Apple GarageBand 3 User Manual

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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

 

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Setting the Tempo

 

29

Setting the Key

 

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Setting the Time Signature

 

29

Opening an Existing Project

 

30

Saving a Project

 

31

Sending a Project to iTunes

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Chapter 4

32

Using Apple Loops

 

33

Finding Loops With the Loop Browser

 

33

Finding Loops in Column View

 

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Finding Loops in Button View

 

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Finding Loops in Podcast Sounds View

 

35

Previewing Loops in the Loop Browser

 

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Refining Your Searches

 

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Displaying Loops From a Jam Pack or Folder

 

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Searching by Scale Type

 

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Limiting Searches to Nearby Keys

 

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Searching for Specific Text

 

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Adding Loops to the Timeline

 

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Creating Your Own Apple Loops

 

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Adding Loops to the Loop Library

Chapter 5

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Working in the Timeline

 

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About Regions

 

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Selecting Regions

 

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Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Regions

 

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Looping Regions

 

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Resizing Regions

 

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Moving Regions

 

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Transposing Regions

 

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Splitting Regions

 

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Joining Regions

 

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Fixing the Timing of Software Instrument Regions

 

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Setting Real Instrument Regions to Keep Their Original Tempo

 

45

Renaming Regions

 

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Using the Grid

 

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Using Undo and Redo

Chapter 6

47

Working With Real Instruments

 

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Adding a Real Instrument Track

 

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Monitoring Real Instrument Input

 

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Getting Ready to Record

 

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Recording a Real Instrument

 

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Recording a Real Instrument With the Cycle Region

 

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Recording Multiple Real Instrument Tracks

 

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Changing Real Instrument Settings

 

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Changing the Instrument

Contents

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52Changing the Input Channel

53Adjusting Input Volume

53Using the Instrument Tuner

54Adding an Audio File From the Finder

Chapter 7

55

Working With Software Instruments

 

55

Using Musical Typing

 

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Using the Onscreen Music Keyboard

 

57

Adding a Software Instrument Track

 

57

Getting Ready to Record

 

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Recording a Software Instrument

 

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Recording a Software Instrument With the Cycle Region

 

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Changing Software Instrument Settings

Chapter 8

60

Working in the Editor

 

60

Selecting Regions

 

61

Editing Real Instrument Regions

 

61

Moving Real Instrument Regions

 

61

Cropping Part of a Real Instrument Region

 

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Joining Real Instrument Regions

 

62

Enhancing the Tuning of Real Instrument Tracks

 

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Enhancing the Timing of Real Instrument Tracks

 

63

Editing Software Instrument Regions

 

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Editing Notes in a Software Instrument Region

 

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Editing Controller Information in a Software Instrument Region

Chapter 9

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Working in Notation View

 

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About Notation View

 

68

Editing Notes in Notation View

 

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Adding Notes

 

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Selecting Notes

 

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Moving Notes

 

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Copying Notes

 

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Changing the Pitch of Notes

 

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Changing the Duration of Notes

 

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Deleting Notes

 

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Changing Note Velocity

 

70

Adding Pedal Down and Pedal Up Symbols

Chapter 10

72

Mixing and Adding Effects

 

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What Is Mixing?

 

73

Setting Track Volume Levels

 

73

Setting Track Pan Position

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Contents

 

 

73Using Volume and Pan Curves

74Setting the Output Volume

75Adding Fade Ins and Fade Outs

75Transposing Part of a Project to a Different Key

76Using Effects

76Types of Effects

77Adding Effects

78Adjusting Effects

78Turning Effects On and Off

78Choosing Effect Presets

79Editing Effect Presets

79 Saving Effect Presets

Chapter 11

80

Creating Podcasts in GarageBand

 

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Creating a Podcast Episode

 

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Creating the Podcast Audio

 

83

Ducking Backing Tracks

 

83

Adding and Editing Markers

 

84

Adding Marker Region Artwork

 

85

Adding a URL to a Marker

 

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Adding Chapter Titles

 

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Deleting Markers

 

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Adding Episode Artwork

 

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Editing Artwork

 

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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

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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

 

 

Welcome to GarageBand

1

 

 

 

This document gives you useful information and step-by- step 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.

