GarageBand 2 for Mac OS X (Visual QuickStart Guide) (Paperback)

by Victor Gavenda (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Written by a longtime musician and choral conductor, this to-the-point guide uses simple step-by-step instructions, loads of screenshots, and plenty of of time-saving tips to show readers how to transform their Macs into audio production studios using GarageBand 2 (included free on all new Macintosh computers, or for $79 as part of the iLife '05 suite). Budding musicians will learn how to turn their Macs into any of the dozens of included instruments; record with any MIDI keyboard, guitar, or microphone; tune their guitar or bass with GarageBand's new built-in tuner; mix their hits with professional effects and settings; take advantage of GarageBand's eight-track recording capabilities; explore more than a thousand prerecorded music loops (or create their own), and more.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press (April 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321335449
• ISBN-13: 978-0321335449
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #806,684 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's quick, fast, and complete., June 7, 2005

By	John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Visual Quickstart Guides have a format where each page is divided into two columns with one column showing what you see on the screen and the other column having text that explains what's going on and what you need to do. A few such pages are then used to cover a small topic within the chapters. The small topic is self contained, easy to identify and makes a nice little mini-less all by itself. A good index leads you to this mini-lesson if you are looking for just that one thing.

In this book, the tried and proven approach is used to give an excellent beginning leven introduction to GarageBand 2. GarageBand 2, just introduced at MacWorld 2005, is "music software for the rest of us." Basically this one program, included free with iLife, enables the Mac to do the work of what used to take a whole room full of equipment.

GarageBand 2 does not come with a manual. You can, you are supposed to, learn about it by experimentation. Reading a coordinated book like this one gives you an overview that covers the entire program rather than a hit and miss approach that sometimes lets you miss things.

This is not your typical giant sized computer book. But it's quick, fast, and complete.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, July 8, 2006

By	Mac Newbie (Elk Grove, CA) - See all my reviews

This is a great book, just like the title says "QuickStart Guide" and it is definitely a quick start guide.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful, March 29, 2008

By	Minda Powers Douglas "TheCemeteryClub.com" (Moline, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I needed to teach myself GarageBand and fast. I was in the middle of editing a podcast with Audacity, and it wasn't working for me. GarageBand saved the day--and this book saved it even more. I picked this book up from the library to check it out ... then quickly ordered a copy for myself. It's easy to use, easy to understand, and is a great quick reference tool.