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GarageBand 2.0

A Review By Susan Clarke (October, 2005)

GarageBand 2.0.0 is a free application included with the iLife Suite of five lifestyle applications, shipped with every new Macintosh. It can also be purchased with the iLife Suite for $119. Either way the application represents excellent value for money.

Installing Garage Band is as simple as clicking on “Install” after inserting the iLife CD. Virtually no configuration is necessary as OS X (10.3.6 is the minimum platform required) automatically senses midi and microphone input when the components are plugged in. One word of warning: while the other four applications in iLife take up only 340 megabytes of memory, GarageBand 2.0 takes a whopping 4.7 gigabytes, so make sure that you have plenty of hard drive space, especially if you are installing it on an older computer.

An initial frustration with Garage Band is that while it is supposed to run on a G3 or G4 machine with 256K of ram (512k is recommended), the machine is easily overwhelmed by GarageBand’s memory hungry functions. Using too many loops at once (and what first-time user or child doesn’t) results in jerky and unpredictable playback owing to problems with latency. A pop-up screen suggests “Optimization for GarageBand”, which works to some degree still doesn’t allow the user to push the program to the limit. My daughter, who has an iBook G4 with 256k ram still finds it too frustrating to use, while I had my ram upgraded from 512k to 1 gigabyte on my iBook G4 to run all functions to the max without the latency problems.

The fact that GarageBand 2.0 is part of a suite installed on all new computers suggests that it should be very simple to use by every class of computer user. Anyone with the ability to use a mouse can operate GarageBand with ease, although reading through GarageBand Help would alert the user to its possibilities and functions, which are not immediately apparent when loading the program. As well as GarageBand Help there are many websites that offer tutorial support and ideas on how to interface third party resources like Garritan’s software instruments with GarageBand. MacMusic.org has a user forum for everything to do with making music on a Mac, which is very useful as well.

On an educational level, GarageBand is designed to suit the learning styles of Generation-Y with its intuitive and visually oriented interface that encourages the user to explore and play its features until inspired to create music. It makes me wonder, given how this is a product tailor-made for this generation why its developers chose such a “retro” look to the interface, with its wood panelling down the sides. A minor point, but I’d be interested to know what they were thinking.

Figure 1. Retro-look interface.

Loop-based Composition

The first aspect of the software that most new users are likely to play with is its loop-based composition capacity. Over 1000 loops of software and real instruments are provided, with the library easily expanded with free or customized loop packages purchased from the internet. The loops provided are categorized into a wide range of styles, instruments and genres as well as moods, making them easy to find, locate and use (Figure 2)

Figure 2. Organization of the loop library.

Unlike its earlier counterpart you can create your own loops with midi input or live recording, and export or import midi tracks midi files.

Choosing and previewing a loop is simple. You first select the combination of styles you’re interested in from the loop browser, then click on a selection to hear it. When you’ve made your choice, you simply drag and drop the loop into the track editor, and then drag the end of the loop to play it for the time you want.

Figure 3. Previewing loops.

Compositions can be created in a wide variety of time signatures, including 5 or 7/4, 12/8 etc., but if you want to compose in a time signature other than 4/4 you will have to create your own loops because the choice of loops in three quarter time is limited, while the choice of loops in uneven meters or compound time is virtually non-existent.

Real instrument files, coloured green (Figure 4) can be represented in piano roll notation or in traditional notation (Figure 5) and then edited by the composer, a useful feature, especially in the educational context.

Figure 4. Piano roll notation for 70’s Ballad Piano 04.

Figure 5. Traditional notation for 70’s Ballad Piano 04.

Recording

GarageBand can record up to eight tracks live (with a USB Microphone adapter, a mixer and external microphones) and comes with a range of effects plug-ins to transform both vocal and instrumental sounds. Using the effects is as easy as highlighting the track, and clicking on the range of effects to hear how the effects would sound. I had fun singing in “Mercedes Benz” my favourite Janis Joplin song and then experimenting with how I would sound like as a man, a mouse, or as an alien from the Orion constellation. The resulting effect can then be saved as a new instrument and used in other projects.

