Learn Garageband the Right Way
by Owen Critchley
Warner/LoudThud recording artist
Author of Easy Home Recording Blueprint
If you would like to not only learn Garageband, but also learn how to use it (or any recording software) to easily make hit-quality recordings, I invite you to read on, explore the site, but most of all, get yourself signed up for my free home recording lessons. Do it right now, right here. And then keep reading.
My free home recording lessons and my Easy Home Recording Blueprint are easy to follow and will show you exactly how to get started using the exact same simple methods I use to record songs and music for movies, tv, cd release, etc etc. And yes… I record everything I do on Garageband right at home. So, if you need a good reason to learn Garageband and how to use it properly, all the proof you could ask for is right here.
First of all… hi. My name is Owen Critchley and I have recorded, and continue to record for major labels, indie labels, have written and recorded songs for other major label artists, for almost 20 years.
However, 3 years ago, I made a change. I simplified my home recording studio drastically. I didn’t have to do it. I did it because my studio was getting to the point that it had a life of its own. I was spending more and more time looking after its problems and its needs. So I decided enough was enough. I thought to myself, there must be a simpler way… a more enjoyable way for me to record my work.
The Key to the Hidden Power of Garageband
As I began stripping down the studio, I decided I would learn Garageband and see how far I could take it. I must say it was love at first sight. But, the tools in Garageband at first glance, seemed almost too simple and I began to wonder if I would miss the bells and whistles of my big box recording software I had been using.
It turned out I needn’t have worried. The simplicity of Garageband is deceiving, because it’s actually a very powerful tool that will reward you with astonishing sound quality. However, even though it is very simple to learn Garageband and record something, I have created a step by step method for exactly how to record on Garageband, that puts Garageband’s recording quality into overdrive.
Easy to follow free home recording lessons
You see, the keys to the kingdom are in the details. You will learn Garageband here, yes… but more importantly you will learn which details to focus on and the right sequence of steps to record truly impressive pro-quality recordings.
None of it is difficult, but it’s important you know the blueprint to learn Garageband properly.
What you can expect in your free home recording lessons and the Easy Home Recording Blueprint
- How to record in Garageband – how to create the perfect (and simple) signal path in order to allow Garageband to record monster sized sound
- How to edit in Garageband and how to remix Garageband tracks – blow your socks off editing tricks and that will shine a light on Garageband’s hidden power
- Step by step home studio recording tips – puts you in control of the sound you want no matter what recording software you use
You see, my home recording methods are the blueprint to build hit-quality recordings at home. I have used Garageband to illustrate a very important truth:
It’s not the power of the software that will get you your great record, it’s the power of the method. And simplicity is at its core.
So, in effect, when you learn Garageband here, what you are really learning is how to re-think the very way you think about home recording. You are learning a recording process that dramatically shortens the time and distance between your moment of inspiration and your moment of capture (i.e. recording.)
All great records depend on this ability and it’s time for us to get this ability back, before any more great music gets poorly recorded by artists who are lost in a sea of cables and complicated equipment.
Sign up now for much much more… you’ll see.
“because… recording a great record doesn’t have to be rocket science…”
How to Record Guitar on Computer
by Owen Critchley
Warner/LoudThud recording artist
Author of Easy Home Recording Blueprint
In this edition:
1. Recording acoustic guitar using “direct in” method
2. Recording acoustic guitar using mike
3. Recording electric guitar using “direct in” method
4. Recording electric guitar – miking an amp
Introduction
Before we begin to talk about specific methods about how to record guitar on computer, let’s agree to a line in the sand that we won’t cross. This will be the dividing line that separates good and bad practices so we don’t waste time chasing methods that will not help us achieve pro quality recording in the home studio. In other words, let’s stick to the stuff that works.
With that in mind, let’s assume that our minimum level of acceptable practices starts with bypassing our computer’s built-in sound card. Instead, as we discuss how to record guitar to pc, let’s agree that we will be sending sound in, and out, of our computer using a decent i/o (in/out) device.
In my case, I recorded the tracks for my most current song releases using the very modest, very affordable, but very effective,
M-Audio Fast Track MKII USB Audio Interface
So, it’s not like I’m suggesting anything fancy here. But let’s just avoid consumer sound cards for this article. Fair enough?
I hope you do feel that’s fair, but in any case, this site’s goal is to promote simple, affordable and high quality audio recording practices at home, and I just don’t believe plugging a mic or instrument directly into a generic computer sound card can further that goal.
