Apple GarageBand 3 User Manual
GarageBand 3
Getting Started
Includes a complete tour of the
GarageBand window, plus step-by-step
lessons on working with GarageBand
1
Contents
Chapter 1 7 Welcome to GarageBand
8
What’s New in GarageBand 3
9
Before You Begin
9
What You’ll Learn
9
What You Need
10
Finding Out More
Chapter 2 11 GarageBand at a Glance
12
GarageBand Window
14
Timeline
16
Editor
16
For Real Instruments
17
For Software Instruments—Graphic View
18
For Software Instruments—Notation View
19
For Podcasts and Video—Marker View
20
Loop Browser
20
Button View
21
Column View and Podcast Sounds View
22
Track Info Pane
22
Real and Software Instrument Tracks
24
Master Track
26
Media Browser
Chapter 3 27 Working With Projects
27
Creating a Project
28
Setting the Tempo
29
Setting the Key
29
Setting the Time Signature
29
Opening an Existing Project
30
Saving a Project
31
Sending a Project to iTunes
2
Chapter 4 32 Using Apple Loops
33
Finding Loops With the Loop Browser
33
34
34
35
35
36
36
36
37
37
38
39
Finding Loops in Column View
Finding Loops in Button View
Finding Loops in Podcast Sounds View
Previewing Loops in the Loop Browser
Refining Your Searches
Displaying Loops From a Jam Pack or Folder
Searching by Scale Type
Limiting Searches to Nearby Keys
Searching for Specific Text
Adding Loops to the Timeline
Creating Your Own Apple Loops
Adding Loops to the Loop Library
Chapter 5 40 Working in the Timeline
40
About Regions
41
Selecting Regions
41
Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Regions
42
Looping Regions
42
Resizing Regions
43
Moving Regions
43
Transposing Regions
44
Splitting Regions
44
Joining Regions
44
Fixing the Timing of Software Instrument Regions
45
Setting Real Instrument Regions to Keep Their Original Tempo
45
Renaming Regions
45
Using the Grid
46
Using Undo and Redo
Chapter 6 47 Working With Real Instruments
47
Adding a Real Instrument Track
48
Monitoring Real Instrument Input
48
Getting Ready to Record
49
Recording a Real Instrument
50
51
51
51
Recording a Real Instrument With the Cycle Region
Recording Multiple Real Instrument Tracks
Changing Real Instrument Settings
Changing the Instrument
Contents
3
52
53
53
54
Changing the Input Channel
Adjusting Input Volume
Using the Instrument Tuner
Adding an Audio File From the Finder
Chapter 7 55 Working With Software Instruments
55
Using Musical Typing
56
Using the Onscreen Music Keyboard
57
Adding a Software Instrument Track
57
Getting Ready to Record
58
Recording a Software Instrument
58
59
Recording a Software Instrument With the Cycle Region
Changing Software Instrument Settings
Chapter 8 60 Working in the Editor
60
Selecting Regions
61
Editing Real Instrument Regions
61
61
62
62
62
63
63
64
Moving Real Instrument Regions
Cropping Part of a Real Instrument Region
Joining Real Instrument Regions
Enhancing the Tuning of Real Instrument Tracks
Enhancing the Timing of Real Instrument Tracks
Editing Software Instrument Regions
Editing Notes in a Software Instrument Region
Editing Controller Information in a Software Instrument Region
Chapter 9 66 Working in Notation View
66
About Notation View
68
Editing Notes in Notation View
69
69
69
69
70
70
70
70
70
Adding Notes
Selecting Notes
Moving Notes
Copying Notes
Changing the Pitch of Notes
Changing the Duration of Notes
Deleting Notes
Changing Note Velocity
Adding Pedal Down and Pedal Up Symbols
Chapter 10 72 Mixing and Adding Effects
72
What Is Mixing?
