C D E F

Add Marker button: Add a marker at the playhead position. Marker list: Shows each markers start time, artwork (for podcasts) or video frame (for videos), chapter title, URL, and URL title. Time column: Shows the start time for each marker. Artwork column: Shows the artwork for each marker region. Add artwork by dragging image files from the Media Browser. (Appears only when creating a podcast.) Still Frame column: Shows the video frame at the position of each marker. (Appears only when working with a video.)
Chapter Title column: Shows the title of each chapter marker. Click and type a title for a marker. URL Title column: Shows the title of each marker regions URL. Click and type a title for the URL. URL column: Shows the URL for each marker region. Type a URL (address) for the website for which you want to show a link.

Loop Browser

The loop browser lets you quickly find loops to add to your projects. You can find loops using keywords for instrument, musical genre, or mood. You can also perform text searches, and refine your results in several ways. The loop browser shows the tempo, key, and number of beats for each matching loop. You can preview loops in the loop browser before you add them to a project, and add more loops to GarageBand by dragging them onto the loop browser. The loop browser gives you two ways to find loops: button view and column view.

Button View

In button view, the loop browser contains a set of keyword buttons. Click a button to show matching loops in the results list. Clicking multiple buttons narrows the results to those loops that match all of the selected keywords.

A B C D E F

Keyword buttons: Click a keyword button to display matching loops in the results list. You can click multiple keyword buttons to narrow your results. View buttons: Click one of the buttons to show column view, button view, or podcast sounds view. Scale pop-up menu: Choose a scale type to see only loops using that musical scale. Search field: Type text in the field to see loops with the text in their file name or path. Preview volume slider: Drag the slider to adjust the volume of the loop being previewed. Results list: Shows loops that match the selected keywords. Also displays the tempo, key, and number of beats for each loop. Click a loop in the results list to preview it. Click the Favs checkbox for a loop to add it to your favorites. Loop library pop-up menu: Choose the loops you want to show in the loop browser from the pop-up menu.

Setting the Time Signature
Each project also has a time signature, which controls the relationship between beats and measures. A projects time signature consists of two numbers separated by a forward slash, which look similar to a fraction. The number on the left controls the number of beats in each measure, and the number on the right controls the beat value (the length of the note that gets one beat). You can use any of the following time signatures in a GarageBand project: 2/2, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 7/4, 6/8, 7/8, 9/8, or 12/8. The default is 4/4, the most commonly used time signature. To set the time signature: m In the New Project dialog, choose a time signature from the Time pop-up menu. Note: You can change the time signature later in the Track Info pane for the master track.
Opening an Existing Project
You can open an existing project to continue working. To open an existing project: m Choose File > Open, locate and select the project you want to open, then click OK. You can also open a recently open project by choosing File > Open Recent and choosing a project from the submenu. If you close the currently open project, a dialog appears, asking if you want to create a new project or open an existing project.

Saving a Project

As you work, its important to save your project often so you dont lose your changes. To save a project: m Choose File > Save (or press Command-S). When you save a project, by default GarageBand creates an iLife preview that is saved with the project. An iLife preview lets you preview the project in the Media Browser and in other iLife applications, but can increase the projects file size. You can select whether to create an iLife preview for projects in the General pane of GarageBand Preferences. You can also save a project as an archive. When you save a project as an archive, all the audio files, loops, and other media the project uses are saved in the project file. This is especially useful if you want to copy the project to another computer, or are duplicating a project with your own Real Instrument recordings. To save a project as an archive: 1 Choose File > Save as. 2 In the Save As dialog, select the Save As Archive checkbox. You can also compact projects to make sharing easier. Compacting a project reduces the file size by compressing audio in the project. Compacting can result in some loss of audio quality. To compact a project: 1 Choose File > Save as. 2 In the Save As dialog, select the Compact Project checkbox. 3 Choose the compression settings you want to use from the pop-up menu next to the Compact Project checkbox.

