Multi track guitar and itunes

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Level 1

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Multi track guitar and itunes

Maybe there are other ways of doing this.

I sometimes practice guitar while playing along to iTunes. On my iPad, I have Garageband open as a virtual amp and then iTunes playing behind it. It works great.

I had an idea that I could record some of my practice sessions and then review them later. I figured it would be easy to use Garagaband on my MacBook Pro to record two tracks: i) my guitar track and ii) the iTunes playing over the top.

I just don't seem to be finding an obvious way to do this though. I'd rather do it on the MacBook but if it can be done on the iPad I guess that works too. 2015 MBPro with HS (about to upgrade to Mojave) and iPad 2017 with iOS 12. Using iRig to bring the signal into each device.

Posted on Sep 25, 2018 6:34 PM

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Answer 1

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Sep 26, 2018 1:13 PM in response to Howard2k

Howard2k wrote:

. I figured it would be easy to use Garagaband on my MacBook Pro to record two tracks: i) my guitar track and ii) the iTunes playing over the top.

if you have an audio file (.mp3, .WAV, .AIFF, .AAC...) that doesn't have any DRM, then simply drop the file into the GB timeline and a track will be created for it. then create a new track for your guitar and you're all set.

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Answer 2

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Sep 26, 2018 1:13 PM in response to Howard2k

you can't record what's playing on your Mac, and your guitar to two separate tracks using just GB and iTunes.

the best you could do is use a mic and record what's playing from your speakers, and your guitar to a single track

you might be able to use third party software like SoundFlower or WireTap pro to route the sound directly from iTunes to GB, but that seems like a lot more effort than dragging a song from iTunes to GB

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Answer 3

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Oct 1, 2018 12:15 PM in response to Howard2k

Howard2k wrote:

I have it setup in Garageband and it will record my guitar. I can also hear my iTunes feed being passed through the Focusrite (I have headphones plugged in), but Garageband doesn't see the iTunes audio.

Any idea if I'm missing something obvious?

no you're not missing anything, you didn't explain what you intended to do with the interface in your earlier post... we're back to "you can't do that."

the Solo doesn't send its output back through its input or you'd have an infinite loop (feedback); both the guitar and iTunes audio would be sent to the recording track, which would go out to the interface, and back to the track, etc

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Answer 4

Howard2k Author

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Sep 26, 2018 1:14 PM in response to HangTime

Thanks. I found that Sunflower has been assimilated by the folks that now make something called Loopback. I'll give that a shot. Thanks for the tips!

I know it seems crazy, but I'm sure that once I've got the system set up and working, assuming Sunflower or Loopback will do the trick, it'll be far easier than using messing around and dropping tracks etc.

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Answer 5

Howard2k Author

Level 1

15 points

Sep 26, 2018 12:50 PM in response to HangTime

Thanks for the suggestion. I am aware of that capability, it's just not "loose" enough. I'm ok taking a few seconds to switch between tracks, play/pause etc. I just don't want to be messing around dumping files into GB etc., I want to be playing guitar.

I really just want to start recording, then either mark specific times of interest to re-review where I feel like I went all Jimi Hendrix, or I can just dump the recording at the end of the session if I sound too much like myself. I'd end up with a 90 minute audio session with two streams, one being the iTunes audio and one being the guitar.

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Answer 6

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Sep 29, 2018 8:49 AM in response to Howard2k

Howard2k wrote:

I'm going to pickup a Focusrite Scarlett Solo [...] Unless that's incredibly poor, that'll be the answer.

one of the interfaces we use is the 2i2, it provides nice clean input, the Solo should be no different

Howard2k wrote:

Thanks again for the assistance.

you're welcome, good luck, and let us know how the Solo works out for you.

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Answer 7

Howard2k Author

Level 1

15 points

Oct 1, 2018 10:53 AM in response to HangTime

Swing and miss so far.

The Focusrite seems to be working, I have it setup in Garageband and it will record my guitar. I can also hear my iTunes feed being passed through the Focusrite (I have headphones plugged in), but Garageband doesn't see the iTunes audio. Only the guitar.

Any idea if I'm missing something obvious?

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Answer 8

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Sep 26, 2018 1:17 PM in response to Howard2k

hope it works for you, good luck

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Answer 9

Howard2k Author

Level 1

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Oct 1, 2018 12:37 PM in response to HangTime

Back it goes I suppose, and I'll do it through software.

Thanks for your assistance.

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Answer 10

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Oct 1, 2018 12:39 PM in response to Howard2k

you're welcome.

and again, good luck with the software solution

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Answer 11

Howard2k Author

Level 1

15 points

Sep 29, 2018 8:41 AM in response to HangTime

I can confirm I got it working with Loopback from Rogue Amoeba. But at US$99 for a piece of software that's pretty steep. I'm going to pickup a Focusrite Scarlett Solo, which is a little more expensive but at least it's a portable piece of equipment. Unless that's incredibly poor, that'll be the answer. But if it doesn't work then I'll fork out for the Loopback software as my second choice. I like a software solution for simplicity, but then there are stability risks, update risks etc.

All the same, I'm happy to say it worked exactly how I wanted: routed iTunes to a track in GarageBand and I had my guitar into a second track, and then I could record and independently manipulate the tracks.

Thanks again for the assistance.

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Multi track guitar and itunes

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