Tuesday, January 30, 2018

WHY SPLIT a TRACK?

WHY SPLIT a TRACK?       SUBSCRIBE  
DATE of posting:       30 January 201

https://dianadeegarageband.blogspot.com - 

RECORDING HINTS -- written about using  GarageBand -- BUT
these Hints help increase your skills in ProTools, Logic, etc. 

WHY would you want to split a track?
   Many guides tell you that you CAN but don't mention the advantages.

Three good reasons for splitting:
This hint works for any recording program:


REASON  1
If you have created a music introduction and then
a section that will be repeated (like Verse 1 & Verse 2),
it is useful to split the track after the intro. Then you can easily copy
the remaining track section through the end of verse 1 over & over until all verses are there.

HINT: Ensure the red marker ("playhead") bumps right up to the end of the previous section...
it's easier to see this if you widen the view to make the notes larger in Score mode.

REASON 2
Seeing the splits also gives you visual info, 
to see where each verse actually is,
in case you start layering in flute and other pieces that belong in a specific place within each verse.

REASON  3
If your kits (drum) track is more than one single sound, 
you might have a number of tracks kept separate 
so you can keep control over volume balance. 
As you develop the different drum segments,
it's useful to see where they fit on your main track's region...
especially if that region is split to show you where each music movement begins and ends.

Not only does this make copying a piece easier, but you can also quickly compare MIDI notes to ensure you've copied to the right place.... compared to other instruments' split regions.

REASON  4
YOU DO NOT WANT TWO "BUSY"  DRUM LOOPS IN THE SAME MEASURE ...
Having split tracks instead of merging all the drum MIDI notes together
helps you see where there's an overlap.... or an unplanned silence ;)
 

Much joy to you creating new music!
Lots of Examples to hear free at http://www.DianaDeeOsbornesongs.com/
©2018, 2011 DianaDee Osborne;  all publication rights reserved
(An earlier version published in this blog 8.11.2011)

Friday, January 26, 2018

MAKING STUPID TRACK SPLIT RIGHT

MAKING that STUPID TRACK SPLIT RIGHT!     SUBSCRIBE  
DATE of posting:       26 January 2018

https://dianadeegarageband.blogspot.com - 

RECORDING HINTS -- written about using  GarageBand -- BUT
these Hints help increase your skills in ProTools, Logic, etc. 

To split a track... or REGION in the track, here's a hint that's learned "the hard way" since not generally in the manuals.
MANUAL'S FRUSTRATING INSTRUCTIONS:
Most manuals say something like (1) "You can split a track."    Duhhhhhh.
(2) Manual:    Select the region you want to split;
But no instructions on how to get RIGHT SPOT. Leading to FREQUENT FRUSTRATION.
                          SO see my easy hint below.
(3) Manual:     Move the "playhead" over the point where you want to split.
(Another duh, though "red line" or "marker" might come to mind sooner than "playhead.")
(4) Manual:   Choose Edit > Split.
But it doesn't tell you why that option might be grayed out in the Edit menu;
See my previous blog post for a hint fully describes the the most common answer,
but the problem is eliminated in the following hints.

WHY WON'T THAT STUPID TRACK SPLIT RIGHT?
A  common Q --  My hint will help you:
(1) FIRST, you have to highlight the track name.... 
not simply the track, which you're already smart enough to know you'd have to select.
 'Twould be nice if manuals mentioned that 'track name' thing!

(2) WHERE you put the red marker is SUPER important.  (That's the "playhead".)
        A.  Ensure that you're in "Score" mode and not "Piano Roll"...
                it works either way but is a lot easier to see in Score.
        B.   Put the marker right after the measure bar,
but just in front of the first music note -- almost touching the note.

WHY DID MY NOTE DISAPPEAR????
Another question not answered in standard manuals. 
Deep frustration is rewarded in sharing hints one has learned with other musicians like you: If a note disappears on either side of the split, there are two easy fixes.
(1)  Hit UNDO. Well, Edit > Undo or your computer's quick key, like apple-Z.
         That removes the frustratingly wrong splitting.
(2)  Use Enhance Timing to
   "quantize" notes in measure before **AND** measure after 
     where you want that split to go. That is, (highlight, turn them green) all quarter notes.
     "Enhance Timing" changes to say "Align to". Select 1/4 Note for quarter notes, and so on.
(3)  By quantizing both sides of the split, you should now be able to return to Edit>Split....
     & try again,  after you remember to highlight that track name yet again, sigh.

