Make GarageBand Drums sound so good you'll want to sack your real drummer

Make GarageBand Drums sound so good you'll want to sack your real drummer...
In this video I show how you can take GarageBand's stock sounding Drummer track and turn it into a rythm section that sounds authentically real.
If you want to learn how to mix drums in GarageBand, then you'll find this video useful too!
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---TIMESTAMPS---
00:00 Coming up in this video
00:21 Rundown
01:06 Finalize your Drummer Pattern
03:07 Breaking Down your Beat
08:05 Mixing your Drums
08:37 Compression
10:36 EQ
14:49 Reverb and Panning
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#howtomakegaragebanddrumssoundreal #mixmididrums #mixgaragebanddrums

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Ready for another in depth GarageBand mixing tutorial? Hit the like button then click here for some essential tips for mixing your vocals: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqS2dYmagdSmq5o

[@pierretaylor7011]

Brilliant Patrick! Such painstaking attention to detail. If I could, rather than buy you a coffee, I’d send you on a trip to Argentina or Colombia, so that you can pick your own coffee beans and enjoy the lay of the land. You do an excellent job of educating beginners, so that we can wrap our heads around mixing and mastering in GarageBand. Thank you so much Patrick!

[@FriedrichBoettger]

Separating my drums into midi layers not only allowed me to bring up some traditionally weak sounds in GarageBand (like hi hat taps) but made fills between verse and bridge almost simple. Net gain in quality and huge net savings in time. Many thanks.

[@guzzoofoz]

Great info. Separation eq is such a good way to clear up your sound. More teaching on this subject would be fantastic. ✌️

[@jasontimlock]

Thanks Patrick. Dropped out of recording after getting a bit overwhelmed ( and lazy ) with it all. This has given me a concrete starting point to tidy up and master an older track. Great stuff.

[@RichTones]

Pure gold 🙌🙌 I’ve used similar tweaks in the past but separated tracks for each drum is a new level. Thanks Patrick!

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Nice one Rich, glad you found it helpful!

[@GarrettCampbell]

Thanks a ton!! Just what I've been wanting to know! Another amazing and informative video that I'll definitely use in my new works and album! :D

[@OnceUponNostalgia]

Your tips are always great! I use them a lot while making my music!

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Amazing! Happy to hear! 👍

[@jasassin]

This video has been a game changer. Thank you so much for showing how to isolate the sections of the kit, but also how to treat them with compressors and EQ for each drum element.

[@alessandrofontana71]

Great video and great advises on the EQ, it’s pure gold. A trick that I’ve find out working good is adding an extra snare track with different EQ to use as a bottom snare mic simulation, to emphasize the snare wires sound as needed ;)

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Fantastic tip, thanks for sharing!

[@andyturpen]

Fantastic tutorial. Thank you so much for the clear instructions and editing. So well done, bro.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

I’m glad you found it useful! Thanks for watching! 👍

[@matthewwalker20]

I came back to reference this while doing a mix and noticed your kick drum compression preset is called "Punchy Kicky"... made me smile! I'm going to use it too!

[@Cruising_Pamela_B]

I’ve seen other tutorials like this but have thought “a lot of work for little gain” but after watching this, which is by far the best explanation I’ve seen, I revisited an old cover I had done where I wasn’t happy with the snare or ride cymbal sound, and it makes a remarkable difference. I ended up using a snare and ride cymbal from differing kits to kick,toms and high hat. Massive difference to the sound and the ability to eq each separately is massive too. Bugger - this adds another level of complication for every project I do going forward !

[@Fastvoice]

Another way to deal with that is somehow astonishing: Just go the plugins list of your GB drum track and replace the GB "Drum" plugin with a 3rd party drum plugin like "MODO drums" (works also with the free version). It will play exactly the same pattern but now you have access to every single drum instrument via the mixing window of the new drum plugin. So you can add compression, effects etc. and/or apply EQ individually. You still end up with one stereo track in GB but you can always alter the sound of every single instrument at every stage of your recording/mixing/mastering process. Doesn't work with most of the percussion instruments though if you don't have a 3rd party percussion plugin.

