Customer Reviews

Apple Training Series: GarageBand 09

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a thorough tutorial that leads you from the beginning through some quite complex projects in Apple's music arranging and recording program, GarageBand.

It's hard to get started with this book if you are not a musical performer. The first three chapters assume you are going to record your own performances, and then manipulate or add to them. The fourth chapter shows how to assemble a short movie score from existing loops, but it is an extremely complex project and not the best for beginners. The remaining chapters also do not assume that you will play anything, and are simpler than the fourth chapter, but they build on the knowledge of that chapter so you can't just skip to them.

The book concentrates on the mechanics of GarageBand, and has somewhat of a paint-by-numbers feel, where you are told exactly what loop or effect to use and where to place it. I think this is probably unavoidable, given the myriad choices in the program, but has the drawback that in the book you follow a strait and narrow path with few digressions. There are not a lot of helpful hints or troubleshooting tips on the way; you're just supposed to follow the instructions and if you're lucky nothing will go wrong. It took me a couple of days to get through the fourth chapter, mostly because I ran into a number of snags that were not anticipated in the book.

Within these limitations the book does a good job: the writing is clear, and there are clear and well-chosen screen shots throughout so that you can check your work. The enclosed CD-ROM includes all the needed media files, and several in-progress snapshots of each project.

I am perhaps older than many folks trying to learn to use "computer music" technology and software as a newbie. All I really wanted to do was record some piano/keyboard, do some editing, and share the results via e-mail and maybe, someday, make a cd of some favorites to share with family.

I've bought books and DVDs and tried to learn to use several other of the simpler products available, mostly without success, though I have been able to use Audacity to a reasonable level. But Garageband, and particularly this book, has been wonderful. One is walked step by step though most of the capabilities of the program. If you do all the initial actions and then do the "practice", or more repetitious activities in each area you do get reasonable competence with the software. And Garageband certainly does everything I wanted to do and more. I've learned about things I didn't even know one could do - e.g.I didn't have any idea what a "podcast" was.

This book is quick, fun and obviously extremely well thought out and executed/edited. I am very glad I bought it.

Good book. Well written and easy to read. The examples and exercises are great for someone wanting to learn how to use Garage Band to record their own music with. The first few chapters were a little slow and painful (how to learn guitar and piano) but I think they are good material for the right audience.,

This is a wonderful companion to GARAGE BAND FOR DUMMIES! It has a wealth of information. You can find much of it on the MAC tutorial but I prefer having the book along with it. Great price and quick delivery by Amazon!

Purchased this book a few weeks ago and am very happy with it. Walks you through the steps in easy to understand English.