Garageband 10 Auto Drummer Tips & Tricks

[@Frank-in-NY]

Hey! I had no idea that GarageBand had this capability! I suck at drumming, and it really holds me back with writing and recording. I use to get along with a TR-707, but that sadly died on me sometime ago. I've messed around with with GarageBand Drummer, but found it cumbersome, and time consuming to find beats that fit my tunes. Your video popped up in my feed, I watched, and heard you say you recorded guitar and bass, then added drummer and it created a track for you. WHAT!!! Amazing! Sold! I tried it out, yup works...gets me going. I subscribed. Really thanks, this is a big help for me.

[@neilhoffman8959]

Thank you for your videos I appreciate the information your providing regarding GB. I wonder how many users know you can take the wave format that the auto drummer generates and convert to a midi format with the individuated notes for the drum part. The how : copy your auto drummer track and paste that track into a empty midi instrument track that and select a drum instrument et voila same piece of drumming but now you can manipulate each separate drum note if desired. Sorry if this is common knowledge and I therefore wasted your time reading this.

[@stevenanderson7194]

Very good information. Thank you. And I sure wish your first name was Jack.

[@masonsmyth147]

honestly, your videos on GarageBand compared to most others are fantastic. sometimes they drag a little long, but the information you share is priceless. thanks for your time!

[@adreenal]

Great lesson, thanks. I think GB does a pretty darn flexible job on their drummer if you don’t have, or cant get your head around the other drum packages.

[@tpjp4100]

When did Mike Myers become a garage band pro?

[@LoriMiller1111]

Oh yeah...that's who he looks like! :)

[@dailytaylor]

Check this out, if you make an arrangement track (labeling the intro, verses, chorus, bridge, etc) prior to creating the drummer, it will make a segment for every section of the song (i.e. more than just 2 regions, one for each verse, chorus, etc.). This seems to make the drummer a bit more intuitive and also easier to edit, since it is already segmented to match your arrangement. I just stumbled upon this about a month ago and it has really made using drummer a piece of cake for me.

[@SjaakShirly6559]

dailytaylor how does that work? I mean, how do I create an arrangement track? I am not an expert yet on Garageband but willing to learn :-)

[@Isaacallison777]

at the top left of your screen click "track", then click "show arrangement track" then on garageband above your amp(or whatever you have there) near the left or start of your track it'll say arrangement then click the pus button and it'll automatically show "verse, Chorus" and what not. After that you can click "track:" at the top left of your screen, click add rack and you can add a drum track that will automatically create a drum track of some sort.

[@SjaakShirly6559]

Isaac Allison Thanks!

[@tomkaliamos806]

Thanks mate, good lesson. Important to get the roots right before the flower can grow.

[@danherold8132]

Quite frankly...the best tutorial that I've seen. So informative. Thanks so much!

[@emptyowe]

Immensely helpful. Thank you so much. I've been confused by the auto-drum stuff for a while now. I had no idea it actually analyzed the track like that. Anxious to play with this some more. Thanks!

[@wakyjay]

The video was great. One of tricks that helped me during experimentation with this new feature was to load a generic drum track to use as a click. I do this because I haven't figured out how to turn up the dang click. Then I record my scratch. After that's done I know my song structure. I then select show arrangement track which allows me to name the bars of my song as chorus ,verse, bridge etc. I then delete that generic drum track and immediately select to add a new one. The next one GarageBand loads matches up nicely with my identified song structure...genius right. Thanks so much for these videos. They are making it very hard for me to justify migrating to logic.

[@PewPewDevices]

I’m surprised more people haven’t picked up on the fact that if you copy and paste anything the virtual drummer plays onto a software drummer track, it instantly gets converted to editable MIDI. I showed a guy who has been using automatic drummer for ages, and he sat there looking stunned for about five minutes. Fully editable and customizable.

[@brentdietiker]

I'm not to this point of production yet, but I appreciate seeing the steps being demonstrated. I used to use Cool Edit Pro waaaay back for my dj mixes. I'm excited to see more of your videos on using GarageBand!

