Apple GarageBand Tutorial: Lesson 3 - Manual (Page 2)

2 Lesson 3: Working with Software Instruments
To play the onscreen music keyboard:
m Click the notes on the keyboard. You can click when the song is playing, when it is stopped, or
when recording.
Clicking a note lower on the key plays the note with a higher velocity (equivalent to pressing the
key harder), and clicking a note higher on the key plays the note with a lower velocity
(equivalent to pressing the key more softly).
To move the keyboard:
m Place the pointer anywhere in the space above the keys and drag.
To resize the keyboard:
m Drag the expansion triangle on the lower-right edge of the keyboard window.
To change the range of notes you can play:
m Click the small triangles to the left or right of the keys. Clicking the triangle to the left lowers the
keys by an octave, and clicking the triangle on the right raises the keys by an octave.
Connecting a Music Keyboard to your Computer
If you play a keyboard instrument, you can connect a MIDI-compatible music keyboard to your
computer.
To connect a music keyboard to record Software Instruments:
• If the keyboard is a USB MIDI keyboard, connect the USB cable to the keyboard and to your
computer.
• If the keyboard is a standard MIDI keyboard, connect the keyboard to a MIDI interface using
standard MIDI cables, and connect the interface to your computer.
Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the keyboard, which may include installing the
correct driver on your computer.
Adding a Software Instrument Track
To record a Software Instrument, you can add a new Software Instrument track or record on an
existing Software Instrument track.
To add a Software Instrument track:
1 Click the Add Track button, or choose Track > New Track.
2 In the New Track dialog, click the Software Instrument tab.
3 Select an instrument category from the Category list, then select the instrument you want to use
from the Instrument list.
Getting Ready to Record
Once you have connected your music keyboard, there are a few 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, or clicking notes on
the onscreen music keyboard. You should hear the Software Instrument as you play.