Apple GarageBand '09 - Manual (Page 62)

62 Chapter 6 Tutorial 4: Playing and Recording Software Instruments
To play the onscreen music keyboard:
m Click the keys on the keyboard. You can click when the project is playing, when it is
stopped, or when you’re recording.
Clicking lower on the key plays the note with a higher velocity (equivalent to pressing
the key harder), and clicking higher on the key plays the note with a lower velocity
(equivalent to pressing the key more softly).
The onscreen keyboard also shows notes you play on your connected keyboard, and
shows notes in regions on the selected track when you play the project.
To move the keyboard:
m Place the pointer anywhere in the space above the keys and drag.
To resize the keyboard:
m Drag the resize control in the lower-right corner of the keyboard window.
To change the range of notes you can play:
m Click the small triangle to the left or right of the keys. Clicking the triangle on the left
lowers the keys by an octave, and clicking the triangle on the right raises the keys by
an octave.
Getting Ready to Record a Software Instrument
If you’re recording Software Instruments using a music keyboard, there are a couple of
things to check before you start recording:
 Make sure your music keyboard is connected to your computer and is working.
 Select a Software Instrument track and try playing your music keyboard, clicking
notes on the onscreen music keyboard, or using Musical Typing. You should hear the
Software Instrument as you play.
Recording a Software Instrument
Now you’re ready to record a Software Instrument. You can record one Software
Instrument track at a time.
To record a Software Instrument:
1 Click the header of the Software Instrument track you want to record in to select the
track.
2 Move the playhead to the point in the timeline where you want to start recording.
3 Choose Control > Count In to have the metronome play a one-measure count-in before
recording starts.
You can also set the playhead a few beats before the point where you want the music
to come in to make it easier to start on the beat.