some notes in GarageBand are louder than others

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Level 1

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some notes in GarageBand are louder than others

For example, I have a track with electric piano. Within this single track, some notes on the piano will be significantly louder or softer than others. I am well aware that two notes can have different volumes if one note is a lot higher or lower than the other, but my problem happens even with notes that are only a half step apart. Here are the things I've tried in my attempt to solve the problem:

made sure the change in volume is not caused by track automation.
made sure the change in volume is not caused by the midi draw area.
made a new track from scratch. Copied all notes in original track and pasted them into the new track.
ran antivirus software. (Found some viruses and killed them all.)
rebooted GarageBand and rebooted laptop.
uninstalled and then reinstalled GarageBand.

Help!!!! I've wrestled with this for days to no avail!

Thanks to everyone who reads this!

MacBook Pro 13”, macOS 10.15

Posted on May 10, 2020 10:46 PM

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Answer 1

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WallyFlint Author

Level 1

10 points

May 20, 2020 3:12 PM in response to WallyFlint

It took me forever but I finally solved this problem! I created the project in GarageBand. The problem was happening in GarageBand. But then I installed the 90 trial Logic Pro X. Somehow I discovered that Logic provides 2 forms of automation - one is track automation and the other is region automation. When I switched it over to region automation I discovered a bunch of automation that was causing the volume slider to move. Once I deleted the region automation the problem was fixed.

I'm still a little mystified though because as far as I know GarageBand offers only track automation and not region automation. Yet it is clear that the region automation originated in GarageBand. So now I am wondering if this has something to do with the "move track automation with regions" option in the "mix" menu. If so then they sure did a poor job of creating the "help" documentation of this issue!

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

200,501 points

May 11, 2020 2:37 AM in response to WallyFlint

WallyFlint wrote:

Just made a discovery. If I solo the track in question, or if I don't solo the track but mute every other track, then the volume is consistent.

Then the problem may be caused by the mixing. Have you also checked the volume automation on the Master Track? There may have been an automatic fade out added to the Master track (Have a look at the "Mix" menu.

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Answer 3

léonie

Level 10

200,501 points

May 10, 2020 11:31 PM in response to WallyFlint

Do you enter the notes using a keyboard or manually in the track editor?

Is the midi draw area empty? Have you checked all curves in the Midi Draw area, not only the volume?

The notes may sound louder, if the velocity is high. A higher velocity may increase loudness and attack.

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Answer 4

léonie

Level 10

200,501 points

May 11, 2020 1:38 AM in response to WallyFlint

It should be on, if you are using the controls to change the expression or articulation of the virtual instruments. If the controls are enabled, you can record the attack of a midi keyboard and other expressions and articulations as you play. Without recording the attack directly as you are playing, the recording will sound a bit monotonous. if you enter your notes manually, you can use the controller to fake a varying attack.

http://garageband.skydocu.com/en/edit-regions/piano-roll-editor/edit-controller-information/

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Answer 5

WallyFlint Author

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May 11, 2020 3:46 PM in response to WallyFlint

Just installed Logic Pro X, opened the GarageBand file in Logic, and it still sounded exactly the same as it did in GarageBand! I guess this means that whatever is wrong is in the file rather than a bug in the DAW software. Would any of you agree with this conclusion?

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Answer 6

WallyFlint Author

Level 1

10 points

May 11, 2020 3:44 PM in response to léonie

Hello again leoni. Just installed Logic Pro X, opened the file in question in Logic, and it sounded exactly the same as it did in GarageBand! I guess this means that whatever is wrong is in the file rather than a bug in the DAW software. Would you agree with this conclusion?

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Answer 7

WallyFlint Author

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May 11, 2020 12:38 AM in response to léonie

Should the controller button in the midi draw area be on or off? What is the function of that button?

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Answer 8

WallyFlint Author

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May 11, 2020 1:41 AM in response to léonie

In any case, I tried it both ways but it didn't solve the problem of some notes on the track being louder or softer than others.

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Answer 9

WallyFlint Author

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May 11, 2020 10:01 AM in response to léonie

Thanks so much for help leoni. I really appreciate your time and your expertise.

As for the Master Track, it is completely empty, and there is no automation in it.

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Answer 10

WallyFlint Author

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May 11, 2020 12:08 AM in response to léonie

Entered notes manually in the track editor.

The midi draw area is empty except for the displaying of the notes in the track. Just checked all other midi draw area curves besides volume and found nothing.

All notes have velocity = 80.

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Answer 11

WallyFlint Author

Level 1

10 points

May 11, 2020 12:19 AM in response to léonie

Just made a discovery. If I solo the track in question, or if I don't solo the track but mute every other track, then the volume is consistent.

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some notes in GarageBand are louder than others

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