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Garageband is useless...

Re: a $49 APP?

Originally posted by gloftis
If you woould read what I said and thought, you wouldn't reach absurd conclusions.

OF course there is a lot to voiceovers, but I said "based on the specs." because nnone of us really knonws what GB will do until tomorrow...
Click to expand...

Absurd conclusions? You said:
"Based on the Garage Band specs, he'll be trading in a $250 K studio for GB on his eMac G4...".

You say yourself that no one even knows the specs yet. What I find absurd is that someone has decided to sell 250k worth of equipment based on, invisible specs, screenshots, a hunch? I understand GB is putting computer music creation in the hands of every kid, housewife, and grandpa, and opening the doors to a whole new audience. But there has always been cheap software, even free software, that does all we've seen in GB and more. Apple has no doubt made it easy, fun, and pretty on the eyes which is what set GB apart. Still, I'll take this to the grave with me: GarageBand is a toy. I wouldn't trade even my mouse for it.
 
GARAGE BAND IS A TOY

<B>Still, I'll take this to the grave with me: GarageBand is a toy.<B>

Hey, go for it! Join those guys who think Macs are toys.
 
Re: GARAGE BAND IS A TOY

Originally posted by gloftis
Hey, go for it! Join those guys who think Macs are toys.
Click to expand...

don't get upset, i'm not saying that GarageBand sucks. i think it's very good, for what it is. my XBox is a toy and it's awesome. i just don't think any serious producers should be getting excited about it. i think my mom and dad will love it though.
 
Since the new Logic Express touts "work with up to 48 audio tracks in stereo or mono" ... logically (pardon the pun) one would assume that GarageBand has a much lower limit on audio tracks.

The "up to 64 tracks" claim on GarageBand has got to have some fine print that nobody is seeing.

anybody get an early shipment that can tell?
 
Re: Re: a $49 APP?

Originally posted by tjwett
Still, I'll take this to the grave with me: GarageBand is a toy. I wouldn't trade even my mouse for it.
Click to expand...

Defintion of a toy

1 An object for children to play with.
2 Something of little importance; a trifle.
3 An amusement; a pastime: thought of the business as a toy.
4 A small ornament; a bauble.
5 A diminutive thing or person.
6 A dog of a very small breed or of a variety smaller than the standard variety of its breed.
7 Scots. A loose covering for the head, formerly worn by women.Chiefly Southern U.S.
8 A shooter marble.

And just which definition of toy does GB fit??

1 No. Adults are going to use it
2 No. It's generating too much public interest and enthusiasm
3) No. Many people are going to use GB as more than a past time
4. No.
5. No.
6. No.
7. No.
8. No.

If GB is a toy, then, by comparison, so is any software that is not high-end.

Toy software is software that you cannot do anything productive and useful with.

GB as demonstrated by John and Steve can produce REAL music that can and will be played in public - even on occasions, by professional musicians.
 
Ok Mr. Webster, all I meant is that it's just to be used for fun. I'm not saying that it's worthless or sounds crap. In fact, I'm thinking the synths will be rather decent. I just don't know of any passionate musician that would settle for it's limitations. As an avid sampler I just couldn't bear to be limited to a bundle of loops with no import options of my own. I know great music is up to the artist and you can do a lot with very little kit. Creativity always wins over technology. I just don't see GarageBand as being flexible enough. I like sampling and programming my own drums. I like creating original sounds. I despise synth presets. Etc. Etc. But I have tools for all these things and I never expected GarageBand to do any of them. My comments are directed towards pros and bedroom studio people that are expecting GB to replace their powerful hardware and software tools. It's just not possible. I'm really not trying to strip the fun from this app or trying to ruin it for anyone who is psyched about it, or look down on them. Hell, even I'm excited to see what it sounds like. And BTW, I do think children would have a blast with it. I would have gladly sat at the computer with GB rather than go through 7 years of piano and saxophone lessons as a kid. :)
 
mixing metaphors

"I would have gladly sat at the computer with GB rather than go through 7 years of piano and saxophone lessons as a kid."

I, too, am a musician by training--single reeds/heavy brass and voice. Midi, GB, et al coulld never replace the knowledge I gained from 16 years of music training. But, given my lack of coordination at the keyboard, something like a Mac with GB and a Midi keyboard could have made my composition class experience much less stressful.

I see where you are coming from, now, and i agree that GB may not be for some serious musicians. We'll all see tomorrow. My iLife 04 is scheduled to arrive before 4:30 EDT.

