Tonic Automator: change Tonic when you change Patches

By default, Tonic keeps playing on its own when you change Patches. Tonic Automator lets a Patch change Tonic's key, preset, transform pad, volume and more the moment you select it.

This takes a handful of steps. If you're new to MainStage, you may want to come back to it later. Take your time and you'll be fine.

Part 1: Create the Tonic MIDI port (once per Mac)

1. Open Audio MIDI Setup (search Spotlight for "Audio MIDI").
2. Choose Window > Show MIDI Studio.
3. Double-click IAC Driver and check Device is online.
4. Under Ports, click +. It can take up to 10 seconds. Rename the new port exactly Tonic (capital T) and click Apply.

Part 2: Connect it in your main concert (once)

Do this in the Sunday Keys concert you copy for every setlist, so you only do it once.

1. In Sunday Keys, click Layout.
2. Drag the onscreen keyboard up a little to reveal a black bar with white text under it.
3. Click outside the black bar and drag across it to select it. Clicking directly on the bar won't work.
4. At the top left, set MIDI Port to Tonic IAC Driver, even if it already appears to be set. The workspace may flicker for a few seconds. That's normal.
5. Drag the keyboard back down, return to Edit mode, and press Command-S to save.

Part 3: Set up the Tonic Automator Patch (once)

1. Add a new Patch (+), then in the Patch Library choose User Patches > Patch Builder and select Tonic Automator at the bottom of the folder.
2. On the Tonic Automator channel strip, find MIDI Output at the top. Don't see it? Right-click the channel strip and choose Channel Strip Components > MIDI Output.
3. Click the gray box to the left of MIDI Output and choose Tonic IAC Driver.
4. Press Command-E, open your MainStage folder, click Patch Builder - Sunday Keys, and click Export.

Use Tonic Automator

1. Click Tonic Automator, then Command-click the Patch you want to trigger Tonic changes.
2. Click the gear at the top right of the Patch List and choose New Patch from Selected Patches. A red AUTO label at the bottom left of Tonic shows the Patch includes Tonic Automator.
3. On the Tonic Automator channel strip, click the green Scripter plugin. Don't see it? Right-click the channel strip and choose Channel Strip Components > MIDI FX.
4. Choose the Tonic settings you want for this Patch. Check Change Volume only if you want the Patch to set Tonic's volume.

Now Tonic changes whenever you select that Patch. Changes happen right away, though key changes still fade smoothly.

Don't use the same Tonic Automator settings on back-to-back Patches. If you want the same Tonic settings across several Patches, include Tonic Automator only in the first one.

Thanks to Sunday Keys player Manuel Van Rijn, who wrote and generously shared the script that makes Tonic Automator possible.