Stage EP

User Guide
English

Manual Version 1.1

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the AIR Stage EP plugin instrument. AIR Stage EP is the brand-new flagship electric piano
instrument, delivering the lush and rich sounds of the most desirable electric pianos at your fingertips. Stage EP
includes five detailed electric piano models, including acoustic mechanics and an FM tine synth, to capture the
magic and warm smoothness of the originals, while also adding the full spectrum of modern and classic electronic
sounds.
This instrument includes:
• Advanced electric piano sound engine.
• Up to twelve velocity layers.
• Five multi-sampled electric pianos: Rhodes, Rhodes Hot, Suitcase, Wurlitzer, Pianet.
• Acoustic and FM mechanics layer.
• Seven built-in AIR effects: Chorus, Tremolo, Amp Sim, Compressor, EQ, Delay, and Reverb.

This user guide explains how to use your plugin instrument. For more information on using other parts of the MPC
software or hardware, please consult the respective MPC Software User Guide and MPC hardware User Guide.

System Requirements & Product Support

For complete system requirements and compatibility information, visit airmusictech.com.

For technical support, visit support.airmusictech.com.

Installation

1. Double-click the .exe (Windows) or .pkg (macOS) file you downloaded. Follow the on-screen instructions to
install the software.
2. Open the plugin application.
3. Click Sign In to sign into your inMusic Brands Profile using your Internet browser. If you do not have an inMusic
Brands Profile yet, you will be prompted to create one.
4. Once you have signed in, click Activate in the plugin window to enter your serial key to unlock the plugin. You
can unlock each plugin on up to three devices at a time.
5. If you do not have a serial key, you can click Try Unlicensed to explore the plugin with intermittent audio alerts.
You can also click 10-Day Trial to initiate a free, fully featured trial of the plugin for 10 days.
If you would like to purchase a serial key, click the link to purchase a license at profile.inmusicbrands.com.

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Operation
Overview

Setup
Section

Model
Controls

Sound
Controls

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Effects
Controls

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Setup Section
1 2 3

4 5

1. Keyboard: Click this icon to enable or disable the virtual keyboard. When enabled, you can click these keys to
input notes, or view notes being played on an external MIDI device.
2. Tempo: Displays the current plugin tempo. To change the tempo:
• Click the number and use your keyboard to input a new value.
• Click and drag the tempo value up or down using your cursor.
• Click the Tap button at regular intervals.
3. Settings: Click this icon to open the Settings window, where you can set the following parameters:
• Output: Click this drop-down menu to select an audio hardware driver in your computer system. Click the
Test button to play a test tone for checking your audio output settings. (Careful! You should lower the
volume on your audio system beforehand.)
• Sample Rate: Click this drop-down menu to select the desired sample rate for your project. This depends
on the available sample rates of the type of MPC hardware you are using or of your audio interface (i.e.,
select 96000 Hz only if your interface allows a 96 kHz sample rate).
• Audio Buffer Size: Click this drop-down menu to set your audio system’s latency. Lower values result in a
more immediate playing response but also more CPU consumption. If you are working with larger projects,
this may cause audible clicks and pops. Higher values are more CPU-friendly but can produce more delay
between pressing a pad and hearing the corresponding sound. The ideal audio buffer size also depends on
your computer’s CPU performance. Experiment with this to find the best setting for your system.
• Active MIDI Inputs: Displays available MIDI input devices. To enable a device, check the box next to its
name.
• Bluetooth MIDI: Click this icon to open your system’s Bluetooth settings menu, where you can select a
Bluetooth-enabled MIDI device to control the plugin.
4. Menu: Click this icon to open the menu, where you can find the following options:
• Scale: Click here to select a value to scale the plugin window to a new size.
• Load Preset: Click here to load a saved preset.
• Save Preset: Click here to save the current preset.
• Open User Guide: Click here to open this User Guide.
• About: Click here to view plugin version information.
5. Preset: Click this drop-down menu to view the list of included plugin presets. You can also click the up and
down arrows next to this field to move to the previous or next preset.

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Model Controls

All settings in this view except Style are available in all other plugin views.

Parameter Description Value Range

Model Type of electric piano model. Rhodes, Rhodes Hot,

Suitcase, Wurli,
Pianet

Style Type of playing style. Real, Soft, Hard

Poly Number of available voices. 1–60

Level Overall volume level of the plugin. -inf – 0.0 – +6.0 dB

Model Vol Volume level of the selected model. -inf – 0.0 – +12.0 dB

Key Offs Enables or disables the sound of keys being Off, On

released.

Key Offs Volume Volume level of the sound of the keys being -inf – 0.0 – +12.0 dB
released.

Formant Decreases or increases resonant frequencies to -12 – 0 – +12

adjust the timbre of the sound.

Dynamics Adjust the dynamic range between soft and loud 0–100%
notes. At low values, the dynamic range is reduced;
at high values, the dynamic range is expanded.

