This document discusses applying parallel effects in GarageBand. It recommends merging tracks that use the same effect to avoid buffer issues. It provides instructions for adding effects like distortion and flanger to tracks, and reverb to the master output. Effects are applied by selecting the track, choosing an effect from the preset or custom list, and adjusting settings. Live effects can be enabled or disabled, while backups are suggested for permanent effects. Quality is improved by using noise-free samples and live effects, and merging tracks with shared effects.

1. Most Common Effects
Parallel effects practical using
GarageBandcoursera.org
Before Applying Effects
Remember
1 If it is a permanent effect always save a copy of the
effects free sample you want to edit as a backup, so
you can undo in a case of error. If you use live effects
you don’t have to do this step.
2 Merge multiple tracks of the same instrument. It is
better to merge all the tracks that you want to apply
the same effect for the same instrument so you don’t
have buffer issues by using an effect in multiple tracks.
(aka submix)
Delay
Compressors
Expanders
Limiters
Noise Gates
Filter
L E S S O N 3 A S S I G N M E N T
Hi fellow reader
I am John Soulakellis from
Greece Athens. This
presentation is for the
course of Introduction to
Music Production from
coursera.org
I will cover the topic of
parallel effects practical
using GarageBand
Thank you,
for having the time to read my
assignment
Dynamic
Reverb
Delay
Flanger
Chorus
High Pass
Low Pass
Graphic EQ
Parametric EQ

2. 2
PARALLEL EFFECTS PRACTICAL USING GARAGEBAND WEEK 3 ASSIGNMENT
Open or create a Project
Open GarageBand Application and
choose what project you want to open.
In this example I will use the project
that I created for weeks’ 2 assignment
Create a project in a DAW using
GarageBand.
If you want to know how to create a new
project in Garage Band link is provided at
the last page of this assignment
Main Screen
)
After we open our project we can see the picture below. If we create a new one you
will not see sample tracks on left section, it will be empty.

3. 3
PARALLEL EFFECTS PRACTICAL USING GARAGEBAND WEEK 3 ASSIGNMENT
Choose Track
Select the track for adding effect
At the left side of main screen in
GarageBand select the sample track you
want to add an effect by clicking on it.
Select Preset Effect
At the top right corner select the Real
Instrument Tab and click Browse (for
adding effects from a preset list of ready
configured effect so you don’t have to
make a lot of adjustments) or click the Edit
Tab if you want manual selection.
In the effects menu we can see three
disabled effects for the current track Noise
Gate, Compressor, Visual EQ and two
enabled effects for Master output. The last
two will be added to all tracks in our
project and adds the desirable effect in
Master Output signal. We can change
them or edit them in the Master Track Tab
on the top right tab. The only thing to
mention is that changing the value of
master effects, affects only the current
track but we save time if we simply want to
use the same effect over and over.
Disabled effect switch is in grey color .
Enabled effect switch is in light blue.

4. 4
PARALLEL EFFECTS PRACTICAL USING GARAGEBAND WEEK 3 ASSIGNMENT
Adding Effect Track
If we hover the cursor over an empty cell
and click on it we can select an effect
from the list below.
For example I choose the Distortion effect to add
If we want to edit the sound we either select from a pre-
configured list by pressing on the Default drop down list
Or we press on the icon button and create the custom
distortion sound as the picture below

5. 5
PARALLEL EFFECTS PRACTICAL USING GARAGEBAND WEEK 3 ASSIGNMENT
Preview Result
After adding and editing live effects we can play the example and hear the result. I also
added Flanger effect (right section) and enabled Visual EQ for current track to see how
much my signal is being distorted.
The good thing about live effects like these is that they are reversible effects and you can
disable them by turn the switch off. You can remove though an unused effect by
choosing None in the drop down list.

6. 6
PARALLEL EFFECTS PRACTICAL USING GARAGEBAND WEEK 3 ASSIGNMENT
Add Change Master Effect
As we said before if we want to add an effect to Master Output for example a little bit
of depth so the sound is not dry if we go to master track tab and enable Reverb effect
we can achieve that result.
If we click on icon button we can create a
custom reverb effect.
If we don’t hear reverb after we enabled
it, we have to check the post-volume
slider and as we see the slider is in zero
position. If we set it between 20%-45% it
is a good choice but depends on the
result we want and how far the object to
be in space for the current effect. We understand this that is a post effect because if we set
the gain value to zero we can still hear our track dry and don’t hear the effect itself.
As we said only the current track will have reverb. If we go to another track we simply
enabled and set the gain value we want to use.
Check Master Effect Volume

7. What Affects Quality
• Have a noise free sample
• Have a good performance sample
• Its better to use live effects
• Merge Multiple Tracks if you use the same effect to avoid buffer issues
• Keep backup of samples for non-live effects
What I learned from this weeks assignment was more technical terms, better
understanding of how effects works, pre and post connections, how it is done and why
to use them, a better way of browsing inside a software DAW, what to check, what to
change, how to set it up and how to do it.
Thank you for your
time!
PARALLEL EFFECTS PRACTICAL USING GARAGEBAND WEEK 3 ASSIGNMENT
PICTURES CAPTURED USING OSX BUILT IN CAPTURING FUNCTION
LINKS
Week 2 : How to Create a Project in GarageBand
http://www.slideshare.net/johnnys83/week2-assignment