73
Setting Track Volume Levels
73
Setting Track Pan Position
4
Contents
73
Using Volume and Pan Curves
74
Setting the Output Volume
75
Adding Fade Ins and Fade Outs
75
Transposing Part of a Project to a Different Key
76
Using Effects
76
77
78
78
78
79
79
Types of Effects
Adding Effects
Adjusting Effects
Turning Effects On and Off
Choosing Effect Presets
Editing Effect Presets
Saving Effect Presets
Chapter 11 80 Creating Podcasts in GarageBand
81
Creating a Podcast Episode
81
83
83
84
85
85
85
Creating the Podcast Audio
Ducking Backing Tracks
Adding and Editing Markers
Adding Marker Region Artwork
Adding a URL to a Marker
Adding Chapter Titles
Deleting Markers
86 Adding Episode Artwork
86 Editing Artwork
86 Editing Episode Information
87 Creating a Video Podcast Episode
87 Sending a Podcast to iWeb
87 Exporting a Podcast Episode
Chapter 12 88 Creating a Musical Score for an iMovie or Video
88 Sending an iMovie Project to GarageBand
89 Importing a Video File From the Media Browser
90 Viewing the Video
90 Working With the Video’s Audio Track
90 Adding and Editing Markers
91 Adding a URL to a Marker
91 Adding a Chapter Title
91 Sending a Movie to iDVD
92 Sending a Video Podcast to iWeb
92 Exporting a Project as a QuickTime Movie
Contents
5
Appendix A 93 Keyboard Shortcuts
Appendix B 96 Connecting Music Equipment to Your Computer
96 Connecting a Musical Instrument or Microphone
97 Connecting a Music Keyboard to Your Computer
6 Contents
1 Welcome to GarageBand
1
This document gives you useful information and step-bystep instructions for creating projects with GarageBand.
The following chapters give you a tour of the GarageBand windows and a series of
lessons to help you create your own music projects. The chapters in GarageBand
Getting Started cover the following topics:
 “GarageBand at a Glance” provides a tour of the windows and controls in
GarageBand.
 “Working With Projects” describes how to create a new project, as well as how to
save, archive, and export your projects.
 “Using Apple Loops” describes how to find and preview Apple Loops in the loop
browser, add them to the timeline, and create your own Apple Loops.
 “Working in the Timeline” describes how to build your project by arranging regions
in the timeline.
 “Working With Real Instruments” describes how to add a Real Instrument track, turn
on monitoring, set the input channel and format, record a Real Instrument, and
change Real Instrument settings.
 “Working With Software Instruments” describes how to add a Software Instrument
track, record a Software Instrument, and change Software Instrument settings.
 “Working in the Editor” describes the different ways you can edit Real and Software
Instrument regions.
 “Working in Notation View” describes how to view Software Instrument regions as
music notation, and how to edit notes, note velocity, and pedal markings in notation
view.
 “Mixing and Adding Effects” describes the steps to follow in mixing your project, and
how to use the effects included with GarageBand.
 “Creating Podcasts in GarageBand” describes how to create audio and video podcast
episodes and send them to iWeb or export them.
7
 “Creating a Musical Score for an iMovie or Video” describes how to import a video file
into a project, view the video, edit the video’s audio, add markers, URLS, and chapter
titles, and send the finished movie to iDVD or to iWeb, or export it as a QuickTime
movie.
GarageBand Getting Started also includes appendixes listing keyboard shortcuts and
describing how to connect music equipment to your computer.
What’s New in GarageBand 3
GarageBand 3 includes the following new features and enhancements:
 Using the Media Browser, you can find and preview photos from your iPhoto library,
songs from your iTunes library, and iMovie projects from your Movies folder, then
import them into a project. You can also import other GarageBand projects saved
with an iLife preview into a project.
 You can create podcasts in GarageBand, including enhanced podcasts and video
podcasts. You can view your podcast in the podcast preview pane as you record and
mix the audio. You can also add and edit markers, which can include artwork, URLs,
and chapter titles. When you finish creating your podcast episode, you can send it to
iWeb to publish on the Internet, or export it and publish it using another application.
 You can send an iMovie project to GarageBand, or import a video file, and create a
musical score for the video. You can view the video as you work, edit the video's
audio track, and add markers. When you finish creating your musical score, you can
send the project to iDVD, export it as a video podcast, or export it as a QuickTime
movie.
 You can record iChat audio and video conferences in a GarageBand project.
 GarageBand includes new Apple Loops designed to be used in podcast episodes.
