iPad Pro in serious Audio Production Part 3 - Garageband as a songwriting tool

It's time to look at full-on independent production using nothing but an iPad. First up, in this episode, we use Garageband with its inbuilt instruments as a means of songwriting whilst away from studios and other production facilities. This is something I use myself to compose when I've got hardly anything with me and i'm not in the kind of place where you can just crack out a guitar.

The track in this video is one I wrote whilst on a 4 hour train journey, with nothing but a set of headphones, an iPad Air and a nice view for inspiration. I intend to re-track it with real instruments, but the idea is there fully formed :)
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[AverageHuman]

THANK YOU dude for making light of how live loops are prerecorded ideas created by someone else. It annoys me that people with no musical ability or knowledge pass them selves off as a musician because they have live loops. That's like someone doing a paint by numbers picture and calling themselves an artist.

[jml]

Getting used to working with pre produced loops it’s a challenge on its own. Mostly for the reasons you point out which is, you are the in the role of a co-writer, co-producer. Most people develop the type of ear that requires chopping loops, re arraging their order, changing their key, reprocessing them and basically making them fit your vision.

[harmonicsball]

I totally agree that the live loops thing seems weird for songwriters. Best to start from scratch. Keeps things fresh and unique. Thanks for making his point mate!

[johndoyle]

I've been using computers to make music since 1987, when Roger Powell's "Texture" sequencer was my tool of choice. I don't say that to establish credibility, so much as to say that I have a bit of experience with the role of computers in the creative process. All too often over the years I found that technical issues took the wind out of my creative sails. Suffice to say, I've wasted a lot of time trying to resolve issues with FireWire, latency, etc. When I discovered GarageBand on iOS, it was - as Adam said a number of times - liberating. It just works. Plug in my Apogee MiC or jam and I'm instantly tracking. And I find the provided "smart" instruments invaluable: I can get a rudimentary drum or keyboard track no matter where I am, and create a credible demo. I quite like the "section" approach. I naturally think of songs that way, and I'm able to focus on a verse or chorus without worrying about integration afterwards. Like I said, it just works. Yes, it may not be a "professional" DAW, but that is hardly the point. In terms of facilitating the creative process, it is the BEST piece of music software I have EVER used... and I've used a lot. Thanks for a great demo, Adam!

[DennisCaunce]

Not a huge fan of loops, but keep in mind that you can start with a blank template and record music directly into the loops.

[thefireguy]

Live loops inspired my kid to have an interest in music and start his own thing. A lot of people don’t realise that the barrier to getting started is a totally not there any more. So live loops is just as important as any other preset. If you think live loops is not original then you should create all your own sounds using a synth. Still a good vid though

[luigipati]

I completely agreed when you said that the loop thing there is not written by you. It feels fake, because it IS fake. Let's face it: all that technology is NOT creating better musicians, it's creating BAD ones. Too many think that buying the latest gadget or a 'DAW' will turn them into real musicians. Most of them can't read a bar of music to save their lives. In fact, most don't have any videos of their playing on their channels. Because they can't play. If they could play, they would put videos of it in their channels. Heck, they don't even have their name in there. The only thing they do is leaving ignorant comments and blatant insults on the channels of people who are the exact opposite of them. People say that there's 'lots of musicians' around. I disagree, it's a minority, at least the committed ones. They seems a lot because youtube has billions of videos, but there's not 'a lot' of musicians.

[lisareshkus]

I like how you suggested using this to sketch out a rough draft and then using it as a backing track when you get into the studio.

[ricksable]

I think the looper is a good idea, you just have to start with a new loop and add your own.

[joeblonde]

Wow, that's really useful. I am moving to the seaside right by a lovely chilled out and peaceful nudist beach. Will be very cool creating stuff in a relaxed setting. Shame about the lack of time signatures, i like jazz, but still awesomeness. I have a lot to learn, I'm a great musician, but the software side of production has daunted me before, just used multitrackers before, but it's limiting, can ease myself in gradually with this. Dip my toes in the water, as it were. I'm finding all this extremely helpful. Thanks man!

[Musician_Robert]

You add to the sounds that are there and create an entirely new sound to the song by playing and creating parts

[chh]

I am totally with you on your opinion regarding using prewritten loops.

[seanmckee]

Too funny! Me to a T. I whistle songs into my phone to 'save ideas".

[MusicHands]

Hey man. You can build your own live loops arrangement!
Haven't used it much yet, but looks promising. Awesome latency groove.
Great info here thanks!

[kehindea]

By the way you're missing one crucial element of live loops. You can create your own loops from the scratch using the instrument and as an arrange tool is more intuitive than the normal arrange window. I've made my own original song entirely from live loops and I created/wrote all the parts myself.

[elbanti]

Live loops... you start by clicking "NEW" empty one and record your own loops and go from there. Somewhat like you can do in Abelton Live?! Verrry awesome, creative, powerful!

[bleikrsound]

For a free app, GB rocks. Only wish it had more compatibility with DAWs such as Auria Pro.

[EdwardCMackalljr]

For Some Who Don’t Play Live Instruments Live Loops is The Best way To Go

[FootstepsOfFear]

hey Adam, cool series. where is part 4 with the audio interface? greetings

[seanmckee]

I do find those songs inspiring. You learn to make those songs from a genre, from the premade songs. From there you make your own. Every genre from jazz to rock, etc., was expanded by inspiration from recordings. The songs of a genre sound similar because they are really a chain of inspirations. Premade songs in garageband are an inspiration starting point if you want to produce similar music. Of course you dont use the presmade song, change it slightly, and call it your own. Obviously you make something that has siilarities but is not a copy. This is based on making songs from a genre that appeals to you.