Customer Reviews

GarageBand 2: The Missing Manual

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GarageBand is not aimed at professional musicians. Instead it is intended to help amateurs produce music easily. The application comes with 1,000 pre-recorded sampled loops, plus 50 sampled or synthesized instruments which can be played using a MIDI keyboard connected to the computer, or using an on-screen keyboard. This is a complex piece of software, thus enters David Pogue and his "Missing Manual" series to explain it all.
The book has three parts. Part 1 deals with how to construct and edit a song or composition in GarageBand. Pogue explains how to use GarageBand loops (repeated musical patterns) and how to create original material. The most helpful feature in this section is the tutorial that takes the reader through the construction of a composition using loops. Pogue offers a couple of ideas about constructing music for those new to the process.
The pluses and minuses of using the onscreen digital piano, the Mac keyboard as a piano, and using a MIDI keyboard are discussed. Pogue supplies information needed about additional equipment and software to enhance GarageBand. Websites are listed where equipment and software additions can be purchased and downloaded. Pogue lists prices and states what can be expected from each purchase. He also lists many sites where information, tutorials and software are available free.
Part 2 tells you how to mix tracks and export music to post it on a website, how to export it to iTunes, how to burn it to a CD, or how to use it as background music in iMovie, iPhoto, or iDVD. The problem with GarageBand is overcoming the amount of memory and power it requires, so there is troubleshooting information as well as recommendations about shareware add-ons and Web sites to visit for additional help.
The Appendices round out the book with invaluable information about all of the menus, keyboard shortcuts, and a section on musical concepts for the non-musician.
Pogue is an entertaining writer who is very capable at explaining difficult concepts to novices without boring veterans. GarageBand was designed to enable the writing of music with little or no musical training, and Pogue writes so that the music theory involved in the program can be grasped by the inexperienced. I'm a person whose limited knowledge of music and music theory is self-taught, and I found this book very accessible and enjoyable. I guess the best judge of this book's quality is how much my stepson, who is a musician, has been enjoying it and GarageBand. He's never been one for the books, but he's practically joined at the hip with this one.
I notice Amazon does not show the table of contents, so I do that here for the purpose of completeness:
PART 1: BUILDING A HIT
1. Setting Up the Garage
Equipment Requirements; Installing GarageBand; Opening GarageBand; Playback; Cycling; Navigating the Music; Two Kinds of Music; Tracks; Muting and Soloing Tracks
2. Loops
Starting a New GarageBand Project; The Loop Browser; Placing a Loop; More Loops
3. Regions
Selecting Regions; Renaming Regions; Dragging Regions; The Grid; Looping Regions; Shortening Regions I; Shortening Regions II; Lengthening Regions; Splitting Regions; Joining Regions; Copy and Paste; Option Drag; Delete; Tutorial for Non-Musicians
4. Software Instruments (MIDI)
How To Feed a Hungry GarageBand; Your Free On-Screen Digital Piano; The Mac Keyboard as Piano; MIDI Synths and Controllers; Recording a MIDI Track; Retakes; Spot Recording; Cumulative Recording; Mod Wheels and Other MIDI Fun
5. Editing Software Instruments
The Track Editor; Notation Editing; The Encyclopedia of MIDI Editing; Transposing Notes or Regions; Quantizing; Velocity, Pedaling, and Other MIDI Data
6. Recording and Editing Live Audio
The Setup; Recording a Live Audio Track; Editing Real Instrument Regions; Enhance Timing, Enhance Tuning
7. Effects, Guitar Amps, and Instrument Modules
Instrument-Named Presets; Save Instrument, Deleted Instrument; Effect Modules
PART 2: BEYOND THE GARAGE
8. Mixing and Publishing
Mixing Tracks; The Master Track; Publishing the Song; Your Music in iPhoto, iMovie, and iDVD
9. Adding On, Moving Up
Making Your Own Apple Loops; Moving Your Loops to Another Drive;
Importing MIDI Files; Import iTunes Music Store Files (SoundFlower); More Free Software Instruments (SoundFonts); The iSight as Microphone; Save as Archive; The Instrument Tuner; Re-Wire; Build Your Own Instrument Loops (iDrum); Add an E-Z Chords Feature (ReMIDI); Beyond GarageBand; GarageBand Online
10. The Speed Chapter
Set the Stage; Mute Some Tracks; Lock Some Tracks; Temporarily Squelch the Effects; Combine Tracks; Enlarge Your Buffer; Lose Some Software Instrument Voices; Reduce the Track Overhead; Convert Software Instrument Loops; Turn Monitoring Off; Bounce Down Many Tracks into One; Install More Memory
11. Troubleshooting
Trouble with Loops; Recording and Editing Problems; Mixing and Publishing Glitches;
APPENDIXES
A. The GarageBand Music Course
B. GarageBand, Menu by Menu
C. GarageBand 2 Keyboard Shortcuts

In the Introduction, Pogue explains why GarageBand can contribute to the democratization of the music world. You don't have to pay $1000 an hour to rent a recording studio, because of the Internet, you don't have to wait for a record label (and music stores) to agree to carry your music.

Early on, he differentiates between digital audio and MIDI data - the two kinds of music that GarageBand can process. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, so he spends time later in the book helping you understand the value and limitations of each and when is the best time to use them.

