this link<\/a> if you haven’t already done so.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGo to GarageBand > Sound Library > Download All Available Sounds.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nHere, you will find all the available sounds and drummers you can add to your recording. GarageBand comes with over 30 virtual drummers.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\nVirtual instruments are usually software plugins that are designed to mimic traditional instruments like piano, cello, or electric guitar. As such, GarageBand Drummers are virtual drums designed to mimic real drums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Set Up the Drummer Track<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
GarageBand features an easy-to-understand user interface with a slight learning curve for beginners. Once you’re past that, creating, recording, and producing professional-sounding tracks becomes easier than ever before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To set up your workspace:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Locate the plus button (the add track icon) at the top left of the interface.<\/strong> GarageBand provides three options for your new track; Software Instrument, Audio, and Drummer. <\/li>
- Select Drummer from the options and create your new track.<\/strong> GarageBand automatically opens the library and editor.<\/li>
- Choose your preferred virtual Drummer, presets, and drum kit from the available options in the library.<\/strong> You can try different kits that go with your preferred genre (there are seven musical genres, including Rock, Electronic, HipHop, Percussion, R&B, Songwriter, and Alternative<\/strong>).<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
GarageBand opens a yellow eight or sixteen-bar drummer region and loads up the default virtual drummer (Kyle), which you can change in the next step. If you want loops in your track, I recommend downloading some free loops from sites like Macloop. Some sites contain paid loops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Macloop provides access to a vast array of assets like double bass loops, metal loops, hip-hop loops, rock loops, and so much more. When choosing a genre and Drummer for your track, be sure to read the short description about the Drummer and what style they play. This will give you a sense of what your final output will sound like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Listen to Your Kit and Beat Presets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
GarageBand comes packed with tons of amazing drum samples, patterns, and kits, so you can easily record and mix your own beats. These are great for beginners because the presets come with a number of different instruments and sounds, allowing you to mix and match different elements to create your own unique beats. You can also use these presets as inspiration for your own beats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you’ve selected your virtual Drummer, see if you like how it sounds. Each virtual Drummer has about eight beat presets<\/strong> but automatically goes to its default kit when you load it onto your workspace. Hit the space bar and listen to how it all sounds. If you don’t like how the drummer sounds, select a different drummer and use a new kit from the sound library to change how the Drummer sounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAt this point, you also want to listen to the drum pattern. Listen closely to the beats and their different arrangements. If you don’t like what you hear, play around with the Beat Presets, which choose how the drum pattern sounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember, each Drummer has their own style. For instance, Kyle plays the drum beat we get in pretty much every pop rock song. Maurice plays in the boom-bap drummer style, adding a 90s flavor to your tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Edit Your Track<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Once you’re satisfied with your Drummer’s sound and pattern, it’s time to make them sound a little bit more professional. GarageBand allows you to edit the existing patterns to create something even more unique with the Smart Controls <\/strong>feature and the Drummer Editor<\/strong>. You can change the volume levels for each track and their pan settings. You can also change the tempo of each track to make it sound more professional. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSmart Controls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Smart Controls allows you to edit your track with ease. This little feature provides a quick view into the track that allows you to modify small but very important details in your track. You can set and modify the track’s parameters, edit plugins, EQ, tone, distortion, echo, reverb\u2013you name it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To open Smart Controls,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Locate the Smart Controls button in the control bar.<\/li>
- Go to View > Show Smart Controls.<\/strong><\/li>
- Or, use the shortcut by pressing B with your drummer track selected.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
