Press releases

Take Control of GarageBand '09 with Two New Ebooks from TidBITS: How to Work Creatively and Effectively in GarageBand '09

Press release: May 6, 2009

Ithaca, NY—GarageBand is the digital music making and recording application of choice for many Macintosh users, but up-to-date, real-world documentation is hard to find. To fill this gap, TidBITS Publishing Inc. has released a pair of ebooks--Take Control of Making Music with GarageBand '09 and Take Control of Recording with GarageBand '09.

Written by Seattle-based composer and musician Jeff Tolbert, the ebooks help readers understand how to work creatively and effectively within GarageBand and include audio examples and hundreds of tips for making the most out of GarageBand's tools.


Take Control of Making Music with GarageBand '09

This 117-page ebook provides step-by-step instructions and linked-in audio examples for using GarageBand's built-in loops to create three songs, explaining not only how to use GarageBand's editing and mixing features but also how to be playful and creative while composing tunes that please the ear.

Readers will learn how to plan a song, get the most out of Magic GarageBand, edit and arrange Real Instrument and Software Instrument loops, create exciting mixes, and export projects. The ebook also covers how to change track volume, tempo, and panning dynamically, and how to work with GarageBand's effects.

Questions answered include:

  • What's the arrange track used for?
  • How can I use the stock GarageBand loops to make a cool song?
  • How do I edit Software Instrument loops?
  • I don't read music. Why do I care about Notation view?
  • How do I change the tempo in different sections of my tune?
  • How do I make my mixes more dynamic and interesting?
  • How can I customize a Magic GarageBand song so it doesn't sound like everyone else's?
  • How do I make a killer drum break out of GarageBand loops?
  • How can I make a ringtone for my iPhone?



Take Control of Recording with GarageBand '09

This 134-page ebook explains how to create musical compositions with vocals, drums, guitars, MIDI keyboards, and even the kitchen sink. Readers will learn how to get the most out of their existing gear or purchase new equipment that fits their budget and style.

The ebook covers how to plan a recording session, and it discusses real-world recording studio techniques for tasks such as using a microphone effectively, getting the best sounds from your gear, applying effects, fixing mistakes, using the new Electric Guitar track and new stompbox effects, and recording multiple tracks at once. Two example songs demonstrate many of the techniques discussed.

Questions answered include:

  • How do Real Instrument and Software Instrument tracks differ?
  • How can I make a decent-sounding recording with GarageBand?
  • How do I best record a vocalist?
  • How do I use the multi-take recording option?
  • I don't have an electric guitar. Can I still use the new Electric Guitar track?
  • How do I use the new stompbox effects and how are they different from the old GarageBand effects?
  • How can I change an effect over time in a track?
  • What should I know about punching in?

For a review copy or more information please email takecontrolpr@oreilly.com.

Jeff Tolbert is a musician, painter, and graphic designer living in Seattle. He has played in numerous bands over the years, including What Fell?, the Goat-Footed Senators, the diary of Anne Frank String Quartet, 80 Bones, and the Fireproof Beauties.

Additional Resources:
For more information about Take Control of Recording with GarageBand '09, including table of contents, index, author bios, and cover graphic, see: http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/9781933671567

For more information about Take Control of Making Music with GarageBand '09, including table of contents, index, author bios, and cover graphic, see: http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/9781933671574

Take Control of Recording with GarageBand '09, Fifth Edition
Publisher: TidBITS
Jeff Tolbert
Take Control of Recording with GarageBand '09,
PDF format, 134 pages, free 30-page sample available
PDF Price: $10.00 USD
ISBN: 9781933671567



Take Control of Making Music with GarageBand '09, Fifth Edition
Publisher: TidBITS
Jeff Tolbert
Take Control of Making Music with GarageBand '09,
PDF format, 117 pages, free 30-page sample available
PDF Price: $10.00 USD
ISBN: 9781933671574



About TidBITS
The Take Control series is published by TidBITS Publishing Inc. TidBITS co-founders Adam and Tonya Engst have been publishing highly regarded news and editorial since 1990 when they created the online newsletter TidBITS, which covers Macintosh- and Internet-related topics. The Take Control series has helped many thousands of readers with high-quality, timely, real-world, cost-effective documentation since 2003.

About O’Reilly

O’Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O’Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying “faint signals” from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.

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