Can I sync my MIDI Drum Machine to GarageBand's metronome?

Do you want to record the sound of your drum machine, or do you want to use it to trigger GB's sounds?

For the latter - set GB's tempo to the same as the drum machine, create a software instrument track, pick a drum set from the internal instruments, hit record and play your loop from the drum machine. Afterwards, shift the recorded region back and forth until it coincides with GB's bars, cut it so that it fits an integer number of bars, and select "Add to Loop Library ..." from the menu.

Yes, you can move the region to your liking. Make sure you have both machines set to the same tempo! And yes, with editing I meant note-by-note editing like with midi. GB has limited audio editing capabilities, like cutting and pasting, for more sophisticated stuff you should use an audio editor.

Hi Christoph,

I have something similar going on here. I have an old Roland R-8 that I would like to plug into Garage Band and not only record what I did 8 years ago but tweak it using MIDI. I thought this would also be a great way to import some of the sounds from the unit. I saw a variety of products to carry the MIDI signal to USB, Roland UM-1EX, MOTU Micro Lite, Yamaha UX16 and M-Audio Uno.

If this won't work in Garageband, will it work with Apple Logic Studio? I really want to import that music and sounds. Thanks for any help. I've been out of this for a longtime and have been getting create again :^).

+"All that won't work in GB, since GB doesn't send any midi out. To record your drum machine's sound, you'll have to use the audio in, and you won't be able to edit it afterwards."+

Dang, this was a question of mine as well. I have a device I want to have GB control via MIDI to record loops into GB with. But it sounds like that won't work. :/

I guess it's possible to create the MIDI tracks in GB using the drum machine/keyboard, then find another program that will output the MIDI back to the device and record into the Mac?

Message was edited by: Robn Kester

I can officially confirm this works with MidiO and my MicroKORG synth.

Here's a shot of it in action, I can't figure out how to inline an img here:
http://img.skitch.com/20080304-b856hx28fskk9px1pw1psmcfw2.jpg

I just did a quick test run and once I got it configured, it worked like a champ.

Message was edited by: Robn Kester

All that won't work in GB, since GB doesn't send any midi out. To record your drum machine's sound, you'll have to use the audio in, and you won't be able to edit it afterwards.

Thanks, keep rocking!

perhaps MIDIO will work?

http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/GBFAQ.html#getmidio

I just looked it up and it does sound like it might be just the right thing. I'll have to see if it works with my microKORG and report back with the results. 🙂

Tnx

good luck. let us know what you find, i've yet to hear from anyone on Real World experience

Will do. I am hoping this is the fix to the problem. I am really surprised with all the fixes and new stuff in GB '08 that they didn't include MIDI out.