Exporting to ProTools?

Question

Level 1

4 points

Exporting to ProTools?

Greetings!

Here's the rundown - I'm in the middle of a recording project, and in the interest of saving time and money I'm wondering if it's possible to record some music in Garage Band, and then export it to ProTools LE at the recording studio. In particular, we have some digital piano tracks that will be recorded to the click track used for the other instruments in the studio. Can I take an output from our PA (or direct from the piano) and record it into Garage Band?

My understanding is that I need to export it to iTunes, burn a CD, and then record the CD into ProTools and hope we can get the tracks to sync up.

Is this possible? Thanks for the input!

Chris

iMac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.2)

Posted on Nov 26, 2005 7:01 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 26, 2005 9:56 PM in response to CMarq

GarageBand only records 16-bit 44.1KHz stereo or mono audio tracks within a GarageBand project.

It only mixes down to 16-bit 44.1KHz stereo audio AIFF files.

GarageBand can only use its own internal clock for click track timing.

The stereo grand piano multisample that comes stock with GarageBand 2 is about 128MB in size and is excellent. The Steinway grand piano included with the GarageBand Symphonic Jam Pack (an add-on product) sounds even better.

So you can record your digital piano as an audio track, or you can use your digital piano only as a MIDI controller triggering the excellent digital piano multisample instruments already inside GarageBand, and then output an AIFF file.

If you can deal with this, there should be no problems.

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Answer 2

Nov 27, 2005 3:03 AM in response to Wheat Williams

Let me add to this:

If you want to record your piano as midi data, you'll have to keep in mind that you won't be able to get midi out of GB. You'll have to use Logic Express to turn the stuff into a midi file that ProTools can read.

If you want to record the audio of your piano, you're fine - you can use the "Export to iTunes" function to get the audio out, or locate the plain audio files in the Finder. It would be good if you could agree on a tempo before you record, that makes it a lot easier to sync the recordings afterwards. Also, it is probably wise to record a "dry" track in GB, without effects, and add effects later. Two reverbs on top of each other generally don't sound good.

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Answer 3

CMarq Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 27, 2005 11:47 AM in response to CMarq

Exactly, Christoph.

I'm looking to record the audio part, not just MIDI data. Before we even did any recording in the studio, we recorded a MIDI click track into ProTools that I had previously programmed. Drums, bass, some guitars and vocals were added on top of that click. In the interest of time (and money) I input the original click track into the digital piano and recorded some more keyboard parts onto the keyboard itself. Because a MIDI file won't give the exact same sounds I'd planned, we had hoped to move the keyboard into the studio and lay the prerecorded tracks into ProTools. My goal now is to use GarageBand as a "delivery system" - to record those parts and take them to the studio on CD rather than moving the whole piano. Since everything is recorded to the original click track, this should work, right? I'd think it would be just a matter of lining things up.

Next I need suggestions for hooking the piano up to the iBook - can we go direct from the piano into the computer, or is it better to go through a mixer and take a signal from there?

If this works, I may actually do the same with some other parts, including (electric) guitar and percussion. Feel free to share any other tips for these, as well. Thanks!

Chris

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Answer 4

Nov 27, 2005 11:57 AM in response to CMarq

If you are only needing a single track to take to Pro Tools, perhaps an alternative would be Audacity, so you can keep it at 24 bit or even 32 bit?

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Answer 5

CMarq Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 27, 2005 12:06 PM in response to Scott Laughlin-Richard

Single track, yes. Or at least one at a time - I still want independent control of each instrument once they're in ProTools.

Haven't heard of Audacity, but I'll check it out. The nice thing about GB is that it's free 🙂

Chris

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Answer 6

Nov 27, 2005 12:21 PM in response to CMarq

Audacity is a free, open-source program which is also available for Windows.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

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Answer 7

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Nov 27, 2005 1:08 PM in response to CMarq

Next I need suggestions for hooking the piano up to
the iBook - can we go direct from the piano into the
computer, or is it better to go through a mixer and
take a signal from there?

Neither, the iBook has no audio in, you need an interface of some kind:

http://www.thehangtime.com/gb/gbfaq2.html#interfaces

--HangTime [Will Compute for Food] B-)>

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Answer 8

Kurt Weber

Level 6

13,969 points

Nov 27, 2005 4:03 PM in response to CMarq

I'm looking to record the audio part, not just MIDI data. Before we even did any recording in the studio, we recorded a MIDI click track into ProTools that I had previously programmed. Drums, bass, some guitars and vocals were added on top of that click.

If your Protools session is 16bit you can trade files back and forth since Protools can import and export aiff files.

1. Export the Drum etc. mix from ProTools.
2. Burn the export on a CD.
3. Drag the exported file into Garageband and record the piano on top of it.
4. Solo the piano part and export the file to iTunes.
5. Burn the piano part on CD.
6. Import the piano part into the ProTools session.

Kurt

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Answer 9

CMarq Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 27, 2005 4:16 PM in response to HangTime

Okay, forget the iBook. I also have an iMac G5 that I'll probably use instead, just for the processing power. If I'm running through a mixer, I should be able to run a line out right into the iMac's line in, correct? Or do I still need an interface?

BTW, thanks to all who suggested Audacity - I've checked it out and between that and GarageBand I should be able to get something useful.

Finally, are there things I need to know from my studio guy as far as compatibility, bit rate, etc so as to ensure a smooth recording?

This should be a lot of fun...

Chris

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Answer 10

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Nov 27, 2005 4:22 PM in response to CMarq

If I'm running through a mixer, I should be
able to run a line out right into the iMac's line in,
correct?

Correct

Finally, are there things I need to know from my
studio guy as far as compatibility, bit rate, etc so
as to ensure a smooth recording?

Sample rate and bit-depth are important. GB only supports a 44.1K sample rate and a bit depth of 16, both for importing as well as exporting.

This should be a lot of fun...

Absolutely! Enjoy --Hang B-)>

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Answer 11

Nov 27, 2005 5:38 PM in response to CMarq

I gave you all the compatibility and bit rate info in my previous post.

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Answer 12

Nov 27, 2005 5:40 PM in response to HangTime

Surely somebody you are working with has a USB or FireWire audio interface which you can use with your iBook.

You can't do any serious recording without one.

Check out HangTime's FAQ or go to a store like http://musiciansfriend.com and price out some audio interfaces.

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Answer 13

CMarq Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 28, 2005 6:59 PM in response to CMarq

Thanks to all for the help.

I also checked out David Pogue's Missing Manual, and between him and all of you I'm feeling a lot more comfortable with this.

Thanks again!

Chris

Mac OS X (10.4.2)

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Answer 14

Nov 28, 2005 7:17 PM in response to CMarq

David Pogue is my idol.

He's not only the lead tech writer for the New York Times.

He started out as a Broadway show arranger and pit orchestra conductor.

He was also the lead programmer and architect for the first version of Finale, the first successful program for typesetting sheet music on computer, circa 1987.

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