You can add podcast sounds from the loop browser, and use them with the new
Sound Effects Software Instrument when you create a podcast.
 The Track Info pane is now integrated into the main GarageBand window. When you
show the Track Info pane, it appears on the right side of the timeline, without
covering other parts of the main window.
 By default, Real Instrument recordings and loops match the song tempo. Now you
can set individual Real Instrument regions to follow their original tempo.
 You can compact a project to reduce the file size for easier sharing.
 GarageBand projects can now be up to 1999 measures long (twice as long as before).
8 Chapter 1 Welcome to GarageBand
Before You Begin
To make it easier to follow the lessons as you work, print each lesson before you start.
In many of the tasks shown in this document you need to choose menu commands. In
the lessons, and in GarageBand Help, menu commands appear like this:
Choose Edit > Join Selected.
The first term after Choose is the name of the menu in the GarageBand menu bar. The
term (or terms) following the angle bracket are the items you choose from that menu.
What You’ll Learn
GarageBand lets you be the composer, the bandleader, and the mixing engineer as you
create your own original projects. You can create projects by adding Apple Loops, by
connecting a musical instrument or microphone to your computer and recording it in a
Real Instrument track, by playing the Software Instruments included with GarageBand,
or using any combination of these methods. You’ll learn how to:
 Create, open, and save projects
 Set project tempo, key, time signature, and length
 Find and preview Apple Loops using the loop browser, then add them to your
projects
 Play and record both Real and Software Instruments
 Arrange Real and Software Instrument regions in the timeline, and edit them in the
editor
 View and edit Software Instrument regions as music notation
 Send a movie from iMovie so you can create a soundtrack in GarageBand, edit the
movie’s audio track, add markers, and send the movie to iDVD
 Create an enhanced podcast or enhanced video podcast in GarageBand and send it
to iWeb, or export it as a podcast episode
What You Need
All you need to create music in GarageBand is a Macintosh computer that meets the
system requirements, as listed in the Read Me file. Optionally, you can use any of the
following equipment to expand your music creation possibilities:
 A microphone to record your voice or any acoustic musical instrument
 Electronic musical instruments, including guitars, basses, and keyboards
 A music keyboard (USB or MIDI) to play and record Software Instruments
 An audio interface to connect musical instruments or microphones
 A pair of speakers or monitors to hear the music you create with greater audio
quality
Chapter 1 Welcome to GarageBand 9
Finding Out More
For complete and up-to-date information on GarageBand, including news about new
features, user tips, and a list of supported music equipment, go to the GarageBand
website at www.apple.com/ilife/garageband.
To get help while you’re using GarageBand, look in GarageBand Help, available in
the Help menu when GarageBand is open. You'll find more information about the
topics covered in this document, as well as information and instructions for many
more topics.
For support, go to the GarageBand support site at
www.apple.com/support/garageband.
10 Chapter 1 Welcome to GarageBand
2 GarageBand at a Glance
“GarageBand at a Glance” introduces you to the features
and controls in the GarageBand windows. You use these
controls to create your projects in GarageBand.
Take a look at these pages even if you don’t plan to complete the lessons in
GarageBand Getting Started, because knowing the names and functions of the
GarageBand controls will make it easier to find answers to your questions in
GarageBand Help.
2
The pages that follow introduce you to the GarageBand window—including the
timeline, the loop browser, and the editor—and to the Track Info pane. You record Real
and Software Instruments and arrange and mix your projects in the timeline, find and
preview loops in the loop browser, and change track instrument, effects, and input
settings in the Track Info pane.
11
GarageBand Window
A
C
D
E
B
F
12 Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance
JIHG
Track headers: The instrument icon and name are shown at the left of each track’s header. Click
A
the name to type a new track name. Click the Record Enable button (with the red circle) to turn
on the track for recording. Click the Mute button (with the speaker icon) to silence the track.
Click the Solo button (with the headphone icon) to hear the track by itself. Click the Lock Track
button to lock the track. Click the triangle to show the track’s volume curve.
Track mixer: Drag the pan dial to adjust the pan position of the track (the left-to-right
B
placement in the stereo field). Drag the volume slider to adjust the track’s volume. Watch the
level meters to see the track’s volume level as you record and play.
