Apple Training Series: GarageBand 2 [Electronic resources]

Mary Plummer

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Recording a New Software Instrument Part

Now that the rhythm tracks are in place, it's time to start recording the additional parts. Another terrific feature about Software Instruments in GarageBand is that you can edit them once they have been recorded.

In this next exercise, you'll record an organ part for the song. The part is very simple to play, so let's try the new Musical Typing feature to record the part.

Note

If you wish to use a different musical keyboard (such as GarageBand's onscreen keyboard) for this recording, you're welcome to do so.

Connecting a MIDI Instrument to the Computer

If you prefer to use an external music keyboard, guitar, or other MIDI controller instead of Musical Typing for this exercise, you can connect a MIDI-compatible controller through a USB connection or MIDI interface.

To connect a USB MIDI keyboard or other MIDI controller, all you need to do is connect the USB cable to the computer and to the keyboard.

To connect a standard MIDI controller such as a keyboard, you will need a USB-to-MIDI interface.

Connect the keyboard to the MIDI interface device using standard MIDI cables. Then connect the interface to your computer using the USB cable. Carefully read the instructions that come with the keyboard and MIDI interface, and be sure to install all of the necessary drivers.

More Info

For more information about GarageBand accessories, including MIDI keyboards, USB keyboards, or MIDI interfaces, visit Apple's Web site: http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/accessorie132.

Working with Musical Typing

Musical Typing is a new GarageBand alternative for recording Software Instrument tracks. Instead of using the onscreen keyboard, you use your computer's keyboard. Let's try it.

Choose Window > Musical Typing or press Cmd-Shift-K.

The Musical Typing window opens and turns your computer keyboard into a fully functional MIDI keyboard.

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The Musical Typing window illustrates how different keys on your computer keyboard correspond to different musical notes.

Note

If you are using an external music keyboard, you don't need to open the Musical Typing window. Whenever I refer to pressing specific keys on the onscreen keyboard, locate the corresponding keys on your external keyboard to play along. Also, you may prefer to use the onscreen keyboard to record this part, so I'll give instructions for both types of recording.

Press different letter keys (AL) on your computer keyboard to hear the corresponding notes.

Whenever you press a key on the computer keyboard, the corresponding key is selected in the Musical Typing window. Because you currently have an Electronic Beats track selected, you are playing Electronic Beats MIDI sounds. Let's try using Musical Typing to play the Angelic Organ sounds.

Click the Angelic Organ track header to select that track and change the Musical Typing instrument to play Angelic Organ sounds.

Press one of your computer keyboard's center letter keys to hear the Angelic Organ sound.

The Musical Typing window includes keys for sustain (Tab) and changing octaves (Z, X), velocity (C, V), pitchbend (1, 2), and modulation (38).

Press another key and watch the Time Display carefully.

A small blue dot flashes near the bpm number (120). That flashing dot is the MIDI status light that indicates a MIDI signal. This indicates any MIDI signal, whether it comes from an external MIDI device, your computer keyboard in Musical Typing mode, or the onscreen keyboard.

Note

If you have another external MIDI device active when you open the Musical Typing window, you may see a steady blue dot rather than a flashing blue dot.

Practicing the Part Before You Record It

Now that the Musical Typing window is active, you have selected the Software Instrument track, and you have a MIDI signal, it's time to practice the part you will be recording.

The part you are about to record uses only five notes played sequentially. I made this part simple for those of you who are beginners. Feel free to record a more elaborate part after you finish this lesson.

There are a total of 12 notes (black and white keys) in an octave. The keys are: A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, and G#. The sharp (#) keys are the black keys. If I ask you to move two white keys to the right, I will say "move two steps to the right." Moving to a black key from the nearest white key would be considered a half a step.

To communicate the notes, I'll give the computer keyboard key, plus for anyone using the onscreen keyboard or interested in learning musical notation, I'll include the musical note and the octave number. For example, A (C2) would be the A key on the computer keyboard, which plays the musical C note in the second octave. Musical notes run consecutively from A through G, then they repeat. If you move toward the right on the keyboard, you are moving toward a higher octave, and the notes get higher in pitch. If you move toward the left on the keyboard, you are moving toward a lower octave and lower pitch.

If you work with an external keyboard, C1 is usually the first key on the left side of the keyboard, and C2 is one octave higher (12 notes/keys) to the right.