Do not fret if you never used GarageBand 1, as he explains everything you need to get up to speed and start recording like a pro. How to use the timeline, regions (music loops), and construct a masterpiece. If you want to get your music into iPhoto, iMovie or iDVD, he shows you how (page 164).

He also goes over what's new in GarageBand 2, and tells you how to master all of the features. He covers topics such as multiple-track recording (hurray!), ability to import MIDI files, and how to use the on-screen electronic tuner for tuning your guitar (or other tunable instrument - page 184).

Pogue explains a new Musical Typing feature using your Apple keyboard, if you don't have a music keyboard handy (page 72). And he shows you how you can turn any musical lick into an Apple Loop (page 171 - yes!). If you are working with MIDI instruments, you can now do that in sheet-music view (page 92)!

There is no accompanying CD-ROM, but inside the back cover is the URL where you will find a nice list of shareware that is described in the book for use with GarageBand. It is all there for downloading. By giving you the URL instead of a CD, you save $5.00 off the cover price.

David Pogue's, "GarageBand 2: The Missing Manual" is much more than a Manual for GarageBand 2. It is a treasure-trove of tips and tricks, a detailed-yet-comprehensible resource, and it is the best non-periodical Computer publication I have had the joy to read.

Whether you are a weekend Musician with little more experience than "chopsticks" on your Aunt's piano, or you are a Conservatory-Educated Musician with a degree in Music Performance, "GarageBand 2: The Missing Manual" has something for you.

David Pogue writes with a level-headed voice, presenting the information slowly while always giving the reader a sense of excitement. I found myself putting down the book for several days, just after reading something new from Mr. Pogue.

My, "I just gotta try that!" excitement is balanced by the "Wow!" factor of learning a keystroke that I did not know existed, or finally learning in plain terms, or most importantly how to double the speed of GarageBand 2.

If you are using GarageBand 2 and looking for "The" Manual to purchase, this is it.

Thank you, David Pogue!

This is short, thorough and well written walk through of GarageBand 2. It covers the basics well, including some studio setup, and goes into advanced topics including using other related applications.

The beginner will find everything they need here, and the advanced user will find a few new things to inspire.

As w/ all Pouge books, this one has lots of good info that's easy to access, presented in an easy to understand form, & while it's written for an earlier version, most of it applies to the latest version of GarageBand (v4.2) as well.

Would you like to be able to create professional sounding musical recordings? If you would, you're in luck! Author David Pogue, has done an outstanding job of writing a book that will guide you through a long list of enhancements, large and small, that make GarageBand a better musical tool than ever before.

Pogue, begins by introducing you to GarageBand. Then, he discusses Loops. The author continues by showing you how to manipulate regions in general--but these techniques are especially useful for manipulating loops. Next, he explores software instruments (MIDI). Then, the author shows you how to edit the software instrument parts. He continues by showing you how to record and edit live audio. Next, he deals with effects, guitar amps, and instrument modules. The author continues by describing how to wrap up your workflow in GarageBand and present it to a wider audience. Then, he introduces a few of the coolest ways to enhance GarageBand's repertoire, suggests where you might go when you decide it's time to graduate to more powerful (and expensive) music software, and points out some Web sites where you can learn more about GarageBand. Next, he presents the accumulated wisdom of thousands of online GarageBand fans sharing their workarounds, plus Apple's own suggestions. Finally, he shows you how to troubleshoot GarageBand.

Don't let the rumors fool you. This most excellent book may be simple, but it isn't simplistic.

I'm surprised that full color pictures can do so much for a computer manual. But maybe it's because it's put together the playful, hand-holding prose that makes this such a joy to read.
This book has absolutely everything from the most relevent keyboard tip to describing workflow to diving down into every tool, pallet and menu.
I can read it at my bedside and the stuff still sticks. Wonderful book for a wonderful program.

After playing guitar for the last 4 years I decided to try to record some of the songs I'd written. I used this book to go from someone who had never recorded any music before, to someone who could lay down simple tracks with vocals in a few weeks just using my computer, garage band and the required hardware.

The book is well written, relatively up to date, and organized in a utilitarian fashion for quick reference. It has numerous pictures of menu and covers a wide range of basic to moderately complex topics. There is also a bit of humor injected into the writing which never hurts.

The only caveat is that book is kind of lacking in any type of hardware info that is useful. The book tells you what you need (interface, mics etc) but doesn't really help the novice out in any way. I recommend going online and finding one of the few music hardware website that specialize in customer service. They will be able to talk you through exactly what you need to buy to do what you want to do, something I wouldn't really expect a garage band book to do but something that is necessary should you want to record music at home.

Bottom Line: A very useful book for someone with no experience looking to get into Garage Band.

"GarageBand 2: The Missing Manual" has all the elements you expect from an informative book. Written in a casual but crystal clear style, it caters both for the complete idiot (like me) and the semi-experienced who wishes to go on to greater heights. The illustrations are profuse and easy to follow, and the quality of print and paper is certainly a cut above many other manuals of this type. Full marks to David Pogue for opening the Garage doors to an Aladdin's cave of new discoveries.

This is a readable, technically insightful, USABLE guide. Its relaxed tone makes the work of learning easier.

JG