GarageBand 2.0 - Getting Started
Computing Resources >> Tutorials >> Graphics & Multimedia >> GarageBand 2.0 - Getting Started

Introduction

Beginning a New Song

Interface

Using Loops

Exporting & iLife Integration

Expanding GarageBand

Helpful Links

Evaluate this tutorial

PDF Handout

 

Tracks

As you add elements to a song, each will appear as a different track . Each instrument will be a different track, although you can have more than one track that uses the same instrument.   When you begin a new song, GarageBand will automatically include an empty Grand Piano track.

Information about a track appears in a green, blue, or orange box on the left side of the window.   Software instrument tracks are green, real instrument tracks are blue, and tracks that do not have a set tempo (certain loops and imported files) are orange.   The left section denotes the instrument being used.   The right section includes a knob to adjust balance and a slider to adjust volume.   These adjustments will only change this track.

To the right of a track's information is the area in which you'll actually place the elements to be played.   The area has a ruler at the top; the numbers count measures and the dashes partitioning each measure represent beats (these will vary depending on the time signature you chose when you began the song).

The triangle and the red line extending from it tell the current location within the song (in this tutorial, I'll refer to it as the "progress marker").   As the song plays, you can watch the progress marker to see which part is currently playing.   Click and drag the triangle to move to a different part of the song.

Now, take a look at the grey bar of buttons along the bottom of the window.

next section >

Watch the video
screenshot

Part 2.1: Tracks
real media dial-up | broadband
windows media Flash movie

Entire Tutorial
dial-up | broadband
Flash movie

HTML transcript

© 2006 Darby Tober | iSchool | UT Austin | webmaster