[@thatRyzzle]

I really like this video. Admittedly, I haven't given GarageBand 10 a try yet, but after this video I think maybe I should. Thank you, as always!

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

You should do it! It sounds better!

[@jaredholton3145]

I don't know if you have considered this but I typically make a scratch track of the main riff, then let the drums follow that. Afterwards I record the same part of to the new drummer track to get a more realistic approach and ultimately delete the scratch track.

[@docsworld1369]

Awesome video. I will watch this a few times. Thanks for your help!

[@martydixon647]

very helpful. I'm already using your hints. thank you!

[@MattBlickDotCom]

I just transitioned from an old version of GB and this was SOOOOOOOOO helpful thanks a lot!

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

You're very welcome, I'm glad I could help!

[@MattBlickDotCom]

One thing I figured out was after you've allowed the virtual drummer to do his best you can copy and paste the entire thing into s regular drum track and then do some fine editing of the midi file. I had some stops and starts the the VD (hah!) wasn't getting, or if he got them right then changed something else I didn't want moving. Locking it into a midi file worked great. For some reason you can't just pull it into the track you have to copy (or cut and paste).

[@ultravioletpilot3656]

Dude, dang. I have played in bands before with human drummers and while nothing beats that, this is a nice tool for people doing solo projects that have limited to no knowledge with actual drums or lack of equipment to record live drums. I've written two albums and any percussion done up onto this point has been me actually playing the keys, while it sounds good for simple beats, complex patterns are nearly impossible to nail on time with midi controls of keys. Even with timing adjustment, they lack groove and flow. No human drummer sounds perfect so neither should midi drums, this tool brings sampled drums to the next level. I would still sit and edit the crap out of them so they are more "me" but hey, you work with what you have.

[@Yadeehoo]

Ryan Vanden Heuvel Well like if you write songs, you can focus on the rest and not mind what the drummer is doing, cause he'll be on time and grooving, mostly

[@HughKehz]

Never used Garage Band before, but now can't wait! Excellent, simple tutorial. Thanks, Mike Myers! ;)

[@steveapplegate322]

This video was a big help I’ve watched It several times. Thanks Lewin.

[@edzielinski]

Really good info - still useful today. Thanks!

[@TractorCountdown]

Thank you! Been waiting for you to delve into GB10. More please, Lewin!

[@Ray_Here]

Great video. Put some of the techniques into use today.

[@SimonRendallProductions]

Thank you for teaching me this I had no clue how to do stuff with the drummer

[@TheOompahRoundabout]

That looks like a handy tool, I'll have to check it out.

[@robertclarkguitar]

I'm a drummer. Also songwriter. I'm new to daw etc. But I'm experienced with sequencer on keyboards through the years. I would never let a computer write anything for me. I guess this is what separates a musician from a sampler or cg recorder. I will literally play each key. Not one loop. Again that's just me. I can always tell a computer drummer. Lmao. Just like I can tell cg music. It's what speaks to the soul rather than the ears alone. Thank you for your video. I am learning cubase that came with my yamaha moxf6. I love this thing. I also write and do music for anyone or any occasion. My newest is photography back tones. More like an invention. Now instead of a bland picture digital frame I write your family tune. Very deep. Very soulful and original as can be from me. So in this little comment here I'll close with this. I'm ok with any type recording and love music as well as condone any type. I just set straight in my passion for moving or speaking to people without lyrics. No words are ever needed to describe a mood when the song is written with passion. Peace all.

[@Yadeehoo]

Robert Clark I'm a former drummer too. Now I write songs and even tho I've been tough on my drummers before, GB drummer isn't the most creative, but he's the most reliable (no drus taking, no whims, you name it) . Focusing on creating an emotion to an audience with the overall writing rather than a drumming talent show

[@robertclarkguitar]

I can't agree more. Love that last sentence. Indeed. That is me as well bro.

[@guydwelly]

Awesome video man! Many thanks! Love the woodchipper incident!

