Web Tutorials
Quick Video Tutorial for Garageband: Apple's Garageband Video Tutorial
Add more when you find them!
Notes on the Detailed Tutorial: "Garageband 203: Podcasting in Garageband."
Sion has purchased a Mac ProVideo for using Garageband for podcasting. You can use chapters of the video as needed, instead of watching the entire video. Go to the MacProvideo web site. Login using the username "lgalehodge@gmail.com" and password "ndsion." Browse to "my tutorials." Click on "launch player" for the web streaming option for "Garageband 203: Podcasting in Garageband." Click on arrows at left to view chapters under subheadings. Chapters are numbered. The brief guide that follows is intended as a supplement for use with this video. If you own a mac and are using Garageband at home, this may still be helpful to you, but you may wish to use the Apple tutorial linked above instead. Garageband is not available for use on a PC. However, for editing at home on a PC you can use a free program called Audacity.
Note that this video is for Garageband 08, and we now have Garageband 09. There is enough similarity between the two that this should still be useful to you.
Numbers correspond to numbered chapters in the "Garageband 203" tutorial.
Creating a Podcast Episode
9 Configuring USB mic
We'll be using the Blue Snowball usb mic. When you plug it in, it should immediately be recognized by the mac. But go ahead and check to make sure mac an Garageband know what mic you are using. Click apple at upper left corner, select system preferences. Click on "sound." Click "input." Select the Blue Snowball mic (or other, if you are using a different mic). Next, speak into mic while adjusting input level. Level shouldn't peak -- bars shouldn't be lighting up at far right side. (Watch video segment for more) If input level is too high when you make a recording, it's nearly impossible to fix later. The Blue Snowball is a sensitive mic and shouldn't require a high input level, but test it with your own voice and any other sounds you will be recording.
Quick note on the Blue Snowball: In general, keep the switch on the mic in first position. However, if you need the "omni capsule" -- if you need to capture sound from all directions, instead of just what's right in front of the mic -- put the switch in the third position.
10 Creating a podcast episode.
When you launch the Garageband program, click podcast option. Template for a podcast opens. The podcast track is for enhanced podcasts, containing extra media. Try to avoid using this track for now. For basic podcast recordings you'll mostly use the voice track(s) and the jingle track. Note media browser at right, which can be used to get content. Hide media browser by clicking button at middle right, next to “i.” Other buttons from left to right: create a new track (+), show/hide loop browser (eye), show/hide track editor, various playback controls, master volume, show / hide track info (i).
To delete a template track (such as a vocal track you don’t need), click to select track. In track menu, click delete.
11 Making a Test Recording
Select the appropriate track by clicking on it. If it's you or a female talking, click "female voice" grack. Arm the track by clicking on the circular enable button within the track buttons, far left. Turns red when it's armed. Track info settings -- see below for specifics on our setup. To record, click on red record button or press "r" on keyboard. Press play button or spacebar to stop recording.
12 Recording with Single Mic
Note how you can adjust levels. Keep the channel at stereo 1/2 if you want to record in stereo. If you are recording a single voice only, you may want to switch to mono.
13 Recording with Two Mics
Recommended if you do a discussion / debate podcast, record an interview, or any other situation where you have two (or more) sources of sound. You can use two Blue Snowball mics (two USB ports on each computer).
14 Channel Strip Presets
Helps ensure best quality. If you have to use the iSight mic (built in to the macbook), use the channel strip preset for the iSight when recording.
(Try not to use the iSight when the Blue Snowball is available.)
Importing a Recording
Need to import a recording you made elsewhere? Here's how to import an audio file, rom the GB help files:
You can import audio files of the following file types into a GarageBand project:
AIFF, WAV AAC (except protected AAC files, such as items purchased from the iTunes Store), Apple Lossless, MP3
Audio files should have a sample rate of 44.1 kilohertz (kHz) and a bit depth of 16 bits. Imported audio files with a different sample rate may play back at a different pitch. To preserve the pitch, you can convert the file to 44.1 kHz using QuickTime Pro or another application before importing the file into GarageBand.
To import an audio file:
Drag the audio file you want to import from the Finder into the timeline, to the empty area below the existing tracks. A new Real Instrument track is created, and the audio file appears as a Real Instrument region in the track. Audio files you import from the Finder do not change to match the tempo or key of your project. Compressed audio files you import into a project remain compressed, saving space and time.
Editing the Podcast
20 Cut, copy, paste. It's easiest if you just watch this segment, but these notes might help if you get confused or need a quick review.
Use the zoom slider at bottom left to zoom in and out on the tracks. There are separate ones for track editor (bottom pane) and larger project window (upper pane). Note that the track editor is extremely useful -- most finetuning requires using it. Zoom in very close as needed.
Click on a region of track (a region is a rectangular unit with rounded corners) to select; you can cut and paste to a different location on the timeline. Position play cursor where you want pasted content to go. If you want to cut only a portion of a region, position cursor where you want to split off the unwanted segment. On edit menu, choose split. Or hit command + t on keyboard. Then you have a new region; select and cut or delete with delete key. Make sure any region you’re trying to split is selected first.
Move regions around by clicking in middle and dragging. Important: To move multiple regions together, keeping their positions relative to each other, drag around outside of desired regions so that you see green box, which selects them all. You can then move them in a block.
22 Tightening up pace.
You can grab edge of region to overlap with another region, thereby eliminating some of the audio at end of the other region. Also, you can trim off end of region by grabbing edge and moving it when you see the small vertical line indicator. Easier to do in the track editor.
23 Jingles, stingers, and effects.
Click the eye button to open this pane. These are fun, but don't go overboard with sound effects or stingers. When you find something you need, click it and drag into jingle track.
25 Ducking
This is an important feature that makes GB a great tool (Audacity doesn't have automatic ducking).
Mixing
For advanced users, primarily.
Enhanced Podcasts
Ways to add chapters and pictures that change as the podcast plays. Note that a slicker way to do this is to make a movie out of pictures with iMovie and then add the audio you created in Garageband.
An example of an enhanced podcast: Podguides
Exporting the Podcast
Once you are finished, go the Share menu. Choose "Export to Disk." Choose carefully where you want to store your exported file and make sure it is named properly. Leave the default mp3 settings. Export your masterpiece! You can now retrieve your mp3 file from the directory where you stored it. Ready to create a podcast feed? We'll use iWeb for this. See Ms. Hodge for help with this.
Tips and Tricks
- To ensure a smooth recording / editing session, DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE RUNNING WHILE YOU ARE USING GARAGEBAND. Shut down all other programs. Garageband needs all of the processor's attention. If need be, just print out this wiki page.
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