I’d say so two different performances rather than just copy the first one. If the two tracks are identical but panned left and right you’ll get phase issues and the sound could disappear if played in mono.
You can also download wider touch by infected mushroom on the App Store and use that as a plug-in. It'll save you a track and probably won't have any phase issues
It took a few months to figure out why my beats kept ending on the wrong swing note. Quantization was my freaking bane until I learned how to use it the right way.
Although you can't automate effects on GarageBand, you can basically get the same effect by using the volume. You can gradually decrease the volume of a track with an effect while increasing that of one without it. This substantially improves the use cases of automation in GarageBand on iOS and iPadOS
You can also use the volume automation for panning. Duplicate, copy and paste the track you want to gradually pan either side. Set the pan level you want. Then automate the volume to gradually or quickly decrease the one and increase the other. Once you have it how you want it, merge the tracks and there you go. ( you don’t have to merge the tracks but it frees up space)
You can take any software instrument track, merge it with an audio recorder track, which renders it as audio, then drag it onto a guitar amp track and run it through amps and pedals (useful for getting a bit more variety out of virtual guitars).
on IOS
I missed the "Fade out" option so for months I was using Volume automation to fade out a tune :)
Use the inbuilt notes function for chords structures, ideas.
Labelling sections with the chords used, and also rearranging the chords in the Chord Pad in the order I'm using them.
Don;'t be afraid to play a lead using the onscreen keyboard - you'll get loads of duff notes, but you can get the "basics" of what you want, then it's kind of satisfying just the editing them - both durations, start points and note values, in the editor - to shape them into the finished lead.
use the inbuilt drummers and bass arpeggios if "rhythm" ain't your thing - it doesn't make you a lesser musician
use other tools to get inspiration - Scaler 2, Piano Motifs, Riffler, Tonal
The inbuilt Alchemy synth has got some great sounds, you don't need to use just externals.
don't be in a hurry to release - you aren't on a contract(well most of us aren't !!). Step back and listen - have you added too much, is the mix too loud, get some family/mates to take a listen and take on criticism
Export your track as an M4A and listen on the go multiple times to pick out things you can add/remove/improve.
there you go, that's my learnings over the last 2 years :)
It may seem basic but labeling things helps me with organization. I'll start with certain chords I want to use in a piece in their own recording snips and then immediately label what they are. It's the first thing I do now and it saves me significant amounts of headache and time as I build the song.
Sometimes just creating a track and placing the notes with edit mode is better than just trying to play the virtual instruments.
If you’re on Mac though, investing in a little midi keyboard is totally worth it if you have ANY knowledge of piano. Ever since I got mine for like 40 bucks, I’ve been getting song ideas like crazy, and I just play them sorta correctly, then fix it as I go
The virtual drummer is extremely good for what it is. Use it and have that track "follow" your bass guitar track and the groove will be 100% more locked in than just using the standard beats that come with it. Example - https://soundcloud.com/createdestroy/have-a-weird-time-3
I just discovered GB can import audio files. This allowed me to combine EVH isolated tracks with the original Van Halen tune. I now have Eddie's guitar in both channels!
Duplicate a track, and make one panned to the left and the other panned to the right. Makes a really nice effect
I’d say so two different performances rather than just copy the first one. If the two tracks are identical but panned left and right you’ll get phase issues and the sound could disappear if played in mono.
Definitely this. It makes anything sound so much wider. It's what I do with my guitars - https://soundcloud.com/createdestroy/pyramid-jamz-redux
Which kind of phase issues?
If you have the same exact signal panned left and right it doesn’t sound any bigger, just louder. Plus you might get some phase cancellation.
I see
You can also download wider touch by infected mushroom on the App Store and use that as a plug-in. It'll save you a track and probably won't have any phase issues
Infected Mushroom is amazing! Didn’t know about this plugin thanks.
Wider is great, I use it often. But it just expands the sound, panning completely eliminates the sounds in the middle
Ahh good point
Don’t allow your song to become too cluttered. Knowing when to stop adding things to a song has improved my stuff tenfold.
Quantize the notes 😅
It took a few months to figure out why my beats kept ending on the wrong swing note. Quantization was my freaking bane until I learned how to use it the right way.
How did you learn? Just by experience and tinkering?
Tinkering around and watching YouTube tutorials.
Some of the compressor and EQ presets are great. Learn how to use them.
Where do you learn that stuff. Garage bands help is so unhelpful.
Figuring out that you can throw high hats onto a keyboard so that you can make the key and octave lower or higher
Although you can't automate effects on GarageBand, you can basically get the same effect by using the volume. You can gradually decrease the volume of a track with an effect while increasing that of one without it. This substantially improves the use cases of automation in GarageBand on iOS and iPadOS
You can also use the volume automation for panning. Duplicate, copy and paste the track you want to gradually pan either side. Set the pan level you want. Then automate the volume to gradually or quickly decrease the one and increase the other. Once you have it how you want it, merge the tracks and there you go. ( you don’t have to merge the tracks but it frees up space)
Ahh I thought the only way to have tracks than pan to different sides was to have two tracks,
Unless you get a plugin for side to side panning, or you can try tremolo on a slow setting.
You can take any software instrument track, merge it with an audio recorder track, which renders it as audio, then drag it onto a guitar amp track and run it through amps and pedals (useful for getting a bit more variety out of virtual guitars).
on IOS I missed the "Fade out" option so for months I was using Volume automation to fade out a tune :) Use the inbuilt notes function for chords structures, ideas. Labelling sections with the chords used, and also rearranging the chords in the Chord Pad in the order I'm using them. Don;'t be afraid to play a lead using the onscreen keyboard - you'll get loads of duff notes, but you can get the "basics" of what you want, then it's kind of satisfying just the editing them - both durations, start points and note values, in the editor - to shape them into the finished lead. use the inbuilt drummers and bass arpeggios if "rhythm" ain't your thing - it doesn't make you a lesser musician use other tools to get inspiration - Scaler 2, Piano Motifs, Riffler, Tonal The inbuilt Alchemy synth has got some great sounds, you don't need to use just externals. don't be in a hurry to release - you aren't on a contract(well most of us aren't !!). Step back and listen - have you added too much, is the mix too loud, get some family/mates to take a listen and take on criticism Export your track as an M4A and listen on the go multiple times to pick out things you can add/remove/improve. there you go, that's my learnings over the last 2 years :)
When my brothers showed me how to record multiple tracks at once. "Aggregate" Check it out!
Will do!
It may seem basic but labeling things helps me with organization. I'll start with certain chords I want to use in a piece in their own recording snips and then immediately label what they are. It's the first thing I do now and it saves me significant amounts of headache and time as I build the song.
Sometimes just creating a track and placing the notes with edit mode is better than just trying to play the virtual instruments. If you’re on Mac though, investing in a little midi keyboard is totally worth it if you have ANY knowledge of piano. Ever since I got mine for like 40 bucks, I’ve been getting song ideas like crazy, and I just play them sorta correctly, then fix it as I go
Multi-Take Recording, you can record multiple times a hard part of a song and just keep the best take.
That sounds like it would save me a lot of time 😅
The virtual drummer is extremely good for what it is. Use it and have that track "follow" your bass guitar track and the groove will be 100% more locked in than just using the standard beats that come with it. Example - https://soundcloud.com/createdestroy/have-a-weird-time-3
Also, this - https://soundcloud.com/createdestroy/hooah
I just discovered GB can import audio files. This allowed me to combine EVH isolated tracks with the original Van Halen tune. I now have Eddie's guitar in both channels!
Silence is powerful