GarageBand 1.1 Released

joelhayhurst writes "GarageBand 1.1 addresses isolated performance and stability issues, allows per-track Echo settings similar to other effects, supports loop libraries in other disk locations, supports importing unprotected AAC audio files in addition to AIF and MP3 files, and addresses issues with ReWire support, moving GarageBand songs between different computers, Help support, fixing the timing of individual notes (as well as entire regions), and dragging entire tracks in the timeline." I hope it well let me select what MIDI channel to listen on, too. Here's hoping ...

Re:This isn't freshmeat

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, since GarageBand is a major Apple app, it would make sense that it would show up on the Slashdot Apple section, just like major updates to iTunes and iMovie.

--The Mad Crasher [madcrasher.com]

Re:This isn't freshmeat

[chasingporsches]

1. GarageBand isn't open source, and I have rarely seen Apple products on Freshmeat. 2. You must be a new /.er to not realize that updates to Apple applications make the Apple section quite frequently, and yes, we do care about the updates.

Re:This isn't freshmeat

[FattMattP]

I see your point, but...

GarageBand isn't open source

A project doesn't have to be open source to be listed on Freshmeat. There's plenty of proprietary software listed there [freshmeat.net].

I have rarely seen Apple products on Freshmeat.

iSync [freshmeat.net], iCal [freshmeat.net], Safari [freshmeat.net], iTunes [freshmeat.net], all listed on Freshmeat. Maybe you'd be interested in contributing an entry there for GarageBand?

Re:This isn't freshmeat

[transient]

This complaint comes up every time an update is noted on Slashdot, and every time it gets modded down. Seriously folks, if you don't want to read this stuff, then just don't read it. It should be obvious from your -1 Troll score, and the -1 scores of all complainants before you, that the majority of Slashdot users want to see these updates on here.

GarageBand Update

[andreMA]

About 38MB with no reboot required *yawns*

Uneventful, but I've not played with it yet.

Re:GarageBand Update

[batobin]

Do you have GarageBand installed? It'll only show on Auto Update if it's in the Applications folder.

Re:GarageBand Update - requirement

[Lord Satri]

You're right! Thanks. Auto Update only shows if the app is *directly* in the application folder. I guess this applies to other Apple apps.

Hope this behavior will change in the next OS versions. This is anoying if you want the regroup keynote files (the app and additionnal templates) or Garageband files (the app and demo songs) in the same folder, etc.

Re:GarageBand Update - requirement

[Refrag]

This is one of the most annoying things about Mac OS X. The really annoying part is when an OS update includes updates to some applications and rather than overwriting the copy that one has reorganized into a subfolder (perhaps /Applications/Accessories/) it drops a new copy into /Applications/ and leaves the other copy in its location. Some updates work properly as they should, but it seems that Apple consistently reverts to always updating in the /Applications/ folder only. I'm guessing the logic must go

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:GarageBand Update - requirement

[Refrag]

I better thing for these few users to do is to rename the applications or back them up.

What's New in GarageBand 1.1

[funfun42]

* ReWire support

You can use GarageBand with applications supporting ReWire functionality. You can play the ReWire application in a GarageBand song, and export the combined mix to iTunes.

* Rearrange tracks

You can move tracks up or down to rearrange the order of tracks in a song.

* Duplicate tracks

You can duplicate a track, which creates a new, empty track with the same instrument, effects, and input settings.

* Rename tracks in the track header

You can rename a track by clicking its name in the track header and typing a new name.

* Index loops in multiple locations

You can add loops stored in different locations, including external hard disks or disk partitions, to the loop library. GarageBand asks if you want to copy the file to the loop library, or index it in its current location Loops on removable media, such as CDs or DVDs, are automatically copied and indexed.

* Convert Software Instrument loops to Real Instrument loops in the timeline

You can convert a Software Instrument loop to a Real Instrument loop when you drag it to the timeline, allowing you to use more loops and effects in your song.

* Fix the timing of individual Software Instrument notes in the track editor

When you select notes in the track editor, you can click the Fix Timing button to fix the timing of the selected notes or the entire selected region.

* Add AAC audio files to a song

You can add AAC format audio files (except protected AAC files) to a song by dragging them into the timeline. As with MP3 files, AAC files are converted to AIFF file for use within your song.