Finished projects can be easily mixed and exported into iTunes (also part of the iLife package) allowing amateur bands to produce and burn their own CD’s. Of course, the cost of simplicity is that you lose a fair amount of editorial control, but as an entry-level product, GarageBand is a great stepping-stone for amateurs and does the job well.

GarageBand 2.0 is an excellent entry-level product that will encourage a great many people, who would never have considered themselves composers, to create music and play with sound. It has certainly hit its target market with its friendly interface and powerful functions, but could frustrate the same market because of its need for fast processors and massive memory requirements. It’s great fun to use and is capable of producing creditable results as a recording and composition tool.

REFERENCES

Dreier, T. (2005). Apple GarageBand 2.0. Viewed October 13, 2005.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1756037,00.asp

France, J. (2005). CNET Editors’ Review for Apple’s GarageBand 2.0.0. Viewed October 13, 2005.

http://reviews.cnet.com/Apple_GarageBand_2_0/4505-3669_7-31320387-2.html?tag=nav

Breen, C. (2005). GarageBand 2.0: Fantastic Upgrade Makes Creative Program Even More Musical. Viewed October 13, 2005.

http://www.macworld.com/2005/02/reviews/garageband2/index.php

Mute (2004). Review: GarageBand. Viewed October 13, 2005.

http://rocknerd.org/article.pl?sid=04/01/20/0438250&mode=thread&tid=8

(2005). GarageBand Recording Tips. Viewed October 13, 2005.

http://www.macjams.com/article.php?story=20050306160702320

Morgan, B. J. (2004). GarageBand GPO Tutorial. Viewed October 13, 2005.