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“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:

ÂUsing 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.

ÂYou 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.

ÂYou 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.

ÂYou can record iChat audio and video conferences in a GarageBand project.

ÂGarageBand 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.

ÂThe 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.

ÂBy default, Real Instrument recordings and loops match the song tempo. Now you can set individual Real Instrument regions to follow their original tempo.

ÂYou can compact a project to reduce the file size for easier sharing.

ÂGarageBand projects can now be up to 1999 measures long (twice as long as before).

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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:

ÂCreate, open, and save projects

ÂSet project tempo, key, time signature, and length

ÂFind and preview Apple Loops using the loop browser, then add them to your projects

ÂPlay and record both Real and Software Instruments

ÂArrange Real and Software Instrument regions in the timeline, and edit them in the editor

ÂView and edit Software Instrument regions as music notation

ÂSend 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

ÂCreate 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:

ÂA microphone to record your voice or any acoustic musical instrument

ÂElectronic musical instruments, including guitars, basses, and keyboards

ÂA music keyboard (USB or MIDI) to play and record Software Instruments

ÂAn audio interface to connect musical instruments or microphones

ÂA pair of speakers or monitors to hear the music you create with greater audio quality

Chapter 1 Welcome to GarageBand

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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.

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Chapter 1 Welcome to GarageBand

 

 

GarageBand at a Glance

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“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.

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.

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GarageBand Window

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Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance

 

 

ATrack headers: The instrument icon and name are shown at the left of each track’s header. Click 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.

BTrack mixer: Drag the pan dial to adjust the pan position of the track (the left-to-right 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.

CTimeline: Contains the tracks where you record Real and Software Instruments, add loops, and 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.

DZoom slider: Drag the zoom slider to zoom in for a closer view of part of the timeline, or to zoom out to see more of the timeline.

EAdd Track button: Click to add a track below the existing tracks in the timeline.

FLoop Browser and Editor buttons: Click to open the loop browser or the editor.

GTransport controls: Click the Record button to start recording. Click the Play button to start or 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.

HTime display/instrument tuner: The time display shows the playhead’s position in musical time (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.

IMaster volume slider and level meters: Drag the volume slider to adjust the project’s master output volume level. Watch the level meters to see if clipping is occurring before you export a project.

JTrack Info and Media Browser buttons: Click to open the Track Info pane or the Media Browser.

Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance

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Timeline

The timeline contains the tracks where you record Real and Software Instruments, add loops, and arrange regions.

 

 

 

 

 

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ABeat ruler: Shows beats and measures, the units of musical time in the timeline. You can click the beat ruler to move the playhead to a specific point in the timeline.

BTracks: You record Real and Software Instruments in tracks, and drag loops to tracks to add them to a project. You arrange the project by working with regions in the tracks in the timeline.

CPlayhead: Shows the point in the project currently playing, or the point where playback starts 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.

DGrid button: Choose a note value for the timeline grid, or choose Automatic to have the value change when you zoom in or out.

EVolume and pan curves: Add a volume or pan curve to a track, then add and adjust control points on the volume or pan curve to add dynamic changes to different parts of a project.

FRegions: When you record a Real Instrument or Software Instrument, or add a loop, you create a 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.

GMaster track: You can change the loudness of the overall project by adding a volume curve to the master track. and transpose parts of your project to a different key by adding a pitch curve.

HPlayhead Lock button: Click to unlock the playheads in the timeline and the editor, so that you can see different parts of the project in the editor and the timeline.

IScroll bars: Drag the horizontal scroller to move to a different part of a project. Drag the vertical scroller to see tracks not currently visible.

Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance

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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.

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ARegion Name field: Type a new name for the selected region in the field.

BRegion Pitch slider and field: Drag the slider to transpose the selected Real Instrument region up or down by up to 12 semitones. You can also type the number of semitones in the field.

CZoom slider: Drag to zoom in for a closer view or to zoom out to see more of the track or selected region. Zooming in the editor is independent of the timeline.

DBeat ruler: Shows beats and measures for the area visible in the editor.

EPlayhead: Shows the point in the project currently playing.

FWaveform display: Shows the waveform of the regions in the track.

