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GarageBand MIDI

This document provides instructions for setting up and using GarageBand to record MIDI instruments and produce music. It outlines the necessary materials, how to connect MIDI devices, select virtual instruments, record tracks, and engage in post-production activities like quantizing, adding drums, adjusting tempo and volume. The goal is to demonstrate the basic workflow and functions in GarageBand to allow users to successfully record and mix MIDI performances.

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theatomizer90
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260 views14 pages

GarageBand MIDI

This document provides instructions for setting up and using GarageBand to record MIDI instruments and produce music. It outlines the necessary materials, how to connect MIDI devices, select virtual instruments, record tracks, and engage in post-production activities like quantizing, adding drums, adjusting tempo and volume. The goal is to demonstrate the basic workflow and functions in GarageBand to allow users to successfully record and mix MIDI performances.

Uploaded by

theatomizer90
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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WARNING:

COMPUTERS DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU TELL


THEM TO DO.
GarageBand is no exception.
Materials Needed
● MacBook with updated Garageband (or Logic Pro X)
○ Or another computer with a DAW
■ Digital Audio Workstation
■ FL Studio, Acid Pro, Ableton Live, Cakewalk, Pro Tools ect….
● A MIDI Enabled Digital Instrument
○ Piano, Electric Drumset ect.
○ USB or MIDI Out
■ A Cable to Connect
● Headphones
● Something To Record
○ Some Sheet Music, or show off your mad improv skills

Connecting your MIDI Cable


Connecting a usb MIDI Device

Time to open GarageBand


If Garageband
opens an existing
project, simply exit
the project and
this will show:

Click Empty
Project.
Select Software Instrument

If you dont have


a MIDI
Keyboard, DONT
WORRY!

Things to remember:
● Software instruments simply issue commands of what note to play for how
long.
● USB Keyboards have sensitivity to the strength of the note.
● They DO NOT have built in sounds.
● You must assign sounds through the DAW.
Selecting a MIDI Sound
Garage Band will
automatically select
the Classic Electric
Piano. You can
change this at any
time with no
consequences.

But, I don’t have a MIDI Device!

Click

Window>
Show Musical
Typing
What if my MIDI Device isn’t playing sounds?
1. Select Garagebamd> Preferences
2. Select Audio/MIDI Tab in the preferences toolbar
3. You should see your MIDI Device connected.
a. If not, Click Reset MIDI Drivers.
4. If it still doesn’t work, check to make sure the cables are plugged in.
5. If you still have a problem and can’t figure it out ask someone who can help.
a. Your tech coordinator, Jared Hughes, Google…..

Time for an
Activity! Setting Up for a recording.
Connect the word
to the button!

RECORD PLAY HELP METRONOME VOLUME SLIDER

SOUND LIBRARY STOP NEXT/PREVIOUS COUNT-IN TOGGLE

TEMPO LOOP
Adding a count-in for MIDI Recording

This is the quick way to


toggle the count-in on or
off.

This option allows you to have either 1 or 2


measures of count-in.

Record> Count-in> 1 Bar / 2 Bars

TIME TO RECORD!! :)

Know what you want to play,


click record and go to town!
Tips for a successful recording
● Record as slow as you want. Tempo can always be increased later.
● Record chunks at a time. It’s no problem to have lots of regions.
● Don’t sweat small mistakes. It’s easy to go back and change that wrong note.
● Record in multiple tracks.
○ Then you have more options in voicing and dynamic control.
● Mute existing parts when recording multiple tracks.
○ Latency can be a real problem

Post-Production and Mixing


● Quantizing Beats
● Adding Drum Set
● Adjusting Tempo
● Adjusting Volume
● Adjusting Mix
Quantizing Notes/Beats
● Quantizing the beats is bringing what the computer thinks are beats in line
with the tempo.
● Benefits
○ Can be applied per Track, Region, or individual notes.
○ Lines up the tracks and counteracts latency.
● Drawbacks
○ Can be annoying to deal with special rhythms.
■ Not a problem if you prepare accordingly.

How to Quantize
● Click on the Region you want to Quantize
○ Click the Scissors
○ Click Region
○ Time Quantize
■ Click what note value you want
■ Determine the strength (I always use 100%)
● If you do individual notes, it will not give you that choice.
● But, I have a couple random triplets in a sea of 1/16th notes!!!!!
○ Quantize them all to 1/16
○ Select the notes that are triplets and quantize them as triplets.
■ I didn’t even know this until recently!
Select a Region

Or just a few notes.

Remember that transposing is


always an option.

Adding Drumset
● Click New Track (+)
● Click Drumset
● Options for drumset
○ Rock, Alernative, Songwriter, R&B, Electronic, Hip Hop, Percussion.
○ Various “Artists” in each style
● Select an “Artist”
○ Determine drum preset or create your own.
○ Determine how loud/complex you want it
○ You can click to add other parts of set
○ You can drag a slider determining how much they use a specific part of the drumset
○ Creates auto fills every 8 bars
○ Make separate regions to accommodate as necessary.
Tempo
To change the tempo, simply alter the tempo up in the LCD. Easy peasy!
To add tempo changes

Click Track>Show Tempo Track

Gradient Tempo
alterations.

Set your initial tempo. Click the new tempo you want. It will have a instant tempo
change. Click the dot that is hollow and you can bend the tempo change to be
gradient.
Volume Changes

Click on a track. Press A on keyboard or go to Mix> Show Automation

Each sound now has a drop down that has multiple sound characteristics. Make sure it says volume.

Dynamics

Click the line at the destination point for the new volume.

Volume will be A to B gradient change. There is no option to create a curve like in the tempo track.
MIX

Graphic EQ

If you don’t hear


any changes
make sure to hit
the power button.

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