Cover: A Forest by The Cure - iPad Garageband/Boss BR-600

[SharksDontSleep]

Here's my 1st attempt at using Garageband on my iPad.
As I wanted to see if it was possible, I recorded/performed the entire backing track using the various Garageband instruments. Although I probably wouldn't do this again, I may well use some of the keyboard/strings sounds in future. I still prefer using real instruments when I can, but iPad Garageband now gives me a few more options.
The lyrics were recorded by importing the song to my trusty Boss BR-600, where the song was mastered.

No musicians were harmed during this song!!
[soundclick]11655089[/soundclick]

[Hook]

This is absolutely stellar brother! Man I love The Cure, seen them perform this tune live many times and I couldn't believe it when I saw the title but this is excellent! Don't have an ipad myself but have been very interested in the Garage Band app and now I'm very jealous! Great job with this, I totally dig it!
Rock on!

[Ferryman_1957]

Brilliant! Love this song and love the interpretation. I am not a fan of Apple or their toys but I have to say the iPad is a damn fine mobile music making machine and I keep getting tempted to get one, this is just making the temptation grow! Great work here, love the reimagining of the song and I love the combo of instruments. Well done indeed sir!

Cheers,

Nigel

[Bluesberry]

Just sensational, it really sounds good.

[Geir]

wow. a stellar production. I'm not familiar with the original, but this makes me wanna check out the original as well.

great work man. and yeah, I seriously want an iPad too after hearing this.

[ODH]

Muchos awsome, Sharks.  It's another of those songs which people - myself included - can be protective about, but you looked after it and I thank you for that.  I love the sounds you got, I wouldn't have known it wasn't a real guitar if you didn't say, and those pizzicato strings at the end are to die for.

I kind of felt it could have been a couple of BPM's quicker, but that's just nit-picking.

[andy casson]

Fantastic version! I love this song, and you've done a great job with it! I have garageband & I have no idea how you managed to do this! Brings back some very fond memories for me, excellent cover! Your vox are spot on and you really kept the dark theme of the original, love it!

andy

[Facemask93]

This is excellent , maybe you could give a rundown on your method of recording on the iPad , you seem to have got it down to a tee , im very impressed , your vocal is fab also

Rob

[SwanSong]

Just wonderful. great production. and garage band sounds grt
through ur recording gear. wonderful soundtrack agree with
comment CHEERS NEIL.!

[SharksDontSleep]

Hook: Cheers for the reply. I've seen the Cure a few times too, although none since Pornography was released (is it really all those years ago?).

Ferryman: I wasn't an Apple fan either, until the iPad. It was the music apps which sold it to me, and I haven't regretted it so far, although it's becoming increasingly difficult to prise it from my wife's hands!!

Bluesberry, Geir Thanks chaps, much appreciated.

Nick / odh Thanks. Know what you mean about being protective. Nearly didn't attempt this song myself, for the same reason. If you've got the time (it's a but wordy) read reply to facemask93 for why the song is slower.

andycasson Cheers. Not really sure how I did this myself. It was my 1st attempt, so as a result, my favourite setting was a button marked Undo

facemask93 Thanks. Not sure I had a method. It was a lot of trial & error  
Eventally I started with Smart Drums, messed around until I found a beat & drum kit I liked. Used that mostly throughout, but with an additional cymbal here & there.
Next recorded the bass, using Smart Bass (notes setting) & the note editor to amend a few timing mistakes.
Next Smart Guitar, set up the chords & picked through them for the verse. Changed guitar & strummed the chorus.
Next Smart Strings. Just went through the settings with the same chords. Found a couple of settings that worked & stuck with them.
Next Synth Solo. I can't really play keyboard, so this was a one finger special & then edited with my best friend, the note editor!
Next Synth Cymbal noise (sample recorded of me making a pssisshhh noise & playing it back a few notes lower).
Then arranged the stereo image for all tracks & added reverb & echo to suit.

The whole song was recorded in sections & then joined together. I had to use mucho copy & paste too, as I hadn't really planned the song too well & ran out of sections (maximum of 10 in iPad Garageband)

Finally exported the whole song to laptop, converted to wav & imported to Boss BR-600. Added 3 vox (double tracked main & 1 octave higher). Added reverb & echo to match the backing track & mastered.

Now I read it back, it sounds easy, but I've got to admit, it took bloody ages! Not sure I'd do too many whole songs again, but would definitely use Drums, Strings & Keyboards.

Oh yes ... I almost forgot. I went for 120bpm for the time signature, mainly because I could easily get the echo to slap back in time to the music by using 500ms for the backer & 1 second for the vox.

SwanSong Thanks, glad you liked it.

Thanks everyone for the replies
I love you all