With Smart Controls open, use the knobs displayed on the interface to adjust your track’s sounds. The first settings you might want to play around with are the volume settings, which can be set individually for each drum. Lower the volume of the kick if it’s drowning the other instruments, or turn the hi-hats off completely if its collision with the cymbals doesn’t produce the outcome you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smart Controls also allows you to set the EQ for your track. Simply navigate next to the Controls tab and select EQ. As you can see, working with the Smart Controls feature is as easy as it can get. Everything control displayed on the screen is intuitive, just like a real amp or audio interface. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, you know what’s even better? Editing your tracks by moving the yellow ball in the X\/Y Pad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adjust the X\/Y Pad<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The X\/Y pad offers a much easier solution to edit your track without all the knobs and switches of the Smart Controls. A large, yellow ball appears somewhere in the middle of the X\/Y pad. Moving the ball around the X and Y axes significantly alters the Drummer’s output.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dragging the ball from left to right (the X-axis) turns the drum pattern from Simple <\/strong>to Complex<\/strong>. On the other hand, dragging the ball from top to bottom converts the drum pattern from Loud <\/strong>to Soft.<\/strong> As you may have noticed, there’s no “sweet spot” for the X\/Y editor; just some random adjustments to find the right combination for your track.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOne key point to remember is that the X\/Y editor won’t change the Drummer’s purpose. If you want to change the style of the song, I suggest switching to a new drummer. Adjusting the editor will only change how the Drummer sounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Convert Drummer into MIDI Track for Finer Control<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Converting your drum tracks into MIDI will give you much finer control over the sound of your drums. This will give you more flexibility when it comes to mixing, as you can now adjust the volume of each instrument individually and set other parameters as you like. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Converting your drums into MIDI will also give you the flexibility to use different plugins and the rare opportunity to change your drums into a completely different instrument. For example, if you’re using kicks, claps, and hi-hats in your track, converting it into a MIDI track allows you to add percussion and effects like reverb to give your beats a complete sound makeover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Converting a Drummer track into a MIDI track is quite easy. All you need to do is create a copy of the existing Drummer Track into a software instrument track region. Here’s how to do it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Locate the + icon on your workspace and create a new track.<\/li>
- Select Software Instrument.<\/li>
- Locate the exact drum kit on your Drummer track and load it onto your workspace. You can find the drum kit in the library.<\/li>
- With the Software Instrument track loaded, select the Drummer region and copy (\u2318CMD + C) the contents.<\/li>
- Select the new Software Instrument track and paste the Drummer track (\u2318CMD + V)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Converting your Drummer track into a MIDI track pulls up the piano roll, where you have more refined controls over each individual beat. You can modify each individual beat, add other instruments (e.g., crash and cymbals), or delete them altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recording with virtual instruments is a rather simple way to get some real-sounding kits for your track, provided that you mix and edit your track well. However, nothing beats real drums. Real drums are slightly harder to work with when recording with GarageBand. There are several settings, equipment setups, and considerations to take into account, but the results are worth it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recording With Real Drums<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Drums have a visceral, primal quality that’s hard to capture with software instruments alone. There’s something about the combination of all those fast, syncopated rhythms, dynamic range, and booming low end that just isn’t easy to reproduce with virtual instruments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
GarageBand comes with a built-in library of instruments and audio samples that you can use to create your own songs. You can also record your own audio or import MIDI files to use GarageBand’s instruments to create a song from scratch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are a few things to keep in mind when recording with real drums in GarageBand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Before You Start Recording<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve come to the conclusion that GarageBand comes with several pre-recorded drum tracks that you can use to practice your technique or as starting points for creating new songs. Although these features are great for someone without real gear or professional recording space, they’re still far off from the real thing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want to record your own drums with GarageBand, you’ll need to connect an external mic (or multiple external mics) or some other recording device to your Mac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next, you’ll need to set up your gear. You definitely don’t need a professional kit to get a great sound, but having a few key pieces can help you achieve a better sound than if you were to record with sub-par gear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Find a Good Place for You Recording<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You want your recording space to be as quiet as possible. You don’t want there to be any outside noises or sounds that can be heard in the recording. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turn off the fans or other appliances running in the background. Close the windows if it’s a noisy outside environment. If you have a garage or basement, that’s a good place to set up your recording studios. If you have a friend with a quiet recording space, that’s also a good option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Set Up Your Mics Around the Drums<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There are many mic positions you can use to record your drums. It all depends on the kind of sound you’re going for and what kind of drums you’re recording. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are a few mic positions you can try out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n