Garageband problems

Leftybass12 · #1 11-30-2009, 09:24 AM

Okay, so I have a small problem with garageband '08. I recently recorded an original song with my friend who plays guitar and we have several time changes and tempo changes. While recording these different sections we obviously made the time and tempo changes. Then I went to the beginning of the song and set in the options for the beginning of the song which has a different tempo than the verse and chorus. The intro played fine, but when the verse came along it was far too fast. Is there any way that I can fix this? Meaning can I export various sections of the song and put them into a master file with everything and not change any default options so the song will sound the way I want it? If not, what are my options with garageband? I hope I am being clear with this. If not please tell me.

debassr · #2 11-30-2009, 09:37 AM

If I understand correctly, you're saying that you want to have different time signatures and tempos within the same song.

If that's the case I don't think GB can do that. I believe that you are limited to one time signature and tempo for the entire song by design. I think that to do more complicated work you'd need to use a higher end product like Logic.

Leftybass12 · #3 11-30-2009, 09:42 AM

You have understood what I was trying to say. Could you confirm that GB doesn't do this? If not that's fine....I was looking at Logic studio in a sweetwater catalog several hours ago....$500 though. IDK if I should buy it or not.

MarcusPocus · #4 11-30-2009, 09:49 AM

I have had a similar problem. I think the problem is, if you have the tempo changes on different sections, and you do a 4 count in. The count in is in the slower/faster section resulting in the entire recorded section being messed up on playback.

You probably have to get the drum tracks down or laid out first. Are you using loops? Then record your parts straight through or separate the sections with the tempo changes and then stick them back together.

debassr · #5 11-30-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leftybass12

You have understood what I was trying to say. Could you confirm that GB doesn't do this?

Confirmation available here: http://tinyurl.com/y9mcocc

Leftybass12 · #6 11-30-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarcusPocus

I have had a similar problem. I think the problem is, if you have the tempo changes on different sections, and you do a 4 count in. The count in is in the slower/faster section resulting in the entire recorded section being messed up on playback.

You probably have to get the drum tracks down or laid out first. Are you using loops? Then record your parts straight through or separate the sections with the tempo changes and then stick them back together.

I'm not using any drums right now.....we lack a drummer unfortunately. We did use a click track that I made, but because of the time changes and tempo changes I do need a better recording software if I want the recording to sound like we have a tempo, not that we don't, but it's just the mere fact that we should do it anyway.

climb · #7 11-30-2009, 11:33 AM

Very confused--is the whole project in audio or is there also MIDI?

If it's in audio, you can record in sections, export to audio (separate files) and then reimport each audio clip and place it appropriately. It will then play the song properly in audio (not MIDI).

Leftybass12 · #8 11-30-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by climb

Very confused--is the whole project in audio or is there also MIDI?

If it's in audio, you can record in sections, export to audio (separate files) and then reimport each audio clip and place it appropriately. It will then play the song properly in audio (not MIDI).

It is an audio, no midi was involved in the recording (except the click track I made). I will try what you suggusted tonight and will give the results.

TimWilson · #9 11-30-2009, 11:49 AM

You can have as many tempo/time signature changes as you want in a GarageBand song. But by default, everything you record is "watching" the stated tempo/time signature of the song - the tempo/time signature set in your Master Track.

If you want any given track to STOP "watching" that master tempo/time signature so that you can freely change them in the course of the song, you have to do that manually with one simple step: Select that track in your ARRANGE window and then UNCHECK the "Follow Tempo & Pitch" button. That button is in the track editor. Click on the little scissors icon at the bottom of your window and the editor opens up.

By the way, more advanced programs like Logic work the very same way, it's just that the "follow tempo & pitch" features are OFF by default instead of ON. GarageBand has them on by default because that's the most helpful to beginners, for whom GarageBand is intended. So don't jump to a more advanced program just yet. You've still got a LOT left that you can do in GarageBand before you start to outgrow it.

debassr · #10 11-30-2009, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimWilson

You can have as many tempo/time signature changes as you want in a GarageBand song. But by default, everything you record is "watching" the stated tempo/time signature of the song - the tempo/time signature set in your Master Track.

If you want any given track to STOP "watching" that master tempo/time signature so that you can freely change them in the course of the song, you have to do that manually with one simple step: Select that track in your ARRANGE window and then UNCHECK the "Follow Tempo & Pitch" button. That button is in the track editor. Click on the little scissors icon at the bottom of your window and the editor opens up.

By the way, more advanced programs like Logic work the very same way, it's just that the "follow tempo & pitch" features are OFF by default instead of ON. GarageBand has them on by default because that's the most helpful to beginners, for whom GarageBand is intended. So don't jump to a more advanced program just yet. You've still got a LOT left that you can do in GarageBand before you start to outgrow it.

Garageband cannot insert multiple time signatures, though the software does allow a tempo track to automate tempo changes as you mentioned. Inserting time signatures is only something that can be done in Logic and other higher end products.

IanStephenson · #11 11-30-2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leftybass12

You have understood what I was trying to say. Could you confirm that GB doesn't do this? If not that's fine....I was looking at Logic studio in a sweetwater catalog several hours ago....$500 though. IDK if I should buy it or not.

Don't forget Logic Express for $199. GB is great, be LE is the next step up, and gets you most of what full Logic does. Now to critisise GB, but LE feels like a real studio tool in comparison. If you decide you need full Logic down the line you can upgrade for $300 - same as the difference in sticker price, so you don't loose out.

Ian

jgroh · #12 11-30-2009, 12:59 PM

I "think" I understand what you are trying to do...I have used GB for years now and most of my originals have odd timings throughout...however, couldnt you just adjust your playing rather than relying on the software? I put together alot of my stuff by roughing out a drum track first, weird time changes and all, and went by that and not click tracks.

I guess I use it more like a 4/8/16/whatever-track recorder, and I should probably delve in a little more.