[@sprkymrt]

Haven't gotten into Drummer yet. Thanks.

[@kevinduke5059]

Thanks for the video....it was very helpful. At the end of the video you pulled up "Virtual Channel" and "Tape" ....where I can find those apps? I am assuming they are something you purchased? Thanks again!

[@elefectomariarosa]

best video about GB drummer, thanks!

[@TheJumpingjim]

Great lesson...learned a lot..thanks.

[@jessecampbelliam]

Hello, and thanks for being here for us... Question, the timing of my drum track is suddenly off beat where the snare is on the 1; How can I put it back in timing? I've been trying different things for 2 days now.

[@BalancingBlessings]

Thanks Lewin, lean & meaty tutorial.

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

You're very welcome! Make sure to hit subscribe!

[@Tonykayemusic]

You have any videos about music scoring videos with live guitars on GB? If not I'd love some advice etc!

[@michaelmahoney6583]

Great energy and thorough, thanks!

[@billkelly1197]

Hey Lewin. My songs don't always stick a straight format. The auto drummer gives me a cool rhythm track but sometimes the cymbal crashes are in the wrong place and I can't figure out how to reposition the crash. Suggestions?

[@breker19er]

That was great! Can't wait to try what I learned!

[@ishaqok]

Excellent video for beginners like me.

[@gregdavis9440]

Hello, Lewin ( ? ). Are you seeing this message ? I'm just getting familiar with GarageBand. So, on your " 10 Auto Drummer Tips " video, ( VERY helpful vid btw, thank you ! )..you're saying that the auto drummer actually scanned your guitar track, and then presented you with a drum track based on the rhythmic feel of your track ?? is there a step where you get it to scan first somehow ? thanks much. Greg Davis near Philly

[@arvisong]

nice tutorial. do you have any ideas how to make auto drummer do a double pedal beat? like for heavy metal music and the like? thanks.

[@s.m.f.sacramentomusicfacto4331]

I am looking for a way garage band can handle multiple time signatures within a song? Any tips?

[@thelolguy007]

Great review and information - thank you 👍. Is it available for iPad/iOS etc?

[@thelolguy007]

It is now 👍👍👍

[@thelolguy007]

It is now 👍👍👍

[@valleynxggatre545]

got a question for when your looping beats and cutting how do you remove the gap in between so when copy and pasting you don't hear the pause in between the beat can't seem to find it in your videos?

[@ainedooley2430]

you mentioned cutting the track to add fills or a crash cymbal. how do you do that? thanks,

[@88Doug]

Nice! I've only played with it a bit. I wipl be more though. All thr music on my channel is done in Garage Band!

[@JR_Taylor]

Brilliant, thank you

Great tutorial! Thanks very much!!

[@MaxBrianOnRoad]

Thanks a lot for what you are doing ! Love your Work I got a small question tho. I watched one of your old video, and you talk about keeping the level of each track down while recording, rarely hitting the yellow colours. But in this recording we can see that your guitar and bass are hitting the red. The same is happening to my tracks, and I dont really know how to keep them down in the green. Any tips ? thanks again

[@MrDavidJames]

Is there a way to get the drums to start their down beat (beat 1) of a 6/8 meter part-way through a measure? It seems as though it refuses to start beat one anywhere besides the marked down beat of a measure. What I did was fermata beat two and then it picks back up (relative to the measure strip at the top) on beat 2 of the next measure but that doesn't seem to compute with the auto-drum. Thoughts?

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

Try shifting the 1 of the entire project, to a different location. Keep moving it around, you'll find a spot that works.

[@Lasher500]

Always very informative.

[@ralladuras]

I have not the plugins for the virtual tape... how can i get it

[@Yadeehoo]

14:43 You can use plugins in GB ? Wow, I didn't know. That changes everything !!

[@JoeGreen1053]

I want to use different presets for different sections of my song. Like I'm using Logan and I want stonehedge for the first 8 bars but then I want to use firebird for 4. How can I record with that?

