Garageband

(If anyone is interested) I got my iLife package yesterday and started playing around with GarageBand. It's pretty neat, I really like to use it when I am not working on my docklets ...

Here is a screenie for anyone interested:

Larger Image

If you are interested to listen to that music, (and make fun off :shy:) you need to first download the appropriate codec (for windows). The codec helped me to convert my ~11MB AIFF file to ~1MB AAC (M4A) format. The music is not complete, it cuts-off. I didn't get the chance to finish it, I need to finish the weather docklet!

Download Codec

Download Music

#101145

The first minute or so of that is really cool, albeik

I want GarageBand

#101151

GarageBand, that sexy thing! And nice bit of tune, rather nice mix of slow eerie and Matrixy-ness (if that was at all intended.. )!

#101160

Thanks guys.. my intention was to express the evolution of music starting with classical then moving towards new age/techno style... at least I tried to..

#101162

Actually, that is really pretty freakin good. You should finish it, I would love to have a full length version of that.

Ahhhhh the multi talented aquasoftians

#101194

Yea, it's pretty cool, IMO.

Finish it, and let us hear your creation!

#101235

Hi! OMG I am a recording artist in the making: I'm 16.

But that's probably the PRIMARY reason I want a mac: garageband.

I make music for short films (and have done music for plays many times) here in Toronto (btw if anyone is interested in music for their productions: dindio70@hotmail.com - add me at msn or e-mail me) and wholly crap, I would make AMAZING stuff instead of using traditional midi.

:D:D:D THANK YOU UNIVERSE FOR THIS INTER-GALACTIC MARVEL!

#101240

This looks like almost an exact rip of a windows prog called ACID. Same layout, same loop/sample construction. I use it all the time. It was never ported to mac, so I guess this is the next best thing.

#101282

I just recieved Garageband as well. It's a really fun program, but if you're not a musician with a midi keyboard or an electric guitar, you're better off buying Soundtrack. I'm a classical guitarist who doesn't even own an electric guitar, and I'm certainly no keyboardist, so...

The loops sound great, but they are too long and in very short supply. Each loops sounds too much like a completed portion of a song, rather than just a 2-4 beat snip. This would not be a problem if they gave you 4000 or 6000 loops, but with only 1000, the room for diversity is quite small. If you want a piano part (which is one of the most sampled instruments), you can only make is sound different four or so times. There also a lot of guitar samples, but most of them are too long and sound too alike. Soundtrack gives you very short loops that can be crafted in such a way where it sounds like a progressing front solo. Naturally, this is not a problem if you are a musician and are going to play a guitar solo or midi instrument over it. If you fit into that category, go nuts! You'll love Garageband. However, if your looking for a good sequencer (like I was), go with Soundtrack.

In fact, the best thing about the release of GB is that soundtrack has dropped in price by $100!!! This means that, with the educational discount, you can get it for $170!

That being said, I still enjoy GB, and I plan to buy a midi keyboard and develop some keyboarding skills. For $30 (edu discount), you really can't go wrong. Just don't expect a good, stand alone sequencer.

#101288

This program isn't for musicians. It lets people who don't have any musical ability throw on some premade royalty free loops on to their iMovies. I think musicians should stick to writing their own material. Just because you dug through the loops for a long time and found a one no one has used yet doesn't mean you wrote it.

#101291

Originally posted by Liebe@Jan 17 2004, 08:48 PM

This program isn't for musicians.  It lets people who don't have any musical ability throw on some premade royalty free loops on to their iMovies.  I think musicians should stick to writing their own material.  Just because you dug through the loops for a long time and found a one no one has used yet doesn't mean you wrote it.

And what about hip-hop DJs?

D'you mean to say that they're not musicians? <_<

#101297

Originally posted by Stevie BM@Jan 17 2004, 09:03 PM

And what about hip-hop DJs?

D'you mean to say that they're not musicians? <_<

If you're talking about guys who spin records, then you could say they are performance musicians. But if you're talking about the guys who make the records, sampling isn't an art. So they may write the lyrics, but that's just one track.

#101309

Originally posted by Liebe@Jan 17 2004, 09:24 PM

If you're talking about guys who spin records, then you could say they are performance musicians.  But if you're talking about the guys who make the records, sampling isn't an art.  So they may write the lyrics, but that's just one track.

It depends how you use those samples, I think.

For example, listen to anything by Jurassic 5, or Gang Starr, Madlib, or any proper hip-hop producers (I don't mean hip-pop like Timbaland or Neptunes et al.), and listen to how they use samples.

I agree it isn't art when you use it how someone like Jay-Z used it in "Hard Knock Life", but, personally, I think Gang Starr's "Jazz Thing" is. Likewise Madlib's entire "Shades of Blue" - his take on the Blue Note back catalogue.