Sending a Project to iTunes
You can send a project to an iTunes playlist, then play your exported projects in iTunes, download them to an iPod, or burn the playlist to a CD. Files are exported to iTunes in AIFF format. You can convert the exported file to another format, such as AAC or MP3, from within iTunes. To send a project to an iTunes playlist: m Choose Share > Send to iTunes. The entire project, from the beginning (measure 1) to the end of the last region, is exported. You can set the name of the iTunes playlist to which files will be exported, and also set the name of the album and composer, in the Export pane of GarageBand Preferences. You can also export a single track, or a group of tracks, to an iTunes playlist. To export a single track, solo the track (or mute all other tracks) before exporting. To export a group of tracks, solo the tracks (or mute all other tracks) before exporting.

Using Apple Loops

You can use Apple Loops to add backing and rhythm tracks to your projects. You can also add Apple Loops to your loop library, and create your own Apple Loops.
Most popular music today is based on repeating rhythmic patterns (sometimes called grooves or riffs), especially in the drum and bass parts. To create music in a groovebased style, an effective way of working is to add loops for the drum parts, then add loops for bass and other rhythm parts. This lets you define the rhythmic feel of the project, and also lets you build the basic arrangement of the project by blocking out sections with different grooves. Once the basic rhythm parts are in place, you can record Real and Software Instrument regions to add lead, solo, and harmony parts. You can quickly define the feel of a project by adding Apple Loops. Apple Loops are prerecorded music files designed to seamlessly repeat a rhythmic pattern. When you add a loop to the timeline, you can extend it to fill any amount of time, making it easy to create drum parts and other rhythm parts. When you add a loop to a project, GarageBand matches the loops tempo and key to the tempo and key of the project. This lets you use loops that were originally recorded at different speeds, and in different keys, and have them sound as though they were made to be played together. In this lesson, youll learn how to: Find and preview loops in the loop browser Add loops to the timeline Create your own Apple Loops Add loops to the loop library

Finding Loops With the Loop Browser
GarageBand includes a loop browser that lets you find loops by musical instrument, genre, or mood. You can also perform text searches, and refine your searches for loops in several other ways. No matter how large your collection of loops becomes, you can quickly find loops with the sound you want using the loop browser. To show the loop browser: m Click the Loop Browser button (the button with the open eye). The loop browser has three views: column view, button view, and podcast sounds view. In button view, you click keyword buttons to show loops that match the keywords. In column view and podcast sounds view, you choose from different keyword types, categories, and keywords to show matching loops. You can select the loop browser view you want using the view buttons in the lower-left corner of the loop browser. To choose the type of view: m Click the button with columns to show column view, click the button with musical notes to show button view, or click the button with a bell to show podcast sounds view.
Finding Loops in Column View
In column view, clicking a keyword type in the left column shows categories for that keyword type in the middle column. Clicking a category shows keywords for that category in the right column. Clicking a keyword shows matching loops in the results list. You can expand your results by clicking multiple keywords.

Keyword type column

Category column

Keyword column

Results list
To find loops in column view: 1 Click the column button in the lower-left corner of the loop browser to switch to column view. 2 Click a keyword type in the left column. 3 Click a category in the middle column. 4 Click a keyword in the right column to show matching loops in the results list. 5 To refine your results, click multiple categories or keywords. This expands the matching loops to include those that match any of the selected categories or keywords.
Chapter 4 Using Apple Loops
Now find some bass loops in column view by first selecting the By Instruments keyword type, then the Bass category, then the Grooving keyword. When you find loops in either button view or column view, the total number of matching loops is shown next to the search field at the bottom of the loop browser.
Finding Loops in Button View
Button view features a grid of keyword buttons. You click a button to see the loops matching the selected keyword in the results list to the right. You can narrow your results by clicking multiple buttons.

Click a keyword button.

