Apple GarageBand 3 User Manual download pdf (Page 2)

GarageBand 2.0 – Recording, Editing, & Mixing

I. Recording

GarageBand is, above all, designed to be a home recording studio. If you have a musical

instrument that can be connected to the computer, GarageBand lets you record your

performance. You can also use a microphone to record instrumental or vocal performances. If

you don’t have a computer-compatible instrument or a microphone, GarageBand provides on-

screen “keyboards” that can be used to create your own tracks.

On-Screen Keyboards

GarageBand offers two types of on-screen keyboards. Both can be used to record tracks. These

are not advanced enough to allow you to perform a complicated piano piece, but they do allow

you to record simple melody and harmony lines.

The first type of keyboard often appears automatically when you begin a new song. Simply click

on the keys to play. To bring up the keyboard at any time, select Keyboard in the Window menu.

The smaller keyboard inset in the top of the window allows you to choose what octave to use.

The blue section highlights the area of the keyboard that you are currently using. The small grey

arrows on either side of the larger keyboard also allow you to move up and down an octave. The

numbers on the keyboard also denote octaves.

Another way to record melody and harmony lines is with Musical Typing. This keyboard allows

you to make more adjustments as you play. To bring up this type of keyboard, select Musical

Typing in the Window menu.

Again, the small inset keyboard can be used to change the octave, along with the Z and X keys.

Unfortunately, you can only play in one octave at a time.

Note to pianists (and others familiar with a piano keyboard): The GarageBand on-

screen keyboards have more octaves than a standard piano, going both higher and

lower. C0 is the lowest C that would normally be on a piano keyboard. C3

corresponds to middle C.

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Apple GarageBand 3 User Manual Page 2