Free Apple Loops | Using compression | Recording Guitar
to The DoorPost The DoorPost - GarageBand tips newsletter is sent to you from time to time and is full of extra tips on how to get the most out of GarageBand. It takes a more in-depth look at some important aspects of digital audio and home recording with GarageBand. Also: Links to free loops, effects and software instruments.
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Latest news
Check out the many new articles by Hangtime Acclaimed GarageBand guru Hangtime joined the editorial team in July 2006. Hangtime is known to the GarageBand community as one of the ultimate GB authorities. Through his record number of contributions to the Apple GarageBand forum he is known for the patient and clear way he shares his extensive knowledge.
We are delighted to have Hangtime on board!
GarageBand News
Hangtime reviews the new GarageBand '08
With GarageBand '08, Apple has extended its reach to musicians on both sides of the spectrum: complete beginners will enjoy Magic GarageBand
which will create an entire jam session in a style and instruments of your choice. For more experienced musicians, GarageBand '08 adds much requested features like multi-take recording and automation of effects, tempo and EQ. Automation
will give GB '08 songs a much tighter production sound without all the tedious & time consuming editing previously required. The Arrangements
feature will help with keeping a song structured: verse, bridge, chorus, intro - just click and drag to re-arrange.
You can now also print notation - but only one track at a time
Hangtime introduces the improvements below - just follow the links to his GarageBand '08 articles for more in-depth explanations.Hangtime on the new GARAGEBAND '08:
By now odds are that you've heard the news, iLife '08 has been released. If you got to see the presentation by Steve Jobs then you know there are more new features in this version than just a change in the naming scheme (we went from GarageBand 3 to GarageBand '08).
And if you thought that the only new features were those which Mr. Jobs mentioned, you'd likely think they were great, but few. In fact there are a TON of new features that were not mentioned, some wonderful refinements in user interface along with the ability to do more, more easily.
We're going to run down the new feature list in this article, and offer more in-depth articles on some of them in the near future.
FULL effect automation. You can alter any parameter of any effect over time
Automation points (e.g. Volume curves, Pan curves, etc) can now be "locked" to their region so that they move along with it when dragged or duplicated
Each track now offers 4 AU effect slots per track instead of only 2
Multi-Take: You now have the ability to loop and record your performance on a "Real" (Audio) track over and over, later selecting which ones to keep, combine, and/or delete without having to stop your recording session.
"Software" (MIDI) tracks also offer Multi-Take, if you wish, or you can choose to have them work as they have in previous versions, combining each pass into a single take
Exports to disk can now be AIFF, AAC, or the often asked for Mp3
Uncompressed AIFFs can also be exported as 24-bit files for further Mastering
Loop Families: A quick and easy way to swap loops between similar ones of the same name (Family) read more ....
GB can now show you the name of the chord you are playing on a "Software" (MIDI) track
In notation view, along with the proper note being displayed (1/4, 1/8, etc), a small bar visually shows the note's duration when the note is selected.
You can delete a region and have all the regions to its right move to the left, the duration of the deleted region
There is an "Arrange" track that let's you create and name sections, like Verse, Chorus, Bridge, etc. These sections can be dragged, duplicated, or deleted as a chunk
Software tracks offer an Enhance Timing feature now that can even be used while recording
There is now a Fade Out option to fade out songs in a curve
The Master Fader and Master Volume Curve now operate independently
There's the new Visual EQ, a hybrid of a Graphic EQ and a parametric EQ, with a built-in spectrum analyzer
The somewhat useless "Simple" compressor has been replaced by a real one with parameters that can be set
GarageBand can now burn CDs
The length restrictions have been vastly increased, in theory, up to almost 17 hours without any hacks needed to get there.
Those are probably the biggest changes, and all for the better. The new features in Version 4 of GarageBand simply dwarf previous upgrades. The GarageBand team has given us features and ease of use that can compare to many other pieces of software costing 10 and 20 times the price, with the same fantastic interface we've known and loved ... only better!
Voices JamPack
If you can't sing, Voices is for you! Apple has published the new Vocals JamPack, containing 1700 Apple Loops and 28 vocal instrument sounds featuring professional soloists and choirs in multiple genres and styles
The GarageDoor has not yet had a chance to review "Voices", but here is the full contents list courtesy icompositions.com:
Voices Loops (1701)
Voices Instruments (28)
Hangtime has published his first GarageBand '08 article: Loop Family PopUp menus - great tips to help you organize your loops!
Sequel encourages a loop-based style of composition that lets you drag and drop audio and MIDI loops into a single window - everything is automatically adjusted for key and time signature. The program includes more than 4,500 loops (plus another 500 when you register the software) and more than 600 instruments covering a variety of musical genres, including dance, metal, electronic, and world music. Sequel's structure resembles GarageBand but lacks much of its interconnectivity. Instead it adds the Arrange Mode. This mode allows you to assign sections of songs to pads that can be triggered in whatever order you wish and played in real time. Live performers and DJs can use this to add a sense of spontaneity that you don't usually get from loops. In fact, DJs will find that it excels at creating the kind of dance music you'd hear in a club.
iCompositions.com has teamed up with Urban Elemants and Beathive.com to bring the community two new free loops packages containing over 100 Apple Loops. These loops can be used in GarageBand, Logic Express, Logic Pro, Final Cut Pro, Soundtrack, or any other application that can handle Apple Loops.
