The ultimate pitch correction tool, for perfectly tuned natural-sounding vocals or creative effects. With an extensive palette of pitch shaping and transformation tools, including full ReWire support and formant correction, Waves Tune lets you do all your pitch editing right there within your DAW environment – no need to export sections. Celemony's Melodyne 4 Studio pack is the best pitch correction/auto-tune plug-in for Garageband. If you have the money, purchase the full package, the Studio Version here on Plug-in Boutique, I recommend getting the Editor version first from the same place if you're on a budget. I haven't used the features in Logic for pitch correction but I'm fairly certain they have some. In any event, you are much better off trying to do any sort of complicated process in Logic. Garageband is very much a laymen's DAW, not that it can't produce a good sounding product, just doesn't have the same tools available and those that are. Pitch correction is an electronic effects unit or audio software that changes the intonation (highness or lowness in pitch) of an audio signal so that all pitches will be notes from the equally tempered system (i.e., like the pitches on a piano).Pitch correction devices do this without affecting other aspects of its sound. Pitch correction first detects the pitch of an audio signal (using a.
- Does Garageband Have Pitch Correction Frequency
- Autotune On Garageband Ios
- Best Pitch Correction Software
While Garageband comes with its own pitch correction/auto-tune plug-in, it's quite limited in its parameters, coming only with the ability to select the key and make adjustments based on a numerical scale. At some point, you'll probably want to move on to a more sophisticated plug-in that comes with extra options, specifications, parameters, and other cool features.
If you're in the market for a new pitch-correction plug-in, grab Melodyne 4 – Studio (Melodyne 5 is great too. It's the updated version).
Celemony's Melodyne 4 Studio pack is the best pitch correction/auto-tune plug-in for Garageband.
If you have the money, purchase the full package, the Studio Version here on Plug-in Boutique, I recommend getting the Editor version first from the same place if you're on a budget.
You can check out the chart at the end of the article to find out the differences between each edition, however, this article explores the features of the full version of the software. Furthermore, if you want a traditional auto-tune plug-in to get T-Pain/Travis Scott style vocals, check out MAutoPitch from Melda Production (at this link). This will help you get the sound you're looking for.
Features of Melodyne 4 Studio
How To Start
To get started, you just have to hit the ‘Transfer' button in Melodyne's interface and then hit play on the vocals. From here, Melodyne will load the track into the interface for editing.
Easy-To-Understand Blob/Wave Format
After you've printed the audio recording into Melodyne 4, the software portrays it as 'blobs' and wavy-lines.
The blob represents the note, the volume, and the duration of the vocal track.
The wavy-lines portray the direction and flow of the pitch.
Using the plug-in's Main Tool, you can adjust the positioning of the notes which ultimately changes the pitch completely, according to either a diatonic key signature, the chromatic scale, or randomly.
By randomly, I mean that you can adjust the pitch of the note in such a way where it's not connected to any scale.
Melodyne Algorithms
Melodyne has different algorithms for different types of audio, including an algorithm for entire mixes such as every instrument collectively; algorithms for noise, percussive instruments, vocals, and also for instruments like the bass and electric guitar.
These different algorithms determine how the audio signal will be shown in the interface as well as how it'll be interpreted by the software.
There are three main algorithms:
1) Melodic and Polyphonic: Melodic and Polyphonic allow for the adjustment of notes and pitch, including various parameters like amplitude (volume), vibrato, etc.
2) Percussive: The Percussive algorithm gives you the ability to adjust the note in terms of its timing, which is great for drums, drum loops, and other percussive instruments, or even noisy instruments that don't have a particular pitch.
In other words, the percussive algorithms allow you to adjust the timing, and due to the combined use of the melodic and polyphonic, also the pitch of the note, even though the sound it's adjusting isn't a melodic instrument, ie, guitar versus a snare drum.
3) Universal: The universal algorithm is used for stretching the note across a certain amount of time and also transposing mixes and other instruments.
The combined functions of all of the aforementioned algorithms allow for broad and subtle changes across several different parameters. For example, you can actually stretch out a note sung by a singer.
This isn't possible to do in Garageband using the default pitch-correction plug-in unless you use Melodyne, another plug-in, or nuanced tactics that are more time-consuming.
Pitch Editing Software
Melodyne is capable of pitch editing on a number of different levels, including the pitch center and pitch modulation (also known as vibrato).
Using an example to explain what I mean, it's possible to adjust the amount of vibrato within a particular note.
Down to the very specific pitch fluctuation of the note, you can determine how much the pitch is drifting away from the note's center.
If there's too much vibrato and just a part of it is off-key, you can pull it more toward the center, or, you could make the vibrato much stronger.