http://www.garritan.com/garageband_tutorial.html


Home About Jiltoa About Jiltoa Biography Susan Clarke Services Contact Us Resources Quote File Articles Teaching Music to Generation Y Flow and Musical Performance Resources I Can't Live Without The Practising Dilemma The Value of a Mentor Teaching With Laughter Music Fun Simple Tunes to Download Extending the Life of a Simple Tune Teaching Anecdotes Teacher's Faux Pas Kid's Oneliners Instrumental Music Posters Links Practice Diary Events Upcoming Events Testimonials	GarageBand 2.0 A Review By Susan Clarke (October, 2005) GarageBand 2.0.0 is a free application included with the iLife Suite of five lifestyle applications, shipped with every new Macintosh. It can also be purchased with the iLife Suite for $119. Either way the application represents excellent value for money. Installing Garage Band is as simple as clicking on “Install” after inserting the iLife CD. Virtually no configuration is necessary as OS X (10.3.6 is the minimum platform required) automatically senses midi and microphone input when the components are plugged in. One word of warning: while the other four applications in iLife take up only 340 megabytes of memory, GarageBand 2.0 takes a whopping 4.7 gigabytes, so make sure that you have plenty of hard drive space, especially if you are installing it on an older computer. An initial frustration with Garage Band is that while it is supposed to run on a G3 or G4 machine with 256K of ram (512k is recommended), the machine is easily overwhelmed by GarageBand’s memory hungry functions. Using too many loops at once (and what first-time user or child doesn’t) results in jerky and unpredictable playback owing to problems with latency. A pop-up screen suggests “Optimization for GarageBand”, which works to some degree still doesn’t allow the user to push the program to the limit. My daughter, who has an iBook G4 with 256k ram still finds it too frustrating to use, while I had my ram upgraded from 512k to 1 gigabyte on my iBook G4 to run all functions to the max without the latency problems. The fact that GarageBand 2.0 is part of a suite installed on all new computers suggests that it should be very simple to use by every class of computer user. Anyone with the ability to use a mouse can operate GarageBand with ease, although reading through GarageBand Help would alert the user to its possibilities and functions, which are not immediately apparent when loading the program. As well as GarageBand Help there are many websites that offer tutorial support and ideas on how to interface third party resources like Garritan’s software instruments with GarageBand. MacMusic.org has a user forum for everything to do with making music on a Mac, which is very useful as well. On an educational level, GarageBand is designed to suit the learning styles of Generation-Y with its intuitive and visually oriented interface that encourages the user to explore and play its features until inspired to create music. It makes me wonder, given how this is a product tailor-made for this generation why its developers chose such a “retro” look to the interface, with its wood panelling down the sides. A minor point, but I’d be interested to know what they were thinking. Figure 1. Retro-look interface. Loop-based Composition The first aspect of the software that most new users are likely to play with is its loop-based composition capacity. Over 1000 loops of software and real instruments are provided, with the library easily expanded with free or customized loop packages purchased from the internet. The loops provided are categorized into a wide range of styles, instruments and genres as well as moods, making them easy to find, locate and use (Figure 2) Figure 2. Organization of the loop library. Unlike its earlier counterpart you can create your own loops with midi input or live recording, and export or import midi tracks midi files. Choosing and previewing a loop is simple. You first select the combination of styles you’re interested in from the loop browser, then click on a selection to hear it. When you’ve made your choice, you simply drag and drop the loop into the track editor, and then drag the end of the loop to play it for the time you want. Figure 3. Previewing loops. Compositions can be created in a wide variety of time signatures, including 5 or 7/4, 12/8 etc., but if you want to compose in a time signature other than 4/4 you will have to create your own loops because the choice of loops in three quarter time is limited, while the choice of loops in uneven meters or compound time is virtually non-existent. Real instrument files, coloured green (Figure 4) can be represented in piano roll notation or in traditional notation (Figure 5) and then edited by the composer, a useful feature, especially in the educational context. Figure 4. Piano roll notation for 70’s Ballad Piano 04. Figure 5. Traditional notation for 70’s Ballad Piano 04. Recording GarageBand can record up to eight tracks live (with a USB Microphone adapter, a mixer and external microphones) and comes with a range of effects plug-ins to transform both vocal and instrumental sounds. Using the effects is as easy as highlighting the track, and clicking on the range of effects to hear how the effects would sound. I had fun singing in “Mercedes Benz” my favourite Janis Joplin song and then experimenting with how I would sound like as a man, a mouse, or as an alien from the Orion constellation. The resulting effect can then be saved as a new instrument and used in other projects. Finished projects can be easily mixed and exported into iTunes (also part of the iLife package) allowing amateur bands to produce and burn their own CD’s. Of course, the cost of simplicity is that you lose a fair amount of editorial control, but as an entry-level product, GarageBand is a great stepping-stone for amateurs and does the job well. GarageBand 2.0 is an excellent entry-level product that will encourage a great many people, who would never have considered themselves composers, to create music and play with sound. It has certainly hit its target market with its friendly interface and powerful functions, but could frustrate the same market because of its need for fast processors and massive memory requirements. It’s great fun to use and is capable of producing creditable results as a recording and composition tool. REFERENCES Dreier, T. (2005). Apple GarageBand 2.0. Viewed October 13, 2005. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1756037,00.asp France, J. (2005). CNET Editors’ Review for Apple’s GarageBand 2.0.0. Viewed October 13, 2005. http://reviews.cnet.com/Apple_GarageBand_2_0/4505-3669_7-31320387-2.html?tag=nav Breen, C. (2005). GarageBand 2.0: Fantastic Upgrade Makes Creative Program Even More Musical. Viewed October 13, 2005. http://www.macworld.com/2005/02/reviews/garageband2/index.php Mute (2004). Review: GarageBand. Viewed October 13, 2005. http://rocknerd.org/article.pl?sid=04/01/20/0438250&mode=thread&tid=8 (2005). GarageBand Recording Tips. Viewed October 13, 2005. http://www.macjams.com/article.php?story=20050306160702320 Morgan, B. J. (2004). GarageBand GPO Tutorial. Viewed October 13, 2005. http://www.garritan.com/garageband_tutorial.html



			"Do What You Do Do Well"

"Do What You Do Do Well"