GarageBand PRO Mix Step 2: Master Track

[@TheBandGuide]

‼️ Download this GarageBand Session + 6-Step PRO Mix Checklist (FREE) here: www.thebandguide.com/highersession ‼️

[@reyrey0629]

I really appreciate your videos bro. Even applying a minimum amount of what you show here makes my stuff sound so much better. Keep up the great work!

[@wozzywick]

Thank you so much for making this series. There are lots of videos on specific techniques but a step by step guide like this is more useful.

[@thesongwritingstudio5783]

Master track: I used to do more on the master track (usually as the final step in my mix) but then had some rough goes at sending it to be mastered and being not so pleased with the result so I resorted back to leaving the master track alone and just letting the mastering engineer do that work... but this video is helping give some more clarity and giving some more confidence to re approach the master track :).

[@TheBandGuide]

Yes! That was exactly my process. It was exciting at first, then became scary/bad. It makes all the difference to do it first.

[@thesongwritingstudio5783]

@@TheBandGuide Yeah I like that, it's always been a final move for me... but I can see the power in doing it first (I loved the A B example!)

[@the.fresh.bananas]

Apart from using various meters and a couple of gain plugs to toggle for level drop and stereo-to-mono mix checks, I've left the master track pretty much alone. Now I'm going to have to try this very clever approach. It's surprising how much difference the light eq and compression on the master make on the overall static mix. Well done.

[@TheBandGuide]

Right? The first time I saw this demonstrated the whole time I thought "that's so little, no way it will make a big difference..." but then you get to the end and it's HUGE! Also, love to hear you're checking mono. Haven't covered it yet, but that is a GREAT tip.

[@lilatacesongs]

thank you!!

[@decoderV]

Sir whatever you are doing just keep int doing you have been s great source of inspiration all these hard times.

[@JohnLynagh]

Thanks for tips Colin. Really enjoying this series.

[@TheBandGuide]

Thanks, John! Stoked to hear what you do with it!

[@thesongwritingstudio5783]

Thanks for sharing Colin, I enjoy watching your process and I'm definitely learning some things! -Dean

[@TheBandGuide]

That's awesome, Dean! Thank you. Love your channel.

[@funkheist]

Really enjoying The Band Guide, Thanks for helping me you're the best!

[@TheBandGuide]

🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 Happy to help!

[@WillyBunao]

First of all thank you so much to you Colin for all your youtube tutorial videos and free download instructions and cheatsheets. Following your instructions was so very helpful. I am just starting up to do this mixing things and i think i am so happy with my first compostions result. I tried doing records and mixing before but it sounds no good, but with all your help i think i understand now a little bit to how make things good than better 😁 thank you so much and i really appreciate your efforts in explaining everything so easily to digest. Keep safe always and have a good one.

[@strugglegangmme8038]

Hey I mix good is hell but your tutorial have taught me stuff I didn’t know but I notice the mastering technique make it sound way better I also taught some of my friends also

[@TheBandGuide]

That’s awesome, man!

[@tomatwood]

This is an awesome technique that I never would have thought of. Thanks.

[@seanjennings8704]

Really good video (yet again). Am trying this way of using the Master Track during the mixing for the first time...it will be interesting to see its impact on the later stages...

[@TheBandGuide]

Awesome! It always “fades into the background” for me. I’ll forget I’ve done it but when I bypass them later in the process I always think “WOW thank god I did that...” haha

[@srm5436]

awesome vids so glad i found this channel !

[@jasonderulo4184]

This is awesome content again!!! Thank you so much for doing it.

[@pradeepbandara4490]

Sir You are the great person 💝

[@TheBandGuide]

🙌🏼 hey thanks!

[@mchoneyofficial4761]

This is definitely hardest step for me. Thanks for the vid.

[@TheBandGuide]

This is a tricky stage- but you got this!

[@misaelcampanario2171]

Hello, I just can't thank you anough you really teach like building a house from the foundation, walls,ceiling, and roof!

[@TheBandGuide]

🙌🏼 that's amazing- thanks, Misael!

[@steezfrank6429]

This is pure gold for me

[@TheBandGuide]

It's insane, right?

[@Spin_em]

How do you get the master track on the left to show up I can’t remember it’s just says audio 1

[@suitcase3610]

Hi Colin- Quick ( possibly dumb ) question for you regarding the "Master track" ( around 2:45. I'm a little confused by the "terminology'. "Master") In this video you are adjusting the "Master Track" but it looks like you have the "Snare track" selected in your file. Is: "Master Track" pertaining to the (entire) song, the (entire) mix? Are you adjusting the frequencies of the song or just a particular track?