AAAGHHHH!!! THE NOTE IS STILL DISAPPEARING!!!
Excuse me. That's a quote I've used a few times. Here's how to resist the urge to repeat it yourself:

(1) By quantizing above, the first note in the 2nd measure should be in its proper place. 

(2) So if the track split still makes a note(s) disappear, 
or more) that most likely you have a note that's too long 
in the first of the 2 measures around the place you want to split.
This note is GOING ACROSS THE MEASURE BAR....
      AND
If a note goes past the measure bar,
it will indeed disappear when you do a track split. 

Easy solution:
(3) Now it's time to go into Piano Roll TO SEE MIDI NOTES...
It's easiest to have the red marker at the place you want to split first... 
       makes it easier to FIND the right place.
You will probably immediately see the note(s) in the first of the 2 measures
that is so long it extends into the 2nd measure.

(4) Just grab the end of each note that's too long and shorten it. Then return to SCORE mode.

(5) Try Edit>Split again; this time, the split should be right along the measure bar.

GRRrrrrrr..... Note still disappearing?  
                  First,  Tell your computer you **ARE**  going to win. Then:
(6)    Be sure you've saved your file up to this point.
(7)    Return to Piano Roll. Select all the notes in the measure. Do Edit > Cut.
(8)   Try the split again. If it worked right, now all you have to do is to
(9) return to that first measure and do Edit>Paste. 
Notes should all be there now.
            If not, there's always Pray-And-Repeat :)

Much joy to you creating new music!
despite the sometimes-frustrations of missing hints in instructions. 

Lots of Examples to hear free at http://www.DianaDeeOsbornesongs.com/
©2018, 2011 DianaDee Osborne;  all publication rights reserved
(An earlier version published in this blog 8.10.2011)

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Easy Merge Tracks

EASY MERGE (JOIN) TRACKS                        SUBSCRIBE  
DATE of posting:       23 January 2018  

https://dianadeegarageband.blogspot.com - 

RECORDING HINTS -- written about using  GarageBand -- BUT
these Hints help increase your skills in ProTools, Logic, etc. 

This hint works for ProLogic, Protools, any recording program. Example: One online GarageBand manual I found is almost 100 pages long. In 100 pages, this is what it says about joining or merging regions:you can. Instruction: "Select the region, then choose Edit > Join."

The "rest of the story" --

Well, it's a bit harder to do than those TWO STEPS!
Without any manual in hand, I learned after much frustration that in GarageBand you first have to:

3 .  Be sure you have selected Control > SNAP TO GRID already.
Click on the instrument's track name (left column) to highlight it. 
Until then, the Edit>Join menu option stays GRAYED OUT,
___even if you've highlighted the regions you want to join,
___even if your cursor is in the editor,
___even if you've selected a MIDI note or highlighted a wave in the editor.
                I'm still a bit miffed to think of all the frustrating time
                I spent trying to figure out why the logical   Edit>Join   did not  work.
So I hope to help many of you miss out on the AGGRAVATION
of that annoying omission in technical manuals 
       (which SHOULD have been user tested with complete novices like I was!).

4. This step is logical even if you have no manual:
 Highlight EVERY region in that SINGLE TRACK and select Edit>Join (duh).

5. Here's a hint I learned the hard way because it wasn't in the manuals:  
BEFORE you hit   File > SAVE, 
ALWAYS    play your full piece of music for the newly joined regions
WITH OTHER TRACKS.....
to be sure you didn't accidentally move anything while highlighting the regions.

Cool Hint "as you go"
In fact: Here's a really cool hint (imho) I worked out from personal experience:
ENSURE YOU DIDN'T SHIFT YOUR REGIONS while highlighting them....
which is
It is easy to ACCIDENTALLY shift your regions while highlighting them:
If you bump any region just a bit as you touch it with your cursor,
your entire piece will be off... and you will be quite frustrated as you try to repair "whatever I did." Especially if you save the file immediately after joining (merging) regions.
So DO NOT SAVE BEFORE TESTING! 
To avoid this easy mistake:

1. BEFORE you even begin the 3 steps above, SAVE your file.
2. After you highlight  (ONLY)   the regions to be joined,
go to Edit >   and  ensure that the Undo item is still gray. 
Hit UNDO if it says you ARE  ABLE  to undo anything!
Especially if it said your last action was  "Change position of region"!
It's still a safety feature to check with Step 5 above,
but not so essential if you've first done these two steps.

