How to import custom presets in Garageband?

Question

Level 1

12 points

How to import custom presets in Garageband?

Hi,

I have Mac Mavericks and have both the old and new versions of Garageband (6.0.5 and 10.0.2)

As a part of a music band, my friend has sent me his custom made presets (vocal effects) to me so I can use the same preset for my vocals and get the same effects added.

This file is in ".band" format and I have no clue how to install this custom made preset file in my GB and get it listed under my "effects" or what do you call it as a new intstrument.

Please help. 😟 I am trying to install this to my 6 version of GB.

Thanks in advance!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Nov 20, 2014 11:47 AM

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Answer 1

mdee

Level 2

269 points

Nov 20, 2014 12:18 PM in response to msahmed

The current version of Garageband is version 10.0.3. The .band extension is a Garageband project file extension. Did you try opening it? I do not think you can save and export Garageband Channel Strip settings. However, if he had sent you a Channel Strip Preset for say Logic Pro X (as an example) it would have a .cst extension. You can open GB projects inside LPX but not the other way around. I think he created a Custom setting inside a GB Project and simply sent you that file.

PS: GB Projects are not backwards compatible.

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Answer 2

msahmed Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 20, 2014 10:15 PM in response to mdee

Hi Mdee,

Thanks for your reply.

I tried opening the .band file using "open with.." option for both of my Gatageband versions and it throws me an error that the file couldnt be open.

I did not understand you fully. However, is there a way where he can share his custom presets with me so i can get similar effects on my vocals without any trouble please? Why is the .band file not opening as by what i see all of the projects in GB are saved in .band format only?

Yes you are correct. He kept his custom presets, made a .band file of it and sent it to me.

Thanks for your help.

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Answer 3

léonie

Level 10

200,735 points

Nov 20, 2014 11:04 PM in response to msahmed

Did your friend send you GarageBand projects created in GarageBand '11, version 6.0.5 or GarageBand 10.0? You need to use the same version to open the project.

If your friend send you a GarageBand '11, version 6.0.5 project, he should save the project as an archive in the "save as" dialogue, so all loops are included, if his system will let him enable that flag.
Ask him to send the the custom instruments as well, separately. All his custom instrument settings are installed in the hidden user library:
~/Library/Application Support/GarageBand/Instrument Library/Track Settings/
There he will find the saved custom presets for GarageBand '11 instruments. Install them in the same location.
For GarageBand 10.0 instruments just open the project in the same GarageBand 10 version.

To open the hidden User Library:

Quit GarageBand.
Open your Home folder, then the Library folder (the Library folder may still be hidden, as is the default. Use the Finder's "Go" menu. Click "Go", then hold down the options key, until you are seeing "Library" in the drop down menu appear and click it)
In the Finder window that will appear, open the "Application Support" folder, then "GarageBand", then "Track Settings".

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Answer 4

msahmed Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 20, 2014 11:25 PM in response to léonie

Hey Leonie,

Thanks for you reply.

I just messaged him with that question. Lets see what is his version of GB.

If his GB version is 6, I shall ask him the process you explained. However, I tried the same process in my 6.0.5 to see if the 'archieve project' option is enabled but it is grayed out for me. 😟 Let's see if it comes up for him.

Please please follow this thread and help me out 🙂 Will keep you updated in sometime.

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Answer 5

msahmed Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 22, 2014 9:44 AM in response to léonie

Hi Leonie,

His version of GB is 6.0.5 😀

I tried opening it with my 6.0.5 but it didnt open. i also tried right-clicking to check if It shows "show package contents" option but that was unavailable as well.

Then I read your reply here. I shall ask him to select the "archieve" option while saving the project.

Please check the screenshot below, is it what you referring to?

Okay. About step 2: Copying his custom intruments settings from "track settings" folder: So whatever the user made custom presets are set, are saved in this folder? He just have to send that one file to me, along with the project, is it? (like some vocal-effects.pst right?)

I was also thinking is there any other way if this fails just as a back up. I was also thinking to simply ask him to send me the preset adjusted levels of each effect he is adding to his vocals (if he is using the ones provided by GB alone and not any third party plugins) - that would work right?

Thanks a lot for you help, awaiitng your reply 🙂

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Answer 6

léonie

Level 10

200,735 points

Nov 22, 2014 10:03 AM in response to msahmed

Please check the screenshot below, is it what you referring to?

Yes, that is the option I meant. It will add non-standard items to the project, to make it easier, to migrate a project to other computer.

So whatever the user made custom presets are set, are saved in this folder? He just have to send that one file to me, along with the project, is it? (like some vocal-effects.pst right?)

This folder may contain several files, one for each instrument. But only, if he saved his custom settings as an instrument. If you add effects to an instrument, you can save it with a new name and use it in new projects. So, if he used a saved instrument, he should send that file along with the project.

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