GEnhance Tuning slider and checkbox: Drag right to increase the amount of tuning enhancement, or drag left to lower the amount. The limit to key checkbox limits tuning enhancement to the project’s key.

HEnhance Timing slider and pop-up menu: Drag right to increase the amount of timing 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.

IScroll bar: Drag the scroller to move to a different part of the track.

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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.

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ARegion Name field: Type a new name for the selected region in the field.

BRegion Pitch slider and field: Drag the slider to transpose the selected Software Instrument region up or down by up to 36 semitones. You can also type the number of semitones in the field.

CVelocity slider and field: Drag the slider to change the velocity of selected notes. You can also type the velocity value in the field. A note’s velocity reflects how hard the key is pressed when you play the note.

DZoom slider: Drag to zoom in for a closer view or to zoom out to see more of the track.

EGraphic/Notation View buttons: Click to change the editor to graphic view or notation view.

FDisplay pop-up menu: Choose whether to show notes or controller data in the editor.

GFix Timing button: Click to fix the timing of notes in the selected region, or notes selected in the editor, so that notes move to the nearest grid position.

HBeat ruler: Shows beats and measures for the area visible in the editor.

IPlayhead: Shows the point in the project currently playing.

JNotes/controller data display: Shows the individual notes of Software Instrument regions in a 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.

KScroll bar: Drag the scroller to move to a different part of a track.

Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance

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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.

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ARegion Name field: Type a new name for the selected region in the field.

BRegion Pitch slider and field: Drag the slider to transpose the selected Software Instrument region up or down by up to 36 semitones. You can also type the number of semitones in the field.

CVelocity slider and field: Drag the slider to change the velocity of selected notes. You can also type the velocity value in the field. A note’s velocity reflects how hard the key is pressed when you play the note.

DZoom slider: Drag to zoom in for a closer view or to zoom out to see more of the track.

EGraphic/Notation View buttons: Click to change the editor to graphic view or notation view.

FNote Value button: Click to choose the note value for notes you add.

GFix Timing button: Click to fix the timing of notes in the selected region, or notes selected in the editor, so that notes move to the nearest grid position.

HBeat ruler: Shows beats and measures for the area visible in the editor.

IPlayhead: Shows the point in the project currently playing.

JNotation display: Shows the musical events of Software Instrument regions in standard music notation. You can move notes to adjust their pitch and where they start playing, and change how long they play.

KScroll bar: Drag the scroller to move to a different part of a track.

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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.

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AEpisode Artwork well: Drag artwork here to represent the podcast. (Appears only when creating a podcast.)

BMarks a Chapter checkbox: Shows whether the selected marker marks a chapter.

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.

CAdd Marker button: Add a marker at the playhead position.

DMarker list: Shows each marker’s start time, artwork (for podcasts) or video frame (for videos), chapter title, URL, and URL title.

ETime column: Shows the start time for each marker.

FArtwork column: Shows the artwork for each marker region. Add artwork by dragging image 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.)

GChapter Title column: Shows the title of each chapter marker. Click and type a title for a marker.

HURL Title column: Shows the title of each marker region’s URL. Click and type a title for the URL.

IURL column: Shows the URL for each marker region. Type a URL (address) for the website for which you want to show a link.

Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance

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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.

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AKeyword buttons: Click a keyword button to display matching loops in the results list. You can click multiple keyword buttons to narrow your results.

BView buttons: Click one of the buttons to show column view, button view, or podcast sounds view.

CScale pop-up menu: Choose a scale type to see only loops using that musical scale.

DSearch field: Type text in the field to see loops with the text in their file name or path.

EPreview volume slider: Drag the slider to adjust the volume of the loop being previewed.

FResults list: Shows loops that match the selected keywords. Also displays the tempo, key, 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.

GLoop library pop-up menu: Choose the loops you want to show in the loop browser from the pop-up menu.

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Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance

 

 

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.

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AKeyword type column: Click a keyword type to show the categories for that keyword type in the middle column.

BCategory column: Click a category to show keywords for that category in the right column.

CKeyword column: Click a keyword to show matching loops in the results list. You can click multiple keywords to expand your results.

