Power Tools for GarageBand: Creating Music with Audio Recording, MIDI Sequencing, and Loops (Paperback)

by Francis Preve (Author) "Sea change. Paradigm shift. These terms shouldn't be tossed about lightly, because there's always something new and revolutionary happening in the music software business..." (more)
Key Phrases: decay slider, loop utility, loop browser, Low High, Apple Loops, Digital Mono (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Apple's GarageBand is the hottest and most accessible digital music software available today. Giving musicians of all levels an affordable tool with which to perform, record, and create extraordinary sounds, it features thousands of professionally recorded loops and over 50 pro-sounding instruments, effects, and virtual guitar amps.

You may have already played with the program and laid down some pretty cool sounds--after all, accessibility is the whole point of GarageBand. But do you know how to record vocals and instruments, create MIDI sequences, work with Apple Loops, and customize software instruments? That's where Power Tools for GarageBand comes in. It goes straight into the nitty-gritty of this surprisingly comprehensive program. From concept to finished mix, Power Tools for GarageBand teaches you the same engineering and production techniques that seasoned professionals use, giving you the power tools you need to construct new mansions in sound.

Power Tools for GarageBand includes essential information on: - Recording vocals and instruments - Creating MIDI sequences - Working with Apple Loops - Customizing software instruments - Professional mixing techniques - Time-saving shortcuts

About the Author
Award-winning remixer and composer Francis Preve is a recognized expert in synthesis, engineering, and production. His credits range from soundtrack production for Warner Bros. and Touchstone Pictures to remixes for Orbital, Utah Saints, Beborn Beton, and Claire Voyant. A contributing editor for Keyboard Magazine since 2000, he is also the author of Power Tools: Software for Loop Music.

Product Details

• Paperback: 129 pages
• Publisher: Backbeat Books (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879308230
• ISBN-13: 978-0879308230
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #568,963 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the manual that should have come with Garageband, April 7, 2008

By	J. Wood (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Clear, concise, and informative. Lots of useful examples. Plus, anybody who would include a discussion of hocketing automatically gets 5 stars.

3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty much 50-50, March 22, 2008

By	Smurf (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This book was a let down of sorts. Tho it did give me some insight to some of the MIDI workings of GB2, overall I found out most of the info thru the net & reading forums for free.

It's OK.

5.0 out of 5 stars info unavailable elsewhere, September 24, 2007

By	Jeffry H. Steele - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Toying with Garageband gave me a burning curiousity about what went on "under the hood" of its deceptively simple looking synthesizers. Francis answers these along with many other questions I may not have thought to ask. He discusses GB2, which apparently did not include the "hybrid" synths found in GB3. He also missed that the Tonewheel Organ's drawbars can be varied with a foot controller pedal [cc4]. His included software CD is somewhat outdated, but led me to an intriguing free software synth [Automat] that I had not known about.