[@Afurthyclays]

Some very solid info! Especially the kHz suggested starting points. I'll be returning to this video periodically, as a reference. Many thanks, good man! 👍

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

My pleasure! Glad you found it useful! 👍

[@anthonycrothers5420]

Superb! Exactly what I was looking for, thanks for sharing 😎😎😎

[@YokoDiAn]

Thank you for such a great tutorial. It took me way much longer to absorb then the length of the video. I have really learned something. Thanks again for the great video. Keep healthy! Kind regards.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

I’m glad you found it useful!

[@jeffcomeau4680]

Thanks a bunch… you’ve been helping me along as I’m a beginner with GB. Step by step.. easy to follow. ✌🏼

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

My pleasure Jeff, glad you found it useful!

[@chiparooo]

I've seen this technique, but this is the best comprehensive breakdown of how to do it. Thanks for sharing!

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching! 👍

[@OrchestraEclipse]

Awesome tutorial, thanks!

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Glad you enjoyed it! 👍👍👍

[@stemoulton699]

Great advice there, I'm a beginner and this is what I need, many thanks 👍

[@clebozer]

Hey Patrick! I’m only subscribed to 3 Utubers (2 British & 1 American) and you are the reason why! A brilliant and really, really useful video as usual from you! Thanks man!

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

I’m honoured! 🙏

[@artnanne]

So great advice! Thanks!

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Thanks for watching man!

[@RussPaladino]

Thanks Patrick. Extremely useful information as always.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Cheers Russ, i'm glad you found it useful.

[@rogerm4164]

Really helpful. Thank you!

[@KMNixon]

I like to keep the original track with all the drums and use that track as a sort of Aux channel. I'll highpass the EQ to enhance the symbols and then add reverb so I don't have to add reverb on each drum track. This track will also simulates overhead mics. Your EQing tips are awesome. This is exactly what I needed. I am going to implement your settings and go from there.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Excellent tip! Thanks for sharing 👍

[@ColleenKitchen]

Right to the point! Love it! Thank you!

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rafaelsanchez5853]

Thanks for speaking so clearly. I appreciate it

[@forbiddenyoungones]

Thanks Patrick. Though I had seen parts from your earlier videos, there were still new tricks you taught this old dog.

[@davemis40]

Dude .. this is brilliant.. my drum track sounds so good now !

[@mentaltraps]

awesome tutorial!

[@CFMRocks]

Another super useful video. Thanks champ.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

My pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@filipk9073]

Excellent video ! Thank you , Patrick !

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Cheers! Thanks for watching! 👍

[@heatnationwpb]

This is invaluable information brother. Thank you!

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching! 👍

[@Cottontowngal]

this is so helpful. thank you.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Thanks for watching! 👍

[@matthewwalker20]

This is brilliant! Thank you Patrick!

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Happy you enjoyed it!

[@Primo_extracts]

Another crucial lesson. Thanks again

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Thanks for watching!

[@roartv8032]

Great and very useful vid for a beginner! Dig the accent too! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Do you have any vidz or recommendations on mixing simple old hand claps to beef them up and add more clarity etc? Cheers!

[@kaleb5516]

This really helped me ....thank you for this lesson

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

You’re welcome Thanks for watching! 👍

[@musicjazzvez]

Thank you for sharing! I am working on my next project!

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Nice!

[@transforminggravity15626]

Wow that is so cool thank you for the advice you’re the best 💯💯💯

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Cheers my friend and thanks for watching! 👍

[@transforminggravity15626]

💯💯💯🙏😎

[@KirkJanowiakAngelwood]

This is a simply excellent primer that applies far beyond GarageBand. Thanks!

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Glad you found it useful!

[@rifosi]

Yes, this was one of the good ones! Thank you, dude!

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Thanks for watching man!

[@ACelebrationofLIFEMendoza]

awesome Pat! bless you

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Thanks for watching! 👍

[@jrsmusicandwestcoastlifest2733]

Thanks. Great tutorial. Can you tell me if I would use this same approach with my alesis mesh kit? I definitely need more life out of my percussion tracks.