1. How to Record Guitar on Computer – Acoustic Guitar “Direct In” Method
The “direct in” recording method is a convenient option for those of you who have an acoustic guitar with a pickup and an output.
Let’s make things simple here, and say that we will record guitar on Garageband recording software. Or an alternative, sometimes called Garageband for PC, the very similar Mixcraft 5 recording software. (Download and try Mixcraft 5 free here)
- Plug in the FastTrack i/o (in/out) box, or whatever external i/o you will be using, into the computer. Set the audio preferences on the computer to use the FastTrack as the default device for “sound in” and “sound out.”
- Plug your 1/4″ guitar cable into the guitar’s output and plug the other end into the 1/4″ input of the FastTrack (the i/o box)
- Open your recording software (Garageband for our purposes here) and create a new track. Choose a channel for the new track to receive the guitar signal. (Using the FastTrack’s quarter inch port as in this scenario, you would set your Garageband track’s channel to channel 2)
- Play the guitar and make sure the track is receiving the signal. Assuming it is, make sure the track is receiving a healthy volume from your guitar. Adjust your track volume, the FastTrack’s volume and your acoustic guitar volume so that the track receives a level that never spikes above the “zero” point of the track meter. Our goal is to send Garageband a full bodied signal. Not too loud (risks distortion) and not too quiet (risks a thin sound.)
- At this point, all that’s left for how to record guitar on computer using the “direct in” method, is to press the record button and lay down a track.
POINT OF INTEREST: When we record guitar to pc using the “direct in” method, we can monitor (listen) using either our speakers OR our headphones. The signal is enclosed so there are no issues regarding “leakage” or “crosstalk” (in other words a quiet or controlled environment is not strictly necessary because our sound is traveling direct within the cable)
2. How to Record Guitar on Computer – Acoustic guitar using microphone
The recording guitar microphone method, the process is similar except…
- We will plugging a microphone into the XLR input of the FastTrack (i/o device)
- Create new track as described above
- For the FastTrack, open channel 1 (Garageband) to receive sound to the new track
- Try starting by placing the microphone 6 – 10 inches from the 13th fret of the acoustic guitar. (Miking the soundhole of the acoustic guitar can be a bit boomy and give too much pick or strumming noise.)
- Set your input level as above
- When using a mic to record acoustic guitar, we must control external noises and we MUST use headphones for monitoring.
POINT OF INTEREST: We cannot have our speaker playback leaking into our mic and onto our track. This also goes for every squeak of your chair, or throat clearing, dog barking, doors opening and closing etc. A quiet, controlled environment as we are recording is a must every time we use a mic.
3. How to Record Guitar on Computer – Electric guitar “direct in”
The process for recording electric guitar on Garageband or any recording software is the same basic method we detailed above. In other words we can use the “direct in” method or the mic method for recording guitar to pc.
However, with an electric guitar going “direct in,” you may choose to introduce effects pedals to the signal. In that case the path the sound will take is:
Electric Guitar >> into effects pedal >> into FastTrack 1/4″ input
Repeat steps listed above.
4. How to Record Guitar on Computer – Miking an electric guitar amp
Plug in the mic as we described in the steps above. At that point, placing and positioning the mic is all that’s left. Here’s where we can experiment to get the type of sound we’re looking for.
Decide if you would like to “take the room” out of the sound. In other words, the closer the mic is placed to the guitar amp, the less the ambience or natural reverb of your room will influence the sound.
For close mic placement try 6″ – 12″ in front of the amp’s speaker and turn the mic slightly to the left or right (ie: “off axis”)
For a live club sound, try moving the mic back from the guitar amp. The further you move it away from the amp, the more the ambience of the room will color the sound.
A useful trick is to record one track with a close mic position, and then record another identically played track with a different microphone placement. Then, blend and mix the two tracks during Garageband playback to create your desired sound.
Invitation to the full step by step Easy Home Recording Blueprint
I hope this little snapshot has been a useful glimpse at how to record guitar on computer. I’d now like to invite you to access many more step by step home recording tips like this in MUCH more detail, Including pictures and illustrations, tons of tricks so you can make hit-quality recordings at home easily and much more… you’ll see.
I’m talking about my Easy Home Recording Blueprint showing the exact incredibly simple method I use to record songs and music for movies, tv, cd release, song licensing, etc etc.
As soon as you sign up for my free home recording course, you will receive your 10% discount for the full Blueprint that you can use any time you want.
I hope to see you there. I think you’re going to love it and be surprised at how great your recording can sound… easily and very soon.