Matching loops appear in the results list.
To find loops in button view: 1 Click the button with musical notes in the lower-left corner of the loop browser to switch to button view. 2 Click a keyword button to show matching loops in the results list. The columns in the results list show the type of loop, name, tempo, key, and number of beats for each loop. 3 To refine your results, click multiple keyword buttons. This narrows the matching loops to only those that match all of the selected keywords. 4 To end a search, either click the selected keyword again to deselect it, or click the Reset button to deselect all selected keywords. When you click a keyword, incompatible keywords (those that share no loop with the selected keyword) are dimmed. Now find some drum loops in button view by clicking the Drums keyword button. Scroll through the list to see all the matching loops. Notice that the number of matching loops is shown next to the search field.

Adding Loops to the Timeline
When you find a loop you want to use in your project, you add the loop to the timeline.
Drag a loop to an empty part of the timeline to create a new track for the loop.
To add a loop to the timeline: m Drag the loop from the loop browser to an empty part of the timeline where there is no track. A new track of the appropriate type is created, and the loop is added to the new track. You can also create a new track, then drag a loop of the same type (Real or Software Instrument) to the track. To learn about creating tracks, see Chapter 6 and Chapter 7. There are two types of Apple Loops: Real Instrument loops or Software Instrument loops. In the loop browser, the loops icon shows which type each loop is. Real Instrument loops can be dragged only to a Real Instrument track, and Software Instrument loops can be dragged to either a Real or Software Instrument track. Either type can be dragged to an empty part of the timeline to create a new track.
You can also convert a Software Instrument loop to a Real Instrument loop when you drag it to the timeline. Real Instrument loops require less processing power for playback, which can allow you to use more tracks and effects in your project, especially for projects with many loops. To convert a Software Instrument loop to a Real Instrument loop: m Option-drag the loop from the loop browser to the timeline. By default, Option-dragging a Software Instrument loop converts it to a Real Instrument loop. You can change the default so that dragging a Software Instrument loop converts it to a Real Instrument loop, and Option-dragging does not convert it. To change the default behavior for converting Software Instrument loops: 1 Choose GarageBand > Preferences, then click Loops. 2 Select the Convert to Real Instrument checkbox next to Adding Loops to the Timeline. When you add a loop to a project, a region is created from the loop in the timeline. The edits you make to the region do not change the original loop, so you can always return to the original sound of the loop or use it in another project. Now try adding some of the drum and bass loops you found earlier to the timeline.
Creating Your Own Apple Loops
You can save Real and Software Instrument regions you record as Apple Loops. When you save a region as an Apple Loop, it is added to the loop library and appears in the loop browser, so you can use it in other projects. Apple Loops you create from recorded regions match the tempo and key of the project, just like the Apple Loops included with GarageBand. To save a region as an Apple Loop: 1 Select the region in the timeline. 2 Choose Edit > Add To Loop Library, or drag the region over the loop browser. 3 In the Add Loop dialog, do the following: a b c d Type a name for the loop. Choose the scale and genre from the pop-up menus. Choose an instrument category and instrument name from the list. Click the appropriate mood buttons for easy searching.

OrangeRegions from imported audio files GreenSoftware Instrument regions from both recordings and loops Regions are the building blocks of a project. You define the feeling, build the structure, and create change and interest in a project by arranging regions in the timeline.

Selecting Regions

In order to make changes to a region, you must first select it in the timeline. To select a region, do one of the following: Select a single region by clicking it. Select multiple regions by Shift-clicking. Drag from a point before the first region to a point after the last one to select the regions in between. Note: To select regions and perform other actions such as looping and resizing, you may need to zoom in on the region so that it is large enough to select.
Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Regions
You can cut, copy, and paste regions using the standard Mac OS menu commands and keyboard shortcuts. To cut a region: m Select the region, then choose Edit > Cut. To copy a region, do one of the following: Select the region, then choose Edit > Copy. Option-drag the region. To paste a region: m Move the playhead to the point in the timeline where you want the region to start, then choose Edit > Paste. When you paste a region, the playhead moves to the end of the pasted region. You can paste additional copies of the region, and each one starts at the point in the timeline where the previous one ends.
Chapter 5 Working in the Timeline

Looping Regions

You can loop a region so that it repeats. When you loop a region, it plays for as much time as you extend it in the timeline. To loop a region: 1 Move the pointer over the upper half of the right edge of the region. The pointer changes to a loop pointer, with a circular arrow. 2 Drag the edge of the region to the point where you want it to stop playing. The region will loop repeatedly to that point.

