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Voice Recording with Garageband
This document will explain how to use GarageBand to
create a simple voice recording. The instructions are written for users working
in the Student Computing Services computer
labs, but should also work for users working on personal computers with Apple's
iLife '08 software installed. If you have questions after reading these instructions,
please ask for help from a student consultant at an SCS computer lab helpdesk.
If this is your first time working with recording in GarageBand,
you may want to read the complete step-by-step instructions.
Click on the links to see screenshots of the menus and dialog boxes.
If you already feel comfortable with the
software and/or the recording process, read our streamlined
version, or, if you want to broadcast your recording, read our complete
Podcast Creation instructions!
GarageBand is available on all Macintoshes
in the SCS
Labs and Hublets. It is part of the standard SCS software package
for Macintoshes and support is provided by consultants in labs with
a large concentration of Macintosh computers (Fine
Arts, King, Journalism, Young,
and Computer Science). Apple
tutorials and support
documents are also available.
Getting set up
- Log into a Macintosh computer and open GarageBand. It
is normally located in the Applications folder on the Macintosh HD. To get
there, double-click the Macintosh HD icon on your desktop and then double-click
the Applications folder. Scroll down to the GarageBand icon and double-click
it to open the program.
- You may see a pop-up window that says GarageBand '08.
If so, click the "Create
New Music Project button". If not, from the File menu at the
top of the screen, choose "New," then click the "Create
New Music Project button".
- You will get another pop-up window that asks you where
you want to save your project. Give the project a title, choose a save
location, and click Create. The default location is a folder called GarageBand
that is located in your home directory/Music folder, but you can save your
project anywhere you'd like in your home directory, on Temporary_Storage,
or on a external flash disk or hard drive. You do not need to change any
of the tempo, time, or key settings.
- Now the main GarageBand window will appear with one track, a Grand Piano.
- From the Track menu at the top of the screen,
choose "New
Track".
- In the pop-up box,
choose "Real Instrument Track". A new track labeled "No
Effects" will appear beneath the Piano track.
- If you haven't done so already, plug in your microphone. You may see
a pop-up window asking if you want to use this device. Click Yes.
Testing your settings
- In the bottom right-hand corner of the GarageBand window, you will see
your input source and a recording
level volume slider. Set this to the halfway point for now.
- Click on the Record button at the bottom of the GarageBand window and
speak a few words into your microphone. You should see the audio
waveform recording of your voice. When you are finished, hit your spacebar
to stop recording.
- Hit the rewind button, or drag the playhead back to
the beginning of your recording. Now hit the play button and listen to
what you have recorded. If it's too quiet, increase your recording level.
If it's too loud or your voice sounds distorted, lower your recording level
or back away from your microphone.
- To delete and re-record, simply click on the waveform to select it and
hit the delete key (above the return key).
Recording your track
- When you are satisfied with your volume settings, you are ready to record
your track. Speak slowly and clearly as you record. Make sure you listen
to your track before you save it to make sure it's what you want.
- If you need to crop sounds off the beginning or end of your recording,
move your mouse to the bottom corner of the end of the track you want to
crop. The icon will change to a bracket. You can then click and drag towards
the middle of the clip to crop.
- If you want to change the visual scale of your recording, so you can
see more or less of it in the GarageBand window, use the scale
slider in the bottom left corner to adjust your view.
Saving and exporting your track
- When you have finished recording, save your GarageBand
project by clicking "Save" from
the File menu. This will save your track in a format that you can edit
again later.
- To export your recording as an AIFF or an MP3
file, click "Export
Song to Disk" from the Share menu.
- You will see a pop-up window with some settings options.
- To save as an AIFF, uncheck the "Compress" box
and click Export.
- To save an an MP3, choose MP3 Encoder from
the "Compress Using" menu
and click Export.
- You will now see a Save dialog box. Choose where you want to save your
finished track and click Save. You're all done!
- Open GarageBand from the Applications folder and create and save a new
project.
- Plug in your microphone and click Yes when GarageBand asks if you want
to use the new device.
- Record a sample track to check your recording level and adjust it as
needed.
- Record and edit your track.
- When finished, choose Export to Disk from the
Share menu. Select AAC or MP3, or uncheck the "Compress" box
to save as an AIFF.
- If you wish to preserve the original recording, save
the GarageBand project as well.
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Last modified at 7/21/2009 8:53 PM by Lacefield, Virginia W (Email Only)
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