Mapping a loop in GarageBand to a key or pad on MIDI keyboard.

Question

Mapping a loop in GarageBand to a key or pad on MIDI keyboard.

I am using GarageBand 11 on a Mac Mini (2012) with OS X Mavericks installed. I would like to map a loop in a GarageBand project to a key or pad on one of my MIDI keyboard controllers. How do I do this? I have never really used GarageBand befor, so the lack of documentation on this issue is quite frustrating. Any ideas?

Mac mini, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Jul 20, 2015 9:07 AM

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Answer 1

léonie

Level 10

200,525 points

Jul 20, 2015 9:19 AM in response to globetrotterdk

Use a track with one of the sound effect instruments, for example "Nature Sounds".
Open the Musical Typing Window. Switch it to a register, where the keys are not yet bund to sound effects.
Hold down the command key and drag your loop or sample to one of the keys of the Musical typing keyboard. The key will now play this sample.

See this Help page for more detailed instructions: http://help.apple.com/garageband/index.html#gbnda199f15a

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Answer 2

Jul 20, 2015 11:38 AM in response to léonie

I don't seem to have "Nature Sounds" or "Foley". How do I switch the musical Typing Window to a register where the keys aren't bound? I can't find any loops that will drag in over the MTW. I have looked at the help page, but I still haven't found anything that I haven't done to get this to work :-(

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Answer 3

léonie

Level 10

200,525 points

Jul 20, 2015 2:17 PM in response to globetrotterdk

Are you sure you are having GarageBand '11 and not the newer GarageBand 10.0? In the new GarageBand 10 the SoundEffect Instruments are no longer available.

Foley is just one of the loops from the iLIfe Sound Effects I used as a sample to drag to a key.

The Nature Sounds should be here:

Create a Software Instrument track.
In the Inspector click Sound Effects.
Klick the key combination ⇧⌘K to open the Musical Typing.
Click the mini keyboard at the top of the Musical Typing to switch between registers. You need to find one, where you do not see the audio wave icon on the keys to indicate that already a sound effect has been assigned to the key.

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Answer 4

Jul 21, 2015 9:30 AM in response to léonie

I checked, and I have GarageBand 10.0.3. I am confused. Is that newer than GarageBand 11, as your post states?

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Answer 5

léonie

Level 10

200,525 points

Jul 21, 2015 10:19 AM in response to globetrotterdk

Apple's version names are confusing. 😁

GarageBand '11 is named '11, because it is part of iLife '11. But the newest GarageBand '11 version is actually GarageBand version 6.0.5, and that is older then the current GarageBand 10.0.3.

You are having the newest version. But the SoundEffect Instruments are no longer part of this new version. I don't know of any way how you could play sound samples like you could in the older version. It is one reason why I am keeping GarageBand '11 installed in addition to Logic and GarageBand 10.0.

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