MIDI Not Recognized by Helix Native in Apple MainStage – Need Help!

[Shoukou]

Hi everyone,

 

At first, I only have a MacBook, MIDI controller, audio interface, and a guitar. I’m currently setting up Helix Native inside MainStage and trying to control it via a MIDI foot controller. However, MIDI signals are not being recognized by Helix Native, and I’m stuck. I’d appreciate any insights or solutions from those who have tackled this issue before.

 

 

 

My Goal:

 

I want to use Helix Native inside MainStage and directly control it with a MIDI foot controller for:

• Preset switching (Program Change - PC)

• Snapshot switching (CC69)

• Effect block ON/OFF (CC20, CC22, etc.)

 

 

 

Right now, Helix Native processes my guitar signal correctly and outputs sound through my speakers, but it does not respond to any MIDI messages from my foot controller.

 

 

My Current Setup:

1. Audio Channel with Helix Native (Working)

• Created an Audio channel strip in MainStage.

• Input 1: Guitar

• Output 1-2: Stereo speakers

• Audio FX: Helix Native (Blue)

 

• Guitar signal is processed by Helix Native and outputted correctly.

• MIDI signals are NOT recognized by Helix Native.

2. External MIDI Instrument Setup (MIDI Out Assigned)

• Created an External Instrument Channel (EXT INST4) in MainStage.

• MIDI Output: Set to my MIDI foot controller (Channel 1).

• Audio FX: Helix Native (Blue).

 

• Guitar signal is processed and outputted correctly.

• MIDI signals are still NOT recognized by Helix Native.

3. Instrument Channel with Helix Native (MIDI Recognized but No Sound)

• Created an Instrument (INST2) Channel in MainStage.

• Input: Helix Native (Green).

 

• MIDI foot controller is recognized.

• But guitar input is NOT recognized, so no sound is outputted.

 

 

 

 

The Issue:

 

It seems that Helix Native does not accept MIDI input when running as an Audio FX plugin in MainStage.

• MIDI CC/PC values are only detected in an Instrument track, but Helix Native cannot process audio there.

• In an Audio track (where guitar input is processed), Helix Native does NOT respond to MIDI signals.

• MainStage does not seem to send MIDI directly to Helix Native when used as an Audio FX.

 

 

 

 

What I’ve Tried (But Didn’t Work)

• Assigning MIDI CC values via MainStage’s Assignments & Mappings

• Partially works, but MainStage remaps MIDI values, meaning I can control some parameters (e.g., “Knob 1”), but I cannot send Program Change (PC) for preset switching.

• Using an External Instrument track to route MIDI

• MIDI output from the External Instrument track does not reach Helix Native.

• Checking MIDI Preferences in Helix Native

• Helix Native does NOT have a dedicated “Preferences” section for MIDI settings.

 

 

 

 

Questions for the Community:

1. Has anyone successfully sent MIDI (CC/PC) to Helix Native inside MainStage while running it as an Audio FX plugin?

2. Is there a way to make MainStage pass MIDI signals directly to Helix Native in an Audio channel?

3. Would using a Virtual MIDI Port (IAC Driver) work to send MIDI directly to Helix Native?

4. Does Helix Native support MIDI input when used as an Audio FX plugin inside MainStage? Or is this a limitation of MainStage itself?

 

Any help or insights would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

 

[silverhead]

I don’t know anything about Mainstage, nor what MIDI controller you have, but here’s something I wrote a while back that I hope you can adapt and apply….

 

 

 

[datacommando]

On 2/14/2025 at 8:10 AM, Shoukou said:

Any help or insights would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

Hi,

 

 

You could try checking these posts re: Native and Mainstage.

 

 

Or, there is this from TGP. It seems to have a solution.

 

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/helix-native-mainstage-3-optimization.2226778/

 

Hope this helps/makes sense.