus, one scene each.

    3 · Do the same for the verse and the chorus, one scene each.

Step 1 of 3

04 · BUILDING A SET

Your first song, in scenes

  1. Add a song with + on the Scenes page.
  2. Set the mixer up the way you want the intro, then tap + Capture. Give the scene a name and a colour, and tap Capture.
  3. Do the same for the verse and the chorus, one scene each. Then cue the intro, press GO, and back on the mixer set the song’s key with SONG KEY in the bottom bar. The key stays with the song.
Manual: Songs and scenes →
  1. In Perform, tap the first scene to cue it.

    1 · In Perform, tap the first scene to cue it.

  2. Choose how GO fades: Cut when the band hits together, or swipe along to two to four seconds when you want it to swell.

    2 · Choose how GO fades: Cut when the band hits together, or swipe along to two to four seconds when you want it to swell.

  3. Check GO PLAYS NEXT for what’s about to change, then press GO.

    3 · Check GO PLAYS NEXT for what’s about to change, then press GO.

  4. In Edit, write each scene’s cue line under CUE, and tap its card for the words to show under GO.

    4 · In Edit, write each scene’s cue line under CUE, and tap its card for the words to show under GO.

Step 1 of 4

05 · BUILDING A SET

Playing a song with GO

  1. In Perform, tap the first scene to cue it.
  2. Choose how GO fades: a cut when the band hits together, two to four seconds when you want it to swell.
  3. Check GO PLAYS NEXT to see what’s about to change, then press GO.
  4. In Edit, give each scene a cue line and a few words to show under GO, so you always know where you are.
Manual: Perform and Edit →
  1. Save the session as a new Event with a short description, so you’ll recognise it later.

    1 · Save the session as a new Event with a short description, so you’ll recognise it later.

  2. Tap Export… in a saved Event’s ⋮ menu and send the file to whoever’s covering keys.

    2 · With Pro, tap Export… in a saved Event’s ⋮ menu and send the file to whoever’s covering keys.

  3. Export a single song as a .wssong from the Scenes page’s ⋮ menu, and import it into next week’s Event the same way.

    3 · With Pro, export a single song as a .wssong from the Scenes page’s ⋮ menu. Importing is free: bring it into next week’s Event the same way.

Step 1 of 3

06 · BUILDING A SET

Save, share and reuse

  1. On the Event page, tap Save as new, then give it a name and a short description, so you’ll recognise it later.
  2. With Pro, tap Export… in the saved Event’s ⋮ menu and send the file to another player, say when someone else is covering keys.
  3. With Pro, export a single song as a .wssong from the Scenes page’s ⋮ menu. Importing is free: bring it into next week’s Event the same way.
Manual: Events →

Shaping the sound

  1. Open Drawer 2 with the PAD handle at the screen’s right edge, then tap G. It lights up and comes in.

    1 · Open Drawer 2 with the PAD handle at the screen’s right edge, then tap G. It lights up and comes in.

  2. Tap Sound, pick a pad type, then set TONE, SHIMMER and SPACE until it sits right in the room.

    2 · Tap Sound, pick a pad type, then set TONE, SHIMMER and SPACE until it sits right in the room.

  3. When the song changes key, tap Keys, then D. It comes in while G dies away underneath.

    3 · When the song changes key, tap Keys, then D. It comes in while G dies away underneath.

Step 1 of 3

07 · SOUND

A pad under the whole set

  1. Tap the PAD handle at the right edge, then tap G.
  2. Pick a pad type in Sound, then set TONE, SHIMMER and SPACE until it sits right in the room.
  3. When the song changes key, tap Keys, then D. G fades out underneath.
Manual: The pad drone →
  1. Select the pad’s channel (Wave Ambient on the Demo Set), open SOUND › FX, and switch on the 7-BAND EQ near the foot of the rack.

    1 · Select the pad’s channel (Wave Ambient on the Demo Set), open SOUND › FX, and switch on the 7-BAND EQ near the foot of the rack.

  2. Open the EQ’s page, then play along with the piano and keep an eye on the analyzer.

    2 · Open the EQ’s page, then play along with the piano and keep an eye on the analyzer.

  3. Tap point 1, choose LO CUT, and drag it to the right until the pad stops getting in the way of the bass (140 Hz here).

    3 · Tap point 1, choose LO CUT, and drag it to the right until the pad stops getting in the way of the bass (140 Hz here).