* New "Track Echo" instrument effect

A new "Track Echo" instrument effect is now available in the Effect menu of the Track Info window. Unlike the default instrument echo, which applies the same echo settings to the entire song, the "Track Echo" effect behaves like other track effects, so different echo settings can be used on different instruments.

* Save a song as an archive

You can save a song as an archive, so that any loops the song uses are saved with the song, improving portability of GarageBand songs between computers.

* Close the song without quitting GarageBand

You can now close the open song without quitting GarageBand.

iSight as a mic

[joelhayhurst]

I can't get my iSight to work with GarageBand and I see in a quick Google that others can't, either. This is a concern because the built-in mic on my laptop has lots of noise, while it is my understanding that my iSight has a superior mic with some noise-cancelling technology. Currently, it lists a grayed out option in the Audio Input selection which says "iSight (not 44.1)". I don't particularly know what this means or if I can get around it somehow to use the iSight as a mic. For me, the grayed out option was not there previously. Particularly curious is that on this site [tnir.org] the user posts a screenshot of GarageBand with the grayed out option, but his post is dated in January, well before this version came out.

The major question is, can I somehow get my iSight to work as audio input? And the second question is, why did my previous version of GarageBand not have the grayed out option, but the user on that site's GarageBand did?

Re:iSight as a mic

[GlassHeart]

it lists a grayed out option in the Audio Input selection which says "iSight (not 44.1)"

GarageBand requires an audio input source to support 44.1 KHz samples. I have an obscure TV tuner card whose audio input is similarly unsupported.

Re:iSight as a mic

[SiMac]

Import it into another application (try Sound Studio), then save it as a 44.1 KHz AIFF (you might have to resample it first), and all will be fine.

Multiple tempos/time sigs in a song?

[CharAznable]

I've been playing with GarageBand for a couple of days, and I can't find an obvious way for a song to have multiple tempos or time signatures, making it very limited for doing progressive rock. And I wish I had a dedicated midi drum editor. I know, that's probably too much to ask from an app that came free with my Powerbook..

Re:Multiple tempos/time sigs in a song?

[gryphokk]

I wish I had a dedicated midi drum editor.

Ask and ye shall receive! [bitshiftaudio.com]

Sorry can't help with the time sig thing. I'm in the same boat.

Course, if you're willing to forget about sectional editing, just forget about bar lines, turn off the metronome and just jam! How many time signatures did the original TASCAM 4-track cassette portastudio support?*

*Trick question: None (or all ;-)

Re:Multiple tempos/time sigs in a song?

[CharAznable]

Why, thank you!! That takes care of my problem, at least partially... So as long as I stick with one tempo and time sig within a song (i.e. punk rock) I'll be fine.

Re:Multiple tempos/time sigs in a song?

[gryphokk]

So as long as I stick with one tempo and time sig within a song (i.e. punk rock) I'll be fine.

Not sure if you missed my point, or if you got it and just didn't like it.

Just because you software recorder has features like loops or step editing, doesn't mean you're required to use them. If you're capable of playing a song straight through (which I'm sure you can, if you're building homemade prog), then you are not limited by the limitations of the software.

Just turn off the metromone, play your mixed time

Re:Multiple tempos/time sigs in a song?

[CharAznable]

Yeah, I got your point. I could just do it that way, but I'm afraid I rely too much on programmed drums (I'm a guitarist). Unfortunately, I don't have a drummer, or an apartment where I can bang on a drumset, so I depend heavily on flexible software drums. I've been using Magix Music Studio on Winblows, which is great, flexible and powerful, except that the drum samples sound like crap. But you can do 7/8 polyrhythms just fine...
Anyway, I just got a Powerbook, and I was wondering whether I could make do wi

Re:Multiple tempos/time sigs in a song?

[gryphokk]

Charaz, we totally got to get together.

I'm a frustrated Prog drummer, holding myself together with a 50s-60s rock&roll band

sounds like you may need soime drumming done, and I may be just the guy to do it.

We got some old R&R standards up on our website, Stingrays Online [stingraysonline.com]. Give 'em a listen, and see if you hear anything useful in the drummer.

If ya do, follow my address on the site, and tell me what you need in the way of polyrhythms.

ANd, ya GB is totally limited. You very well may need something m

My duet with Jon

[gryphokk]

See my journal [slashdot.org] for further developments on this topic, including an mp3 file of some Garageband self-gratification.

Thank GOD

[Anonymous Coward]

* Close the song without quitting GarageBand

You can now close the open song without quitting GarageBand.