Timeline: Contains the tracks where you record Real and Software Instruments, add loops, and
C
arrange regions. Also includes the beat ruler, which you use to move the playhead and align
items in the timeline with beats and measures. See “Timeline” on page 14 for a description of the
features and controls in the timeline.
Zoom slider: Drag the zoom slider to zoom in for a closer view of part of the timeline, or to
D
zoom out to see more of the timeline.
Add Track button: Click to add a track below the existing tracks in the timeline.
E
Loop Browser and Editor buttons: Click to open the loop browser or the editor.
F
Transport controls: Click the Record button to start recording. Click the Play button to start or
G
stop the project playing. Click the Go to Beginning, Rewind, or Fast Forward buttons to move the
playhead to different parts of the project. Click the Cycle button to turn the cycle region on or
off.
Time display/instrument tuner: The time display shows the playhead’s position in musical time
H
(measures, beats, ticks) or absolute time (hours, minutes, seconds, fractions). Drag or double-click
the numerals to enter a new playhead position.
The right side of the time display shows the project’s tempo. Press and hold the tempo, then
drag the slider to set a new tempo.
You can also show the instrument tuner in the time display by clicking the small tuning fork,
and use it to check the tuning of a Real Instrument connected to your computer.
Master volume slider and level meters: Drag the volume slider to adjust the project’s master
I
output volume level. Watch the level meters to see if clipping is occurring before you export a
project.
Track Info and Media Browser buttons: Click to open the Track Info pane or the Media Browser.
J
Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance 13
Timeline
The timeline contains the tracks where you record Real and Software Instruments, add
loops, and arrange regions.
C
A
B
I
D
E
F
G
H
14 Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance
Beat ruler: Shows beats and measures, the units of musical time in the timeline. You can click
A
the beat ruler to move the playhead to a specific point in the timeline.
Tracks: You record Real and Software Instruments in tracks, and drag loops to tracks to add
B
them to a project. You arrange the project by working with regions in the tracks in the timeline.
Playhead: Shows the point in the project currently playing, or the point where playback starts
C
when you click the Play button. Also shows where cut and copied items are pasted in the
timeline. You can move the playhead to change what part of the project is playing.
Grid button: Choose a note value for the timeline grid, or choose Automatic to have the value
D
change when you zoom in or out.
Volume and pan curves: Add a volume or pan curve to a track, then add and adjust control
E
points on the volume or pan curve to add dynamic changes to different parts of a project.
Regions: When you record a Real Instrument or Software Instrument, or add a loop, you create a
F
region in the timeline. You can cut, copy, and paste regions, loop and resize them, move and
transpose them, and make other changes to build the arrangement of the project.
Master track: You can change the loudness of the overall project by adding a volume curve to
G
the master track. and transpose parts of your project to a different key by adding a pitch curve.
Playhead Lock button: Click to unlock the playheads in the timeline and the editor, so that you
H
can see different parts of the project in the editor and the timeline.
Scroll bars: Drag the horizontal scroller to move to a different part of a project. Drag the vertical
I
scroller to see tracks not currently visible.
Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance 15
Editor
The editor is like a microscope showing a close-up view of part of a track. You can edit
Real and Software Instrument regions in a variety of ways in the editor.
For Real Instruments
When you select a Real Instrument track, the editor shows the waveform of the track or
selected region. You can move, crop, join, transpose, and rename regions in the editor.
D
A
B
C
G I
H
Region Name field: Type a new name for the selected region in the field.
A
Region Pitch slider and field: Drag the slider to transpose the selected Real Instrument region
B
up or down by up to 12 semitones. You can also type the number of semitones in the field.
Zoom slider: Drag to zoom in for a closer view or to zoom out to see more of the track or
C
selected region. Zooming in the editor is independent of the timeline.
Beat ruler: Shows beats and measures for the area visible in the editor.
D
Playhead: Shows the point in the project currently playing.
E
Waveform display: Shows the waveform of the regions in the track.
