MainStage is a great interface for using Logic's capabilities in a live context. Setting up the Seaboard RISE and GRAND with MainStage is very simple.

MainStage keyboard

Short answer

Load the Equator plugin to a channel strip and play it using the Seaboard as normal. This will provide full polyphonic expression of each dimension of touch.


Many of MainStage's built-in instruments (Sculpture, EXS24, etc.) can be put into MIDI mono mode which makes them instantly compatible with the Seaboard RISE and GRAND's MPE mode. See the guide here for more details.


Detailed answer

The Seaboard RISE and GRAND use multiple channels of MIDI so that each dimension of touch can be expressed polyphonically.


MainStage is very compatible with the Seaboard because it accommodates multiple MIDI channels on a single channel strip which can host a multi-timbral plugin like Equator. This means that setting up is just like using a normal MIDI controller and plugin.


Step 1: ROLI Dashboard Settings

Open ROLI Dashboard from your applications/programs folder.

Take a look at the MIDI and Pitch sections and select:

  • MIDI Mode: MPE
  • MPE Zone: Lower
  • No. MIDI Channels: 15
  • Pitch Bend Range: 48


Step 2: Create an Instrument Track

Open your MainStage concert.


Go to the channel strip section and click on the "+" sign to create an instrument channel strip.


Select a multi-timbral plugin like Equator as the plugin on that channel strip.


Step 3: Equator’s MIDI/MPE Settings

By default, Equator's MIDI/MPE Settings will already match those that we selected for ROLI Dashboard in step one. But since a mismatch of settings in Dashboard and Equator can cause silent notes or incorrect pitch bends, it's worth double-checking them now.

  1. Open the Equator plugin from your channel strip in MainStage.
  2. Click on menu (☰) in the top right and select MIDI/MPE Settings.
  3. Ensure that Equator’s MIDI Settings match the ones we set in ROLI Dashboard in Step 1 (by default they should already be correct). Now that Equator is listening for MIDI on the same channels that the Seaboard is sending it, there will be no missing notes.


Equator MIDI MPE settings page standard MPE setup