My guitar tutor has asked me to not include effects when recording tracks, but to add them as clean, and then add effects on a bus. I wasn't entirely sure what he meant, so when I got home I couldn't find anywhere to do this.
Can anyone advise?
Regarding GarageBand, there is nothing to worry about, because it always records the original "clean" signal as it is without adding any effects. Any effects that you add with plugin in GarageBand, even if you hear them while recording, are added to the "playback" signal", you "monitor" with effects without actually recording them. That's why you can change the sound in any way at any time after the recording.
However, if you record a processed signal (adding physical real stomp boxes to your guitar sound and record that signal, then of course, that signal will be recorded that way and you cannot "make it clean again").
Bus
What your teacher is referring to is a technic in audio production, where you also send (route) a portion of the signal on a Track to another Track (called an Aux Track) via a so-called "Bus", add an effect on that Aux Track (i.e. reverb, delay, etc.) and mix both Tracks signals together depending on how much original signal and how much effect signal you want.
GarageBand doesn't have busses (at least not on the outside). Any effect you want to add is done by adding Plugins directly on the Track, no need for busses. (Master Effects are an exception).
Hope that helps
Edgar Rothermich - LogicProGEM.com
(Author of the "Graphically Enhanced Manuals")
http://DingDingMusic.com/Manuals/
'I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.'
Ah I see. Ok cool, so I've just gone back into my project and reverted the guitar to Clean Guitar and Amazing Tweed and that seems to be the clean signal.
I think he was saying that I could add a track with the effects on, but he may well be mixing up with his more pro tools he uses.
Why is master effects an exception?
Careful!
only because a Patch is called Clean Guitar, doesn't mean that it delivers the clean, unprocessed sound that you recorded.
You will only hear the clean sound when you turn all Plugins and both Master Effect Sends off in the Smart Controls Inspector for that specific Track.
To turn a Plugin off, move the mouse pointer over the left side of a Plugin and the on/off button will appear. click on it to toggle the Plugin on/off
Pro Tools
Even if your teacher uses Pro Tools or any other DAW, they all work the same that they record the (dry) signal coming from the audio interface.
Master Effects
The reason why Master Effects are different in GarageBand is that these actually represent two Busses. Every Track has these two sliders in the Smart Controls Inspector that let you adjust the amount of the signal on a Track to send it (route) to those busses (one bus is called Reverb and the other bus is called Echo).
In the Smart Controls Window, click on the Master Button (next to the I-Button) and select the "Effects" Button and you will see an actual "Auxiliary Track". Here you adjust the actual effect for Echo and Reverb for all the signals that are routed to those Master Effects (which are mixed to your main output).
It might all a bit confusing when you are new to audio production, but it is not that difficult once you wrap your head around it. If you need a little help, I have written a graphically enhanced manual "GarageBand X - How it Works" that explains all that in very detail with lots of illustrations and additional background information about audio production.
Hope that helps
Edgar Rothermich - LogicProGEM.com
(Author of the "Graphically Enhanced Manuals")
http://DingDingMusic.com/Manuals/
'I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.'
Brilliant, thanks for the clarification.
I'll have a look at the manual you linked to.
Effects Bus