[@woonawoona]

what do you do when the vocal is off pitch? when do you pitch correct in your process of mixing?

[@TheBandGuide]

Great question! I do any pitch correction and editing before I start mixing. That way I can just focus on mixing. If I hear something new when I start mixing, I'll fix it- but I try to handle anything like that before I mix.

[@edv6312]

Hi Colin thanks for all of your help. In the Ultimate Guide you say to use the Analog Obsession BUSTERse compressor. Would this be better than using the VCA Slow?

[@TheBandGuide]

I’ve definitely switched over to busterse these days! It wasn’t available (or at least I wasn’t aware of it) at the time I filmed this video. If you check out my current series we’re about to start mixing a song we’re currently recording together and you’ll be able to see that compressor in action!

[@Underdog_Drums]

Good stuff. If I use direct monitoring from my interface, will i be able to use the DAW to mix, master, and all, after I've recorded?

[@avecnayo]

Hey, thank you for this video! Quick question, how do I create the third "master track"? I'm afraid I missed the step on how to to that

[@rz123-g5i]

Go to the tool bar at the top of your screen, and under the “Track” section there’s an option that says “show master track”

[@avecnayo]

@@rz123-g5i thank you!

[@d.e.jchung777]

how did you get the compressor to pop up with a different look rather than jus the plain compressor

[@olganellis7060]

Hi Colin, Thank you for the great video. When it comes to the VSA Slow compressor, I can’t find the indicator lights on the left side of the panel like you have them. Please help.

[@andywarfield2878]

Thanks Colin this is an awesome video! I too have this same issue. I can't seem to find the indicator lights for the compression on the master track panel. If you would be able to help Olga Nellis and I, I think we'll be super duper thankful. Arigato from Japan!

[@TheBandGuide]

Hi Olga! I love GB, but this particular area is definitely frustrating... One way I have found to force that section to show is to recall the settings by showing your master track (shift+command+M), selecting it, pressing Y to bring up the library, then Factory>Pop. It will default the settings, but it will restore the compressor! This is the only way I have found so far. If you find another, please let me know!

[@TheBandGuide]

Thanks, Andy! I just responded to Olga's question- I hope it helps you too!

[@olganellis7060]

@@TheBandGuide , it worked! Thank you so much!

[@jonnwhalley8942]

Another great video. Does this have any effect on the VU meter levels from the static mix?

[@TheBandGuide]

Great question! It shouldn't, but it can if you don't match the EQ and compression output levels to match the volume before/after.

[@DivaStyle0716]

If I’m only using digital instruments in GarageBand to create a song, would I need to follow the steps in this series to make the song sound better? Or is this only necessary if I’m creating a song with external instruments/vocals?

[@TheBandGuide]

Same process!

[@DivaStyle0716]

@@TheBandGuide Thanks!

[@PhoneStandChannel]

Side note. I've had both of those lamps 🤷🏾‍♂️ too! Good taste you have 👍🏾

[@unsubscribe_kye]

So my master track isn’t... showing my master track. It’s just blank and won’t let me do anything. Is that normal?

[@TheBandGuide]

Weird! Is it still a problem? Sometimes when I first open it, I have to switch between the screens for it display properly

[@m.k.3703]

Hello, I am really new to all that mixing Stuff and want to learn it. So you changed the frequencies in the Master track, that means you change if for any instrument part in every point? Or does it change only at the parts where you changed the eq to highlight something? for what are the 6 or 7 Different shapes with the lines above? And i don't get how you cut something from it, i see how things get bigger and smaller, and then there is this line in The middle... So many Questions, sry, I hope you can help me :) Thank you for your stuff!

[@TheBandGuide]

Hey! GREAT question! All of your tracks/instruments run through the master track at the very end of the mix. So any plugins you put on the master track will effect the sound of everything running through it. This won't actually change any of the individual tracks, though. And the EQ only impacts areas you change with the EQ, so any of the different shapes at the top that you don't touch, won't be effected. You should DEFINITELY download my free EQ cheatsheet... it will help a lot in understanding how EQ works! tinyurl.com/yczwdvka

[@tommylarsson2025]

Well hrm! That's a very private question. I guess I'm using it, we can say a little later than you. Isch :-)