MIDI to Garage Band Purpose: Procedure:

MIDI to Garage Band Purpose: To import a MIDI file of the student’s choice, change the track timbre, add sound effects and other tasteful accompaniment and create a unique arrangement of the same tune. This will allow the student to show creativity in music arranging and importance, purpose, and understanding of MIDI Procedure: Search the internet for a MIDI file of a favorite tune. There are no restrictions on this as all MIDI files are instrumental in nature. Import said file to your Desktop.  Please consult Mr. K. on this as some “free” MIDI sites will try and put spyware or even malware on your computer while downloading the MIDI.  If for some reason any student who cannot access the internet on the Macbooks then will have permission to use the computers in the library to search for the necessary file. When you have found it come back and tell Mr. K. the link and he’ll download it for you.  Students may also bring them from home via a flash drive and import them that way thru FINDER.  Try and keep your project to around 3 minutes. You may not have control of this until the MIDI file is imported. However, if the project appears a bit long, and you have your heart set on a certain MIDI file, see Mr. K. as we can work to shorten it up a bit. Open a new Garage Band Project and label it “MIDI to Garage Band – Your Name” and save it to the Desktop. If your version asks for a specific type, choose LOOPS otherwise CREATE NEW PROJECT. Import your MIDI file into Garage Band by dragging and dropping it into the project window. When MIDI files are imported into Garage Band they will create their own tracks and GB will try and approximate the closest sound to the original MIDI file’s configuration. Hints:  Drum tracks tend to want to stay as drum tracks. If you try and change one of those to let’s say a saxophone it will sound very strange. Try it and you will hear what I mean.  Sometimes there are dummy tracks with no data in them. They are frequently very short and have no wave image in them. These will clutter up your project window. Simply delete them (Use COMMAND DELETE) as it will not affect the sound of your project.

Students will alter the timbre of the MIDI file by opening up the instrument pallete (Blue Letter “I”) and choose other sounds for each track.

So as to keep the new composition interesting and fresh, students will need to cut and paste certain portions of the MIDI file into additional tracks. Listen to your MIDI file and become very familiar with it. Choose locations where instrumental changes would sound appropriate. Mark these locations by using the “Slice and Dice” method. Move the cursor to that point and then press COMMAND “T” to mark these locations.

You do not need to do for every phrase but if there is a phrase change but you must demonstrate this at least once in your project. The more times, the more varied your project and the better your grade but sometimes too many times can sound confusing. Trust your musical instincts or see Mr. K. for help in this area.

Add additional tracks (see procedure from previous assignment VOICE MANIPULATION). Choose SOFTWARE INSTRUMENT for the new tracks.

Highlight and drag the sections of the original file into the new tracks. To highlight multiple tracks drag the cursor from outside the tracks you want to move and move it across all of the tracks. You will see them become highlighted as you move the cursor. After moving your tracks make sure they line properly or the original melody may be distorted. You can tell right away as the new section may start before the previous section has completed. Use the cursor to help you keep these sections lined up.

This example is done incorrectly. See how the bottom 2 tracks start before the top 2 tracks finish. That will sound strange.

Choose new instrument timbres from the instrument library on the right for each of the new tracks.

Add drum tracks, additional instrumental tracks, sound effects from the LOOPS library as needed. Remember that the more varied the tracks, the more interesting the piece becomes. Remember the principles of Loops and Layering so as to not make your arrangement sound cluttered. When finished save your work.