It's possible to adjust the pitch of notes on a very subtle level, for instance, toward the correct pitch rather than exactly on point.
How To Do It
You do this by selecting the note using the Pitch Modulation tool, and then dragging and dropping it to where you want it to go based on its location in the grid.
The lines will flip up and down or flatten out depending on what tool you use and how you use it.
If you've ever used the auto-tune/pitch-correction plug-in in Garageband, you'll know that it doesn't allow for very small and subtle changes.
Melodyne 4 makes up for that because you can actually push one-note individually, rather than all of them collectively as is the case using Garageband's default plug-in.
This allows for WAY more customization.
What makes Melodyne amazing is that it's capable of changing the pitch of notes while also retaining its natural quality.
Explained in another way, it's not going to change the 'human quality' of the sound. I was actually pleasantly surprised by Melodyne's ability to change the pitch without noticeably altering its natural sound, and I can't emphasize this enough.
For instance, if a vocalist has sung a particular part and you want to move it up a Major Third for the sake of harmonization, it'll sound just as good using Melodyne.
It really does a tremendous job of adjusting the pitch without making it sound bad or weird.
Snap To Grid For Time Quantizing And Pitch Correction
Like I mentioned above, in addition to adjusting the notes individually, it also has the capability to make sweeping changes across the board, rather than adjusting each note on a case-by-case basis.
What I mean by this, is that you can snap all the notes to the grid according to a particular key, similar to how it's done in Garageband.
How To Do It
You do this by selecting 'Edit,' in the tool-bar, and then 'Quantization Macros,' and then either 'Correct Pitch' or 'Quantize Time.'
You can snap it to the grid based on a particular key signature, as well as make sweeping changes to the pitch drift and pitch center.
Furthermore, you can change the pitch of note according to a particular scale if you want, for instance, the chromatic scale or another diatonic scale such as the A Major Scale.
Polyphonic (Multiple-Note) Editing
While Melodyne has a lot of impressive features, its ability to adjust the pitch of chords and other notes played together really stands out in my opinion.
For this, you would want to use the 'Polyphonic' algorithm, which is used for adjusting notes played harmonically (all at the same time).
Melodyne, however, will use its Automatic detection system to figure out what algorithm is necessary. But it doesn't hurt to select the proper algorithm as a preventative measure.
In the image you can see below, I took one of Garageband's Apple Loops – an acoustic guitar playing chords – and you can see that Melodyne used the Polyphonic algorithm to literally pull the audio apart so that you can see each note played individually.
Because of this, you can actually change the pitch of each part of the strum. It's honestly pretty amazing.
Safari virus protection. You could use this feature for guitar or piano chords, or really any instrument that's capable of harmonies.
How To Do This
It's done the same way as other forms of editing. You just have to use the Transfer button to print the audio into Melodyne, and the software should automatically pick up on what algorithm is necessary for editing.
Changing The Timing
The notes in Melodyne can be edited in a number of ways, including by shortening or lengthening, moved forwards or backward, or quantized according to a grid.
This is also possible using the Flex Timing option in Garageband, but Melodyne can adjust minor details more specifically and in a more nuanced fashion.
The specificity of Melodyne is more in-depth than the Flex Time function. For instance, you can correct very specific errors and transients.
How To Do This
It's really fairly intuitive. Just use the Main Tool to pull the notes toward whatever grid-line that you want.
Additionally, you can use the time quantization tool that I mentioned above. You go into the top toolbar, select 'Edit,' and then 'Quantization Macros,' and then 'Quantize Time.'
Tempo Editing
A cool additional feature of the plug-in is that it can actually detect the tempo of your song, that way you can create a quantization grid that works perfectly with the tempo of the song.
Furthermore, you can generate a click track afterward if you want to.
If you're familiar with Garageband, you'll know that the time editing function is perhaps the most limited aspect of the DAW.
For instance, you can't change the timing and tempo of one track without adjusting the timing and tempo of the rest of the music (although, there are weird and time-consuming ways of getting around this. Check out this article here to learn more).
Melodyne allows you do to make these changes, either for editing or creative purposes.
How To Do This
In the image you can see above, I've pointed out the number tempo system that you can click on and make changes from there.
Volume Editing
Garageband comes with the ability to adjust the velocity, strength, and volume of MIDI notes, but the same thing can't be said for audio recordings, whether it be a guitar, bass guitar, or vocals.
Although, of course, you can adjust the volume but only on the entire track, unless you use automation.
Melodyne allows you to adjust the amplitude and volume of particular notes and sections of the audio recording.
