garageband and the MBR

[tony]

I've been harping on about garageband for a long time but that's probably been because I've been trying to find an adequate way to use it and integrate it with the MBR.  I've been looking for a way that utilizes the benefits of each without getting locked into something that I didn't want to do in the first place, i.e., spend all my time sitting in front of the computer.  What I've been doing will probably work for any DAW but I use garageband so ...

Put together a drum track in garageband.  It is excellent for this because the loops are so easy to edit (tempo, arrangements, dropping out or adding bits of kit, etc.) or import the drum track from elsewhere and then give it some treatment (double the track and process one signal for customised sounds, etc.).

Use the midi with my cheap Casio keyboard to play a harmony track.

Save to iTunes.

Import mp3 to MBR and use MBR for all its good stuff.  Recording guitar and bass and vocals, if you can sing, which I can't, or whatever you like. Importing an mp3 into track data - pp.113-4. Exporting individual tracks to mp3 - pp.112-3.

Put the individual tracks back onto the computer and import them into garageband.  Add whatever you like after that and master in garageband.  Export to iTunes. 

I know a lot of people know all this already but it has taken me a long time to work it out so that I can rehearse and record using the MBR, which I prefer to playing guitar into the computer.  Somehow playing a keyboard into the computer doesn't seem as limiting but nothing seems to beat the MBR for recording guitar and bass.

Anyway I got very happy when I finally hit the easy method and thing seemed to work and I felt like telling someone and you guys seemed to be the appropriate someones.