Loop pointer

When you loop a region, the notches at the top and bottom of the region show the beginning and end of each repetition. You can drag to the end of a repetition, or have it end in the middle of a repetition. Try looping the drum and bass regions you added to the timeline. Rhythm patterns in most popular music last for some multiple of four measures. For example, the verse and chorus of a popular project often last for 16 or 32 measures each.

By default, Real Instrument recordings (purple) and Real Instrument loops (blue) in the timeline follow the project tempo. You can set a Real Instrument region to keep its original tempo. To set a Real Instrument region to follow its original tempo: 1 In the timeline, select the Real Instrument region. 2 Open the editor. 3 Deselect the Follow Project Tempo checkbox. 4 If you decide you want the region to follow the project tempo, select the region, then select the Follow Project Tempo checkbox. The Follow Project Tempo checkbox is unavailable when an audio file (orange), a Real Instrument loop tagged as a one-shot, or a Software Instrument region (green) is selected. You can convert a Software Instrument loop to a Real Instrument loop when you add it to the timeline, then set the Real Instrument loop to keep its original tempo.

Renaming Regions

You can rename a region in the editor. To rename a region: 1 Click the region in the timeline to select it, then click the Editor button. You can also double-click the region to open the editor. The waveform of the region appears in the editor. Be sure the header over the Name field says Region before you type the new name. 2 Select the text in the Name field, then type the new name in the field.

Using the Grid

When working with regions in the timeline, you usually want them to align with the beats and measures in the beat ruler, so they start playing on the beat. GarageBand features a grid that makes it easy to align regions with beats and measures in the beat ruler, and with other musical note values. When you turn on the grid, the playhead, regions, and other items in the timeline snap to the nearest grid position in the timeline and the editor when you move or resize them.
To turn the grid on or off: m Choose Control > Snap to Grid. The grid can be set to any of the following note values: 1/4 notes, 1/8 notes, 1/16 notes, or 1/32 notes 1/4 note triplets, 1/8 note triplets, or 1/16 note triplets 1/8 note swing light or swing heavy, 1/16 note swing light or swing heavy The grid can also be set to Automatic. When set to Automatic, the grid changes when you zoom in or zoom out. The grid division moves between measures, 1/4 notes, 1/8 notes, 1/16 notes, and 1/32 notes, depending on the zoom level. To set the grid value: m Click the Grid button in the upper-right corner of the timeline, then choose a note value from the menu, or choose Automatic.

Using Undo and Redo

As you build your arrangement in the timeline, you may want to undo or redo some of the changes you make. If you decide you dont like the last change you made to a project, it can usually be undone. After undoing it, if you decide you like the project better with the change, you can redo it. You can also use the Undo and Redo commands as a quick way of trying out changes to a project. You can make several changes to the project, then step back through the changes using Undo. If you change your mind after undoing a step, you can recover the changes using Redo. You can undo or redo any number of actions, since the last time you saved. At any point, you can save a new version of the project by choosing File > Save As. To undo the last change: m Choose Edit > Undo. To redo the last change: m Choose Edit > Redo.