F
Enhance Tuning slider and checkbox: Drag right to increase the amount of tuning
G
enhancement, or drag left to lower the amount. The limit to key checkbox limits tuning
enhancement to the project’s key.
Enhance Timing slider and pop-up menu: Drag right to increase the amount of timing
H
enhancement, or drag left to lower the amount. Choose the note value to use and the basis for
timing enhancement from the pop-up menu.
Scroll bar: Drag the scroller to move to a different part of the track.
I
E F
16 Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance
For Software Instruments—Graphic View
When you select a Software Instrument track, the editor shows a graphic display of the
track or selected region. You can edit individual notes in Software Instrument regions,
fix the timing of notes, and transpose and rename regions. You can also show and edit
controller data for pitch bend, a modulation wheel, or a sustain pedal, recorded when
you play your music keyboard.
F H I
A
B
C
D
GE K
Region Name field: Type a new name for the selected region in the field.
A
Region Pitch slider and field: Drag the slider to transpose the selected Software Instrument
B
region up or down by up to 36 semitones. You can also type the number of semitones in the
field.
Velocity slider and field: Drag the slider to change the velocity of selected notes. You can also
C
type the velocity value in the field. A note’s velocity reflects how hard the key is pressed when
you play the note.
Zoom slider: Drag to zoom in for a closer view or to zoom out to see more of the track.
D
Graphic/Notation View buttons: Click to change the editor to graphic view or notation view.
E
Display pop-up menu: Choose whether to show notes or controller data in the editor.
F
Fix Timing button: Click to fix the timing of notes in the selected region, or notes selected in the
G
editor, so that notes move to the nearest grid position.
Beat ruler: Shows beats and measures for the area visible in the editor.
H
Playhead: Shows the point in the project currently playing.
I
Notes/controller data display: Shows the individual notes of Software Instrument regions in a
J
graphic format. You can move and resize notes to adjust their pitch, where they start playing,
and how long they play. Shows controller data when chosen in the Display pop-up menu.
Scroll bar: Drag the scroller to move to a different part of a track.
K
J
Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance 17
For Software Instruments—Notation View
You can also view Software Instrument tracks and regions in notation view. In notation
view, notes and other musical events are shown in standard music notation. You can
edit notes and edit controller information (including velocity and pedal markings for
sustain) in notation view.
F H I J
A
B
C
D
E
Region Name field: Type a new name for the selected region in the field.
A
Region Pitch slider and field: Drag the slider to transpose the selected Software Instrument
B
region up or down by up to 36 semitones. You can also type the number of semitones in the
field.
Velocity slider and field: Drag the slider to change the velocity of selected notes. You can also
C
type the velocity value in the field. A note’s velocity reflects how hard the key is pressed when
you play the note.
Zoom slider: Drag to zoom in for a closer view or to zoom out to see more of the track.
D
Graphic/Notation View buttons: Click to change the editor to graphic view or notation view.
E
Note Value button: Click to choose the note value for notes you add.
F
Fix Timing button: Click to fix the timing of notes in the selected region, or notes selected in the
G
editor, so that notes move to the nearest grid position.
Beat ruler: Shows beats and measures for the area visible in the editor.
H
Playhead: Shows the point in the project currently playing.
I
Notation display: Shows the musical events of Software Instrument regions in standard music
J
notation. You can move notes to adjust their pitch and where they start playing, and change
how long they play.
Scroll bar: Drag the scroller to move to a different part of a track.
K
G
K
18 Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance
For Podcasts and Video—Marker View
When you are working on a podcast episode, you can view and edit markers in the
editor. In the marker list you can edit each marker’s time position, marker region
artwork, URL, URL title, and chapter title. You can also add episode artwork in the
editor.
DB
A
C
Episode Artwork well: Drag artwork here to represent the podcast.
A
(Appears only when creating a podcast.)
Marks a Chapter checkbox: Shows whether the selected marker marks a chapter.
B
Displays Artwork checkbox: Shows whether the selected marker contains marker region
artwork. (Appears only when creating a podcast.)
Displays URL checkbox: Shows whether the selected marker has a URL.
Add Marker button: Add a marker at the playhead position.
C
Marker list: Shows each marker’s start time, artwork (for podcasts) or video frame (for videos),
D
chapter title, URL, and URL title.