Much joy to you creating new music!
Lots of Examples to hear free at http://www.DianaDeeOsbornesongs.com/
©2018, 2011 DianaDee Osborne;  all publication rights reserved
(An earlier version published in this blog 8.6.2011)

Friday, January 19, 2018

FIXING GHOST NOTES

FIXING GHOST NOTES     SUBSCRIBE  
DATE of posting:       19 January 2018  

https://dianadeegarageband.blogspot.com - 

RECORDING HINTS -- written about using  GarageBand -- BUT
these Hints help increase your skills in ProTools, Logic, etc. 

It is **SO** aggravating !!! --
Let's say you have a synth flute track that sounds pretty good
 except  ONE  note... ONE  note --
and no matter how much you try to align it to a quarter note or whatever, 
it still sounds muddy or "thicker" than all the other notes.
You've looked and looked at the MIDI track 
and don't see anything different about that note

FIRST POSSIBLE CULPRIT:
1.  Highlight note closest to where you hear GHOST note, so you can quickly find it.
2.  Go to the MIDI view. 
3.  Check   that there is NO same OR conflicting note before this PROBLEM NOTE
         that is TOO LONG... extends on top of this problem note,
         and thus is still playing when this one begins.

Still can't find a problem? >>
GarageBand has this quirky thing...
If you select a note and copy it, but forget to move the playhead
(red marker line) to the place you WANT the new note
before you habitually press the apple-V shortcut to copy it,
GB pastes the new note right on top of the old note. 

So there's a possibility that you have a 
hidden note behind the MIDI note you see. 
 I call this a "ghost" note -- you can HEAR it but not FIND it!.   (Grrrrrrrr......)
           No idea what the proper word is, but hey, this describes it well.
Steps:
To check to see if this is the problem, in your MIDI  track's Piano Roll
         (shown after hitting the "snowflake" in the bottom left corner):

1. Select the problem note &  drag it upward or downward.
            If there's a "ghost" note, you'll see that copy still
            in the place from which you just moved your note.

2. If yes, there's a "ghost" -- just delete the wrong note, whichever it is.

3. If no, there's no "ghost" and you need to keep investigating,

A.  Do an Edit >  Undo change position of note (or the more common apple-Z shortcut).
Then you're back where you started from but have ruled out a common-enough cause of muddy notes.

IF YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN'T FIND GHOST:  
    I take a PHOTO CLIP  of the correct notes as reference.
    then DELETE the notes around the GHOST
    and then copy in notes from another measure.....
ANNOYING BUT.... Hey, whatever works! -DianaDee:)


Much joy to you creating new music!
Lots of Examples to hear free at http://www.DianaDeeOsbornesongs.com/
©2018, 2011 DianaDee Osborne;  all publication rights reserved
(An earlier version published in this blog 8.3.2011)

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Avoid MIDI Jigsaw Puzzles

AVOID MIDI JIGSAW PUZZLES     SUBSCRIBE  
DATE of posting:       16 January 201morning  

https://dianadeegarageband.blogspot.com - 

RECORDING HINTS -- written about using  GarageBand -- BUT
these Hints help increase your skills in ProTools, Logic, etc. 

If you record in your home studio using GarageBand and then take your .BAND project to a studio with ProLogic, then all the tracks fall into place beautifully.

But suppose you then take those same tracks 
to a studio with a DIFFERENT 
recording program that CANNOT read .BAND files?
(such as ProTools).   EARLY versions won't let us get
MIDI tracks out of GarageBand.... Even LOGIC has to import .BAND files...

UNTIL GARAGEBAND IS FIXED for easy transfer to COMPETITOR programs:
Every REGION of a MIDI track becomes a separate track 
when brought into   ProTools. 
Worse.... every separate track begins at measure #1. 
Even if the region is at the end of the song.
Leaving you with a MIDI  JIGSAW  PUZZLE  nightmare.

Easy work-around I've found If you have no expectation of ever needing separate regions (see a future hint on the pro's and con's of merging regions):

1. Merge all the MIDI track's regions.

2. Check the measure & count number of the first MIDI note.
Then grab the front of the newly joined region and drag it to begin at measure 1,
being careful that the first MIDI note is STILL at its original measure & count.
That's it.  
When you take this track to ProTools, it should come in as a single MIDI track.