[@Thomas88076]

Wicked! Patrick's a Saint! 🎸

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Ha! Nice one! Thanks for watching.

[@kitosdigiovanni5926]

Well done instruction..

[@LesStrummer]

Fantastic! Thanks!

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Thanks for watching! 👍

[@NajRellim]

Hi Patrick! Another GREAT Tutorial on GarageBand Drummer. Question: Using this technique to separate the tracks from the original Drummer track; how do you recommend getting transition fills from that original Drummer track? I've had some strange results when I let the Drummer track run as I turn the Fills knob. The fills stay in the Time Line of the original drummer track, but then fall apart when I copy & paste them into the individual MIDI instrument tracks. Is the Drummer track reading some MIDI code that gets lost in the cut & paste process? Lastly, a comment: Wouldn't it be cool if once the entire song is laid out using the Arrangement bar (Intro, Verses, Chorus, Bridge, Outro) and splitting each track precisely to start and end in its respective Arrangement bar section, that GarageBand would let the user click on that section of the Arrangement Bar and then Copy & Paste all of the tracks within that respective section (Say like, copy an entire Chorus and then paste it where you want the Chorus to repeat). Maybe then have a keyboard shortcut to let the user jump by sections within the Arrangement bar?

[@syjo4701]

That was really detailed. Excellent. I have a drum problem, in that I write songs that are ballad type and I change tempo to fit my lyrics as I'm playing. It seems like nothing ever fits from the drummer list, and the changing tempo is something I can't figure out, besides the bridges or accents often come when i don't want them. Is there a way to use the keyboard to do my own drums that sound like real drum?. Seems every time I've tried that method, it sounds like a toy.

[@emotionalrelation997]

The newest GB drum sound library sounds amazing! I am still running on Garageband '11... Yes, the one from before they changed the numbering for some inane reason and confused everyone trying to normally communicate their version number. So yes that's GB 2011. I was curious, I have drum software called EZDrummer, and that's what I mostly use, since the drums on my old GB sound like weird cans unless I want 808 style, and have very limited applications. Do you have any separate drum software, and how does the new GB drum library compare in your mind? Do you actually actively use the new GB drums sounds in finalized songs, or do you end up using something else like Superior or EZDrummer? Was just curious what your thoughts of comparison were on premium drum software compared to GB drums. Personally those GB drums seem like they are sounding pretty darn good from here, but maybe not QUITE as realistic as the software... but still really really good. Anyway rock on and you are the best GB guy on YT that I know of.

[@blocklit]

What a great video, fantastic and thank you for sharing your knowledge. By the way. I really like your accent. It is Scottish right ?

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Thanks for watching and yes it is!

[@blocklit]

Fantastic 😃✌

[@peteandpuy]

Brilliant Patrick Thank you

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Thanks for watching! 👍

[@femibabs1310]

Brilliant Thanks

[@Hoges59]

Thanks heaps for explaining that. Is there any way you can convert guitars and bass to midi from audio tracks like you did with the drums???

[@kevingreg3518]

control click the midi and in the menu you will see: separate note by pitch 1000x easier but that’s Logic not sure if the command works in garage band.

[@andrewhaylett9099]

Great video Patrick, really really helpful stuff. One thing, those comp and EQ settings, can they be saved as presets so they can be selected as the starting point for every song? Saves going through that process each time. I haven’t mixed the drums at that level for my releases and I’m thinking maybe I should, now I’ve seen this video....

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Yes, absolutely!

[@andrewhaylett9099]

@@TheGaragebandGuide So i've used your tips and saved them as presets. The drums do sound amazing i have to say. Thank you!!

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

@@andrewhaylett9099 Nice one! 👍

[@Mrluchendo]

Hi mate. Great video. One question. Can you explain how to use the high and low shelffilters on iOS. Is that included in the visual eq for Mac version? I see you made a huge cut in the 20- 600 range for the hi hats? How did you do that? I am trying on iOS and cannot make it work. Also would be great to see how you Eq the crash and ride. Thanks for your videos!