Time column: Shows the start time for each marker.
E
Artwork column: Shows the artwork for each marker region. Add artwork by dragging image
F
files from the Media Browser. (Appears only when creating a podcast.)
Still Frame column: Shows the video frame at the position of each marker.
(Appears only when working with a video.)
Chapter Title column: Shows the title of each chapter marker. Click and type a title for a marker.
G
URL Title column: Shows the title of each marker region’s URL. Click and type a title for the URL.
H
URL column: Shows the URL for each marker region. Type a URL (address) for the website for
I
which you want to show a link.
FE G H I
Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance 19
Loop Browser
The loop browser lets you quickly find loops to add to your projects. You can find loops
using keywords for instrument, musical genre, or mood. You can also perform text
searches, and refine your results in several ways. The loop browser shows the tempo,
key, and number of beats for each matching loop. You can preview loops in the loop
browser before you add them to a project, and add more loops to GarageBand by
dragging them onto the loop browser.
The loop browser gives you two ways to find loops: button view and column view.
Button View
In button view, the loop browser contains a set of keyword buttons. Click a button to
show matching loops in the results list. Clicking multiple buttons narrows the results to
those loops that match all of the selected keywords.
G
A
B D
Keyword buttons: Click a keyword button to display matching loops in the results list. You can
A
click multiple keyword buttons to narrow your results.
View buttons: Click one of the buttons to show column view, button view, or podcast sounds
B
view.
Scale pop-up menu: Choose a scale type to see only loops using that musical scale.
C
Search field: Type text in the field to see loops with the text in their file name or path.
D
Preview volume slider: Drag the slider to adjust the volume of the loop being previewed.
E
Results list: Shows loops that match the selected keywords. Also displays the tempo, key, and
F
number of beats for each loop. Click a loop in the results list to preview it. Click the Favs
checkbox for a loop to add it to your favorites.
Loop library pop-up menu: Choose the loops you want to show in the loop browser from the
G
pop-up menu.
20 Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance
C
E
F
Column View and Podcast Sounds View
In column view, the loop browser features columns for keyword type, categories, and
keywords. Click a keyword type to show categories for that type, click a category to
show keywords, then click a keyword to show matching loops in the results list.
Clicking multiple keywords expands the results to those loops matching any of the
selected keywords.
In podcast sounds view, the loop browser shows a different set of columns, featuring
sound effects, jingles, and other loops suitable for podcasts. You work with the columns
in podcast sounds view the same way you do in columns view.
BA C
E
Keyword type column: Click a keyword type to show the categories for that keyword type in
A
the middle column.
Category column: Click a category to show keywords for that category in the right column.
B
Keyword column: Click a keyword to show matching loops in the results list. You can click
C
multiple keywords to expand your results.
View buttons: Click one of the buttons to change the view between column, button, or podcast
D
sounds view.
Scale pop-up menu: Choose a scale type to see only loops using that scale.
E
Search field: Type text in the field to see loops with the text in their file name or path.
F
Preview volume slider: Drag the slider to adjust the volume of the loop being previewed.
G
Results list: Shows the loops that match the selected keywords. Also displays the tempo, key,
H
and number of beats for each loop. Click a loop in the results list to preview it. Click the Favs
checkbox for a loop to add it to your favorites.
F
GD
H
Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance 21
Track Info Pane
The Track Info pane shows the current instrument, effects, and input settings for the
selected track, or the master effects settings for the master track. You can change these
settings in the Track Info pane.
Real and Software Instrument Tracks
Some controls in the Track Info pane are different for Real Instrument tracks than for
Software Instrument tracks (as noted below).
A C
D
E
F
B
G
H
I
22 Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance
Instrument category list: Click an instrument category to see the instruments for that category
A
in the instrument list on the right.
B Instrument library pop-up menu: Choose which instruments you want to see in the category
and instrument lists from the pop-up menu.
Instrument list: Click an instrument from the list.
C
Instrument icon pop-up menu: Click to choose a new instrument icon from the icon menu that
D
appears. Icons make it easy to distinguish tracks that use similar instruments.
