start. Nice choir effect. I hear some choir sounds, but I have most JP's and
couldn't find the choir one!

Way to go- very enjoyable!

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Thank you for the comments.

How I do Choir

Make a Software Instrument (i.e. Midi) track. This track is usually the
same as the instrument track.
Double Click on the track to edit the instrument sound
Choose Choir -> Mixed Choir (I like it the best)
Change the pitch up or down an octive of the track to get Sopranos and
Tenors




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[ Reply to This ]

Added Note: Flipping through my GB JamPacks I found out that Choir is not with
the Basic GB but in JamPacks 1... which I don't think they sell anymore.

I heard that JamPack 1 is now part of the new JamPack 3. So the Choir might be
in that one.





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You do your loops very well. Very well. This is a real good blend and it
would do great for the soundtrack of a dream. Worthy of inclusion in my
favorites.

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Thank you for your comments and the addition to your favorites.



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Yes I thought the song was very good, catchy themes. What intrigued me
was the contrasts hi and lows weaving in and out. Are you using a post
GB process cuz my tune came out flat sounding within macjams. My mp3
file sounded fine, but I posted to this site it sounded compressed. How'd
you get the clarity and contrast? Thanks for the tune. I'm hearing some
good stuff here.

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Thank you for the comment.

Everything can be achieved in GarageBand.

To make an overall adjustment to your song, double-click on any track.

Depending on which version of GB you have, either a window will pop open or
slide inwards. At the top of that new window you'll see two buttons.

The first button will depend on the type of track you double-clicked. The
second will say "Master Track". Click on that button.

From here you can play with the different settings to change the overall song.
For this piece I used Pop->RnB. I found this gave the most range for the
highs and lows that you hear.

Try it on your piece... you'll be amazed at the difference.



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[ Reply to This ]

Thank you for the comment.

Everything can be achieved in GarageBand.

To make an overall adjustment to your song, double-click on any track.

Depending on which version of GB you have, either a window will pop open or
slide inwards. At the top of that new window you'll see two buttons.

The first button will depend on the type of track you double-clicked. The
second will say "Master Track". Click on that button.

From here you can play with the different settings to change the overall song.
For this piece I used Pop->RnB. I found this gave the most range for the
highs and lows that you hear.

Try it on your piece... you'll be amazed at the difference.



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[ Reply to This ]

I that was a delightful listen I'm impressed that you were able to create
the choir sound - That sounded to easy - I just need to learn how to
make a midi track??? - I know this is gonna put my ignorace on display,
but I have lots of practice How do you make a midi track? And is there
any Jp5 in this??? - Any help is appreciated

Good work - that was a pleasant listen - Thanks for sharing - Dion

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Thank you for the comment.

GB has a lot of "Midi" tracks. They call them "Software Instruments".

They are the sounds in Green and look like dots when you drag them up to
the Track window.

Double-click on any Green Track (where the picture of the instrument is - not
the Green itself) and a window will pop up/slide out. Stay in Software
Instruments and find Choir.

That's all there is to it.





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[ Reply to This ]

I didn't answer your question about JP5...

Nope. Don't own that one... yet...




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[ Reply to This ]

Nice. Very nice. The textures, the interplay of instruments - you've created a tapestry of sound.

And I must comment on your generosity. You obviously have a great time with GB, but I love that you share so readily your experience and techniques when answering each comment.

Thanks.

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Thank you for the nice comments.

I'm just returning the favors from when I first got here. I had a lot of help from a
lot of people. It's now my turn to help.



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[ Reply to This ]

Certainly, one of the great joys of Garageband is having the means of matching together odd sounds in new combinations - whether those oddities blend or contrast. When East meets West, you're going to get a bit of both elements happening - which is one of the reasons this is an enjoyable piece to listen to.

Particularly ear-enticing are those harpsichord riffs (I'm a sucker for arpeggios!) weaving through the soundscape. So, if I follow this correctly, you aren't actually playing those notes on a keyboard? You have taken a section of a pre-recorded harpsicord and pasted it into a track as a "loop?" And then, either by copying/pasting or dragging on the snippet to "loop it" out further, you build your arrangement?

The more I explore macjams, the more looped-based music I come across. Not surprising, some of it is prosaic, while other pieces have a few interesting parts, but more and more I'm amazed at how many of these completely-looped compositions are simply wonderful listening experiences. And the next thing I find myself thinking is, "just how did they do that?"

The only things I have ever looped are drum tracks. Maybe I need to get out and explore a little more? lol.

Anyway - to get back to your music - this piece has a nice organic wholeness to it. It is filled with textures that blend and contrast, but those elements all seem to contribute, rather than detract, from its identity. I like how the gong-like tone breaks up the flow without distrupting it (it serves as a means to redirect the stream of the music) - and then, in the end, those same bongings are used to bring the piece to a definitive ending. The length seems just right to me - that main harpsichord theme repeats often enough to get ensconced into your head, but not too often to become exasperating.

Heads or Tails? How about East or West?




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Thank you for taking the time to make that long comment.

That song was 100% loops and nothing from me except the placing loops.

Usually I put the loop list I used so people can see what I used (and to give a
form of "credit" since I didn't play the music) but I just noticed it isn't listed
above (or is it with any of my other songs). MacJams must have went through
a restructure.

So, without further ado, here is the list of loops I used for this song:

India Tabla 02
Remix Eastern Drone 01
Remix Eastern Drone 02
TU1D Tabla
Indian Tambourine 01

Harpsichord Right Hand 03
Harpsichord Right Hand 04
Harpsichord Right Hand 05
Harpsichord Right Hand 07
Harpsichord Right Hand 39
Longing A Celesta
World Tribal Dance 02

Now, I mess with the voices, effects, length, volume and other funky stuff that
is a whole lot of fun to do.

Drop me an e-mail if you want more details.

About The Title: What I do is when I start a new project, I have no idea what
kind of song I'm going to make. I just randomly make a title. The title rarely
changes and usually helps me with the feel of the song.

I named this one Heads Or Tails and decided to bring two differing sounds
together. Messing around (after trying a 3/4 - 4/4 and a Country/Classical
mesh) I came up with what you hear here.

Thanks again for the comments.



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[ Reply to This ]

melodies reminded me of christmas time, but the percussion is what really makes this song. Chorus is cool too, job well done, glad i listened-MJG

[ Reply to This ]

Thank you for taking the time to listen.



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Hello,

I'm new to Garageband and trying to get a feeling for the program.

You said you did this all with the loops in Garageband. That is simply amazing.

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