But suppose you WANT to keep regions separate?
**** That actually comes in handy such as for SINGERS to
be able to visually see, for example, when the PIANO for the
next verse comes in. **** 

Easy work-around to keep your regions separate:
A.  Create a duplicate track.
B.  Carefully copy all the MIDI data into it from the original track.
C.  Give this new duplicate track a name such as PIANO joined.
D.  Follow steps 1 and 2 above for the duplicate track.
E.  Either delete or, better, MUTE the duplicate track until you're sure you won't need it again.


ProTOOLS will easily read the joined tracks 
with every MIDI note in the right place...
             NO MORE Jigsaw Puzzles.            

Much joy to you creating new music!
Lots of Examples to hear free at http://www.DianaDeeOsbornesongs.com/
©2018, 2011 DianaDee Osborne;  all publication rights reserved
(An earlier version published 8.3.2011)

Friday, January 12, 2018

EASY FLUTE etc TRILLS

EASY FLUTE TRILLS  (oboe, sax, etc.)     SUBSCRIBE  
DATE of posting:       12 January 201morning  

https://dianadeegarageband.blogspot.com - 

RECORDING HINTS -- written about using  GarageBand -- BUT
these Hints help increase your skills in ProTools, Logic, etc. 


THIS IS  FUN  TO KNOW!!! --
Flute trills are fun in GarageBand. And of course, the same applies for any instrument, including piano and sax, where you want a
       nice even timing to make your trill sound professional.

Definition: a TRILL starts at the root note of your chord (R),
goes up to the next note in the chord scale (+1 in the scale, often 2 half steps),
returns to the root, goes down to the next note below (minus 1),
and ends on the root.
[You can choose to go down first.]
You can repeat the pattern as long as you'd like. Example:
R... +1... R... -1... R.. +1... R.. -1.. R

TIMING is usually 4 per count, such as 1-e-and-ah-2
           for the above trill.  
EASY HINT:
You can easily slow the recording time by changing the tempo down, then just return it to the correct tempo after you finish Step 1.

SET UP  FOR YOUR TRILL:
1. Just go into your instrument track and hit Record (or R).
2. Play the trill as described above for the length you want, ending on the Root note. Note that instrument players often give a slight accent (harder hit) the the first and 5th notes plus a bit of an accent to the 3rd note. In the MIDI track, a harder hit note is a brighter green.
3. After you end the recording, listen to see if your trill is "close." If so, hit Save.

Get a STEADY TIMING for your  TRILL:
4. If you haven't already done so, hit the "snowflake" and then select Piano Roll.
5. Go to your MIDI notes (squares) for the trill.
THIS IS IMPT!  YOU GET A MUDDY SOUND IF YOU SKIP IT!
If any note overlaps the space of the next note, 
you need to shorten it to stay in its own space, 
so that each block is about same (short) length. 
(Click on MIDI note so it turns green, go to end of note and click til you get straight line - not arrow- drag note to left to shorten.


6. Select (highlight) each note in the trill. Note the pattern -- you may need to remember it in Step 8.
7. In the Align to box, select 1/8 Note. You'll probably see the MIDI notes move a bit until evenly spaced... but some might be one above another.
**********************************************************************
IF YOU CANNOT GET NOTE TO SHORTEN:
Go to Control and click on Snap to Grid to turn that off.
Then shorten the MIDI note,  return to Control and turn Snap to Grid back ON.
**********************************************************************  
8. Go back to Control and ensure that Snap to Grid is now ON.
9. Now just slide any note that's in the wrong place over an 1/8th count, to match the pattern you observed in Step 6.

EASY TRILLS that SOUND PROFESSIONAL!
10.  Don't forget to change your tempo back
  (if you lowered tempo for easier playing in initial HINT.)


Much joy to you creating new music!
Lots of Examples to hear free at http://www.DianaDeeOsbornesongs.com/
©2011, 2015 DianaDee Osborne;  all publication rights reserved
(An earlier version published in this blog 8.2.2011)

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

DUPLICATE TRACKS TRICK, Part 2

DUPLICATE TRACKS TRICK, Part 2         SUBSCRIBE  
DATE of posting:       9 January 2018  

https://dianadeegarageband.blogspot.com - 

RECORDING HINTS -- written about using  GarageBand -- BUT
these Hints help increase your skills in ProTools, Logic, etc. 