[@jgwire]

helpful video -- you say you don't use much compression because these drums were "recorded" well -- aren't they midi drums? also, I noticed in your plug ins that there are two compressors and a multipressor as well as two eq channels strips...were those automatically loaded into that particular drum set? thanks.

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

Yes, everything in this video was just presets.

[@xyzvision]

Very useful and thanks. btw you look like Mike Myers

[@Swngrs21]

What do you have to have selected for drums to automap to the different sections? Do you need to have the arrangement track filled out or the "Follow" box selected in the autodrums?

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

"Follow" button

[@DavidBishopinc]

So any one out there that wants to answer this is cool with me. I see this video was published Mar 29 2015 and the video title is "Garageband 10" My version of Garageband is 11 6.0.5 I do not have the "Auto Drummer" Whats up with these versions of garageband? Do I need to some how get version 10? Is 11 not the newest? Im Confused. any help would be great.

[@Hilbertification]

Command T, Yes, good information,i didn't no it was there. And it is that easy!

[@samclaws5356]

great info. thanks

[@philparadise3702]

Can't seem to make the groove track star appear. I select the option in the track menu but get no changes?

[@stevenanderson7194]

My Garageband doesn't create two versions of the drumming. It only creates one. Do you know why?

[@graphicartdude]

Thanks for the video. Is there a way to tell GarageBand to not synch every instrument with 100% accuracy? Just like when a band performs... there will always be slight inaccuracies that make the music not sound robotic or automated. Would be cool if the software offered syncing with non perfection.

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

+graphicartdude you have to turn the "groove matching" on, until you do all the little nuances are still there in the tracks that you record.

[@hanj31]

I'm glad I watched this video thanks a lot! This helps a lot

[@undeadman7676]

I always go into recording a song having a general idea of what i want the drums to sound like. In most cases, the auto drummer can come pretty close to my vision, but what should i do in the rare case that it just won't match what's in my head? Would editing a MIDI track be a better solution, or is there some way to manipulate the auto drummer to do your bidding?

[@deepcuts4822]

I want to copy a sample of the Drummer track. How do I copy a segment of the sample?

[@shutterspine]

do you recommend keeping the click on the simple side, opposed to complicated for the auto drummer to compose a groove? arrange afterwards?

[@valleynxggatre545]

if i don't want my verse to end right were the beat loops again?

[@thetruthhurts6652]

How can I get the drums to play like led Zep rock and roll or deep purple burn style.

[@davidbrown1716]

In the past I used to used a Line6 box to jam thru my computer with mp3s. Can you do the same thing with GarageBand ???

[@nkai7580]

Hello i have a very serious question. Which i'm sure you may be able to give a simple answer to. Ok i have Garageband '11 which came with my Mac bought in 2011. I've always been afraid of downloading ANY newer versions thinking that it could not only complicate my settings but, erase all of my previous recording settings/ effects etc. Also worried that many of the effects that i've come to love and use frequently, may no longer exist in a new version. Will i loose anything (or no longer have access to) by downloading the newer version ? Thanks, love your vids.

[@ElevenFilms]

I really dig what you do! thank you man :)

[@impactlures]

Great tutorials! Thank you for the effort. These videos have helped me out tremendously!

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

I'm really glad! Thanks for your support!

[@kasubickjustin167]

to the point. excellent. thx

[@loopie007]

I am trying to build a simple 12 bar blues jam track. When I import a bass loop, it brings it in as the key of the song I built. Next I want to change keys to the V Chord and want to change the key of the loop. How is this done best? thanks.

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

You can change the key by using the automation for those parameters. This is for Garageband 10 btw, Go to the "TRACK" Pull down menu and select "Show Transposition Track" it will appear and then you can use the automation tool to change it in half steps.

[@lewhueywen2005]

How did you 'cut' the drum track to create fills? What key command is that?

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

Lew Huey Wen Command-T

[@laudprince8840]

please if i send you the vocals of the songs and will need you to do the instruments and mixing them as well. let me know my cost.

[@marajabulis]

all the slat digital plug ins are paid? or they are free?