Undesirable fluctuations in volume can be adjusted after the fact, without the use of an additional plug-in such as a compressor or noise gate, which would typically adjust ALL of the notes, rather than one individual note.
This has other added benefits, including the ability to adjust other undesirable sounds in a recording, such as breathing sounds or some kind of sound in the background.
How To Do This
Similar to other functions, you just have to select the right tool in the top-center toolbar.
Multi-Tracking Capability
Using the note editor, it's possible to look at as many tracks as you want at the same time for the sake of reference or editing, depending on what you want.
As a result, it's a lot easier to make adjustments and changes while also seeing what everything looks like in the context of the entire mix.
How To Do This
Click on the fader option of the top-left side of the toolbar. This will bring up the tracks as I've shown in the image above.
Tempo Detection
Melodyne comes with an intelligent algorithm that's able to comprehend time signatures and tempos, including whether or not they've changed on a very subtle or major level.
I said already that it has the ability to create a click-track, but what's special about it is that it can go along with the performers rather than the other way around.
But in the case of this plug-in, you can actually create a click-track that will change according to the musician's performance, while at the same time, still being able to look at how the music looks in a typical DAW-grid that uses the number of beats as a unit of measurement.
Furthermore, you can adjust wandering tempo changes without eliminating the minor alterations in dynamics, which is useful for a live performance, for example.
A lot of Garageband users also want the ability to adjust tempo and synchronize different recordings together, which isn't usually possible using the default DAW plug-ins, however, Melodyne makes it possible to do this.
Relatively Easy-To-Use Interface
When it comes to using music production/recording software and equipment, the number of controls, screens, and settings, can be quite daunting.
In Melodyne's case, they've done a decent job of making a comprehensible interface, similar to Garageband.
Garageband users know that its interface is one of the reasons why it's such a great DAW to start out with, so we know the value of a simple workspace.
With that said, I would say that Melodyne's interface isn't quite as intuitive as Garageband. In fact, this is my primary criticism of the plug-in thus far.
But like any tool, it's going to take some work to grow accustomed to it.
Keyboard Shortcuts
An added feature that some may like is the ability to create custom keyboard shortcuts. Frankly, I'm not much for making these kinds of changes, but other people might.
How To Do This
Go into Settings, select 'Preferences,' and then 'Shortcuts.'
Stand-Alone Mode and Plug-In Interface
You also have the option to use Melodyne as its own piece of software, or as a plug-in that comes up directly in Garageband.
The stand-alone version looks like what you can see in the image below:
How To Do This
To bring up the stand-alone version of the plug-in, you just have to open it up as a typical application at the bottom of your toolbar. You might have to search for it in your application menu first.
Melodyne 4 Buying Guide
The Melodyne 4 plug-in comes in 4 different packages, Essential, Assistant, Editor, and Studio, with Essential being the cheapest and Studio as the most expensive.
Frankly, I would avoid getting the Melodyne 4 Essential, because it's the bare-bones version of the plug-in.
Get either the Melodyne 4 Assistant or the Melodyne 4 Studio package.
If you want all the functions, get Melodyne 4 Studio.
However, if you're on a budget, you can choose any of the other three options, including Editor, Assistant, or if you really feel like you have to, the Essential version.
Thankfully, you can actually upgrade each one with a smaller fee, so if you've started out with the Assistant plug-in, you can pay the difference and move on to the more superior version.
Differences Between Each Version Of Melodyne
The ‘x' on the right-hand side of the chart determines that the version of the software does have the capabilities listed on the left-hand side.
***These Charts Are Taken From Celemony's Website
Cons And Important Things To Consider
1) Don't Use Command + Z Function
When you have the plug-in open in Garageband, be careful not to use the (Command + Z) function to undo changes in Melodyne.
For whatever reason, they didn't program the plug-in so that you could use the same Command function to undo changes.
What will end up happening is that Garageband might just shut down the plug-in and you'll lose all of the edits you've done up until that point.
I did this the other day after an hour of working on a vocal track.
2) Price
Frankly, this plug-in, especially the Studio version, is quite expensive.
The Studio version Melodyne costs more than the entire Logic Pro X software itself, which is really saying something.
On the other hand, though, the capabilities of this plug-in are quite extensive and it's really a game-changer in terms of what it allows you to do.
3) Not Many Tutorials Online
While there are some tutorials on how to use this plug-in on the internet, there certainly aren't hundreds of them.
Don't worry though, as I use this software more and more, I'm going to be producing all kinds of tutorials, articles, and YouTube videos to help you learn how to use it as well.
So you don't have to worry about being left out in the cold.
YouTube Video
Conclusion
All-in-all, I would say that Melodyne 4 Studio is definitely worth the money if you're serious about music production and recording. The useful features of this software/plug-in really can't be emphasized enough.