This is Part 2 for
How to get EFFICIENCY for grouped-
notes Library tracks like "Nature Sounds":
by CREATING  DUPLICATE TRACKS... with ONLY ONE DIFFERENT NOTE
    Per Track,  such as the note for RAIN & for THUNDER on two different tracks,
    or for individual notes used in DRUM KITS to fully control each MIDI note's sound.

At the end of Part 2, you had created all needed DUPLICATE TRACKS (Step 6d).
7. NOW YOU'RE READY FOR CONTROL! ....
 see NEXT BLOG  (January 9)
FIRST STEP IS A QUALITY CHECK... Ensuring you didn't move any notes off their beat:

a. Select the solo button (headphones symbol) for the ORIG track and every duplicate track.
b. Play. They should be simultaneous.
c. Fix if they aren't.
         If tracks don't match, one or more tracks didn't begin in the right place....
         that's a hint for fixing easily that has to wait til another day, sorry!
         But most likely they fit.   Future steps assume the tracks all match :)

8. MUTE the ORIG track and slide it to the bottom of your tracks, just as a future reference.

You need to have the notes section open ("snowflake" button) and Piano roll showing (no music note symbols). In this example, the notes are
A#2 (Thunderclap)      A2 (RainHard)   and   G2 (RainLIGHT)

DUPLICATE TRACK #1    (A# Thunderclap)
9. Select the first duplicate track (example: Thunderclap). Put the red marker near the end of the final track with your sounds and Play until you get to the final note("chord") of the track, ensuring that you can see it in the Piano Roll area.

10. Select the second-to-the-top note so it turns darker green. Put your cursor right after that note, hold down your right mouse button (and KEEP holding it through this step), then drag to the left until every note of the 2nd from top is highlighted AND with mouse button still down, drag downward until every note below is highlighted.

11. REMEMBER you can't use your mouse to delete notes; go to Edit>Delete. What is left is ONLY the notes that were on top. Example: Only notes on the track are A#, labeled A#2 if you hold the cursor on the green MIDI line note for a moment to see the note name and velocity (loudness).

DUPLICATE TRACK #2     (A = RainHard)
12a. Repeat steps 9, 10 and 11 to delete all notes on the top "row). (Example: Delete all A#2 notes.)

12b. Then repeat for the 3rd "row" of notes. (Example: all G notes). Now the only notes left are those that were originally on the 2nd "row." Example: The only notes on the track now are A, labeled A2 by GB.

DUPLICATE TRACK #3     (G = RainLIGHT)
13. Repeat steps 9, 10 and 11 for the top two rows notes
 (Example ........   all A#2 and A2 notes now deleted).
Now the only notes left are those that were 
originally on the 3nd "row." Example: G2 notes.

You now have one track per sound for EXACT control:
You can fade in or out as needed, raise volume, 
even add special effects to a single sound, 
such as giving that thunderclap a reverb that bounces people to attention! 

Much joy to you creating new music!
Lots of Examples to hear free at http://www.DianaDeeOsbornesongs.com/
©2018, 2011 DianaDee Osborne;  all publication rights reserved
(An earlier version published in this blog 8.1.2011)

Monday, January 8, 2018

DUPLICATE TRACKS TRICK, Part 1

DUPLICATE TRACKS TRICK, Part 1         SUBSCRIBE  
DATE of posting:       8 January 2018  

https://dianadeegarageband.blogspot.com - 

RECORDING HINTS -- written about using  GarageBand -- BUT
these Hints help increase your skills in ProTools, Logic, etc. 


How to get EFFICIENCY for grouped-
notes Library tracks like "Nature Sounds":
CREATE  DUPLICATE TRACKS... Goal will be to have ONLY ONE DIFFERENT NOTE
    Per Track,  such as the note for RAIN & for THUNDER on two different tracks,
    or for individual notes used in DRUM KITS.
This gives you FULL control over volume of each INSTRUMENT or Sound, including fade-out.
This works for MIDI DRUM LOOPS that you import....
       for example, that clinky bell might get on your nerves at the imported volume,
       but you can lower its volume in places to rest the ears IF it has its own track. 

Another example:
 I found some REALLY cool thunderstorm effects under Software Instruments at
Track > Show Track Info > Sound Effects >Nature Sounds .... 
Thunder, lightening, pouring rain.... and all are MIDI notes, so I could select exactly what sound I wanted for Power songs like IN GOD'S EYE (DianaDeeOsborneSongs.com).