Recording a Real Instrument With the Cycle Region
GarageBand lets you record over a specific part of a project. Musicians sometimes call this punching in and punching out, and call the points where you start and stop recording punch points. To record over a specific part of a project, you set the cycle region in the timeline. To set the cycle region: 1 Click the Cycle button. The cycle region appears as a yellow strip just below the beat ruler. 2 Move the cycle region to the point in the timeline where you want to start recording, then drag the end of the cycle region to the point in the timeline where you want to end recording. You can drag in the cycle region ruler (below the beat ruler) to move the cycle region to a new part of the timeline.
You may want to have the cycle region start a few extra beats before the point where you want to start recording, to make it easier to start playing on the beat, and end a few beats after you want to stop recording, in case your last note extends past the end of the cycle region. To record using a cycle region: 1 Select the Real Instrument track you want to record in. 2 Click the Record button to start recording. 3 Play your musical instrument, or sing into your microphone. As you record, a new region appears in the selected Real Instrument track. Real Instruments only record the first time through the cycle region. When the cycle region repeats, you hear the newly recorded region. 4 When you are finished, click the Play button to stop the cycle region. 5 If you want to replace the recorded region, click the Record button and play the part again. 6 When you have finished using the cycle region, click the Cycle button again to turn it off.
Recording Multiple Real Instrument Tracks
You can record up to eight Real Instruments and one Software Instrument at the same time. This lets you record voices and instruments together, and simultaneously record a backing track, for example. When you select a track, recording is enabled for that track (meaning that recording will start on that track when you click the Record button). You can enable up to seven additional tracks by clicking the round Record Enable button in each tracks header. The Record Enable button turns red to show that the track is enabled for recording. To disable a track for recording, click the Record Enable button in the tracks header again. To record multiple Real instruments at the same time: 1 Be sure each Real Instrument track is set to use a different input channel (or pair of channels) in the Track Info pane. 2 Enable the tracks you want to record by clicking their Record Enable buttons. 3 Click the Record button in the transport controls to start recording. To record a Software Instrument at the same time as one or more Real Instruments: 1 Enable the Software Instrument track for recording by clicking its Record Enable button. 2 Click the Record button in the transport controls to start recording. If you enable more than eight Real Instrument tracks or more than one Software Instrument track, the track farthest from the last track you enable is disabled for recording, so as not to exceed the maximum number of recording tracks. To record on multiple tracks, you need to have an audio interface with at least two input channels for recording.

Editing Notes in Notation View
You can edit notes and controller information for a Software Instrument region in notation view, just as you can in graphic view. You can: Add notes Select notes Move notes in time Cut and copy notes Change the pitch of notes Change the duration of notes
Change the velocity of notes Add pedal markings to sustain notes

Adding Notes

You add a note by choosing the note value for the note, then clicking in the editor.
In notation view, a square Note Value button appears at the upper-right corner of the Advanced area of the editor. The Note Value button displays a musical note showing the current note value. To choose a note value: m Click the Note Value button, then choose the note value you want from the menu that appears. To add a note: m In the editor, Command-click at the point you want to add the note.

Selecting Notes

Before editing notes in notation view, you must first select them. To select a note: m Click the note head (the round part of the note). You can select multiple notes by Shiftclicking or by dragging around the notes to enclose them.

Moving Notes

You can move notes in time in notation view, in the same way as in the editors graphic view. To move a note in time: m Select the note, then drag it left or right. You can also move selected notes by pressing the Left or Right Arrow keys. Above each note in the beat ruler is a beat guide. As you move a note, the beat guide moves to help you see the notes exact position in time.

Copying Notes

You can copy notes in notation view. To copy a note: m Option-drag the note head to a new position.
Changing the Pitch of Notes
You can change the pitch of, or transpose, notes in notation view. To change the pitch of a note: m Select the note, then drag it up or down. You can also change the pitch of selected notes by pressing the Up or Down Arrow keys. You hear the notes new pitch as it moves.
Changing the Duration of Notes
When you select a note, a duration bar for the note appears. You can change the notes duration (how long the note lasts) using the duration bar. To change the duration of a note: 1 Select the note. 2 Drag the right edge of the duration bar left (to shorten the note) or right (to lengthen the note). Duration bars work just like the notes in graphic view.

Deleting Notes

You can delete notes that you no longer want to include in your project. To delete a note: m Select the note, then press the Delete key.