If you're on a budget, grab the Assistant version, but if you want to go all out, pick up the Studio version instead.
Garageband is arguably one of the more popular DAWs on the market, especially for the price: free. Despite what a lot of nay-sayers have to say, Garageband has many functions that are extremely useful for the regular musician, regardless of what genre or instrument you play.
Garageband can perform many very useful functions. Here is a list of just a few of them:
1) Create musical projects from scratch
2) Record vocals and other instruments
3) Create samples for hip-hop producers
4) Edit and Transpose music, whether in MIDI or Audio format
5) Has a database of royalty-free loops
6) Download third-party plug-ins
7) Create custom drum patterns.
8) An automated drummer track
9) Export files to popular streaming/sharing platforms
10) Time Quantize
11) Use the musical score (standard notation), editor
12) Adjust the tempo, time signature, and key signature
13) Adjust transposition
14) Use auto-tune and pitch correction software
15) It also has a note-pad for making notes as you create music
16) Use standard dynamics, effects, and other audio processing units like compressors, channel eq, limiters, and multipressors, many of which come with presets.
17) Has a library of amp modelers and effect units for bass and guitar players, in addition to a huge variety of presets.
18) Automation functions for volume and any plug-in you want.
1) Create Musical Projects From Scratch
What I mean by this is that you can use the plethora of available presets, instruments, plug-ins, and other VSTs to create your own music without owning a single instrument.
The software comes with a variety of VSTs, also known as virtual studio technology, ranging from synths, drum machines, drum kits, flutes, violins, cellos, guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, arpeggiators, vibraphones, and mellotrons, and so on and so forth.
Many of the software instruments are great to use, however, some are definitely better than others. Each VST typically comes with its very own set of parameters for customization, so you aren't limited to just one type of sound.
Many of the VSTs also have multiple settings inside them, for instance, an arpeggiator might have a variety of synth types within it, including presets and helpful functions like reverb, delay, glide, and so on.
How you intend on going about making music is up to you, but part of what makes it such a great software to use is the fact you're aren't that limited in terms of what can be done. For instance, if you don't own a single instrument, you can still figure out how to make music on your own.
Obviously, it's great to have actual instruments, but it's not 100% necessary, which brings me to my next point.
2) Record Vocals and Other Instruments such as Guitar
If you have access to an external microphone, it's very possible to record high-quality vocals using Garageband. Truthfully, it's possible to track vocals even without a proper microphone. All you would have to do is click on the Red Record button and start speaking into your computer.
Additionally, you have the option of recording literally any other instrument you want if you have a microphone, it really doesn't matter, whether it's a cello, violin, a flute, you name it.
If you want to read more about mixing vocals, check out this link here, and if you want to read about using EQ on guitars, I have an article here.
3) Create and use Samples for Hip-Hop and other Genres
A lot of people out there aren't aware of how great Garageband can be for hip-hop producers. For instance, there is a common misconception that you can't use a sampler in Garageband, but you actually can, and it's called the AUSampler.
Essentially, sampling just means you're grabbing a selected portion of an audio file, whether it's another song, a movie, an audio recording, and you chop it out and load it into the sampler, which can then be adjusted at various tempos and key signatures.
You can also adjust the tuning, the panning, and the volume, right in the AUSampler.
Without question, sampling is done primarily in hip-hop and rap music production, with Kanye West being one of the most famous examples of sampling.
If you want to read more about how to sample in Garageband, I recommend you check out this article here. It's really quite simple and doesn't take much to learn.
4) Edit and Transpose music, whether in MIDI or Audio format
Using the Piano Roll and the Workspace, Garageband users can conveniently edit music in post-production. Furthermore, it's entirely possible to change the velocity of each MIDI note, the position of the note in the song, as well as the pitch, duration, etc.
It's definitely worth mentioning that the same thing can be done for Audio format as well, with a few exceptions. As I recently wrote about in my article on why Garageband is very easy to use, it actually comes with a series of Commands that make it convenient and quick.
For instance, there is the (Command + Z) function, which allows you to eliminate mistakes or go back to where you were before, in case you added something by accident, or deleted something by accident and think that it's gone.
As long as you don't open a new file, Garageband has the ability to remember exactly what you had just done. You can check out the article here to see what some of these commands look like.
Furthermore, it's also possible to copy and paste Drummer Tracks, which are in a file format colored yellow, into a new software instrument track for MIDI Files, and Garageband will actually convert the drummer track into a MIDI File and allow for more customization and changes.