Details triangle: Click to show the instrument and effects settings.
E
Effect checkboxes, sliders, and pop-up menus: Click an effect checkbox to turn the effect on or
F
off. Drag the sliders to adjust the level of the effects, or choose an item from the pop-up menus.
The Track Info pane includes the following effects for Real and Software Instruments:
 Noise gate slider (Real Instrument tracks only): Drag the slider to adjust the amount of
gating.
 Generator and generator preset pop-up menus (Software Instrument tracks only):
Choose an instrument generator, and generator preset, from the menus.
 Compression slider: Drag the slider to adjust the amount of compression.
 Equalizer pop-up menu: Choose an EQ setting from the pop-up menu.
 Effect and effect setting pop-up menus: Click a checkbox to turn additional effects on or off.
Choose an effect from a pop-up menu on the left, then choose an effect preset from the popup menu on the right.
 Echo slider: Drag the slider to adjust the amount of echo.
 Reverb slider: Drag the slider to adjust the amount of reverb.
Input channel pop-up menu and buttons (Real Instrument tracks only): Choose the input
G
channel or channels for the instrument from the Input pop-up menu. Drag the Volume slider to
set the input volume for the selected channel. Turn monitoring on or off using the Monitor popup menu.
Effect edit buttons: Click to show an effect’s preset window, where you can edit the effect
H
preset.
Save Instrument and Delete Instrument buttons: Click the Save Instrument button to save an
I
instrument. Click the Delete Instrument button to delete a saved instrument.
Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance 23
Master Track
The Track Info pane for the master track shows the global project settings and effects
settings for the overall project. Global project settings include tempo, time signature,
and key. Global effects settings include master echo, reverb, equalizer, and compressor.
A CB
D
E
G
F
H
I
J
24 Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance
I
The Echo and Reverb sliders for each track control the amount of echo and reverb sent
from that track to the master echo and reverb effects. In the Track Info pane for the
master track, you can change the master echo and reverb effects.
Master effects category list: Click a category to see the effects for that category in the master
A
effects list on the right.
Master effects pop-up menu: Choose which master effects you want to see in the category and
B
effects lists from the pop-up menu.
Master effects list: Click a set of master effects from the list.
C
Tempo slider and field: Drag the slider to change the project’s tempo, or type a new tempo in
D
the field.
Time pop-up menu and field: Choose a time signature from the pop-up menu.
E
Key pop-up menu: Choose a key from the pop-up menu.
F
Details triangle: Click to show the global effects settings.
G
Effect checkboxes, pop-up menus, and slider: Click an effect checkbox to turn the effect on or
H
off. Choose an item from the pop-up menus, or drag the slider, to adjust an effect. The Track Info
pane includes the following effects for the master track:
 Echo pop-up menu: Choose a global echo preset.
 Reverb pop-up menu: Choose a global reverb preset.
 Effect and effect setting pop-up menus: Click a checkbox to turn an additional effect on or
off. Choose an effect from a pop-up menu on the left, then choose an effect preset from the
pop-up menu on the right.
 Equalizer pop-up menu: Choose a global equalizer setting from the pop-up menu.
 Compression slider: Drag the slider to adjust the amount of global compression.
 Ducking Amount slider: When ducking is enabled, drag the slider to adjust the amount of
ducking applied to backing tracks.
Effect edit buttons: Click to show an effect’s preset window, where you can edit the effect
I
preset.
Save Master and Delete Master buttons: Click the Save Master button to save a set of master
J
effects. Click the Delete Master button to delete a saved set of master effects.
Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance 25
Media Browser
The Media Browser lets you find and add songs from your iTunes library, photos from
your iPhoto library, iMovie projects, and other video files.
A
B
C
E
Audio, Photos, and Movies buttons: Click the button for the type of media files you want to
A
work with.
Source list: Navigate to the folder containing the files you want to use. You can also add folders
B
by dragging them from the Finder.
Media list: View, preview, and select media files to add to your project.
C
Play button: Click to preview the selected audio or video file. (not shown–only visible when
D
viewing audio files or movies).
Search field: Type text to search for files with matching names.
E
26 Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance
3 Working With Projects
3
You start working in GarageBand by creating a project.