#101310

I disagree, this program is most certainly for musicians. If you have no musical ability, the midi and software instrument features are lost and serve you no purpose. As I said, the loop sequencing abilities of this program are really quite weak. Without the Jam Pack, you can't do much in the way of loops. And the cost of the Jam Pack + GB is pretty much the same as Soundtrack, which is MUCH more useful for composing music (key and tempo modifications for instance) and using them on your movies. You just can't create a wide range of music with the loops in GB. This tells me that it's meant to be used for background music where you yourself can play the lead on a midi keyboard or guitar.

EDIT: Don't take this the wrong way, Garageband is a great program for a great price. I'm just saying that non-musicians are better served with Soundtrack. Much better served.

#101315

I was talking about sampling where an entire song is basically sampled, with not a lot added. I know a little J5, but I'll check the others out. I think sampling can add to or flesh out a song, but it shouldn't be relied on. It should be used in a creative way, not as a work-around to making something new and original.

#101319

Originally posted by Liebe@Jan 17 2004, 09:38 PM

I was talking about sampling where an entire song is basically sampled, with not a lot added.  I know  a little J5, but I'll check the others out.  I think sampling can add to or flesh out a song, but it shouldn't be relied on. It should be used in a creative way, not as a work-around to making something new and original.

My point exactly...

I had a feeling that we were approaching the same point from different directions

#101321

Originally posted by Stevie BM@Jan 17 2004, 09:39 PM

My point exactly...

I had a feeling that we were approaching the same point from different directions

Agreed.

#101325

Originally posted by Nausicaa@Jan 17 2004, 09:33 PM

I disagree, this program is most certainly for musicians.  If you have no musical ability, the midi and software instrument features are lost and serve you no purpose.  As I said, the loop sequencing abilities of this program are really quite weak.  Without the Jam Pack, you can't do much in the way of loops.  And the cost of the Jam Pack + GB is pretty much the same as Soundtrack, which is MUCH more useful for composing music (key and tempo modifications for instance) and using them on your movies.  You just can't create a wide range of music with the loops in GB.  This tells me that it's meant to be used for background music where you yourself can play the lead on a midi keyboard or guitar.

EDIT:  Don't take this the wrong way, Garageband is a great program for a great price.  I'm just saying that non-musicians are better served with Soundtrack.  Much better served.

I highly doubt people like Sheryl Crow in the apple video use Garage Band. Of course, you don't have to be a a famous pop artist to be considered a musician, but garage band only offers the most basic of functions, like you were saying. And if Soundtrack serves non musicians better, how does garage band serve musicians?

#101332

Yes, when I say musician, I mean anyone who plays a musical instrument. This program offers nothing to professional musicians, as you said. However, for the average consumer musician, this program offers the opportunity to play your instrument while using the loops as a back up to flesh out your music. Guitarists can use the guitar amps and keyboardists can use the many software instruments. I'm not saying that GB has basic features, I think this program is great and has many uses. I only mean it's features as a loop based sequencer are limited. As a mini recording studio, this program is marvelous; indeed, it's worth more than it is being sold for.

#101340

Sounds good. (Y)

#101343

Well, after reading what liebe said, i'm not sure i'm that desperate for GB anymore. I mean, I do a lot of midi development, but if there's not much room for creativity, and it's just a mac version of ACID for just a cheap-sounding background to movies / dvd's, in that case, i'll stick to something more professional.

GB is beautiful, but it needs a little tune up in features for their next release.

For now, us composers, we'll stick to cubase, or something of that nature.

#101364

Originally posted by PlopPlopFizz@Jan 17 2004, 03:21 PM

This looks like almost an exact rip of a windows prog called ACID. Same layout, same loop/sample construction. I use it all the time. It was never ported to mac, so I guess this is the next best thing.

DRUNKSPEAK, im a bad bad man

#101540

Originally posted by Photo678@Jan 18 2004, 03:22 AM

it looks nothing like acid you moron, and many sound apps are the same in that regard, DOLT

Hey! Treat the other members with respect, or be banned! :rant:

Back on topic: What Nausicaa says is exactly correct- as a college student, I cannot spend $1000+ for Pro Tools 6 and external audio hardware. My budget is much too constrained. However, I can plunk down $50 for iLife and $40 for a Griffin iMic, thus allowing me to record. Also the loops come in handy for those who either have limited access to other instruments and/or are unable to record those instruments in acceptable quality. For instance, I have no access to a drum kit, but I can use the drum loops to put behind my live recordings of my guitar.

I doubt Sheryl Crow would use GarageBand to record her next CD; then again, if I had Sheryl Crow's budget, neither would I. The point is, for what GarageBand offers, the price is more than fair. The closest PC app in simplity and ease of use is Acid Pro, which costs $350 (if my memory serves correctly). Not a bad deal at all.

-godpunk

#101548

Originally posted by godpunk@Jan 18 2004, 05:50 AM

The closest PC app in simplity and ease of use is Acid Pro, which costs $350 (if my memory serves correctly).

There is (was?) a basic version of Acid (Acid DJ was what it was called when Sonic Foundry still owned them, IIRC), that's under $100. Hmm...OK, name is now Screenblast Acid 4.0 for $70.

#101587

if there is more to this, please let us hear, it sounds awesome

#103720