iCreate - UK (2020-05)

GarageBand

How to control Wah-Wah

effects with automation

O

ne of the most iconic effects synonymous with the

electric guitar is the ‘Wah-Wah’ pedal. Developed in

1966 by Warwick Electronics Inc and then marketed

by Vox and Dunlop Manufacturing, it adds a duck-like quacking

sound by rapidly fluctuating tone. Rocking between two

extremes of bass and treble, traditionally with the foot, players

like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton popularised Wah on landmark

recordings. So for guitarists, it’s a big deal and one of the more

essential units included within GarageBand’s Pedalboard. In this

guide we look specifically at how either of the Classic or Modern

Wah pedals here can be controlled using track automation. The

principle applies to all stompboxes in fact, but in this instance we

illustrate how automation curves can change the pedal position.

Use track automations to manipulate pedalboard units such as Wah

Time needed

Developer

Apple, Inc

You can plot the movement of the Wah pedal by

forming a ‘curve’ from the automation points

Working with Wah

Pointing out the most relevant areas of interest

when adding automation to Wah pedals

20-30

Fuzz-Wah alternative

Wah-wah isn’t always pedal-based and in fact

you can find a ‘Fuzz-Wah’ plugin effect within

GarageBand too. This more versatile variant

offers wider options including ‘Wah Mode’ for

selecting Classic, Retro and Modern units. It

also crucially adds ‘Auto-Wah’ depth that uses

a frequency filter to achieve faster, stricter

results. This plugin can also be manipulated

using automation, with broader access to the

additional parameters.

Knowledge base

Automation parameter

With Automation shown (A), we get this

dropdown added to track headers. By

selecting any Automation, Smart Controls

or in fact plugins we assign them to an

automation curve, including Pedalboard

stompboxes like Wah pedals.

Automation

curve

By selecting Pedalboard:

Pedal Position, this line

allows you to form a

‘curve’ from automation

points to actually plot the

movement of the Wah

pedal back and forth. Up

pushes it forwards, down

tilts it back.

Track Inspector

The Track Inspector within

Smart Controls is useful

because it allows plugins

to be added to any track,

such as ours containing an

Apple Loop. It can hold six

different effects including

the Pedalboard itself.

The Pedalboard

This is actually a

plugin, just like Amp

Designer, and is added

automatically to an Audio

track when recording.

By adding it we get

access to stompbox

effects, which include the

two Classic and Modern

Wah pedals.

GarageBand

How to control Wah-Wah

effects with automation

O

ne of the most iconic effects synonymous with the

electric guitar is the ‘Wah-Wah’ pedal. Developed in

1966 by Warwick Electronics Inc and then marketed

by Vox and Dunlop Manufacturing, it adds a duck-like quacking

sound by rapidly fluctuating tone. Rocking between two

extremes of bass and treble, traditionally with the foot, players

like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton popularised Wah on landmark

recordings. So for guitarists, it’s a big deal and one of the more

essential units included within GarageBand’s Pedalboard. In this

guide we look specifically at how either of the Classic or Modern

Wah pedals here can be controlled using track automation. The

principle applies to all stompboxes in fact, but in this instance we

illustratehowautomationcurvescanchangethepedal position.

Use track automations to manipulate pedalboard units such as Wah

Time needed

Developer

Apple, Inc

You can plot the movement of the Wah pedal by

forming a ‘curve’ from the automation points

Working with Wah

Pointingout themostrelevant areasof interest

whenaddingautomationto Wahpedals

20-30

Fuzz-Wahalternative

Wah-wahisn’talwayspedal-basedandin fact

youcanfinda ‘Fuzz-Wah’plugineffectwithin

GarageBandtoo.Thismoreversatilevariant

offerswideroptionsincluding‘WahMode’for

selectingClassic,RetroandModernunits.It

alsocruciallyadds‘Auto-Wah’depththatuses

a frequencyfilterto achievefaster,stricter

results.Thisplugincanalsobemanipulated

usingautomation,withbroaderaccessto the

additionalparameters.

Knowledge base

Automationparameter

WithAutomationshown(A),wegetthis

dropdownaddedto trackheaders.By

selectinganyAutomation,SmartControls

orin factpluginsweassignthemto an

automationcurve,includingPedalboard

stompboxeslikeWahpedals.

Automation

curve

ByselectingPedalboard:

PedalPosition,thisline

allowsyouto forma

‘curve’fromautomation

pointsto actuallyplotthe

movementof theWah

pedalbackandforth.Up

pushesit forwards,down

tiltsit back.

TrackInspector

TheTrackInspectorwithin

SmartControlsis useful

becauseit allowsplugins

to beaddedto anytrack,

suchasourscontainingan

AppleLoop.It canholdsix

differenteffectsincluding

thePedalboarditself.

The Pedalboard

This is actually a

plugin, just like Amp

Designer, and is added

automatically to an Audio

track when recording.

By adding it we get

access to stompbox

effects, which include the

two Classic and Modern

Wah pedals.