Onstage Quick Start Guide
Welcome to the Quick Start Guide for Onstage, the software live keys rig for Windows PCs and Android mobile tablets. Learn how to install the app, configure setlists, stack sounds, and map your hardware MIDI keyboard.
Installation & Setup
Installation, system requirements, and first-launch setup.
What is Onstage Setup?
Onstage is a standalone live keys rig for Windows and Android. Unlike complex DAWs (MainStage or Ableton), it requires no third-party plugin hosting; you simply install the lightweight application, download the sound pack, and connect your USB/Bluetooth MIDI keyboard.
System Requirements & Compatibility
- Windows: Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit). Direct installation.
- Android: Android 10 or higher. Touch screen interface on phone or tablet.
- MIDI Keyboard: Compatible with standard USB MIDI keyboards and controllers.
Download for Windows
Windows 10 / 11 · 64-bit
Download for Android
Android 10+ · Phone / Tablet
Bypassing Security Warnings
Unsigned Direct DownloadOnstage installs directly without a store. Windows and Android may show standard security prompts during setup:
Windows 10 / 11
SmartScreen WarningAndroid 10+
Unknown Sources / Play ProtectFirst Launch & Sound Pack Prompt
On first launching Onstage, the application will automatically prompt you to download the Onstage Basics Pack. Once installed, you will immediately have access to core piano, pad, and synth sounds to begin building patches.
Setlists & Patches
Organize songs and manage multi-layer live rigs.
Finding Setlists and Patches in Onstage
From the Start Page → tap New Setlist or Open Setlist, or select any setlist under Recent Setlists.
Understanding Setlists vs. Patches
Think of a Setlist as your concert song order, and a Patch as the complete sound rig for a single song. When you tap a patch, all 16 sounds, splits, transpositions, and ambient pads switch instantly without cutting off held notes.
Setlists
A Setlist represents your live show or service order. It contains the ordered list of sound patches you will switch between during a performance.
- Create, rename, edit, and delete setlists from the home library view.
- The 5 most recent setlists are pinned on the home view for 1-tap recall.
- Demo mode supports 1 active setlist with up to 2 patches per setlist. License Key unlocks unlimited setlists and patches.
Patch Architecture
Each patch is an isolated multi-layer keyboard rig containing sound layers, scene volume snapshots, transpose settings, and per-patch Ambient Pad settings.
Play-In vs. Hear-In Transposition
Onstage supports semitone transposition configured per patch. Set your Play-In key (the physical key you play on the keyboard) and Hear-In key (the key the rig sounds in). Transposition transitions instantly and smoothly without any stuck notes or cutting off your sound.
Sound Layer Editing
Stack up to 16 sound layers with splits, velocity, and expression.
What is a Sound Layer?
A Sound Layer is an individual instrument (such as an Acoustic Piano, Warm Pad, Organ, or Brass synth). By stacking multiple layers together, you can create massive blended textures or divide your keyboard into split zones (e.g., bass on the left hand, piano/pad on the right hand).
Every patch can stack up to 16 sound layers simultaneously (3 in Demo mode). Each layer features an extensive sound editor split into four categories:
1. Keyboard & Velocity
- Key Range: Range sliders (21–108)
- Velocity Range: Circular min/max sliders
- Fixed Velocity: Fixed velocity toggle
- MIDI Device & Channel: Isolation filters
- Filter MIDI CC: Only allow CC inputs
2. Pitch & Expression
- Octave Shift & Transpose: Octave shift & semitone transpose
- Ignore CC: Ignore Sustain, Mod Wheel, Pitch Bend
- Mod Wheel Target: Vibrato, LowPass, Volume Swell
- Glide / Portamento: Always, Legato, Staccato & Time
3. Audio Effects
PRO- Equalizer (EQ): Low/Mid/High band gains
- ADSR Envelope: Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release
- Stereo Delay: Echo, Ping-Pong, Slapback
- Reverb: Room Size, Damp, Width, Level
- Chorus: Multi-voice speed and depth
4. MIDI Patterns
PRO- Arpeggiator: Pattern, Subdivision, Steps
- Velocity Pattern: 16-step rhythm grid
- Chord Triggers: Bind root note to multi-note grids
- Step Sequencer: Up to 64 steps velocity & gate
- Direct Sync: Sync directly to keypress events
Keyboard & Velocity
Settings UI
Pitch & Expression
Settings UI
Basic Sound Design Workflow
Configuring Key Range & Splits
Under Keyboard & Velocity → adjust the Key Range slider on the piano roll interface to set split zones (e.g. Bass on C1–B2, Piano on C3–C6). Toggle Fixed Velocity for organ layers that don't use key dynamics.
