KeyStage Lite

KeyStage is a master controller, AUv3 host, and audio mixer app designed mainly for keyboard players. With KeyStage, you can simultaneously control any number of hardware and software instruments using any number of MIDI controllers in an organized way.


Each project consists of sections (which corresponds to sections of a song). In each section you can change sounds and sound parameters of connected instruments, create complex splits and layers of your keyboard(s), change the functionalities of sliders/knobs/pedals of your MIDI controllers by creating advanced MIDI mappings, view PDF and JPG files (e.g. sheet music) and lyrics, and much more.







LIST OF FEATURES



• Connect any number of MIDI controller to any number of MIDI instruments by creating tracks.
• Assign any region of your keyboard(s) to any connected instrument.
• Change velocity curve and velocity limits, and create velocity splits and layers.
• Transpose notes and restrict notes to any key using pitch shifter.
• Create instrument presets to easily change sounds of instruments by choosing patch names from patch lists.
• KeyStage can also import Cubase Patch Scripts to automatically create instrument presets for your MIDI instruments.
• KeyStage automatically detects new MIDI connections and recommends matching instrument presets from a database.
• Simulate auto-sustain on any connected instrument.
• Change or filter any MIDI signal using custom translators. Use “Relative Control” switch to smoothly change the parameters of your instruments without any jumps.
• Use XY control unit to send control change and pitch bend messages to any connected MIDI instrument.
• Create setlists, quick access all the songs in a setlist from a setlist bar, move to previous/next songs from live console or using external MIDI.
• Create virtual MIDI inputs/outputs for KeyStage.
• Use virtual MIDI piano controller to play connected instruments.
• View PDF and JPG files. Link any page or region of any file to any section.
• Backup and restore your songs and global properties to Dropbox.
• Map special actions (like changing octaves, switching sections, changing pages of a PDF file) to notes and controllers using custom translators.
• You can write your own scripts in custom translators, which opens up endless possibilities.
• Use MPE routing to control any MIDI instrument using MPE controllers like Seaboard. Use custom translators to change the functionalities of each MPE dimension.
• KeyStage supports smooth transitions between sections. Pressed notes will continue to sound when you switch sections.


THE FOLLOWING FEATURES CAN BE UNLOCKED VIA IN-APP PURCHASES



• Load AUv3 instruments, effects, and MIDI Processors.
• Create mixer units to combine audio signals, turning KeyStage into an audio mixer.
• With the player units, you can play wav, mp3, and m4a files, add marker points, automate actions (like play, stop, move to a marker etc.) using custom translators, or trigger certain events (like changing sections) when the player reaches a certain marker.
• Input units allows you to use the microphone input, or the hardware inputs of a connected audio interface.
• KeyStage has a multi-track recorder, which lets you record any number of tracks simultaneously.
• The Main Mixer view allows you to control volume levels and pans of all tracks, connect effect units, and connect units to mixer units.
• The transport controls allows you to play all instrument, effect, and MIDI processor audio units in sync with the built-in metronome. You can use global tempo and time signature, or assign different tempo and time signature to sections.


You can access demo videos and video tutorials on my Youtube channel.

Version 2.1 release notes

New Features: • Sends. Each non-mixer track can now send a percentage of its output audio signal to mixers. • MIDI Learn directly from audio units UI, and new parameter handling. AU Parameters can be automatically added to the parameters list by simply tweaking from the UI. • An advanced MIDI monitoring system, which can simultaneously monitor inputs and outputs of multiple items (tracks, parts, custom translators, MIDI aliases, and audio units). • The signal levels in the mixer and on the tracks now show the true decibel levels, with a peak indicator. Also the volume levels can now exceed 0 Db. • In the song properties, users can now configure dynamic and non-dynamic properties (properties that changes from section to section). • The song volume can now be a dynamic property. • Multi Translators. • Scripts in Custom Translators. Users can now write their own codes to program custom translators, which opens up endless possibilities. • Groups of translators can now be saved as “translators chains”, which can later be recalled anywhere. • Custom and Multi translators can now be added directly to Audio Units. • Users can now access a new and expanding database of custom translators and chains of translators. • KeyStage keeps track of the last 10 songs that were loaded, which can be easily accessed from the Files menu. • Player Unit’s timelines can now be synced. • Audio Unit presets can now be changed with program change and bank select messages. • A new option to automatically load invalidated audio units. These audio units load in the background and does not interfere with other audio units and MIDI signals, so will not interrupt the live performance. • The font size of lyrics can now be adjusted with a slider. • Solo function is added to tracks. Also global mute and solo control buttons are added to the bottom bar. • Battery level indicator is added to the bottom bar. • “Low refresh rate mode for audio signals” is added to improve the performance of low-end iPads. Further performance options are on the way. • Users can now create full backup files, which allows them to store and share their whole setup. • User’s Manual. • Info buttons on several different parts of KeyStage, which automatically opens the related section in the User’s Manual. Improvements: • Live consoles layout is slightly changed. So now the bottom bar is visible while the live console is on, which allows users to access transport controls, tempo/time signature/metronome controls, MIDI monitor, global solo/mute buttons, battery meter, and DSP meter. • Several other UI changes and improvements. • Volume,Pan, and Sends are now considered as track parameters. CC assignments on these parameters are stored on the track rather than the audio unit. • Audio Unit Parameter values are now visible in the parameters section. • 'Disable All Parameters' button in the parameters section allows users to disable all parameters. • Major performance improvements in MIDI routing. • Deleting an item from a list can now be done with the standard left swipe gesture. • In the MIDI Learn view, the users can now manually select the CC value. Bug Fixes: • Possible crash when loading songs in iPadOS 1.48 and above is now fixed. • Hanging/overlapping tracks/parts/sections, while copying them is fixed. • Spikes in the DSP meter when changing sections are now resolved (this was a virtual bug, there was not an actual spike in the DSP). • Several bug fixes involving Midi Processor Units. • The problem with player units stopping in the middle of an audio file with a different sample rate is now fixed. • There was an issue related to controlling volume and pan of input, player, and mixer units via MIDI. This is fixed. • Lots of additional minor tweaks and fixes.