In the Beginning There was the Garage!!!
by Gary Woods

Every musician seems to start out in some kind of Garage Band, so Apple Computer has come up with a virtual GarageBand for the Mac.

GarageBand comprises three discrete musical components: prerecorded audio loops of both traditional and synthesized instruments, MIDI tracks created with software synthesizers, and digital audio tracks for recording real instruments or vocals through the Mac's audio port or an audio interface.

GarageBand's interface is very easy to understand, and the qualities of the loops are pretty darn good. Apple has made it very easy to locate the loops you'll use to build your compositions including Piano, Bass, Drums and Guitar in genres like Rock/Blues, Electronic, and Country. Each of those genres has examples such as Cheerful, Intense and Relaxed.

You just click and drag the loop you've auditioned into the main window to create a track, and stretch it out for as long as you'd like it to last. Then, you add additional tracks to build a song. MIDI and digital tracks are also easy to add by clicking on the GarageBand's Add (+) button and selecting which Software Instrument or Real Instrument you want to use.

There are even real time effects built into GarageBand's instruments with the coolest being the Amp Simulations. These simulations let you plug in a guitar and sound as though it's coming through a Marshall or Fender Twin Reverb.

GarageBand retails for $99 from Apple at http://www.apple.com.

If you have any suggestions or questions for me please drop me a note at garyandlaury@santabarbaraproperties.com or see my column on the Internet at http://www.santabarbaraproperties.com or call me at (805) 729-0910

Gary Woods is the Computer Trainer for the Santa Barbara Association of Realtors and a Broker/Associate at Home Realty & Investments, Inc.