Super-QUICK Preview for GARAGEBand Projects

THIS IS SO COOL!
Have you ever had a really long GARAGEBAND project with so many tracks that it takes a few moments to load even on a super-fast computer?

Here's a fast way to remember what your project sounds like WITHOUT opening the .BAND file or looking for the matching .MP3 (and hoping it hadn't changed since your last file-save):

I have about 230 songs on my websites, and about 80 Draft BAND files for future songs, some with only 2 tracks some with about 10. I couldn't remember if I had added Claxton's scripture reading for Prayer Without Asking MP3 track from his studio's ProTools project to my GarageBand project. But I didn't want to bother loading the BAND file to check.

So I decided to see if Quick Look shows the picture like GB's iLIFE preview window....

HERE'S HOW TO QUICKLY HEAR YOUR PROJECT:

In Finder,
1. single click to highlight the .BAND file name,
2. right click on it,
3. select Quick Look --- and

Not only will you see what your .BAND file window looks like (the iLIFE preview),
but Quick Look will PLAY your project.... even a huge project with many tracks.

THERE'S ONE CONDITION --- You must have had "bounced" the project (In GarageBand: "Send Song to iTunes") in order to hear the associated .MP3 file when you click on Quick Look.

This is far faster than waiting to open the project! Cool!
May you find MUCH joy in using and finding shortcuts to efficiently record your music!
©2012 DianaDee Osborne
www.DianaDeeOsborneSongs.com
www.DiDoReflections.com (Die to Self, Do for Christ,
Reflect God, all with the help of the Holy Spirit)

SPLITTING GARAGEBAND PROBLEMS, Fix 2-3-4--

"Why won't that stupid track split right?" was my Aug 10 blog hint... this is "part 2." Let's say you've auto-aligned ("quantized") every note around where you want to split the track. (See August for hints there, too). Yet every time you try to split the track, you get a 1/32nd note or worse on one side of the split. It feels like the thing is bragging "eewww, you were SO close, tough luck!"
Here's how to "win" when GarageBand is stubborn.
1. Be sure you've selected Control > Snap to Grid. Then try again.
If that doesn't work?
2. Put the red place marker right on top of the note flag of the "after" measure. Somehow GB thinks the tiny bit of space in front means you want that space in the earlier region when you do the split.
If that doesn't work? Hey, I've tried a lot... usually something does!
3. If this is a PIANO track where you used the sustain pedal, then this is probably "The" hint for you:
When you quantize, you **must include the Ped. marks below the bottom staff.** Except perhaps to some music-purist, that really doesn't change the sound. But it (1) makes your printed score look more professional, and (2) cures a lot of track-splitting problems.
Finally -- and this is where you really "win" the battle:

If nothing else works,
go to the first chord in the measure that you want to be Measure 1 of the 2nd region after your split is done.
1. Again quantize all of that chord "just to be sure" -- including the Ped. mark if there.
2. Go to Control > Snap to Grid and be sure it is OFF.
3. Select all the notes in the chord. Be sure to catch all -- some piano notes are widespread in chords.
4. Go to Piano Roll in the Notation View. The selected notes are a different color.
5. Move the entire set of notes slightly to the right.
6. Do the split again, and check the Score view of the notation. There shouldn't be any 1/32nd notes ending Region 1 this time.
7. Re-select that chord. Auto-align to 1/4 notes (no matter what kind of notes they are or what your signature type is).
You should now have two neatly split tracks, despite GarageBand's challenges.
Much joy to you in winning the little battles of life and music! ©2018, 20111 DianaDee Osborne

Why won't that STUPID Track Split Right???

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. Most manuals say something like (1) "You can split a track." Duh.
(2) Manual: Select the region you want to split; But no instructions on how. My previous hint does, but I'll repeat it quickly 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; my previous 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?
(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 do you put the red marker? (Sorry, "playhead" isn't in my vocab today.) Ensure that you're in "Score" mode and not "Piano Roll"... it works either way but is a lot easier to see in Score. Put the marker right after the measure bar, but just in front of the first music note. It's ok if it touches 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" the notes in both the measure before and the measure after where you want that split to go. That is, select (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.... 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, most likely you have a note (or more) that's too long in the first of the 2 measures around the place you want to split. 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, though 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? Tell your computer you're going to win.
(6) Return to Piano Roll. Select all the notes in the measure. Do Edit > Cut. Well, you might want to do a File > Save first:)
(7) Try the split again. If it worked right, now all you have to do is to
(8) 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 in music... despite the sometimes-frustrations of missing hints in instructions.
©2018, 2011 DianaDee Osborne

Reprinted 26 January 2018

Join Tracks (Merge Tracks) GarageBand Hint

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."

Well, it's a bit harder to do than that. Without any manual in hand, I learned after much frustration that in GarageBand you first have to:
3. (Steps 1 and 2 are explained below).
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. May you have a bit more joy in missing out on that annoying omission in technical manuals that should have been user tested with complete novices like I was!

4. This step is logical even if you have no manual: Highlight the regions 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 to be sure you didn't accidentally move anything while highlighting the regions.

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 easy to do. If either region is bumped one tiny count 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. To avoid this easy mistake:

1. BEFORE you do the three steps above, SAVE your file.
2. After you highlight the regions to be joined, go to Edit> and ensure that the Undo item is still gray. Hit UNDO if it says you need to undo anything! Especially "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 in music to you! ©2018, 2011 DianaDee Osborne

Reprinted 23 January 2018

DianaDee GarageBand DUPLICATE TRACKS TRICK

PURPOSE OF DUPLICATE TRACKS: Full control over volume, 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 (www.DiDoReflections.com).

The problem? The rain and earthquake and crashing waves would end too abruptly--the moment the MIDI note stopped -- but if I tried 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. 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.
3. You now have a new track with an identical name. Notice that GarageBand (my version anyway!) does NOT duplicate the information within that track as some other recording programs do. Repeat Step 2 for each note that you have in your original tracks. Example from my simpler HOPE THROUGH DARK RAIN: Create 3 duplicate tracks.
4. As a safety measure, re-name your original track to include a word like ORIG. Example from HOPE: Storm Orig
5. Then rename each duplicated track --in order from top note's sound to the bottom -- to include the sound in the name. Examples from HOPE: Thunderclap, RainHardLtThunder, 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!
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. First suspect if they don't is accidentally skipping Step 6d for the last duplicate track. 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)
12. 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 and 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 in music!
 -- ©2018, 2011 DianaDee Osborne

Updated Version Reprinted in two parts January 8 and 9, 2018

ENHANCE TIMING HINT 1, DianaDee GarageBand

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")
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... 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 on 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.
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. Have Fun with *your* music to the World! Much Music Joy to you!
©2011 DianaDee Osborne.com

Updated Version Reprinted 2 January 2018