The problem?  
Rain & earthquake & crashing waves would end too abruptly--
             the moment the MIDI note stopped -- 
but if I tried just EXTENDING  (continuing that MIDI note),  
the rain etc. lasted too long.  Same for thunderclaps, etc. 
You can create a fade-out of a GarageBand track, 
     but not of a   single    note within that track.

Here's the fun trick I figured out which might help you.  
Warning: This can get tediooouuussss   for long songs.   THUS -- IMPORTANT! >>
It's easier if you PLAN AHEAD >>
 Do these with Verse 1 BEFORE you copy it to add verses 2,3, etc.   that lengthen your song.

1. Click on the track name to highlight your MIDI track. 
Every region of the track itself should turn rich green...
IMPORTANT: This is NOT selecting individual notes in the track.

2. Select Track > Duplicate Track.
You now have a new track with an identical name.
Notice that GarageBand in early versions does NOT duplicate the information  (notes and volume) within that track as some other recording programs do.... BUT DOES DUPLICATE EFFECTS...
a huge time saver!

3.   Repeat Step 2 for each note that you have in your original tracks.   Example from my simpler HOPE THRU DARK RAIN:   I created 3 duplicate tracks for EACH sound in the Library's Nature Sounds rainstorm.

4. As a safety measure, re-name your original track (THE LIBRARY TRACK WITH ALL NOTES)   to include a word like ORIG & MUTE  IT  to "archive" it -- in case your experimenting messed up and you want to try again "from scratch".  (I also slide muted tracks to bottom of project tracks.)
      Example from HOPE: Storm ORIG

5. Then re-name each duplicated track --in order from top note's sound to the bottom  -- to include the sound in the name.
       3 Examples from HOPE THRU DARK RAIN:
Thunderclap   RainHard    LtThunder   RainLIGHT.

6. Now you need the data in each track. It's easiest to first slide the button under your last trackname as far to the left as it will go, to compress your screen more.

a. Drag the first MIDI region to begin at measure 1.1.001. If you don't, the copy will start in the wrong place. (Or you'd have to move the red marker to begin *exactly* where the ORIG track begins.)

b. Put your Cursor at the end of the ORIG track (gray space), hold down the right mouse button, and then move the cursor all the way to the front of the ORIG track.

c. Go to Edit > Copy. [Note that you could not use Edit>Select all because that selects every track.) Apple-C is the short-cut key.

FIRST DUPLICATE:
d. Select that track by clicking on the track name. Press the HOME key to ensure that the red line marker is at count 1.1.001. Select Edit>Paste. Apple-V is the short-cut key. (If for some reason PASTE isn't an option, no problem... you just did something else that's in the program memory now. Just repeat 6b and 6c.)

REPEAT 6d for each duplicate track.

7. NOW YOU'RE READY FOR CONTROL! ....
 see NEXT BLOG  (January 9)

Much joy to you creating new music!
Lots of Examples to hear free at http://www.DianaDeeOsbornesongs.com/
©2018, 2011 DianaDee Osborne;  all publication rights reserved
(An earlier version published in this blog 8.1.2011)

Friday, January 5, 2018

ENHANCE TIMING HINT 2, by DianaDee Osborne

ENHANCE TIMING HINT  2                    SUBSCRIBE  
DATE of posting:       5 January 2018   

https://dianadeegarageband.blogspot.com - 

RECORDING HINTS -- written about using  GarageBand -- BUT
these Hints help increase your skills in ProTools, Logic, etc. 

Enhance timing
is the wording GarageBand uses; other programs call it "QUANTIZING" ---- ensuring that the spacing of a note fits with the timing rather than sliding a bit sooner or later.

Why do you want to enhance timing? 
So you can add drumkit tracks and they'll fit right in.
Why do you sometimes NOT? Sometimes you have a song with "loose" timing, especially jazz and blues.
But if you do: Hint 1 gave a super-quick "draft" enhancing. Hint 2 is also an easy trick I learned but haven't seen elsewhere, if you want to go a step further without literally touching every note. HINT 3 will provide another easy hint for Detailed Enhancing of every note.

Hint 2:
Even in jazz & blues, if you have a note on count 1, you'll most likely want it to start on "001".
Example while in a GarageBand track:
Select Control >
Show Measures in LCD;
then hit the keyboard's home key.
Your marker will move to 1.1.001. For any measure with straight timing, you'll want count 1 to be at .001.

