GarageBand for Dummies (Paperback)

~ (Author) "GarageBand is the fifth and newest iLife application; it turns your Mac into a fully equipped recording studio, complete with hundreds of realistic-sounding musical instruments..." (more)
Key Phrases: real instrument tracks, software instrument tracks, loop browser, Track Editor, Pro Tools, Apple Loops (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

• Bestselling author "Dr. Mac" gets novice and seasoned musicians playing, recording, and creating music with GarageBand, Mac's complete digital music recording studio
• The straightforward but fun approach offers expert advice about setting up a digital studio, laying down tracks, working with loops, recording with MIDI and software instruments, mixing tracks into songs, sharing creations with others, and much more
• More than half of all U.S. households have at least one member who currently plays a musical instrument, making GarageBand For Dummies an essential reference for anyone looking to make the creative process easy and affordable
• Explores how recorded performances, digital audio, and looping tracks can easily be arranged and edited like building blocks to create a song

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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 334 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (August 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764573233
• ISBN-13: 978-0764573231
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #118,882 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 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

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.

36 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Note from the Author..., August 24, 2004

By	Bob LeVitus "Raconteur & wordsmith" (Austin, Texas USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Hi! My name is Bob LeVitus (a.k.a. Dr. Mac) and I'm the author of GarageBand For Dummies. I'm known for my 46 previous computer books but I wanted to take a moment mention that I'm also quite qualified to write a book about audio production. I studied audio engineering with multi-Grammy-winning producer Bill Lazerus and have produced hundreds of band and songwriting demos, as well as radio and television commercials. (That was all before I became a full-time Mac geek.) I've also played guitar since I was 12 and have played in real garage bands (including the Macworld All-Star Band) my whole life. I've worked in many 24+ track professional recording studios and have maintained a small project studio in my home office for as long as I can remember.

GarageBand For Dummies will teach you how to record, mix, and master great sounding music with GarageBand, of course, but it's also chock full of tips, tricks, techniques, and insights learned in over 25 years producing and engineering audio recordings.

If you have any questions at all about GarageBand For Dummies, please feel free to write me: [e-mail].

P.S. I would have omitted the star rating if I could, but I couldn't -- it's mandatory. (That said, I think this may be my best work ever so I gave it the maximum: 5 stars.)

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Note from the Author..., September 3, 2004

By	Bob LeVitus "Raconteur & wordsmith" (Austin, Texas USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Hi! My name is Bob LeVitus (a.k.a. Dr. Mac) and I'm the author of GarageBand For Dummies. I'm known for my 46 previous computer books but I wanted to take a moment mention that I'm also quite qualified to write a book about audio production. I studied audio engineering with multi-Grammy-winning producer Bill Lazerus and have produced hundreds of band and songwriting demos, as well as radio and television commercials. (That was all before I became a full-time Mac geek.) I've also played guitar since I was 12 and have played in real garage bands (including the Macworld All-Star Band) my whole life. I've worked in many 24+ track professional recording studios and have maintained a small project studio in my home office for as long as I can remember.

GarageBand For Dummies will teach you how to record, mix, and master great sounding music with GarageBand, of course, but it's also chock full of tips, tricks, techniques, and insights learned in over 25 years producing and engineering audio recordings.

If you have any questions at all about GarageBand For Dummies, please feel free to write me: [e-mail].

P.S. I would have omitted the star rating if I could, but I couldn't -- it's mandatory. (That said, I think this may be my best work ever so I gave it the maximum: 5 stars.)