Projects hold your music and all the changes you make.
Each project has a tempo, a time signature, and a key, which last for the entire length
of the project. When you create a project, you set the tempo, time signature, and key in
the New Project dialog. You can save a project as an archive, and export a project to
iTunes or another iLife application.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to:
 Create a new project
 Set a project’s tempo, key, and time signature
 Open existing projects
 Save projects
Creating a Project
You start working in GarageBand by creating a new project.
To create a new project:
1 Choose File > New.
2 In the New Project dialog, select the type of project you want to create.
3 In the dialog that appears, browse to the location where you want to store the project,
then type a name for the project in the Name field.
4 Set the project’s tempo, key, and time signature as described in the following sections.
27
5 When you have finished making the project settings, click Create.
Tempo slider
Scale pop-up menu
pop-up menu
Key pop-up menuTime signature
Setting the Tempo
Each project has a speed, or tempo. The tempo defines the rate at which beats, the
basic rhythmic pulse, occur in the project. The tempo is measured in beats per minute,
or bpm. You can set the tempo to any speed between 60 and 240 bpm. The default
tempo is 120 bpm, which is a common tempo used in popular music.
To set the tempo:
m In the New Project dialog, drag the Tempo slider left to slow down the tempo, or right
to speed up the tempo.
Note: You can change the tempo later in the time display, located below the timeline,
or in the Track Info pane for the master track.
Click here to change the tempo.
28 Chapter 3 Working With Projects
Setting the Key
Each project has a key, which defines the central note to which the other notes in the
music relate, and the scale used (either “major” or “minor”).
To set the key:
1 In the New Project dialog, choose a key from the Key pop-up menu.
2 Choose the scale from the Scale pop-up menu to the right of the Key pop-up menu.
Note: You can change the key later in the Track Info pane for the master track.
If you change the key of a project after recording instruments or adding loops, all
Software Instrument recordings and loops are transposed to the new key. Real
Instrument recordings are not transposed.
Setting the Time Signature
Each project also has a time signature, which controls the relationship between beats
and measures. A project’s time signature consists of two numbers separated by a
forward slash, which look similar to a fraction. The number on the left controls the
number of beats in each measure, and the number on the right controls the beat value
(the length of the note that gets one beat).
You can use any of the following time signatures in a GarageBand project: 2/2, 2/4, 3/4,
4/4, 5/4, 7/4, 6/8, 7/8, 9/8, or 12/8. The default is 4/4, the most commonly used time
signature.
To set the time signature:
m In the New Project dialog, choose a time signature from the Time pop-up menu.
Note: You can change the time signature later in the Track Info pane for the
master track.
Opening an Existing Project
You can open an existing project to continue working.
To open an existing project:
m Choose File > Open, locate and select the project you want to open, then click OK.
You can also open a recently open project by choosing File > Open Recent and
choosing a project from the submenu.
If you close the currently open project, a dialog appears, asking if you want to create a
new project or open an existing project.
Chapter 3 Working With Projects 29
Saving a Project
As you work, it’s important to save your project often so you don’t lose your changes.
To save a project:
m Choose File > Save (or press Command-S).
When you save a project, by default GarageBand creates an iLife preview that is saved
with the project. An iLife preview lets you preview the project in the Media Browser
and in other iLife applications, but can increase the project’s file size. You can select
whether to create an iLife preview for projects in the General pane of GarageBand
Preferences.
You can also save a project as an archive. When you save a project as an archive, all the
audio files, loops, and other media the project uses are saved in the project file. This is
especially useful if you want to copy the project to another computer, or are
duplicating a project with your own Real Instrument recordings.
To save a project as an archive:
1 Choose File > Save as.
2 In the Save As dialog, select the Save As Archive checkbox.
You can also compact projects to make sharing easier. Compacting a project reduces
the file size by compressing audio in the project. Compacting can result in some loss of
audio quality.
To compact a project:
1 Choose File > Save as.
2 In the Save As dialog, select the Compact Project checkbox.
3 Choose the compression settings you want to use from the pop-up menu next to the
Compact Project checkbox.
30 Chapter 3 Working With Projects
Loading...