How to Do Everything with GarageBand (How to Do Everything)

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Summary: How to Do Everything with GarageBand
Review: I purchased GarageBand earlier this year played with it for a bit and haven't really used it much. I had used Soundtrack in the past and liked it because I was able to pull my projects into it and view it as I laid down the tracks. I was a bit disappointed that GarageBand didn't have that feature, so I didn't really use it much. I hate buying programs that I don't use so when I saw the book I decided to give GarageBand another chance.

As soon as I started reading this book I was very impressed. The book had an almost conversational feel to it. I hadn't even gotten it home and I was already on chapter four. I became excited about seeing what I could create with GarageBand.

GarageBand lets you make music three different ways. You can make a song using the provided Apple Loops, record tracks that trigger Software Instruments or record original audio through your computers audio inputs.

The book is organized into four basic parts. Part I "Get to Know GarageBand" shows you a quick overview of GarageBand's basic features and concepts, and helps you install and configure your computer. Part II "Make Music with GarageBand" is where you start to make music. So if you already have GarageBand on your system you can go straight to this section and get start mixing it up. Part III "Create a Finished Master" takes you a bit deeper into the program. Here you learn how to edit, mix, add effects, and export your songs to iTunes. There is both a creative and technical side to this part of the book. Part IV "Take GarageBand Beyond Its Horizons" gives you ways to expand on your studio by adding peripheral hardware and additional software. It also outlines how to share your songs with the world and how to eliminate some problems before they start.

On the left side of the pages there are gray buttons that contain Tips, Notes and Cautions. The "Tips" alert you to timesaving features or give you ways to go beyond the basics. "Notes" let you know what to look for in the book and offer some essential background information about a feature or action. While "Cautions"lets you know to be wary about what you are doing. It doesn't necessarily mean danger, just a note to pay special attention. There is also info for version 1.1 of GarageBand that are identified with a New In 1.1 icon next to it.

There are also a variety of sidebars throughout the book. There are Did You Know? sections, which give you insight into GarageBand and computer music in general. How to sidebars that teach you specific procedures, often with step-by-step instructions. Also Voices from the Community where you can here stuff from, recording artists, producers, composers and critics.

Chapter One: You learn about GarageBand's user interface and key terms that are used throughout the book. It shows a diagram and acquaints you with what the buttons do and what they mean. You also get a mini-music history lesson which I thought was kind of neat.

Chapter Two: Gets into the requirements for your system to successfully run GarageBand. You find out that GarageBand is a bit of a power hog even though it is an entry level program.

Chapter Three: You set preferences both general and for your new song. You choose your tempo, time signature and key for your song.

Chapter Four: You start laying your tracks. You can lay the tracks from top to bottom or in between, lay them down the way you like to work. You can create a "Soft"ware instrument track and a "Real"ware instrument track. A "Software" track is actually a synthesized or sampled sound that you can play, while making audio settings that will help enhance the sound of the sampler. While a "Real" instrument track does not include synthesizers or samplers, it does give you a bunch of tools so that you can adjust the track's sound for a specific application. You can also choose "Loops". These are little snips of notes that you can use to either create a full song or add to your songs.

Chapter Five: Let's you look a bit closer at the loop browser, showing you how to audition the different loops. Gives you info on how to flesh out the loops to make it fit your needs.

Chapter Six: You learn how to setup a Midi Controller. So if you have a keyboard with a USB controller you can connect directly to your computer and away you go.

Chapter Seven: Recording audio tracks. You learn about the different types of connectors that enable you to get your music into your computer. Since you are no longer constrained by linear recording you can move different pieces of your track around. So if the guitar lick really sounded like it should move to the beginning just drag that piece of audio and move it where you want it.

Chapter Eight: You learn how to edit what you just created. You "Split" and "Join" regions within your timeline. You fix timing, transpose or change pitch and rename.

Chapter Nine: Mixing your song. There is no "right" way to mix a song. A good mix should be clear, it should convey a mood and it should be interesting. In this chapter you get a good basis for mixing it up the right way.

Chapter Ten: You start breaking down already played songs to find all the parts that make a good song. It's not just about slapping together some tracks, but making something that people will be interested in and want to listen to.

Chapter Eleven: Distributing your music. Send it to iTunes and let the world here your music. There are many formats that you can have your song played and listened to.

Chapter Twelve: Adding instruments with Midi controllers to GarageBand. It goes over compatibility issues and other issues that you may not have thought about.

Chapter Thirteen: Adding additional software to GarageBand like Apple's Jam Pack. Additional loops are a great way to add a different flavor of music to what's there already.

Chapter Fourteen: Goes into some tips and troubleshooting techniques.

I really enjoyed this book. Each chapter was laid out very well almost answering your questions before you asked them. The author had a very easy going not preachy style, with lots of humor. The world might not be ready for my zany tracks but I had fun making them.


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Summary: A simple roadmap to terrific recordings
Review: Knowing next to nothing about computer recording techniques..._"How to Do Everything with Garageband" walked me through the steps and answered my questions before I asked them. The result was I made a recording that exceeded my hopes and it was a lot simpler than I expected, thanks to the book. Especially useful was the step by step approach...from beginning to the finished recording. A terrific book.