GarageBand For Dummies [Paperback]

Bob LeVitus (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764573233 | ISBN-13: 978-0764573231 | Publication Date: August 27, 2004 | Edition: 1

Get ready to rock with Apple's digital music recording studio

Find out how to record, edit, mix, and master like a pro!

Are you the next big thing in music - but the world just doesn't know it yet? Here's the guide that will help you create great-sounding recordings with GarageBand. Packed with useful information on setting up a digital studio, laying down tracks, working with loops, playing with MIDI and software instruments, and mixing tracks, the only thing this book doesn't provide you with is . . . a recording contract!

The Dummies Way
* Explanations in plain English
* "Get in, get out" information
* Icons and other navigational aids
* Tear-out cheat sheet
* Top ten lists
* A dash of humor and fun


Discover how to:
* Decide what gear you'll need
* Optimize your room for recording
* Mix vocals, instruments, and loops into a song
* Improve recordings with editing and effects
* Create CDs, movie scores, and more using other iLife applications

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Get ready to rock with Apple’s digital music recording studio

Find out how to record, edit, mix, and master like a pro!

Are you the next big thing in music – but the world just doesn’t know it yet? Here’s the guide that will help you create great-sounding recordings with GarageBand. Packed with useful information on setting up a digital studio, laying down tracks, working with loops, playing with MIDI and software instruments, and mixing tracks, the only thing this book doesn’t provide you with is . . . a recording contract!

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear-out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

Discover how to:

• Decide what gear you’ll need
• Optimize your room for recording
• Mix vocals, instruments, and loops into a song
• Improve recordings with editing and effects
• Create CDs, movie scores, and more using other iLife applications

About the Author

Bob LeVitus, known to Mac aficionados worldwide as "Dr. Mac," writes a weekly column for the Houston Chronicle and has authored more than 40 computer books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 334 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (August 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764573233
• ISBN-13: 978-0764573231
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #627,336 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Edward C. Baig is the Personal Technology columnist for USA TODAY and the author of Macs For Dummies, 10th Edition. Bob "Dr. Mac" LeVitus pens the popular Dr. Mac column for the Houston Chronicle and is the author of Mac OS X® Snow Leopard For Dummies.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Right to the point -- the perfect manual for GarageBand!, December 8, 2004

By 

scherf.com "scherf.com" (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: GarageBand For Dummies (Paperback)

I bought several books on how GarageBand works and while some had some helpful hints, the author of this book, Bob LeVitus, knows what he's talking about. Every sentence and page has valuable advice on how this thing, "GarageBand", really works. He also includes the limitations of GarageBand and alternative software suggestions for more elaborate recording needs. The author is very knowledgable about home-studio recording and he has excellent suggestions on microphones, speakers, and inexpensive technical gear incl. audio interfaces, etc. that will make your recording project a professional adventure. This book is so interesting and has so many useful tips, etc. that everyone playing around with GarageBand should read it in order to easily use this Apple application and to get the most out of it -- saving you a lot of frustration at the same time.

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT RESOURCE, December 15, 2010

By 

guitarlover - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: GarageBand For Dummies (Paperback)

This book arrived in excellent condition and great price compared to what was out there. Garage Band 09 is also a good resource, but it is very sad that this book is out of print! I own both but this is a MUST HAVE for those learning to use Garage Band.

36 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars GarageBand for Dummies is actually GarageBand for Smart Folks -- which ain't good!, November 21, 2005

By 

P. Russell (LA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: GarageBand For Dummies (Paperback)

I'm an idiot. No joke, I don't do well with computers -- although I've learned enough to use Apple products. I'm a right brain music guy, and I bought this book hoping to learn, after reading it for an hour or two, enough to do three simple things in Apple's tantalizing Garage Band program -- lay down four tracks of music, and learn how to lay down the continous 'loop' that formed the undergirding rythym section. That's it. All i needed. All I wanted. The simplest things.
Well, I've read it for two hours now and I still don't have a clue as how to do those things. This book is like the control panel for one of those Japanese stereos -- the kind that come with a thick, 1000 page instruction book -- and after reading it you still arent sure how to turn the radio on -- although you do know 11 ways to make the speakers become 'cross dynamic' (i.e. it tells you crap you'll never need to know how to do.)
This book, to be fair, should be titled GARAGE BAND FOR SMART, LITERATE COMPUTER TYPES WHO DON'T REALLY DESERVE THE SOBRIQUET 'DUMMY'

I'lm going to go on looking for a true Garage Band for Dummies book -- one that is, perhaps, five pages long -- and tells me how to do the three simple things I want to know how to do.