Age Amount of model age applied, including detuning. 0–100%

Sample Start Starting point of the sample. 0–100%

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Sound Controls

Parameter Description Value Range

Amp Envelope Spike Amount of audio “spike” present at note attack. 0–100%

Attack Length of time for the note to reach full volume. 0 ms – 32.00 s

Decay Length of time for the note to reach the sustained 0 ms – 32.00 s
volume.

Sustain Level of the sound while the note is held. 0–100%

Release Length of time for the note to become silent after 0 ms – 32.00 s
being released.

Mechanics Use these settings to adjust the settings for the electric Off, Mic Vol, FM
piano mechanics emulation. Synth

Mic Vol On Level of the note on mechanics. 0–100%

Off Level of the note off mechanics. 0–100%

FM Synth Volume Level of the FM synth mechanics. 0–100%

Pitch Number of semitones above the base pitch that the 0.0 – 32.0
mechanics pitch sounds.

Depth Depth of modulation. 0–100%

Decay Speed at which the FM mechanics sound decays. 0 ms – 32.00 s

Mod Amount of modulation applied. 0–100%

Mod Decay Speed at which the modulation decays. 0 ms – 32.00 s

Velo The amount of effect velocity has on the mechanics 0–100%

sound.

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Sound (continued)

Parameter Description Value Range

Chorus Use the button in the upper-right corner of this section Off, On
to enable or disable the chorus effect.
Rate Modulation speed of the effect. 0.05 – 20.00 Hz

Mix Wet/dry amount of the chorus effect. 0–100%

Tremolo Use the button in the upper-right corner of this section Off, On
to enable or disable the tremolo effect.

MW Enables or disables control of tremolo by the mod Off, On

wheel.

Stereo Enables or disables stereo panning for the tremolo Off, On

effect.

Rate Modulation speed of the effect. 0.05 – 20.00 Hz

Shape Adjusts the tremolo waveshape. -100 – 0 – +100%

Depth Amount of modulation applied. 0–100%

Amp/Cab Use the button in the upper-right corner of this section Off, On
to enable or disable the amp/cab effect.

Model Type of cabinet/speaker simulation. D.I., Brit, 1x8”, 1x12”,

2x10”, 2x12”, 4x10”,
4x12”, 1x15” Bass,
4x10” Bass, Radio

Drive Amount of overdrive applied to the amp signal. 0–100%

Stereo Enables or disables stereo audio. Off, On

Vol Level of amp emulation. -12.0 – 0 – 12.0 dB

Bass Amount of bass-range tone reduction or boost. -100 – 0 – +100%

Mid Amount of mid-range tone reduction or boost. -100 – 0 – +100%

High Amount of high-range tone reduction or boost. -100 – 0 – +100%

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Effects Controls

Parameter Description Value Range

Compressor Use the button in the upper-right corner of this section Off, On
to enable or disable the compression effect.

Threshold Signal level after which the compression will be -30.0 – 0.0 – +10.0 dB
applied.

Ratio Amount of compression applied. 1.0:1 – 20.0:1

Attack Length of time to apply the compression. 0–100%

Makeup Amount of additional output gain for the compressed -20.0 – 0.0 – +20.0 dB
signal.

EQ Use the button in the upper-right corner of this section Off, On

to enable or disable the EQ effect.

Low Amount of attenuation or boost applied to the low -12.0 – 0.0 – +12.0 dB
frequency band.

Low Mid Amount of attenuation or boost applied to the low-mid -20.0 – 0.0 – +20.0 dB
frequency band.

High Mid Amount of attenuation or boost applied to the high- -20.0 – 0.0 – +20.0 dB
mid frequency band.

High Amount of attenuation or boost applied to the high -12.0 – 0.0 – +12.0 dB
frequency band.

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Effects (continued)

Parameter Description Value Range

Delay Use the button in the upper-right corner of this section Off, On
to enable or disable delay.

Time Amount of time between the dry signal and the 1/16 – 16/4
delayed signal.

Mix Wet/dry amount of the delay effect. 0–100%

L|R Ratio Reduces the delay Time in either the Left or Right 50:100 – 100:100 –
stereo field. This is useful for creating offset, panned 100:50
delays.

Feedback Amount of signal fed back into the delay line. 0–100%

Reso LP Freq Low pass frequency for feedback resonance. 100 – 16000 Hz

Reso EQ Freq Center frequency for feedback resonance. 100 – 16000 Hz

Reso EQ Gain Amount of gain applied to the resonant frequency. 0–100%

Spring Reverb Use the button in the upper-right corner of this section Off, On
to enable or disable the spring reverb effect.

Pre-Delay Length of time between dry signal and reverberated 0–250 ms

signal.

Time Length of reverb tail. 1.00 – 10.00 s

Mix Wet/dry amount of the reverb effect. 0–100%

Low Cut Center frequency for reverb signal low-cut filter. 20–1000 Hz

Diffusion Rate of increasing density of reverb reflections. 0–100%

At lower settings, the sound of individual reflections is
more present.
At higher settings, reflections are more uniform.

Width Stereo width of reverb signal. Higher values give wider 0–100%
stereo separation.

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Trademarks and Licenses
AIR Music Technology is a trademark of inMusic Brands, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
macOS is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.
All other product or company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

airmusictech.com

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