It willl be interesting to see where this discussion goes after we try GB out.
 
Originally posted by tjwett
My comments are directed towards pros and bedroom studio people that are expecting GB to replace their powerful hardware and software tools. It's just not possible.
Click to expand...

On that i definitely agree - there's been some quite ridiculous statements made giving the impression that GB is the be-all and end-all of music production!

And because of that, I could understand you calling it a toy as a reaction to those stupid claims.

Yeah sure for some people it will be a toy they'll play with occasionally to have a bit of fun but do nothing useful with - just like playing solitaire.

But GB is a tool. As your last statement about children highlights.

It will be a tool used by parents to help teach their children about digital music.

It will be a tool used by wannabe singer-songwriters to create some reasonable backing tracks.

It will be a tool used by professional musicians to inspire and sketch new ideas.


edit: Although... before long, the kids will be teaching the parents probably!! :D
 
Re: The Portastudio has been reborn

Originally posted by gileschin
Gee, I wish Apple came out with this when I was a kid!!!
Click to expand...

Me too!

I wrote most of my best songs on a 4 track cassette portastudio. Guitar, bass, drum machine, vocals and a bit of bouncing.

I then got into 'computers' - I spent more time learning how to use the audio apps - Cubase Audio etc than actually making music.

I now use Pro Tools rewired to Reason and love this set up but I can't wait to get my hands on garageband! I reckon it will be a great songwriting tool, a fantastic tool to jam with and I am sure my music productivity will get back to my old portastudio days.

I can't wait!

Rich
 
Re: Re: The Portastudio has been reborn

Originally posted by fingers
...a fantastic tool to jam with...
Click to expand...

That's it!! That's what muso's are gunna love about it! Muso's love to jam, yet can't always get a friend(s) to jam with.

Now they can jam with (modern) man's best friend! :D



PS Now some git will reply with "Yeah, but like, there's been software for ages that could do that-at!"

Yeah - and iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes, iDVD, and iCal weren't the first of their kinds - yet they took off, sold Macs, and many people rave about them.

Because... they've made their function user-friendly and easily accessible.

Ditto GarageBand
 
GB is FCE compatible!

Hey I just realised that FCE only imports AIFF audio. And that's only what GB exports. Is Apple hinting at something here? Or just making it a little easier for us FCE users?

And that's another way GB is a tool - for soundtracks for iMovie and FCE

PS Sorry for the tone of my previous post. I have become a little frustrated by people trying to douse the enthusiasm of those excited about GB.

(Although - I'm also frustrated with people who think it is the be-all music app)
 
Re: GB is FCE compatible!

Originally posted by ChrisH3677
Hey I just realised that FCE only imports AIFF audio. And that's only what GB exports. Is Apple hinting at something here? Or just making it a little easier for us FCE users?
Click to expand...


I wouldn't read to much into it. AIFF is a standard.


Lethal
 
Re: Re: GB is FCE compatible!

Originally posted by LethalWolfe
I wouldn't read to much into it. AIFF is a standard.


Lethal
Click to expand...

...and an uncompressed format at that, so it's the best to import into a movie. You know when you drag an MP3 from your iTunes playlists into iMovie? That progress bar is it being converted into AIFF, and taking 10x the disk space in the process.
 
First Reaction on a G3 450

GB is very accessible, but less capable than it could be. I understand the complete feature set is not available on G3s, but it is not easy to create even rythm backgrounds with the loops.

Loops are 2, 4, 8, or 16 beats--at best half a phrase. The notes are not displayed as music and transposition is via a number. After an hour, I gave up on trying to build a standard B Flat blues progression for bass and drums.

If there is a way to build a chord progression ON the screen-based keyboard, it is not intuitive.

Perhaps GB is more complete on G4s, but it certainly does not live up to its press on G3s.
 
Re: First Reaction on a G3 450

Originally posted by gloftis
GB is very accessible, but less capable than it could be. I understand the complete feature set is not available on G3s, but it is not easy to create even rythm backgrounds with the loops.

Loops are 2, 4, 8, or 16 beats--at best half a phrase. The notes are not displayed as music and transposition is via a number. After an hour, I gave up on trying to build a standard B Flat blues progression for bass and drums.

If there is a way to build a chord progression ON the screen-based keyboard, it is not intuitive.