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Press the A key on your computer keyboard to play the C2 note.

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Press D (E2) on your computer keyboard.

This is the 1st note of the organ part you will be recording.

Move three steps (three white keys) to the right and press H (A2) to hear how it sounds.

H (A2) is the second key you will play.

Move two steps to the right and press K (C3) to hear the 3rd note.

Move one step to the left and press J (B2) to hear the 4th note.

Move back four steps and press D (E2) to hear the 5th and final note.

You'll notice that the 1st and 5th notes are the same in this 5-note organ part.

Let's save your progress, then reopen the piece to hear the finished organ part one more time.

Click the GarageBand window, then press Cmd-S to save the song up to this point.

Choose File > Open Recent > 3-3 SciFiShowFinal to open the final song.

Click the Solo button on the Angelic Organ part to silence the other tracks.

10.

Play the first Angelic Organ region in the Angelic Organ track.

11.

Click the Solo button again to unsolo the track.

12.

Play the first Angelic Organ region again to hear it with the rhythm track.

13.

Choose File > Open Recent > SciFiShowBeats to open your work in progress.

14.

Click Save to save the changes to the previous project.

Note

Open Recent is a convenient way to open recent projects. If the Open Recent submenu gets too cluttered, you can choose Clear Menu from the bottom of the Open Recent submenu to clear all of the recent files and start fresh with the current file.

Project Tasks

That's it. You've played all five notes, and you've heard how they are supposed to sound in the final recording. Now all you need to do is practice a few times before you record. Practice playing all five notes one at a time until you get a feel for the part. Remember, you need to play only the first region in the Angelic Organ track. We will use that region to create the other regions in the track.

Press Shift-Cmd-K to open the Musical Typing window.

Practice pressing each key until you can play the part (D-H-K-J-D).

If you want to practice with the finished part, Choose File > Open Recent > 3-3 SciFiShowFinal, create a cycle region around the first Angelic Organ region, and play along with the finished part. Then reopen your SciFiShowBeats project.

When you feel comfortable playing the part, move on to the next exercise.

Recording a Single-Take Organ Part

Let's put your practice to the test and try recording this part into the Timeline. You will use the single-take method to record the Angelic Organ part. Make sure your Cycle button is turned off (so that the cycle region is not showing) before you begin.

The Angelic Organ part you will be recording starts at the beginning of the 3rd measure and ends at the beginning of the 7th measure. It's a good idea to change the Time Display back to musical time so you can use it as a reference as you record. Also, the Musical Typing window is fairly large. Move it to the middle of the Timeline so you'll be able to clearly see both the top track where you'll be recording and the Time Display at the bottom of the Timeline.

Click the note icon in the lower-left corner of the Time Display to change it to musical time.

Click the Go To Beginning button in the transport controls to move the playhead to the beginning of the Timeline.

Note

Normally, pressing the Home or Z keys will move the playhead to the beginning of the Timeline. However, when the Musical Typing window is open, pressing the Z key will lower the octave of the note you're playing. If you pressed Z, you'll need to press X to raise the octave again before recording. Also, if you're using a laptop, the Home key (Fn-Home) may not work while the Musical Typing window is active.

Select the Angelic Organ track header and make sure the Record Enable button is on.

Click the Record button in the transport controls, and try recording a take.

Remember: The keys to type are D-H-K-J-D, and you'll record from the 3rd to the 7th measure.

Press the spacebar to stop recording when you finish.

Listen to your recording. If it sounds good, skip down to the next exercise.

If you want to try the recording again, press Cmd-Z to undo the recording. Repeat steps 2 through 5 a few more times.

Note

If you are totally frustrated and want to move on, choose File > Open and select 3-2 SciFiShowT1 from the Lesson_03 folder to open a version of the song with the part already recorded for you.

Tip

If your recorded region extends beyond the beginning of the 7th measure, you'll need to trim the right edge before you continue. Drag the lower-right corner of your recorded region toward the left until it ends at the beginning of the 7th measure.

Press Shift-Cmd-K to close the Musical Typing window.

Press Shift-Cmd-S to save the new version of your song.

Change the name to SciFiShowT1 to show that it is your song with the beats and the first recorded instrument track. Save the song to your folder on the Desktop.