DView buttons: Click one of the buttons to change the view between column, button, or podcast sounds view.

EScale pop-up menu: Choose a scale type to see only loops using that scale.

FSearch field: Type text in the field to see loops with the text in their file name or path.

GPreview volume slider: Drag the slider to adjust the volume of the loop being previewed.

HResults list: Shows the loops that match the selected keywords. Also displays the tempo, key, 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.

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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).

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AInstrument category list: Click an instrument category to see the instruments for that category in the instrument list on the right.

BInstrument library pop-up menu: Choose which instruments you want to see in the category and instrument lists from the pop-up menu.

CInstrument list: Click an instrument from the list.

DInstrument icon pop-up menu: Click to choose a new instrument icon from the icon menu that appears. Icons make it easy to distinguish tracks that use similar instruments.

EDetails triangle: Click to show the instrument and effects settings.

FEffect checkboxes, sliders, and pop-up menus: Click an effect checkbox to turn the effect on or 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:

ÂNoise gate slider (Real Instrument tracks only): Drag the slider to adjust the amount of gating.

ÂGenerator and generator preset pop-up menus (Software Instrument tracks only):

Choose an instrument generator, and generator preset, from the menus.

ÂCompression slider: Drag the slider to adjust the amount of compression.

ÂEqualizer pop-up menu: Choose an EQ setting from the pop-up menu.

ÂEffect 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.

ÂEcho slider: Drag the slider to adjust the amount of echo.

ÂReverb slider: Drag the slider to adjust the amount of reverb.

GInput channel pop-up menu and buttons (Real Instrument tracks only): Choose the input 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.

HEffect edit buttons: Click to show an effect’s preset window, where you can edit the effect preset.

ISave Instrument and Delete Instrument buttons: Click the Save Instrument button to save an instrument. Click the Delete Instrument button to delete a saved instrument.

Chapter 2 GarageBand at a Glance

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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.

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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.

AMaster effects category list: Click a category to see the effects for that category in the master effects list on the right.

BMaster effects pop-up menu: Choose which master effects you want to see in the category and effects lists from the pop-up menu.

CMaster effects list: Click a set of master effects from the list.

DTempo slider and field: Drag the slider to change the project’s tempo, or type a new tempo in the field.

ETime pop-up menu and field: Choose a time signature from the pop-up menu.

FKey pop-up menu: Choose a key from the pop-up menu.

GDetails triangle: Click to show the global effects settings.

HEffect checkboxes, pop-up menus, and slider: Click an effect checkbox to turn the effect on or 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:

ÂEcho pop-up menu: Choose a global echo preset.

ÂReverb pop-up menu: Choose a global reverb preset.

ÂEffect 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.

ÂEqualizer pop-up menu: Choose a global equalizer setting from the pop-up menu.

ÂCompression slider: Drag the slider to adjust the amount of global compression.

ÂDucking Amount slider: When ducking is enabled, drag the slider to adjust the amount of ducking applied to backing tracks.

IEffect edit buttons: Click to show an effect’s preset window, where you can edit the effect preset.

JSave Master and Delete Master buttons: Click the Save Master button to save a set of master effects. Click the Delete Master button to delete a saved set of master effects.

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Apple GarageBand 3 User Manual

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.

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AAudio, Photos, and Movies buttons: Click the button for the type of media files you want to work with.

BSource list: Navigate to the folder containing the files you want to use. You can also add folders by dragging them from the Finder.

CMedia list: View, preview, and select media files to add to your project.

DPlay button: Click to preview the selected audio or video file. (not shown–only visible when viewing audio files or movies).

ESearch field: Type text to search for files with matching names.

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Working With Projects

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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:

ÂCreate a new project

ÂSet a project’s tempo, key, and time signature

ÂOpen existing projects

ÂSave 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.

3In 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.

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5 When you have finished making the project settings, click Create.

Tempo slider

Scale pop-up menu

Time signature

 

Key pop-up menu

 

pop-up menu

 

 

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:

mIn 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.

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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.

2Choose 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:

mIn 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:

mChoose 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.

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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:

mChoose 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.

2In 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.

3Choose the compression settings you want to use from the pop-up menu next to the Compact Project checkbox.

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