Perhaps GB is more complete on G4s, but it certainly does not live up to its press on G3s.
Click to expand...


gloftis, is this your impression as a complete musical amateur that's never played an instrument but always wanted to or is this your opinion as a musician used to working w/music software? As an editor used to working on FCP and Avid systems iMovie's interface is an absolute shambles that feels completely wrong. But to the average Joe iMovie is great because it's clean, simple, drag 'n drop interface is easy to understand and master.


Lethal
 
..you guys complaining about not being able to export GarageBand creations, you do realize that all you have to do is 1. Export to iTunes and 2. run the resulting .aif file (located in your iTunes-specified mp3 folder/Import/) through the LAME encoder to create an mp3, right?

I realize GarageBand should have this functionality right out of the box, but this does the job.
 
Originally posted by kap
..you guys complaining about not being able to export GarageBand creations, you do realize that all you have to do is 1. Export to iTunes and 2. run the resulting .aif file (located in your iTunes-specified mp3 folder/Import/) through the LAME encoder to create an mp3, right?

I realize GarageBand should have this functionality right out of the box, but this does the job.
Click to expand...

Why not encode it within iTunes?
Go to preferences>Importing>Then choose MP3 encoder (or AAC or WAV if you prefer)
The encoded track will then be in your library.

If you encode a copy as an MP3 64KBs stereo you can post it on my site. Make sure you copyright it first though and that it is all your original work. You will soon be able to post High Quality MP3's on the site when my new server is available - beginning of next week.

Hope this helps.

Rich
 
Re: Re: First Reaction on a G3 450

Originally posted by LethalWolfe
gloftis, is this your impression as a complete musical amateur that's never played an instrument but always wanted to or is this your opinion as a musician used to working w/music software?

Neither

I have a degree in music education and something over 25 years of training. I played single reeds and heavy brass professionally for 5 years and have 8 years experience singing in musical theater and opera companies.

I have no experience with music software, because there was noo such thing when I was in college.

I find you assumption that musicians are "used to working w/music software" rather interesting.

I am far from condemning GB; it has great promise.
Click to expand...
 
Re: Re: Re: First Reaction on a G3 450

Originally posted by gloftis
Originally posted by LethalWolfe
gloftis, is this your impression as a complete musical amateur that's never played an instrument but always wanted to or is this your opinion as a musician used to working w/music software?

Neither

I have a degree in music education and something over 25 years of training. I played single reeds and heavy brass professionally for 5 years and have 8 years experience singing in musical theater and opera companies.

I have no experience with music software, because there was noo such thing when I was in college.

I find you assumption that musicians are "used to working w/music software" rather interesting.

I am far from condemning GB; it has great promise.
Click to expand...

I meant "a musician who is used to working w/software" not "musicians are used to working w/software." Sry for making the statement a bit vague<sp?>.


Lethal
Click to expand...
 
Re: First Reaction on a G3 450

Originally posted by gloftis
Loops are 2, 4, 8, or 16 beats--at best half a phrase. The notes are not displayed as music and transposition is via a number. After an hour, I gave up on trying to build a standard B Flat blues progression for bass and drums.
Click to expand...
My guess is that if you understand what that mean, GB is not for you. GB is not everything, neither is it nothing. It is somewhere in between. I think exactly where is what this discussion is trying to, and never will, establish.
 
MIDI DATA OUT FROM MY SYNTH SEQUENCER TO GB

CANT I SYNC AN ENSONIQ'S SEQUENCER THAT HAS TONS OF SEQUENCED DATA
WITH THE SEQUENCER OF GB SO THAT THE DATA IS MIDI'D OUT TO RECORD INSIDE THE GB SEQUENCER?

THIS WAY I COULD ASSIGN DIFFERENT SOFTWARE INSTRUMENTS TO THE MIDI DATA AND HAVE IT ALL IN GB

SIMPLY PUT IF I RUN MIDI OUT FROM THE ENSONIQ'S SEQUENCER TO MIDI IN OF GB ONE TRACK AT A TIME
WONT THE DATA RECORD INTO GB
AS IF I WAS PLAYING IT ON THE KEYBOARD LIVE?

THIS WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO KNOW

THANKS

GLENN
 
You CAN use the Garage Band in other applications. I just imported it into iMovie and FCP4. (from iTunes).From FCP you can export it as a QT Aif file or whatever...jake
 
JAKE

THATS NOT THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION

I AM ASKING IF I CAN USE AN EXTERNAL SEQUENCER TO
MIDI OUT ITS DATA INTO GB
 
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