The GarageBand window
The GarageBand window contains various buttons, an area for displaying music files, and an editor area, all arranged in an easy-to-see manner.
The window is also designed to be easy to use, with quick help buttons so that you can quickly find out what you don’t know.
We will now explain how to look at the main window, but since you will learn as you go, it is OK to just take a quick look at it for now.
Let’s take a look.
GarageBand main window
Project creation and playback are done in this main window screen, which you will learn to use as needed as you work with GarageBand.
The main window consists of the following
(1) Control panel
(2) Browser area
(3) Track area
(4) Editor area
(5) Apple Loops browser
(1) Control Panel
The control panel contains a number of buttons for controlling playback, recording, looping, metronome, and GarageBand.
This area allows you to do many different things related to recording.
You can also show or hide individual areas by pressing the buttons on the control bar.
We will now describe the control bar from left to right.
1: Library button
Pressing the “Library” button will allow you to change the instrument’s tone. Each instrument is divided into genres, so be sure to select the tone you prefer.
2: Quick Help button
By pressing the Quick Help button, you can bring the cursor to the location of an item you do not understand, and a quick explanation will appear in the help section.
Links can be found on many items.
3: Smart Control button
The Smart Control button brings up a controller that allows you to quickly change the sound selected in the library.
Each parameter can be changed visually, and small adjustments can be made easily using the smart control.
4: Editor button
The scissors-marked Editor button allows you to edit the Audio Editor, Piano Roll Editor, Score Editor, and Drummer Editor.
5: Play, rewind, fast forward, and back to beginning buttons
If you have ever touched an audio device, you will immediately understand that you can play, rewind, fast-forward, and return to the beginning of a measure.
There is a shortcut key on the keyboard that allows “playback” by pressing the “space key” and “return key” to “go back to the beginning measure.
I think it is more convenient to use this shortcut key.
Incidentally, fast forwarding and rewinding can be used by pressing the “<” and “>” keys.
During project playback, the Move to Top button will change to the Stop button.
→ 
6: Record button
By pressing the record button (REC button), you can record the sound of various instruments. Pressing the REC button again will turn off recording, but playback will continue.
When recording audio, you will be able to include live sounds such as guitars, basses, and vocals in the track.
If you want to record MIDI notes, you can also use a MIDI keyboard or MIDI controller for quick recording.
7: Loop button
Press the Loop button to loop (play the same area over and over) a specified range.
You can drag (drag and go) the edge of the loop range (yellow bar) to stretch or shrink it, allowing you to fine-tune the range you want to play.
You can also hold down the Shift key on the keyboard while selecting to change the range.
8: LCD (Liquid crystal display)
The LCD display allows you to check the current playback position, tempo, and key and beat of the music.
You can also change the LCD (liquid crystal display) display by pressing the down arrow on the far right.
Try changing to an LCD that is easier for you to see.
9: Tuning button
The tuning button is used to tune an instrument such as a guitar or bass.
When the instrument is connected and the strings are plucked, it can be tuned.
When the color changes from orange to green, the tuning is done. When the orange needle in the image approaches 0 (center), the needle and the C key turn green. At that timing, you will know that the tuning is correct.
10: Count button
When recording, you don’t know when to enter. In such cases, press this count button.
By pressing the count button, you can start recording one or two measures before the start of recording, which makes it easier to set the timing.
By placing the cursor on this count button and “right-clicking,” you can select from None, 1 bar before, or 2 bars before, so you can record at a timing that suits you.
11: Metronome button
By pressing the metronome button, a metronome will be ticking during recording, which will help to reduce rhythm deviations.
One thing to note is that if you are recording from a microphone, even this clicking sound will be recorded.
Also, when exporting a song, if the metronome is turned on, even the metronome sound will be exported. If you are aware of this, it is fine, but if you are not aware of it, you will end up with a song that includes the metronome sound in the song, so be careful.
To change the metronome sound, select “Preferences” in “GarageBand” from the on-screen menu.
Select the metronome and change the metronome tone in the Tone section.
The volume controls the metronome volume.
12: Volume bar
By dragging the volume bar to the left or right, the overall volume can be adjusted.
13: Note pad
The note pad allows you to take notes on your project. You can take one note per project.
It is useful to take notes on things that are on your mind or that you might forget.
14: Loop browser
The Loop Browser allows you to use Apple Loops sound sources and add them to your project. You can search for the sound source you want to use and drag it to the track area to use it.
For more information on how to use Apple Loops, see “Using GarageBand Apple Loops”.
GarageBand Screen Structure Summary
In this article, we have looked at the GarageBand screen structure (control panel), and I think the easiest way to learn is to touch and learn as you go.
Next, we will look at the browser area. See you soon.
