YoshiPete wrote:
Hello, My 10 yr. old son enjoys making songs with Garage Band, also plays piano, so we got him the Axiom 25 for Xmas. Unfortunately, we're not too familiar with using MIDI controllers with GarageBand, or in general. We are able to make it play the selected instrument in Garage Band, but that's about it. Is there more functionality? For example, can the Axiom keyboard control the Piano instrument, and the drum pads control another instrument, e.g. a Drum Kit, simultaneously? I looked for any MIDI assignment setup within GarageBand, but couldn't find much. In essence, what is the
proper way to use the Axiom with GarageBand?
The Axiom is a great controller for GB.
GB is really designed for plug-and-play, so I wouldn't look for MIDI flexibility within it. It is either impossible or difficult to tell different parts of the Axiom to play different tracks in GB (and I'm not sure that's all that useful here anyway). Rather, I'd simply create the track in GB you want to play, and then use the Axiom - keys, pads, etc - to play it.
You can, however, have one track (or many tracks) in GB play back while you create additional tracks in GB and then play them with the Axiom.
So, for example, you could play a drum track with the pads or keys on one track. Then, create an additional track (software instrument), and play or record that track over the preexisting drum track.
That way you build up simultaneous tracks of different instruments. Select the track/instrument in GB you want to play, and that's what the Axiom will play.
Another approach that your son might enjoy would be to start with some loops (drag them from the loop browser into the workspace - drag them out to make them longer) and have them chug away while he plays software instrument tracks over them.