For example, if you wanted to add in a few more snare drums, or maybe even change the style of snare drum entirely, you could if you wanted too. Read more about the drummer track at this link here.
Regarding transposition, it's fairly simple to transpose music you've created in Garageband using either the Transposition track or through a pitch-altering plug-in.
Using the note editor, it's possible to look at as many tracks as you want at the same time for the sake of reference or editing, depending on what you want.
As a result, it's a lot easier to make adjustments and changes while also seeing what everything looks like in the context of the entire mix.
How To Do This
Click on the fader option of the top-left side of the toolbar. This will bring up the tracks as I've shown in the image above.
Tempo Detection
Melodyne comes with an intelligent algorithm that's able to comprehend time signatures and tempos, including whether or not they've changed on a very subtle or major level.
I said already that it has the ability to create a click-track, but what's special about it is that it can go along with the performers rather than the other way around.
But in the case of this plug-in, you can actually create a click-track that will change according to the musician's performance, while at the same time, still being able to look at how the music looks in a typical DAW-grid that uses the number of beats as a unit of measurement.
Furthermore, you can adjust wandering tempo changes without eliminating the minor alterations in dynamics, which is useful for a live performance, for example.
A lot of Garageband users also want the ability to adjust tempo and synchronize different recordings together, which isn't usually possible using the default DAW plug-ins, however, Melodyne makes it possible to do this.
Relatively Easy-To-Use Interface
When it comes to using music production/recording software and equipment, the number of controls, screens, and settings, can be quite daunting.
In Melodyne's case, they've done a decent job of making a comprehensible interface, similar to Garageband.
Garageband users know that its interface is one of the reasons why it's such a great DAW to start out with, so we know the value of a simple workspace.
With that said, I would say that Melodyne's interface isn't quite as intuitive as Garageband. In fact, this is my primary criticism of the plug-in thus far.
But like any tool, it's going to take some work to grow accustomed to it.
Keyboard Shortcuts
An added feature that some may like is the ability to create custom keyboard shortcuts. Frankly, I'm not much for making these kinds of changes, but other people might.
How To Do This
Go into Settings, select 'Preferences,' and then 'Shortcuts.'
Stand-Alone Mode and Plug-In Interface
You also have the option to use Melodyne as its own piece of software, or as a plug-in that comes up directly in Garageband.
The stand-alone version looks like what you can see in the image below:
How To Do This
To bring up the stand-alone version of the plug-in, you just have to open it up as a typical application at the bottom of your toolbar. You might have to search for it in your application menu first.
Melodyne 4 Buying Guide
The Melodyne 4 plug-in comes in 4 different packages, Essential, Assistant, Editor, and Studio, with Essential being the cheapest and Studio as the most expensive.
Frankly, I would avoid getting the Melodyne 4 Essential, because it's the bare-bones version of the plug-in.
Get either the Melodyne 4 Assistant or the Melodyne 4 Studio package.
If you want all the functions, get Melodyne 4 Studio.
However, if you're on a budget, you can choose any of the other three options, including Editor, Assistant, or if you really feel like you have to, the Essential version.
Thankfully, you can actually upgrade each one with a smaller fee, so if you've started out with the Assistant plug-in, you can pay the difference and move on to the more superior version.
Differences Between Each Version Of Melodyne
The ‘x' on the right-hand side of the chart determines that the version of the software does have the capabilities listed on the left-hand side.
***These Charts Are Taken From Celemony's Website
Cons And Important Things To Consider
1) Don't Use Command + Z Function
When you have the plug-in open in Garageband, be careful not to use the (Command + Z) function to undo changes in Melodyne.
For whatever reason, they didn't program the plug-in so that you could use the same Command function to undo changes.
What will end up happening is that Garageband might just shut down the plug-in and you'll lose all of the edits you've done up until that point.
I did this the other day after an hour of working on a vocal track.
2) Price
Frankly, this plug-in, especially the Studio version, is quite expensive.
The Studio version Melodyne costs more than the entire Logic Pro X software itself, which is really saying something.
On the other hand, though, the capabilities of this plug-in are quite extensive and it's really a game-changer in terms of what it allows you to do.
3) Not Many Tutorials Online
While there are some tutorials on how to use this plug-in on the internet, there certainly aren't hundreds of them.
Don't worry though, as I use this software more and more, I'm going to be producing all kinds of tutorials, articles, and YouTube videos to help you learn how to use it as well.
So you don't have to worry about being left out in the cold.
YouTube Video
Conclusion
All-in-all, I would say that Melodyne 4 Studio is definitely worth the money if you're serious about music production and recording. The useful features of this software/plug-in really can't be emphasized enough.