But if you followed my HINT 1 in the previous blog, 
doing a quick enhance-timing to 1/8th notes, 
count 1 of a measure might actually be 1.1.086 even though you look at the score and your note is sitting right beside the measure bar looking like count 1. That means your drum hits a fraction before your note. Most people won't notice. But if you care:

Unlike for Hint 1, it is not any easier to first join regions.
& sometimes you may NOT want to join regions: a future hint!

1. Select your MIDI track (notice it is always green in GarageBand; audio tracks are blue).
2. Select Score (not Piano Roll; it's harder to see measure marking and whether your note is 1/4 or 1/8).
3. Individually -- even for 1/8th and 1/16th notes -- select the first note in each measure ("note" including chord set of notes; choose together)
and hit "Enhance Timing" > "Align to" > "1/4 Note". 

This will NOT change the length of your note; it will still be a 1/8th note, or 1/16th, or whatever. But it does ensure that the note hits exactly with the drum kit.
OPTIONAL: For even more precise sound in 4/4 time, do the same for Count 3. But it doesn't usually matter for counts 2 and 4 -- our ears don't hear each slight off-ness of those counts. But we instinctively listen for the first note to be exactly on count 1....

This is FUN to know: Fancy Definition:
Quantize: to restrict something to discrete values --not a continuous set of values. That is, to put the note exactly in its place instead of one of the set of {almost-good-enough} places.

Much joy to you creating new music!
Lots of Examples to hear free at http://www.DianaDeeOsbornesongs.com/
©2018, 2011 DianaDee Osborne;  all publication rights reserved
(An earlier version published 7.28.2011)

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

ENHANCE TIMING HINT 1, by DianaDee Osborne

ENHANCE TIMING HINT 1                     SUBSCRIBE  
DATE of posting:       2 January 201

https://dianadeegarageband.blogspot.com - 

RECORDING HINTS -- written about using  GarageBand -- BUT
these Hints help increase your skills in ProTools, Logic, etc. 

The purpose of DianaDee Osborne GARAGEBand Hints is simple:
I had to learn a lot of tricks by trial and error. EVERY one I know who writes music has been very frustrated at times by trying to get the "music in my head" into Garage Band, to share with the world. I'VE LEARNED SOME REALLY EASY TRICKS, and just want to share, in case it makes *your* life more fun as you record your music!

Some examples from new songs will be provided at times.... 
They can be found in FREE down-loadable MP3 format (full song) 
with FREE matching PDF music files for many of these, 
at my website: www.DianaDeeOsborneSongs.com   CLICK HERE 

No cost, no commitment, no registration input boxes!
Just ideas from one musician to others!
=================================

ENHANCE TIMING HINT 1 (MIDI tracks only.... the PIANO ROLL screen with "squares") -
The "fancy" word for getting your timing
right on the beat is called  QUANTIZING.
This feature is in the bottom left corner when you hit the snowflake at the bottom of your GarageBand screen. Why do you want to do this? 
 To make the drum kits hit exactly "on" beat with your music notes
    (IF that's what you want your music to do, of course!).
A super-quick method for NON-syncopated music... BUT it does NOT work for jazz and blues, sadly!:

If you can join every region on your MIDI track, this is faster. 
However you might not want to.... a hint as to why will come soon! 
For each region on your one MIDI track:

1. Ensure that the signature (like 4/4) is correct so that the measure bars will be in the right places.
2. Select your track.
3. Select the snowflake in the bottom left corner to show the editing music feature.
4. If it's not already showing, press the Score button to show actual music notes.
            This method works well for Piano Roll.... but not in *this* hint:)

5. Touch your cursor to "CAPTURE" a single note (it turns green when selected).
6. Go to your top GarageBand menu and select Edit > Select all. (Or type the shortcut apple-a).
7. Every note in the region will now be green.
The "Enhance Timing" label now says "Align to".
Click on the up-down edge of the bar to change "none" to "1/8 note" 
           or whatever is the smallest (shortest) note in your piece.
Now your MIDI notes are right on the beat!  
8. ( IF YOU DID NOT JOIN all the regions in your MIDI track, just repeat steps 1-7 for each region.)

Now it's time for the more detailed work,
but you're already a lot closer to matching whatever drum track you choose.
Hints for DETAILED Enhance Timing will be provided in Hint 2.

Much joy to you creating new music!
Lots of Examples to hear free at http://www.DianaDeeOsbornesongs.com/
©2018, 2011 DianaDee Osborne;  all publication rights reserved
(An earlier version published on this website on 7.27.2011)