How to set up the MainStage metronome to click in eighth notes

Currently, in MainStage 3.4.4 there isn't an easy way to change the "Division" setting of the metronome to eighths, although we hope the Apple developers will make this change in the future. For the basics on how to change the subdivisions of the metronome check out this video:

If you need eighths, you can follow the below steps for a workaround:

  1. Add an instance of the "Note Repeater" midi effect to the top of the metronome channel strip and match the settings here:
    119440784_10158095528441715_8878872062052372880_o.jpg
  2. When you turn on the metronome now you'll hear four distinct pitches of notes. All that's left to do is re-pitch the weird ones so that you hear a solid downbeat and then eight notes in between all at the same pitch.

    To do this, program the Chord Trigger on a regular instrument channel strip, save it as a plugin preset, then loaded that plugin preset into an instance of Chord Trigger in Multi Mode below Note Repeater on the Metronome CST.

    You'll need to program the Chord Trigger such that the 2nd triggered note is re-mapped to trigger the regular eighth note setting, which is whatever note you've set it to in the "Metronome" tab of the concert.

    Then you'll also need to re-map what is triggered as the 4th, 6th, and 8th beats to be shifted by Chord Trigger so they're the same notes as what is triggered by the 3rd, 5th, and 7th beats. This is what that looks like for the specific notes to have your metronome set to: 
    119213654_10158095534121715_7488571099746050332_o.jpg
  3. Oh one other thing, if you want the "&s" to be a bit quieter than the quarters, you can turn down the "Velocity Ramp" knob inside Note Repeater which gives you a bit more feel to the click.

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