If you're on a budget, grab the Assistant version, but if you want to go all out, pick up the Studio version instead.
Garageband is arguably one of the more popular DAWs on the market, especially for the price: free. Despite what a lot of nay-sayers have to say, Garageband has many functions that are extremely useful for the regular musician, regardless of what genre or instrument you play.
Garageband can perform many very useful functions. Here is a list of just a few of them:
1) Create musical projects from scratch
2) Record vocals and other instruments
3) Create samples for hip-hop producers
4) Edit and Transpose music, whether in MIDI or Audio format
5) Has a database of royalty-free loops
6) Download third-party plug-ins
7) Create custom drum patterns.
8) An automated drummer track
9) Export files to popular streaming/sharing platforms
10) Time Quantize
11) Use the musical score (standard notation), editor
12) Adjust the tempo, time signature, and key signature
13) Adjust transposition
14) Use auto-tune and pitch correction software
15) It also has a note-pad for making notes as you create music
16) Use standard dynamics, effects, and other audio processing units like compressors, channel eq, limiters, and multipressors, many of which come with presets.
17) Has a library of amp modelers and effect units for bass and guitar players, in addition to a huge variety of presets.
18) Automation functions for volume and any plug-in you want.
1) Create Musical Projects From Scratch
What I mean by this is that you can use the plethora of available presets, instruments, plug-ins, and other VSTs to create your own music without owning a single instrument.
The software comes with a variety of VSTs, also known as virtual studio technology, ranging from synths, drum machines, drum kits, flutes, violins, cellos, guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, arpeggiators, vibraphones, and mellotrons, and so on and so forth.
Many of the software instruments are great to use, however, some are definitely better than others. Each VST typically comes with its very own set of parameters for customization, so you aren't limited to just one type of sound.
Many of the VSTs also have multiple settings inside them, for instance, an arpeggiator might have a variety of synth types within it, including presets and helpful functions like reverb, delay, glide, and so on.
How you intend on going about making music is up to you, but part of what makes it such a great software to use is the fact you're aren't that limited in terms of what can be done. For instance, if you don't own a single instrument, you can still figure out how to make music on your own.
Obviously, it's great to have actual instruments, but it's not 100% necessary, which brings me to my next point.
2) Record Vocals and Other Instruments such as Guitar
If you have access to an external microphone, it's very possible to record high-quality vocals using Garageband. Truthfully, it's possible to track vocals even without a proper microphone. All you would have to do is click on the Red Record button and start speaking into your computer.
Additionally, you have the option of recording literally any other instrument you want if you have a microphone, it really doesn't matter, whether it's a cello, violin, a flute, you name it.
If you want to read more about mixing vocals, check out this link here, and if you want to read about using EQ on guitars, I have an article here.
3) Create and use Samples for Hip-Hop and other Genres
A lot of people out there aren't aware of how great Garageband can be for hip-hop producers. For instance, there is a common misconception that you can't use a sampler in Garageband, but you actually can, and it's called the AUSampler.
Essentially, sampling just means you're grabbing a selected portion of an audio file, whether it's another song, a movie, an audio recording, and you chop it out and load it into the sampler, which can then be adjusted at various tempos and key signatures.
You can also adjust the tuning, the panning, and the volume, right in the AUSampler.
Without question, sampling is done primarily in hip-hop and rap music production, with Kanye West being one of the most famous examples of sampling.
If you want to read more about how to sample in Garageband, I recommend you check out this article here. It's really quite simple and doesn't take much to learn.
4) Edit and Transpose music, whether in MIDI or Audio format
Using the Piano Roll and the Workspace, Garageband users can conveniently edit music in post-production. Furthermore, it's entirely possible to change the velocity of each MIDI note, the position of the note in the song, as well as the pitch, duration, etc.
It's definitely worth mentioning that the same thing can be done for Audio format as well, with a few exceptions. As I recently wrote about in my article on why Garageband is very easy to use, it actually comes with a series of Commands that make it convenient and quick.
For instance, there is the (Command + Z) function, which allows you to eliminate mistakes or go back to where you were before, in case you added something by accident, or deleted something by accident and think that it's gone.
As long as you don't open a new file, Garageband has the ability to remember exactly what you had just done. You can check out the article here to see what some of these commands look like.
Furthermore, it's also possible to copy and paste Drummer Tracks, which are in a file format colored yellow, into a new software instrument track for MIDI Files, and Garageband will actually convert the drummer track into a MIDI File and allow for more customization and changes.
For example, if you wanted to add in a few more snare drums, or maybe even change the style of snare drum entirely, you could if you wanted too. Read more about the drummer track at this link here.
