Apple GarageBand '09 - Manual (Page 32)

32 Chapter 3 Tutorial 1: Creating and Playing GarageBand Projects
Moving the Playhead
The playhead is a vertical line extending through the timeline that shows the part of
the project currently playing, or the place where playback starts when you click the
Play button. The triangle at the top of the playhead shows its current position in the
beat ruler. The beat ruler marks the units of time in the project, either in beats and
measures (musical time) or minutes and seconds. You can move the playhead to any
point in time, either when the project is stopped or while it is playing.
To move the playhead:
m Drag the triangle at the top of the playhead to the place in the beat ruler when you
want playback to start.
Using the LCD
The LCD (liquid crystal display), located in the control bar next to the transport controls,
shows the playhead position as the project plays. You can change the units of time
shown in the LCD, and move the playhead.
Changing the Units of Time
The LCD and the beat ruler can display either beats and measures (musical time) or
minutes and seconds. You can use musical time when you’re arranging a song to align
recordings, loops, and other items in the timeline with the rhythm of the song, and use
minutes and seconds when you’re working with podcast or movie projects.
To show beats and measures in the LCD:
m Click the icon on the left side of the LCD and choose Measures.
To show minutes and seconds in the LCD:
m Click the icon on the left side of the LCD and choose Time.
When you change the units of time in the LCD, the beat ruler also changes to show the
same units of time.
Changing the Playhead Position in the LCD
You can move the playhead by changing the time shown in the LCD in either Measures
or Time mode.
To change the time in the LCD, do one of the following:
 Drag one of the numerals up or down.
 Double-click one of the numbers, type a new number, then press Return.