GarageBand For Dummies, 2nd Edition

GarageBand For Dummies, 2nd Edition

by Bob LeVitus
Released August 2020
Publisher(s): For Dummies
ISBN: 9781119645412

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Book description

Lay down some tracks—no garage required!

GarageBand has become the default musical sketchpad for both well-known artists and hobbyists musicians who want a simple way to record, edit, and share their own tunes. GarageBand For Dummies is your go-to guide to navigating the interface and making the tweaks to create your own songs. 

Look inside to discover how to lay down a beat with the virtual drum kits, layer on sweet sounds with built-in virtual instruments, and attach simple hardware to record vocals or live instruments on a Mac, iPad, or even an iPhone. 

  • Use built-in instruments to create a song
  • Attach your guitar or mic to record live sounds
  • Export your final product or individual tracks
  • Add effects and edit your song

GarageBand is the simplest way to create basic tracks without investing in costly hardware and learning a complex digital audio workstation software package—and this book shows you how.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Introduction
    1. About This Book
    2. Not-So-Foolish Assumptions
    3. Conventions Used in This Book
    4. Icons Used in This Book
    5. Beyond the Book
    6. Where to Go from Here
  3. Part 1: Starting on a Good Note
    1. Chapter 1: Introducing GarageBand for Macs and iDevices
      1. What Is GarageBand?
      2. What Can You Do with GarageBand?
      3. What Can’t You Do with GarageBand?
      4. Checking Your System Requirements
      5. What Else Do You Need to Run GarageBand?
      6. Recording with GarageBand: A Few Teasers
    2. Chapter 2: Equipping and Setting Up Your Recording Space
      1. Cobbling Together a Studio Without Breaking the Bank
      2. Making the Most of Your Recording Space
      3. Equipping Your Studio: Must-Have Gear versus Good-to-Have Gear
      4. Choosing a Microphone
      5. Finding the Right Speakers
      6. Listening with Headphones Without Messing Up the Take
      7. Adding a MIDI Keyboard to Your Setup
      8. Unraveling the Cable and Connector Conundrum
      9. Adding an Audio Interface to Your Setup
      10. Perfecting Your Mic Setup
      11. Boosting Your Hard Drive Space
      12. Recording in Tune with a Tuning Device (for Guitarists)
    3. Chapter 3: Introducing Multitrack Recording with GarageBand
      1. Understanding the Role of Stereo in Multitrack Recording
      2. Strolling through the Recording Process, Quickly
      3. Cutting the Tracks (“No Blood on ’em, Mr. Dylan”)
      4. Mix That Sucka
      5. (Lord and) Mastering
      6. Managing Song Files
  4. Part 2: Making Music on a Mac
    1. Chapter 4: Getting Started
      1. General Pane
      2. Audio/MIDI Pane
      3. Metronome Pane
      4. Loops Pane
      5. My Info Pane
      6. Advanced Pane
    2. Chapter 5: Using Loops to Make Music
      1. What Is a Loop, Anyway?
      2. Finding the Right Loop with the Loop Browser
      3. Setting a Loop’s Tempo
      4. Adding Loops to Tracks
    3. Chapter 6: Recording with MIDI and Software Instruments
      1. What Is MIDI, Anyway?
      2. Controlling Software Instruments with a MIDI Keyboard
      3. Choosing Software Instruments
      4. Recording Tracks with Software Instruments
      5. Altering the Sound of Software Instruments
      6. Drummer Tracks
      7. Testing Your Changes
    4. Chapter 7: Recording Vocals and Acoustic Instruments with a Mic
      1. Getting Ready to Record
      2. Multitrack Recording
      3. Recording the Track
      4. Improving the Sound of Recordings
    5. Chapter 8: Recording Electric Guitars and Other Electronic Instruments
      1. Overview from the Top: Direct or Live Recording
      2. Direct Recording with GarageBand’s Virtual Amplifiers
      3. Recording Live with an Amplifier and Microphones
      4. Customizing the Sound of Your Guitar Tracks
  5. Part 3: Postproduction: Finishing Songs on a Mac
    1. Chapter 9: Editing and Polishing Tracks
      1. “When Should I Edit Tracks?”
      2. Editing Software Instrument versus Real Instrument Tracks
      3. Fixing Flubs and Faux Pas
      4. Rearranging Regions
      5. Editing Software Instrument Tracks
      6. Sweetening: Add New Material? Or Not?
    2. Chapter 10: Mixing Tracks into Songs