Regarding transposition, it's fairly simple to transpose music you've created in Garageband using either the Transposition track or through a pitch-altering plug-in.
5) Has a database of royalty-free loops
For the most part, Garageband's database of royalty-free loops is something that I avoided in the beginning when I first started making music with Garageband.
The reason for that was I wanted to figure out how to create my own melodies, without relying on an external library of sounds.
It also helped that I already had been playing guitar for fifteen years, so it was pretty easy for me to make melodies right away without much trying. However, after perusing through the list of melodies and rhythmic pre-sets, I realized the loops it comes with are actually pretty amazing. A lot can be done with them.
For instance, in my one song that I made during the summer, 'Cosmo Canyon,' which you can hear in the YouTube video below, I used the drummer track for the introduction to the song.
In the same song, I used a string section loop as well. The rest of the song is my own creation, however.
As I've mentioned before, Apple Loops are divided up into three main categories, Instrument, Descriptor, and Genre. Within each one of these categories, there are other subcategories as well, including sub-genres, different types of instruments, and so on and so forth.
Additionally, it's worth mentioning that each loop is color-coded according to its format, and is also identified by its tempo and key signature. If you want to read more about using Apple Loops, including even making your own loops, I would suggest checking out the following article at this link here.
6) Download third-party plug-ins
If you ever peruse the beat-making side of Instagram, you'll countless memes about plug-ins, and for good reason: plug-ins are amazing and fun to search for, download, and then try out.
Just the other day, in fact, I discovered a brand new 808 plug-in that I'm obsessed with. It's the Beatmaker 808 Module, which is great. You can read more about it at this link here.
Most DAWs have the capability to download third-party plug-ins, and Garageband does as well, despite what some people in the industry think.
If you want to read a tutorial on how to go about downloading and installing plug-ins, check out this link here. There is also a list of plug-ins as well near the ending of the article. Downloading plug-ins is as simple as dragging the components file into the Library > Audio.
Truthfully, there aren't many limitations to Garageband on account of the fact you can download third-party plug-ins. If the stock compressor isn't good enough for you, you can always move on to a much better one, free or not.
7) Create custom drum patterns and drum kits
Like other DAWs, Garageband has the ability to separate each part of the stock or plug-in drum kits and turn them into its own software instrument track for better mixing and panning.
For instance, you can have the Kick from the Beat Machine plug-in, but the hi-hat and snare from the Drum Pro Trap Plug-in.
It's up to you what kind of instruments you want to use, and the user isn't limited by what kind of instrument they can create. In other words, you can make your very own custom drum kit using all kinds of sounds and settings.
8) Use the Automated Drummer Track
The automated drummer track is fantastic for almost everything, including for compositional purposes, making your own backing tracks, or just getting a song started.
Additionally, one of my favorite parts of the drummer track is that you can actually convert the drummer track audio file into a MIDI one, for the sake of customization and also analyzing.
Does Garageband Have Pitch Correction Frequency
In other words, if you're struggling to figure out how to make your own drum beats, for instance, creating drum fills with the toms and snare, you can actually use the drummer track as a tutorial.
External disk storage. If you copy and paste the drummer track audio file into a MIDI software instrument track, you'll notice it turns the file into a MIDI file.
This allows you to actually see how the drummer track is created. That way you can see how the toms actually look in the piano roll and then go on to re-create those sounds on your own, without using the drummer track.
In other words, it's like you have an in-built teacher for learning how to program drums. Check out the article on the Drummer Track to read a bit more about this.
9) Export files to popular streaming/sharing platforms
Another handy feature of Garageband is it comes with an option where you can export the files directly to your streaming platform of choice, for instance, to SoundCloud, iTunes, or YouTube.
It's very easy to use and is done in just a few seconds. I especially like the one for iTunes and Soundcloud, because Garageband does it in such a way where the track is named perfectly and everything.
In the case of Soundcloud uploads, it also allows you to determine whether people can download your music from your page or not. It's very convenient.
10) Time Quantize
As I've mentioned before, the time quantizer is something I first skipped for whatever reason. It's the feature where you can snap all of your midi and audio notes to the grid without doing much work.
Garageband's time quantizer has two different parameters, the strength of the quantizer in numbers, and then the type of note it relates to. If you want to read more on how to use the time quantizer, I suggest you check out the article at this link here.
It's worth mentioning that the time quantizer is one of those things that many people hate and many people love. Some argue the quantization of music is what robs it of its soul. I know Rick Beato – arguably the best music YouTuber on the internet – would make that case.
11) Use the musical score (standard notation), editor
This is perhaps one of the least often mentioned features of Garageband's awesome interface. I love the score editor. Just the other day, I used it to figure out how to play my very own composition on the guitar.