Pitch, Expression & Mod Wheel Target
Under Pitch & Expression → toggle Ignore Sustain Pedal to prevent bass notes from sustaining. Set Mod Wheel Target to LowPass Sweep or Volume Swell for real-time filter sweeps using your hardware modulation wheel (CC 1).
Dynamic Scenes
Volume snapshots for song sections with smooth crossfades.
Why Use Scenes?
In live music, different sections of a song require different dynamics (e.g., quiet piano in Verse 1, huge piano + pad stack in the Chorus). Scenes let you switch layer volume levels instantly or over a smooth crossfade without changing patches.
Scenes capture layer-volume snapshots per patch (e.g. Intro, Verse, Chorus, Bridge). Switching scenes crossfades every layer's volume smoothly over a configurable transition duration (seconds).
- Create up to 5 scenes per patch (3 in Demo mode).
- Set individual crossfade durations (e.g., 2.0s for smooth pad sweeps, 0s for instant changes).
- Trigger scenes using touch targets, footswitches, or MIDI-learned buttons.
Ambient Pad Player
Instant one-key worship and ambient pad engine.
Finding Ambient Pad Player in Onstage
Open any setlist patch → look at the bottom of the left sidebar → tap the AudioWaveform icon (looks like vertical audio wave lines) to expand the Pad Player.
What is the Ambient Pad Player?
The Pad Player produces continuous ambient background drone pads in any key (C, D, G...). It operates independently of your keyboard layers, allowing you to fill empty space during song transitions, speak over pads, or play ambient worship without taking up key zones.
The built-in Ambient Pad Player provides instant background pads and drone chords during setlists without occupying keyboard split zones.
- One-Key Play: Tap a single root key (C, C#, D...) to crossfade the pad engine to the selected key.
- Chord Presets & Voicings: Select Major, Minor, Sus2, Sus4, Maj7, Min7, or Dom7 with Standard, Drop 2 (Wide), Sub Bass (Deep), or High Octave voicings.
- Mod Wheel Filter Sweep: Use CC1 (Modulation Wheel) to sweep the low-pass filter cutoff for real-time pad brightness control.
- Auto-Recall: Save active key and pad settings per patch; changing patches automatically transitions the pad engine.
MIDI Learn & Fader Pickup
Hardware controller knob, fader, and button mapping.
Finding MIDI Devices Setup in Onstage
Tap the KeyboardMusic icon (looks like a musical keyboard with notes) in the top-right corner of the Start Page, or in the left sidebar of any open setlist (directly above the MIDI Learn icon).
Finding MIDI Learn in Onstage
Open any setlist patch → look at the left sidebar → tap the Waypoints icon (four connected dots directly below the MIDI Devices KeyboardMusic icon).
Understanding MIDI Learn & Smart Fader Pickup
MIDI Learn lets you tap any control on screen and move a physical knob or slider on your keyboard to link them together. Smart Fader Pickup prevents sudden volume jumps when switching songs: your physical fader will not alter volume until it passes through the current saved setting.
Bind any hardware MIDI controller knob, fader, pad, or footswitch directly to Onstage performance controls.
- Bind Layer Volumes, Scene Triggers, Next/Prev Patch, Next/Prev Scene, Pad Volume, and Pad Toggle.
- Device & Channel Aware: Bindings lock to specific controller names so plugging in multiple devices works seamlessly.
- Smart Fader Pickup: Prevents volume jumps when changing scenes or patches. The physical fader movement is ignored until it passes through the current volume level.
Studio Audio Effects Suite
Studio quality per-layer audio processing (License Key feature).
What is the Studio Audio Effects Suite?
Studio audio effects allow you to polish raw instrument sounds directly inside Onstage. Use EQ to shape warmth or brightness, Reverb to create room space, Delay for rhythmic echoes, and Chorus for stereo width without requiring external hardware effect units.
3-Band Parametric EQ
Low shelf, parametric mid (gain, frequency, Q), and high shelf per layer.
Algorithmic Reverb
Room size, damping, width, and level controls with room presets.
Stereo Delay
Echo, Ping-Pong, Slapback, and Ambient Dub modes with feedback and mix controls.
Chorus & ADSR
Multi-voice stereo chorus and custom ADSR envelope shaping.
MIDI Patterns
Rhythmic arpeggiators, chord triggers, and step sequencers.
What are MIDI Patterns?
MIDI Patterns alter your note input in real time. Arpeggiators turn held keys into rhythmic note sequences, Chord Triggers let a single key press fire complex multi-note chords, and Step Sequencers play custom rhythmic patterns.