Sign up now for your free home recording course
Guitar for Beginner – How to Learn to Play Guitar Quickly
What Learning Guitar Can Mean For Your Songwriting And Music Career
by Owen Critchley
Warner/LoudThud recording artist
Author of Easy Home Recording Blueprint
Taking a good online guitar for beginner course
Let’s talk about something that is an important before we even start making that great sounding recording: I’m talking about having a great song to record in the first place. And let’s talk about how even having guitar for beginner skills can make all the difference in truly capturing those great song ideas in your head.
Is Learning Guitar Useful for Writing all Styles of Music? Yes. Here’s Why…
The sheer portability and affordability of the guitar is what makes it the perfect tool for the budget conscious independent songwriter/arranger, in any style. Whether you’re going over your new song with your band or partners at home, in the studio, or on a bus for that matter, your guitar can be right there to easily capture and translate your vision of what you want your song’s rhythm, chords and mood to be.
The guitar is a musical instrument, but did you know that it is also classified as a percussion instrument? This makes it the ideal tool for translating your song ideas, their all important mood and rhythm… whether you’re writing rap songs, rock songs or anything in between. Think about it.
Yes it’s true, that someone who doesn’t play an instrument at all can write a great song. But that person will end up, at some point, surrendering control of their song to others. They, in effect, are rolling the dice… because it will be the musicians who end up actually choosing the chords and music that will support the song. Remember, no matter what style of song, it is the chords that determine the whole mood, motion and vibe of a song.
Picking up a few guitar for beginner type skills is so easy to do, so why on earth would we risk the whole mood of our song in the hands of others? The answer of course is, we wouldn’t.
Guitar for Beginner – What’s the Best Way to Learn Quickly?
Even the biggest hits and best songs are based on just a few chords. Knowing this, presents you with a huge and profound opportunity. What it means is that even if we embrace a simple and effective method learn the key secrets to playing guitar, we will have in effect, learned the “language” of all good song writing.
A few simple guitar chords allow you to speak the “language” of song writing and arrangement
If you choose the right type of lesson method, that is clear and enjoyable, you can be playing good basic guitar in just a matter of days. Ok, so what is the best method to learn guitar for beginner?
The best online guitar lessons I have seen are Jamorama (really quite amazing) and a program that is actually brand new to the web, Crash Course Muso.
I have found time and again, that the best and fastest way to get someone playing and sticking with the guitar, is to get them playing real songs, right away. These are the folks who most often will recognize and more importantly, believe, that playing guitar is something they can do. It’s how I learned, and looking back, I don’t remember thinking of it as “work” or even something I had to learn. I just remember how quickly I picked it up. It just seemed natural to be able to play. Now I know that it wasn’t me, but instead, it was the way the guitar was introduced to me. I’ll always be grateful that my first teacher let me dive right in by playing my favorite songs.
The motivation to stick with it that comes from playing real music in just a few days, cannot be understated. I mean, there aren’t too many things in life that are more exciting than learning something new in just a few days, and to watch yourself get better and better as each week goes by.
Both Jamorama and Crash Course Muso Guitar for Beginner, use a series of high definition (HD), short, easy and fun videos that literally have students up and running in minutes. I was particularly impressed with the fact that these programs understand, and have been able to capture in an online guitar course, the method that has given birth to most of the best guitarists: That is, having someone who trusts the new student enough to let him grab the wheel and with just a little direction, start playing real music, right away.
I was lucky enough to learn how to play guitar this way, and I’m really glad to see that someone else gets it. Phill Mason of Crash Course Muso and the team of pro guitar players at Jamorama, have put in an incredible amount of work and obvious care in creating these short, easy to follow, HD videos to make the process fun and effortless for his students.
I checked out both programs fully, because a lot of my own students in my Easy Home Recording Course ask me if i can recommend the best guitar for beginner course online. I felt I owed them a decent answer so I had a long look at both Jamorama (probably the biggest online guitar for beginner course) and Crash Course Muso. All I can say is I was very impressed by both and I have no hesitation in recommending either one. I guess my advice to you is to have a look around at each of their websites and go with your gut. They’re both really good, so there is no wrong decision.
Get Started for Free Playing Good Beginner Acoustic Guitar or Electric Guitar
The guitar for beginner crash course that Phill Mason has put together as well as Jamorama’s course are free to join and get you started viewing some of their videos and learning the first few guitar playing tips, tricks and cheats. Their students are fortunate enough to be taking advantage of a true fast track to playing guitar. And for my students, also creating better, more successful recording artists and songwriters. So I’d like to thank both these programs for that.
Read more about Jamorama here.
Read more about Crash Course Muso.