I created it using a MIDI keyboard, and when I got my hands on an actual nylon string guitar, I just checked out the score editor and I had the sheet music right there in front of me.
One of the reasons the score editor isn't mentioned often is many music producers don't know how to read music. If you do know how to read music, the score editor is an incredibly useful feature that you'll really enjoy using.
12) Adjust the tempo, time signature, and key signature
You can also adjust the tempo, time signature, and key signature using the controls in the top-center of the interface.
It's worth mentioning that it's probably not a bad idea to set these right from the beginning before you've created your music because it can change the MIDI and Audio notes sometimes if you do it after the fact.
In other words, if you're in the key of A Minor, and you select the Key of D Minor instead, Garageband will actually transpose all of the notes to the new key signature, and thus change the music. However, using the Command + Z function, you can undo these changes.
You can read more about using these features in this article here.
13) Adjust transposition
Garageband also comes with a transposition track, where you can adjust the pitch of certain notes by the desired number of semi-tones or whole-tones.
The Transposition track is something I admittedly don't use very often because I just write the music the way it needs to be right from the beginning.
However, other users might find a better purpose for it.
14) Use auto-tune and pitch correction software
Garageband comes with a very simple version of pitch-correction software, often called auto-tune, and it honestly works pretty well.
A lot of people have the misconception in their mind, however, that pitch-correction is a software program that allows producers to make a bad performance sound great. But this isn't the case.
The truth about auto-tune and pitch correction is that it makes a great performance even better.
There are three parameters of the pitch-correction software, including the strength of the pitch correction, the key signature, as well as the 'Follow Key Signature' option which will actually apply the changes.
Read more about the pitch-correction tool in Garageband at this link here.
15) It also has a note-pad for making notes as you create music
This is a feature I almost never use, but it's one that others might find useful.
In the top-right hand side of Garageband's interface, there is a notepad icon where you can bring up an in-built notepad for writing notes or noting other important information.
Now that I think about it, this could actually be quite useful. For instance, you could write common chord progressions for a guideline, or notes of the scale, or the notes of particular chords and how they sound.
You could also use it for reminding yourself the following day what has to be done with the song.
16) Use standard dynamics, effects, and other audio processing units like compressors, channel eq, limiters, and multipressors, many of which come with presets.
As I mentioned above, Garageband comes with a plethora of plug-ins, many of which function quite well.
For instance, it comes with a compressor, channel eq, limiter, multipressor, exciter, distortion, stereo spreader, direction mixer, filters like fuzz-gates and noise gates, delays, reverbs, phasers, and other effects.
It also comes with a list of AU plug-ins that are more sophisticated in their parameters.
Many of these also come with a spectrum analyzer or a waveform analyzer that many people, including myself, like to use.
17) Has a library of amp modelers and effect units for bass and guitar players, in addition to a huge variety of presets.
Garageband's Amp Designer is another great thing about the software, similar to the drummer track.
The Amp Designer, essentially, is a library of pre-sets, amp models, guitar pedals, and speaker cabinets that are meant to simulate something like Amplitube 4, except you don't have to pay for the actual simulators.
One of the great features of the Amp Designer is the ability to change the microphone position on the amp. It works pretty well, to be honest.
I would say my favorite aspect of the amp designer is the presets, which are innumerable. Each amp comes with a large collection of its own presets catered to it specifically. There are many of them.
Check out my article on the Amp Designer to learn more.
18) Automation functions for volume and any plug-in you want.
And finally, Garageband comes with automation. You automate the volume, compressor functions, the Channel EQ, fade-ins, and fade-outs, phasers, flangers, and so on and so forth.
This is useful for a number of things, including changing the dynamics, and more commonly, the volume at particular sections of the song. For instance, when mixing tracks for my client, I'll often increase the chorus volume by 1dB just to add a bit of intensity to the choruses.
Additionally, you can even automate things like EQ sweeps, kind of like what we hear a lot in EDM music and even metal in some cases. For instance, some engineers will scoop out the lows and highs at the beginning of the song as an introductory effect to the rest of the song.
A lot can be done with automation, so it's worth looking into.
If you want to read more about automation, I would definitely check out my article on it at this link here. It explores how to set up automation points, using examples from around 6-7 different effects and dynamics processors.
Autotune On Garageband Ios
YouTube Video Tutorial
Best Pitch Correction Software
Conclusion
That's all for this article. As you can see, there are a lot of things you can do with Garageband. The software isn't quite as limited as people often say it is.
I hope this was helpful to you, and if it was, make sure to drop it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or wherever to share it with your friends. I'd appreciate that a lot.