- Arpeggiator: Pattern presets (Up, Down, Up / Down, Random, Chord), Subdivision, Steps, and 16-step Velocity Pattern grid.
- Chord Triggers: Map Root Note to custom multi-note chord grids with clear/learn note capabilities.
- Step Sequencer: Program sequence patterns up to 64 steps with note, velocity, and gate/rest tracking.
- Direct Keypress Sync: Runs directly from keypress timestamps without needing DAW clock sync.
Advanced Sound Design & Pattern Building
Arpeggiator & Velocity Pattern
Under MIDI Patterns → enable Arpeggiator. Select Pattern (Up, Down, Up / Down, Random, Chord), set Subdivision & Steps, and adjust the 16-step Velocity Pattern grid for rhythmic accents.
Chord Triggers & Root Notes
Under Chord Triggers → bind a single Root Note key to trigger a full chord grid of learned notes. Use right-click or long-press context flyout to Clear Root Note or Clear Note anytime.
Glide / Portamento Setup
Under Pitch & Expression → enable Glide / Portamento. Configure Glide Mode (Always, Legato, Staccato), adjust the Time Dial, and set Time Mode (Linear, Standard, Auto) for synth lead slides.
Audio Optimization, Latency & Crackle Fixing
Tuning buffer sizes, sample rates, periods, and exclusive access for low-latency, glitch-free audio on any device.
Finding Audio Controls in Onstage
Open Settings (Gear icon) → scroll to Global Settings → adjust parameters under Audio Engine & Output and Synthesizer & Voice Performance.
Audio Engine Controls & What They Do
Audio Buffer Size (Frames)
Controls response time. Smaller buffers (e.g., 128 frames) give lower latency for instant key response. Larger buffers (e.g., 512 frames) eliminate audio pops on lighter processors.
Audio Periods
Controls buffer cycle count. 1–2 periods provides lowest latency. Increase to 3–4 periods if your audio hardware suffers from dropouts.
Exclusive Audio Access
Gives Onstage exclusive control over your Windows audio hardware, bypassing background system sounds to ensure the absolute fastest key response.
💡 No ASIO Drivers Needed: Thanks to Exclusive Audio Access, you don't need to install external ASIO drivers (like ASIO4ALL) on Windows to get low latency. Your default audio interface will respond instantly.
Multi-Core & Max Polyphony
Multi-Core Processing shares the sound workload across your processor cores. Max Polyphony (32 - 256) limits the maximum number of notes and release tails sounding at once to prevent audio crackles during heavy chords.
Recommended Setup Presets by Device
High Performance
- Buffer Size: 128–256 frames
- Audio Periods: 1–2 periods
- Sample Rate: 48000 Hz
- Exclusive Mode: ON (WASAPI)
- Multi-Core: ON
- Max Polyphony: 128–256 voices
Balanced Setup
- Buffer Size: 256–372 frames
- Audio Periods: 2 periods
- Sample Rate: 44100 Hz / 48000 Hz
- Exclusive Mode: ON (WASAPI)
- Multi-Core: ON
- Max Polyphony: 96–128 voices
Maximum Stability
- Buffer Size: 512–768 frames
- Audio Periods: 3–4 periods
- Sample Rate: 44100 Hz
- Exclusive Mode: ON (WASAPI)
- Multi-Core: ON
- Max Polyphony: 48–64 voices
High Performance
- Buffer Size: 192–256 frames
- Audio Periods: 1–2 periods
- Sample Rate: 48000 Hz (Native Android)
- MIDI Driver: Default / Custom
- Multi-Core: ON
- Max Polyphony: 96–128 voices
Balanced Setup
- Buffer Size: 256–372 frames
- Audio Periods: 2–3 periods
- Sample Rate: 48000 Hz (Recommended)
- MIDI Driver: Default Driver
- Multi-Core: ON
- Max Polyphony: 64–96 voices
Maximum Stability
- Buffer Size: 512–768 frames
- Audio Periods: 3–4 periods
- Sample Rate: 48000 Hz (44100 Hz fallback)
- MIDI Driver: Default Driver
- Multi-Core: ON
- Max Polyphony: 32–48 voices
Quick Troubleshooting Guide
Try steps one by one until resolved (you do not need to apply all steps).