Changing Note Velocity

For many Software Instruments, the sound changes depending on the notes velocity. You can change the velocity of notes in notation view, in the same way as in graphic view. To change a notes velocity: m Select the note, then drag the Velocity slider left (to lower the velocity) or right (to raise the velocity). You can also change a selected notes velocity by holding down the Command key and dragging the note up or down.

Creating the Podcast Audio
You can create podcasts with only spoken narration or dialog, or add musical backing tracks, sound effects, and other sounds. You record narration by connecting a microphone to your computer (or using your computers built-in microphone, if it has one), enabling a Real Instrument track for recording, then recording from the microphone to the Real Instrument track, as described in Working With Real Instruments on page 47. You can add Apple Loops and record Real and Software Instruments to use as backing tracks for your podcast. The loop browser includes a variety of loops created for use in your podcasts. For information about working with Apple Loops, see Using Apple Loops on page 32. For information about recording Real Instruments, see Working With Real Instruments on page 47. For information about recording Software Instruments, see Working With Software Instruments on page 55. You can add and adjust effects, including the Speech Enhancer effect, which is especially useful for recorded narration and dialogue. You can also import songs from your iTunes library and import other GarageBand projects that have been saved with an iLife preview into your podcast. You can find and preview iTunes songs and GarageBand projects in the Media Browser. To find audio files in the Media Browser: 1 Choose Control > Media Browser. The Media Browser opens to the right of the timeline. 2 Click the Audio button. 3 In the file area, navigate to the folder containing the audio files you want to use. You can also search for files by name by typing in the search field.
Chapter 11 Creating Podcasts in GarageBand
To preview an audio file in the Media Browser, do one of the following: Select the file in the media list, then click the Play button at the bottom of the Media Browser. Double-click the file in the media list. The audio file starts playing.
Select a folder or playlist.
Select a song, project, or other audio file from this list.
Click to preview the selected song or project.
To stop preview playback, do one of the following: Click the Play button at the bottom of the Media Browser. Select another audio file. To import an audio file: m Drag the audio file from the Media Browser to the timeline. You can add other folders to the Media Browser so you can add media files in the folders to your projects. To add a folder to the Media Browser: m Drag the folder from the Finder to the middle area of the Media Browser.

Ducking Backing Tracks

When you are creating a podcast, you may sometimes want to lower the volume of backing tracks to hear spoken narration or dialogue more easily. Lowering the volume of some tracks to make others easier to hear is called ducking. You apply ducking by setting which tracks are lead tracks and which are backing tracks. Whenever there is sound on a lead track, the volume of the backing tracks is lowered while the volume of all other tracks stays the same. You can apply ducking to any Real or Software Instrument track in your podcast. To make a track a lead track: 1 Choose Control > Ducking. A ducking control appears in each tracks header, with arrows pointing up and down. 2 Click the upper part of the tracks ducking control (the arrow pointing up). To make a track a backing track: 1 Choose Control > Ducking. A ducking control appears in each tracks header, with arrows pointing up and down. 2 Click the lower part of the tracks ducking control (the arrow pointing down). When you play the project, send it to iWeb, or export it, the backing tracks are ducked whenever there is sound on any lead track. You can adjust the amount of ducking (volume reduction) on these tracks using the Ducking Amount slider. To adjust the amount of ducking: 1 Open the Track Info pane. 2 Click Master Track, then click the Details triangle. 3 Drag the Ducking Amount slider right to increase the amount of ducking, or drag it left to decrease it.
Adding and Editing Markers
You can add markers to an podcast, making it an enhanced podcast. When you add a marker to a podcast, it appears in the podcast track as a marker region. Marker regions show how long the artwork or URLs you add to a marker last, and you can move them or resize them to change their duration. To show the podcast track: m Choose Track > Show Podcast Track. The podcast track appears above the other tracks in the timeline, and the editor opens showing the marker list, with columns for the start time, artwork, chapter title, URL title, and URL for each marker.
Note: A project can have either a podcast track or a video track, but not both. If you try to show the podcast track for a project that contains a video track, a dialog appears asking if you want to replace the video track with a podcast track. To add a marker: 1 Move the playhead to the place where you want to add the marker. 2 Click the Add Marker button. The marker appears in the editor, and the start time for the marker appears in the Time column in the markers row. The marker also appears as a marker region in the podcast track. You can edit marker regions just like other regions in the timeline to control when artwork and URLs appear and how long they are visible when you play the podcast.
Click here to add a marker.

