Lesson3.Working with Software Instruments

Lesson 3. Working with Software Instruments

Lesson Files	Lessons > Lesson 3 > 3-1 SciFiShowBeats; 3-2 SciFiShowT1; 3-3 SciFiShowFinal
Time	This lesson takes approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes to complete.
Goals	Start a new song and set its properties
	Work with project tempo
	Use the metronome to record a basic drum part
	Build a rhythm track with Software Instruments
	Connect a MIDI or USB keyboard to the computer
	Record a Software Instrument keyboard part
	Work with Musical Typing
	Record a multipass drum region using a cycle region
	Edit a note or notes in a Software Instrument region
	Save a song in stages
	Copy, paste, duplicate, edit, and transpose regions

You already have a basic understanding of the GarageBand window, and you have some experience working with tracks. Now it's time to dive in and start filling those tracks with custom music that you create with Software Instruments.

In this lesson, you are going to learn how to build a drum track out of Software Instrument regions. You'll also learn how to change the tempo, record your own beats, and copy, cut, and edit Software Instrument regions in the Timeline. After that, you'll record additional Software Instrument tracks using the new Musical Typing feature and edit and transpose them in the Track Editor. Along the way, you'll also learn some new keyboard shortcuts, recording tricks, and techniques for adding effects to your tracks.

Note

Software Instruments require a Macintosh G4 or faster and at least 256 of physical RAM. If you are working on a G3, you will not be able to play or record Software Instruments in GarageBand. If you are working with a slower computer, follow along with the exercises in the book using the actual lessons to learn how to work with Software instruments. You can download an alternative G3 version of the projects from this book's companion Web site, www.peachpit.com/ats.gb2. The G3 versions of the songs there are recreations using Real Instrument regions instead of Software Instrument regions. You can play the G3 versions to hear the different tracks and the finished songs.