      1. What Is Mixing?
      2. Creating a Level Playing Field
      3. Panning Tracks Left or Right
      4. The Effects of Adding Effects
      5. Doubling Tracks
    3. Chapter 11: Mastering Mastering
      1. What, Exactly, Is Mastering?
      2. Before You Master
      3. The Master Track Is for Mastering Tracks
      4. One More Thing Before You Call It “Done”
  6. Part 4: Making Music with Your iDevice
    1. Chapter 12: Getting Started
      1. Global Settings
      2. GarageBand Settings
      3. The Control Bar
      4. Sharing Projects with a Mac (and Vice Versa)
    2. Chapter 13: Making Music with Live Loops
      1. Loop Basics
      2. Working with Loops
      3. Working with Cells
      4. Recording with the Loop Grid
    3. Chapter 14: Laying Down Software Instrument Tracks
      1. What Is MIDI, Anyway?
      2. Controlling Software Instruments with a MIDI Keyboard
      3. Working with Software Instruments
      4. Working with Tracks
    4. Chapter 15: Recording Vocals and Acoustic Instruments with a Mic
      1. Getting Ready to Record
      2. Multitrack Recording
      3. Recording the Track
      4. Improving the Sound of Recordings
    5. Chapter 16: Recording Guitars and Basses without Mics or Amps
      1. Overview from the Top: Direct or Live Recording
      2. Direct Recording with GarageBand’s Virtual Amplifiers
      3. Recording Live with an Amplifier and Microphones
      4. Customizing the Sound of Your Guitar Tracks
  7. Part 5: Postproduction: Finishing Songs on an iDevice
    1. Chapter 17: Editing and Polishing Tracks
      1. “When Should I Edit Tracks?”
      2. Editing Software Instrument versus Real Instrument Tracks
      3. Arranging and Rearranging
      4. Fixing Flubs and Faux Pas
      5. Editing Software Instrument Tracks
      6. Sweetening: Add New Material or Not?
    2. Chapter 18: Mixing Tracks into Songs
      1. What Is Mixing?
      2. Creating a Level Playing Field
      3. Panning Tracks Left or Right
      4. The Effects of Adding Effects
      5. Doubling Tracks
    3. Chapter 19: Mastering Mastering
      1. Before You Master
      2. Exporting to a Mac for Mastering
      3. Sharing Songs
  8. Part 6: Everything Else You Might Need to Know
    1. Chapter 20: Playing Live with GarageBand Amps and Effects
      1. Playing at Home
      2. General Tips for Guitarists and Bassists
      3. Playing on Stage
    2. Chapter 21: Jamming with Others over Wi-Fi
      1. Becoming the Bandleader
      2. Becoming a Member
      3. Working with Jam Sessions
    3. Chapter 22: File Compression and Your Music
      1. Understanding Compression
      2. Sharing Your Masterpiece
      3. How Much Compression Can You Stand?
      4. Distributing Your Music
    4. Chapter 23: CD Recording, Reproduction, and Distribution
      1. The Benefits of Burning CDs
      2. Getting Ready to Burn Songs on CDs
      3. Burning Songs to CDs
      4. Distributing Your Music
  9. Part 7: The Part of Tens
    1. Chapter 24: Ten Ways to Improve GarageBand’s Performance
      1. Starting with the Basics
      2. Checking on FileVault
      3. Paying Attention to CPU and RAM Usage
      4. Checking Out Activity Monitor’s CPU and Memory Tabs
      5. Recording: 16-bits versus 24-bits
      6. Minimizing the GarageBand Window While Playing or Recording
      7. Getting More RAM
      8. Getting Faster Storage
      9. Resetting MIDI Drivers
      10. Turn Off Wi-Fi Before Recording or Performing
    2. Chapter 25: Ten Ways to Take Your Recordings to the Next Level
      1. Getting a Better Microphone
      2. Making Sure Your Speakers Reproduce Sound Decently
      3. Getting Better Headphones
      4. Fine-Tuning Mic Placement
      5. Improving Room Acoustics
      6. Using Quality Cables
      7. Adding an Audio Interface (and, Optionally, a Mixing Board)
      8. Switch to More Powerful Software
    3. Chapter 26: Ten Useful Websites
      1. Learn Songs on Guitar or Bass
      2. Mix Magazine
      3. MusicRadar
      4. Sweetwater Sound
      5. Musician’s Friend
      6. Monoprice
      7. Apple GarageBand Discussion Board
  10. Index
  11. About the Author
  12. Advertisement Page
  13. Connect with Dummies
  14. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: GarageBand For Dummies, 2nd Edition
  • Author(s): Bob LeVitus
  • Release date: August 2020
  • Publisher(s): For Dummies
  • ISBN: 9781119645412