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

You can’t unfortunately. The built in EQ in GarageBand iOS is very limited. I’d recommend using a free AUv3 app called LRC7 instead.

[@claudiotacconi7763]

Great video once more, thanks for sharing! To me GB is annoying when coming to drums... jazz drummers and sounds do not exist for GB?? Not even mentioning loops, the only ones are under "hip hop", and they sound horrible in a typically jazz song. I sort out this making the drum track manually, which off course takes lot of time.

[@neilballard9231]

Shit-hot! TGBG comes of age. Most useful. By far the best yet

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Glad you found it useful!

[@Simon-9986]

Can you do all this in GarageBand iOS or just on Mac?

[@Rich_the_Pack]

Ah! Thanks a lot!

[@HungryForTastyFoodAndComicArt]

Hi there, do you have a video on how to use ducking in current GarageBand? It was easy in the older versions, but the current GarageBand doesn't seem to have ducking as an option...

[@paulbannon2968]

Gem of a video! Really can't thank you enough. I'll be using it as a reference in all my drum mixes for quite a while

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Glad you found it useful Paul, Thanks for watching! 👍

[@adrielpires5741]

good tips

[@tombstoneharrystudios584]

Wonderful content and I’d like to share some secrets of my own… One thing I always tell my students when they’re creating beats with it is...use the velocity! No human drummer plays the cymbals/snare etc at the same volume all the time, and the off-beats are usually just a little quieter than the on-beats. By adjusting the velocity of these offbeats, no matter how subtly, adds a more professional and natural flow to the groove. This is especially true of electronic drum sets! On the flip side, Reggae often emphasises the offbeat and using the velocity setting adds some authenticity to the sound! Even if you consciously don’t notice it, all the drums playing at the same volume will start to sound monotonous even if the beat is exciting! That’s why the modern reconstructions of tried-and-tested funk beats can sound a little, well, bland! Another point...this is a also a great way to add a bit of JOHN BONHAM magic to the drum kits! Bonzo hit hard, but tended to play the cymbals with a much more delicate hand, so when he wanted to add more intensity he merely increased the volume of his hi-hat and cymbal work, which gave the auditory illusion that EVERYTHING was suddenly louder! Had he merely started at full volume it would have turned to unrecordable or listenable noise if he’d gone all Hulk on the skins 😂 Try it and I think you’ll like

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@pageluvva]

GREAT lesson as always but, sorry but, for me the drums as they are (with tweaking of course) sound amazing. I would rather spend time on other compositions than tweaking every drum individually. Maybe it's cause I'm 55 and my time on this planet is dwindling 😜 Much respect as always Patrick. Love what you do.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Apple have done such a good job with the drummer track, using it ‘as is’ can definitely sound great too!

[@theinterim]

How do you make feedback on the guitar?

[@jeffq5202]

Can you do this on iphone/ipad?

[@alejawy31]

Can you do this on garageband phone too?

[@Jeauntileau]

Hello👋any idea on how to do this in IOS?

[@davidhjdebrecen]

how did you open eq 8:26 and then the other eq 8:56

[@Kurjistaja]

Final comparison would have been nice in the end to prove the point.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Fair point, thanks for the feedback 👍

[@Brimontv]

Hi! What you are showing is Garageband for OS, isn't it? I can't see the drummers showed in Garageband on my Mac... + when I try to copy a loop to a midi track I get the message "Please select an audio track. Audio regions can only be pasted to Audio tracks."

[@Brimontv]

Oh! Now I found it, Patrick! 😅🖖

[@stephanbrilmayer5427]

Can I use that on the IOS version? I am not able to copy the drums on a sw piano track …

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Yes! Pete Johns has a great video on how to do it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o56ci6t9lNtmgZI

[@artnanne]

But my drum track is yellow! How do you make it green and midi?

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Watch from 3:07 - Breaking down your beat.

[@robmlisanti]

Would this work with EZ Drummer?