Step 1 of 3

08 · SOUND

Making room with the EQ

  1. Tap the pad’s channel (CH 2 on the Demo Set), tap the SOUND handle, then FX, and switch on the 7-BAND EQ near the foot of the rack.
  2. Tap the EQ’s strip to open its page, then play along with the piano and keep an eye on the analyzer.
  3. Tap point 1, choose LO CUT, and drag it to the right until the pad stops getting in the way of the bass.
Manual: FX, EQ and Master →
  1. Tap the SOUND handle at the right edge, then Master, and play your busiest, thickest layer.

    1 · Tap the SOUND handle at the right edge, then Master, and play your busiest, thickest layer.

  2. Tap FX, then switch on the Bus Compressor and listen to the layer pull together. It’s level-matched, so the volume won’t jump.

    2 · Tap FX, then switch on the Bus Compressor and listen to the layer pull together. It’s level-matched, so the volume won’t jump.

  3. Switch on the Limiter and tap its strip to open it: the meter shows how much it’s catching.

    3 · Switch on the Limiter and tap its strip to open it: the meter shows how much it’s catching.

Step 1 of 3

09 · SOUND

Glue the mix on the Master page

  1. Tap the SOUND handle at the right edge, then Master, and play your busiest, thickest layer.
  2. Tap FX, switch on the Bus Compressor and listen to the layer pull together. It’s level-matched, so the volume won’t jump.
  3. Switch on the Limiter and tap its strip: the meter shows how much it’s catching.
Manual: The Master page →

Controllers and the stage

  1. Tap the status tile at the right end of the bottom bar, the one with the CPU and MIDI lights. The screen greys out, and everything you can assign gets an outline.

    1 · Tap the status tile at the right end of the bottom bar, the one with the CPU and MIDI lights. The screen greys out, and everything you can assign gets an outline.

  2. Tap channel 1’s fader. Its outline pulses while it waits: move a fader on your controller, and that fader drives it from now on.

    2 · Tap channel 1’s fader. Its outline pulses while it waits: move a fader on your controller, and that fader drives it from now on.

  3. Do the same for the other channels, then tap GO (in MIDI Assign it splits into BACK and GO) and press a pad. Tap FINISH, on the same tile, and you can mix without touching the screen.

    3 · Do the same for the other channels, then tap GO (in MIDI Assign it splits into BACK and GO) and press a pad. Tap FINISH, on the same tile, and you can mix without touching the screen.

Step 1 of 3

10 · CONTROLLERS

Faders on your controller

  1. Tap the status tile (CPU and MIDI) at the right end of the bottom bar.
  2. Tap channel 1’s fader, then move a fader on your controller.
  3. Do the same for the other channels, then tap GO and press a pad. Tap FINISH, on the same tile, and you can mix without touching the screen.
Manual: MIDI Assign →
  1. Pair your Bluetooth page-turner pedal with the phone, then open Settings › MIDI › Pedal. “Pedal steps the set” is already on.

    1 · Pair your Bluetooth page-turner pedal with the phone, then open Settings › MIDI › Pedal. “Pedal steps the set” is already on.

  2. Give it a press. Page Down, the arrow keys and the media keys work as GO and Back straight away, and the page shows what it heard.

    2 · Give it a press. Page Down, the arrow keys and the media keys work as GO and Back straight away, and the page shows what it heard.

  3. If yours sends something else, tap Teach beside GO key and press the pedal’s GO switch, then do the same for Back.

    3 · If yours sends something else, tap Teach beside GO key and press the pedal’s GO switch, then do the same for Back.

Step 1 of 3

11 · STAGE

Hands-free with a pedal

  1. Pair a Bluetooth page-turner pedal with your device.
  2. Give it a press. Most pedals work as GO and Back straight away.
  3. If yours doesn’t, set it up in Settings › MIDI › Pedal.
Manual: Page-turner pedals →
  1. Tap STAGE at the top of the mixer, then press GO. The first GO after you open the app asks about the pre-show check: tap Run the check.

    1 · Tap STAGE at the top of the mixer, then press GO. The first GO after you open the app asks about the pre-show check: tap Run the check.

  2. Sort out anything it flags, like Do Not Disturb, the volume or the battery. A green tick means that one’s ready.

    2 · Sort out anything it flags, like Do Not Disturb, the volume or the battery. A green tick means that one’s ready.

  3. Tap the lock and play the set from your pedal. The screen ignores every touch until you hold the lock for a second.

    3 · Tap the lock and play the set from your pedal. The screen ignores every touch until you hold the lock for a second.

Step 1 of 3

12 · STAGE

Showtime: Stage view

  1. Tap STAGE at the top of the mixer, then press GO. When it asks, tap Run the check.
  2. Sort out anything it flags, like Do Not Disturb, the volume or the battery.
  3. Turn the lock on and play the set from your pedal.
Manual: Stage view →

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