[@shersh4996]

A lot of my tracks aren't generic like this. How am I supposed to get the drums to sync?I usually have to lay out each drum track individually but this feature would make the track sound more professional if I could get it to match up. None of the drum trcks work for any of my projects.Thanks

[@MirzaAnshari]

how to make the audio signal bigger? it's way too small on my garageband

[@JairusNOUVEL1]

How come I don't have those plugin of yours . :(

[@Legoheads]

Great videos. Really helpful. Unfortunately, I think I did something that I can't reverse. After creating the original drum tracks with Kyle on the SoCal kit, I chopped them up to create 4 unique sections and then stretched them to fit the structure of the song. However, at some I've managed to switch to "piano roll" mode for the drum track and can't get back to an active auto-drummer mode. The track, which started as yellow, is now green and even if I cycle the editor back to auto drummer, none of the functions are available. I can't find any tutorials to cover this. Do you have any idea what I screwed up?

[@MrStarmade]

Hey there! This is a very helpful tutorial; however, I've faced one issue. I am recording a song with voice and guitar (playing chords) and the drums are always off beat and out of rhythm when I add them. Is there any remedy to that? Thank you in advance!

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

+German Muzyka adding drums AFTER you have recorded guitars and vocals is really difficult especially if you didn't play to a click track. The only advice I can offer is try turning on the "groove track". Go up to the "track" pull down menu, go to "arrange track header" and select "groove track". Then make the drums the track to follow and make the guitar and voice follow it. Good luck!

[@gerryk9]

great info!!!

[@RasTuft]

Duude! Thank you so much . You've just changed my world :)

[@juanignacioquesada7397]

Great videos man! Do you know of a way to make autodrummer to hit the side snare

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

Juan Ignacio Quesada lower the little yellow ball to the lowest quadrant of the grid.

[@turneracosta3999]

Is there a way you can disable the auto drummer? I'd like to be able to write my own drum beat.

[@yaizalopez6383]

+Turner Acosta you get rid of that track and click the "add track" button and click the keyboard thing so you can play your own sounds and then on the left thing just select your type of drums

[@MrTimdriver]

Great!

[@VarjuanV]

Can we change time signature in the song?

[@UncleHanz]

Wow! nice... Thanks

[@honorpatience1301]

Thank you for the tutorial :) i used two drum tracks in one project(i wanted to use more but doesn't let me) everything seemed to be ok until i started adding drum regions in the gaps, i have like 2 or 3 drummers in each drum track but now seems that every time i change one region back it changes the whole drum track, by any chance do you have any ideas of what happened?

[@theeasybeats5913]

Thanks! good job!

[@21contra]

Thank you very much for the time you spend teaching. Very much appreciated ;o)

[@SalmistaCarlosJuan]

Can you do a tutorial using real drums? Im working on some drums and im having problems figuring it out, and i wanna record everything at the same time intead of doing it individually

[@kingreyes5029]

Do you have to buy GB10?

[@martydixon647]

your tutorials have helped me compose, and make learning fun - thanks! how do we get the plug-ins you mentioned? ('Virtual Limiter' and 'Tape Machine' ?)

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

Awesome!! I'm Glad! Those plugins are from Slate Digital Audio. They make nice plugins.

[@DianaRamirez-cd3dr]

How can i get them? For free?

[@xINSIDERxjR]

where do you get those plug ins?

[@patrickbuchanan7685]

Epic video! Very helpful :)

[@joeeldred8304]

will garageband convert midi to audio in a track

[@picturemaker1000]

Lewin, thank you for putting some great tips together for Garage Band. I am new to GB but not to recording. Very insightful tips and tricks. Can't wait to dig deeper with your help!

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

Thanks Matt! I'm glad that you are getting some good info out of my channel!

[@sum212]

How about a tutorial on ipad garageband?

[@HeaterMH]

Sumeet Karmacharya agreed! 👍🏼

[@maxanderson2925]

Sumeet Karmacharya just fucking buy a Mac or watch iPad tutorials