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

I’ve honestly never used it, but I don’t see why not.

[@NathanielFlick]

Don't forget instead of deleting midi blips you can filter the drums separately on each track using the drum track settings. Will save you hours of time on each song.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Great tip!

[@dafingaz]

🙌🏾

[@adamantiumreaver4283]

I think it would be faster to click the key and cut and paste away. I have to test it out

[@tommylarsson2025]

Personally I just turn off the drums I don't want to sound on the specific track. Both works but I find that way faster and easier. Another way to add flexibility with effects is to copy every track and use only the "wet" signal on the copied track and keep the dry signal to zero. Then you can just blend in the effect with the volume controller without risking your static mix to be changed.

[@cuda426hemi]

I never use "Drummer" or GB drums. There are things GB drums just can't do unless you take lots of time - lay clams, rush or slow down meter and most importantly piss off the rest of the band. Therefore - I trigger EZ Drummer through either my M Audio keys or my Alesis Mesh X set of drums; that way I'm ASSURED of mistakes and clams and slagged beats - aka ME !!!! Perfect ! 🥁

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

I keep hearing good things about EZ Drummer, I’ll need to check it out!

[@cuda426hemi]

@@TheGaragebandGuide Of course I was taking the piss, because really when you have GB like I do that's enough for 99% of what "we" need for recording especially before you treat them like you mentioned. Then, add the BUTTLOAD of drums and percussion you get in Mainstage 3 for $25, plus the LOGIC drums that all of a sudden appeared as an option - I had NO business getting EZ Drummer 2 - but for the fact they keep lowering the price on it and they gave me a free EZX expansion - I chose some prog rock sets. That aside - holy moly what drums - the drums are "real" and tuneable, the tweaks are endless - I don't need the Mixer or Recorder but it's a mini DAW on it's own AND you can trigger all the sets with a set of E Drums too (600 sounds on the Alesis and I'm using EZ drummer???)....the tweaks (incl EQ Compression etc) and quality drum samples make it worth the sacrifice of a night out at a cheap restaurant all day long. And I'm a cheapskate!! Keep yer powder dry, Pat! Cheers 🎸 ☮

[@TheOverlordOfProcrastination]

This not possible on iPad?😩

[@lolwithme36dd]

Serious question.. can I do all this on my iPad garageband?.. thanks!!

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Yes - good old Pete Johns has a video showing how to split your drummer track down into separate Midi tracks on iOS. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o56ci6t9lNtmgZI

[@lolwithme36dd]

@@TheGaragebandGuide Patrick you have just made my day! Much obliged good sir! 🙏👍🍻💯☺️🤘

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

@@lolwithme36dd my pleasure, enjoy!

[@lolwithme36dd]

@@TheGaragebandGuide forgive my ignorance.. I imagine this all works better using a mouse with my iPad eh?

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Or an Apple Pencil, yeah.

[@mrbeatmusic105]

epic

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Nice!

[@neverendingproductions7171]

But... Where's the compressor? There's a compressor button in EQ, on the track, and on the master... What am I supposed to do?

[@batphink2655]

That was in the 'key of awesome' LOL not that drums are in keys,well thats not all true my drums often come from my keys sa in my keyboard controller lol!

[@jhorneybarete1599]

Can you you send me drum samples of your drums? One shot samples

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

They’re all in GarageBand my man.

[@DazeyChaineMusic]

literally sounds almost exactly the same lmfao 0:37

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

I wouldn’t advise listening to a tutorial like this through your Phone’s speakers.

[@dafingaz]

Drummer is the cheat code

[@tommylarsson2025]

But you can't borrow money from a digital drummer 😂

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

True!

[@bobleglob162]

Ez drummer allows you to output each instrument to a different track...unless you're using EZ drummer in GB. In which case, you'll have to do the tedious sh!t shown in this vid. Nothin against the vid creator, just, c'mon GB!

[@redlightclinicdrummer]

talking crap about band guide I see.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Colin? Hell no! What would make you think that?!

[@adrielpires5741]

good tips