You have to sign up to iCompositions to access the loops.
Amplitude - Jimi Hendrix Edition
New release:
Amplitude: Jimi Hendrix Edition is the first authentic software recreation of the complete guitar amp and effects rig of Jimi Hendrix.
It includes models of rare and collectible vintage stomp boxes, amp heads and cabinets.
This is the legendary sound that has marked the evolution of modern rock guitar and has influenced some of the greatest guitarists.
JHE is powered by the award-winning AmpliTube 2 engine featuring proprietary techniques such as DSMª (Dynamic Saturation Modeling) to achieve accurate emulation of guitar amps and effects
StealthPlug is shipping
IK's first Audio Interface Cable for guitar and bass players, the StealthPlug is a compact and affordable 1/4" jack to USB audio interface cable for guitar and bass players. Portable and easy to use, StealthPlug is a good solution for practicing and playing guitar or bass and recording into GarageBand.
Phat to Phreaky
Smart Loops releases Phat to Phreaky
Smart Loops enlisted some of Hip-Hop's baddest beatmakers to lay down the grooves in Phat to Phreaky. This collection includes authentic beats from hitmakers that work with Jay-Z, Ludacris, Fabolous, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and many more!
This collection is packed with smokin' grooves in a wide array of styles ranging from today's hottest Hip Hop beats to old school grooves. With over 800 loops, Phat to Phreaky is the essential collection of authentic urban grooves.
Unlike other Smart Loops titles, which are performed on acoustic instruments, the grooves in Phat to Phreaky come straight from the beatboxes that you hear on today's hottest songs. Here is a brief clip .
M-Audio releases Wireless MIDI
Bring your MIDI gear into the wireless age with the MidAir system. Comprised of a portable transmitter and receiver, the MidAir allows you to wirelessly transmit data from any device that outputs MIDI dataÑkeyboards, drum machines, electronic drums and more. Just plug the battery-powered transmitter into the MIDI Out port on your controller of choice and connect the receiver to the MIDI In port on the device you'd like to control, and you're set. As a 2.4 GHz wireless device, the MidAir enables you to interface MIDI hardware at distances up to 30 feet with the same feel and response as a wired unit. The MidAir receiver includes a USB port so you can also wirelessly control GarageBand software instruments.
200 free Apple loops
Macloops offers 200 free AIF format apple loops - drums, bass, synths, guitar and orchestral. You need to sign up to become a member first, after which Macloops will send you regular mailings about commercial loops.
New "Kontrol" Audio Interface
Native instruments has announced a new Audio Interface: The Audio Kontrol 1.
The 2in/4out interface will offer a 192kHz sample rate at 24-bit quality, and comes with freely assignable buttons and Controller knob.
Native Instruments says "AUDIO KONTROL 1's adaptability makes it the perfect audio interface for musicians, producers and DJs. Versatile connection configurations, included controller assignment preset files as well as the full versions of XPRESS KEYBOARDS, GUITAR COMBOS and TRAKTOR 3 LE guarantee its universal appeal"
The AK1 is Mac Core Audio compatible and will be available in October priced at $299 US.
Producers Todd Milne and Jeff Rhodes have released a free Apple Loop Pack of over 150 MB of loops in a variety of styles. Perimeter loop collections include "Bio-mechanic Beats", "Disturbance", "Brain Danse" and "Abstract World Fusion"
50 albums that changed music
Fifty years old this month, the album chart has tracked the history of pop. But only a select few records have actually altered the course of music. To mark the anniversary, a panel of critics from "the Observer" argues for 50 albums that caused a revolution.
Fretpet
You found a really great chord on the guitar but you don't know what to call it.... You bought iLife with GarageBand, but it's too tedious to enter notes one at a time with the keyboard and mouse.... You'd like to try a song in a different key but you don't know how to transpose all the chords... You'd like to experiment with other tunings but don't know the fingerings.... FretPet can help!
That is how the "Thinkyhead" website describes its clever sequencing and learning tool for guitarists. Check it out on www.thinkyhead.com/fretpet
With GarageBand '08, Apple has extended its reach to musicians on both sides of the spectrum: complete beginners will enjoy Magic GarageBand
which will create an entire jam session in a style and instruments of your choice. For more experienced musicians, GarageBand '08 adds much requested features like multi-take recording and automation of effects, tempo and EQ. Automation
will give GB '08 songs a much tighter production sound without all the tedious & time consuming editing previously required. The Arrangements
feature will help with keeping a song structured: verse, bridge, chorus, intro - just click and drag to re-arrange. 
By now odds are that you've heard the news, iLife '08 has been released. If you got to see the presentation by Steve Jobs then you know there are more new features in this version than just a change in the naming scheme (we went from GarageBand 3 to GarageBand '08).
Voices JamPack
StealthPlug is shipping
Phat to Phreaky
M-Audio releases Wireless MIDI
200 free Apple loops
Fretpet