Audio Crackling & Pops
- Increase Buffer Size (256 → 372/512)
- Increase Audio Periods to 3
- Confirm Multi-Core is ON
- Lower Max Polyphony if needed
Latency & Key Delay
- Turn Exclusive Access ON (Windows)
- Lower Buffer Size (e.g. 256 → 128)
- Lower Audio Periods to 1–2
Performance Monitoring
- Enable Show Performance Metrics
- Monitor live CPU & RAM load
- Bypass heavy layer DSP effects
Content Packs & Pack Creator
Downloading official sound packs, finding included presets, and building custom content packs.
Finding Content Packs in Onstage
From the Start Page → tap the Content Packs card to download packs, or tap Pack Creator to export custom packages.
What are Content Packs?
Content Packs (.onpack) are self-contained bundles of
sound samples, SoundFonts (.sf2), and preset setlist patches. Onstage includes built-in
tools for downloading official sound packs as well as creating your own custom packs to
share with team members.
Where to Find Packs & Included Presets in Onstage
1. Downloading Official Packs
Tap the Package icon in the top navigation bar or go to Menu → Content Packs (also offered automatically after license key activation). Download Onstage Basics (Free/Demo starter sounds) or Onstage Essentials (Full license pack with 33 sounds & 10 curated preset patches).
2. Finding Presets & Installed Sounds
Sounds can be found in the Sound Library when adding a new sound layer or changing a layer's sound in a patch. Preset patches can be found when adding a new patch to a setlist tap Add, then select from Library.
Creating & Exporting Custom Content Packs
Onstage includes a built-in Pack Creator UI allowing musicians and
worship leaders to package custom setlists, sound layers, and SoundFont (.sf2) samples
into portable .onpack files.
Step 1: Open Pack Creator
Tap the PackagePlus icon in the top navigation bar or select Menu → Pack Creator. Choose the setlist you want to export.
Step 2: Set Pack Metadata
Under Pack Details: enter Pack Name, Pack Identifier, Author, and toggle Requires Full Version if using full-version DSP effects.
Step 3: Review & Export
Under Sounds: verify included sound layers and sample files.
Click Export Pack to generate a portable .onpack
file.
SoundFont (.sf2) Import Guide
Optimizing and importing custom SoundFont files for live performance.
Finding SoundFont Import in Onstage
Open any setlist patch → tap Add Sound or Replace Sound on any layer to open the Sound Library page → look in the top right corner → tap the Import Sound button.
Onstage allows you to import custom SoundFont (.sf2) files directly into your Sound Library. The Sound Library page opens automatically whenever you add a new sound or replace an existing sound layer inside a patch.
ℹ️ Activation Requirement: Importing custom SoundFonts is a premium feature. If the app is currently running in Demo Mode, attempting to click the Import Sound button will open the License Activation prompt.
Single-Preset Requirement & Polyphone Guide
For optimal memory usage and low audio latency on stage, Onstage requires
single-preset SoundFont (.sf2) files. If you have multi-preset
SoundFont banks, open them in free tools like Polyphone, right-click the desired preset, export it as
a single .sf2 file, and import it into Onstage.
💡 Need Help Converting? If you have multi-preset SoundFont banks and need assistance converting them for Onstage, feel free to reach out to us and we will help optimize your sound files for live performance.
Licensing & License Key Activation
Unlocking features and transferring keys between devices.
Finding Licensing Options in Onstage
From the Start Page → tap the Full Version card (if in Demo mode) or tap the About Onstage button at the bottom of the screen.
Demo Mode vs. License Key Activation
Onstage downloads as a free, fully functional Demo Version with no expiration date (includes the Onstage Basics sound pack). Purchasing a License Key unlocks unlimited setlists and patches, 16 layer stacking, DSP effects, MIDI Patterns, and the Onstage Essentials pack with 33 sounds & 10 curated preset patches.
| Feature Limit | Demo / Free Tier | Full License Key |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Setlists | 1 active setlist | Unlimited |
| Maximum Patches per Setlist | 2 patches | Unlimited |
| Sound Layers per Patch | Up to 3 layers | Up to 16 layers |
| Scenes per Patch | Up to 3 scenes | Up to 5 scenes |
| Custom SoundFont (.sf2) Import | Locked | Full Access |
| Studio Audio Effects (EQ, Reverb, Delay) | Locked | Full Access |
| MIDI Patterns (Arp, Chord Triggers) | Locked | Full Access |
| Import / Export (Setlists & Patches) | Locked | Full Access |
Transferring License to a New Device
Each License Key activates 1 device at a time (Windows, Android, or any future platform once supported by Onstage). If you switch phones or laptops:
- Open Onstage on your current device.
- Go to Settings / About Onstage.
- Tap the 'Licensed to <your email>' button to unlink your device.
- Enter your license key in Onstage on your new device to instantly activate it.