Action Raise master volume Lower master volume Showing windows and editors Show track mixer Show Track Info pane Show editor Show Media Browser Show loop browser Show onscreen keyboard Show Musical Typing window File menu functions New Open Close Save Save As Application menu functions Show/Hide GarageBand Preferences Hide GarageBand Hide other applications Quit GarageBand Help menu functions GarageBand Help
Shortcut Command-Up Arrow Command-Down Arrow
Command-Y Command-I Command-E Command-R Command-L Command-K Command-Shift-K
Command-N Command-O Command-W Command-S Command-Shift-S
Command-comma (,) Command-H Command-Option-H Command-Q
Command-question mark (?)
Connecting Music Equipment to Your Computer
If you sing or play a musical instrument, you can connect a musical instrument or a microphone to your computer and record your performances in your GarageBand projects.
Each recording appears as a region in a track in the timeline. You can add effects to the track, and edit the region in the editor.
Connecting a Musical Instrument or Microphone
You can connect an electric musical instrument or microphone to your computer and record it in a Real Instrument track. You can connect a microphone to your computer using the computers audio input port, if your computer has one. You can also connect an audio interface to your computer, then connect instruments and microphones to the audio interface for recording. Audio interfaces are available in a variety of compatible formats, including USB, FireWire, PCI, and PC card formats. You can also connect an audio mixer or console to your computer, and record microphones or instruments through the mixer. If you use an audio interface to connect musical instruments, check the manufacturers specifications to make sure the interface is compatible with Mac OS X 10.2.6 or later. Also make sure the audio interface uses a format supported by your computer. Follow the manufacturers instructions, which may include installing the correct driver on your computer. If you connect an instrument or microphone to your computers audio input port, open System Preferences, click the button for Sound preferences, click the Input tab in the Sound pane, select Line In in the sound input list, then drag the Input volume slider to set the input level.
Connecting a Music Keyboard to Your Computer
If you play a keyboard instrument, you can connect a MIDI-compatible music keyboard to your computer to play and record Software Instruments. To connect a music keyboard to play Software Instruments: If the keyboard is a USB MIDI keyboard, connect the USB cable to the keyboard and to your computer. If the keyboard is a standard MIDI keyboard, connect the keyboard to a MIDI interface using standard MIDI cables, and connect the interface to your computer. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the keyboard, which may include installing the correct driver on your computer. Connecting Other Music Equipment You may also want to connect speakers or monitors to your computer to hear your projects play back with greater audio quality than possible from your computers speaker. A variety of monitors and speakers are available, including speakers you can connect directly to your computer's audio out port, through a USB port, or using an audio interface. If you connect an audio interface to your computer, you set the audio interface as the audio input device for GarageBand. Before setting the audio input device, be sure to install any necessary driver software for the audio interface. To set an audio interface as the audio input device: 1 Choose GarageBand > Preferences, then click Audio/MIDI. 2 In the Audio/MIDI pane, choose the audio interface from the Audio Input pop-up menu. If you connect a microphone, an instrument, or other audio device directly to your computers audio input port, you set may need to configure input settings for it in the Sound pane of System Preferences. To configure input settings in System Preferences: 1 Choose Apple () > System Preferences, then click Sound. 2 In the Sound pane, click the Input button. 3 Select Line In from the sound input devices list, then drag the Input volume slider to set the input level.