iCreate - UK (2021-07)

7

Musical Typing

We will play the synth using our

keyboard. Show the Musical Typing (cmd+K)

window and press Z to set Octave to C1. This

lowers the pitch to better suit a bass line.

8

Record It

Hit Record (R) to preview the project and

perform. Note the Arpeggiators repeating

cycle triggered by each keypress. Our line is

just five single notes, so pretty simple.

9

Tightening Time

You might need to correct the timing.

Show Editor (E),and in the RegionInspector

pick 1/16th Note from the Time Quantise

menu with the Strength slider at 1 00.

Creative GarageBand

Arpeggiator Appreciated

Exploding our example project to pick out the core points for achieving 80s bliss

Eighties Pop Bass

This synthesiser patchisn’t the only

one you can use. There are many

superb synth options within the

Library panel (Y) to try. Just bear

in mind that many don’t show the

Arpeggiator in SmartControls.

What is an Arpeggiator?

An arpeggiator refers to arpeggio

or the playing of individual notes

within a chord. In synth terms and

GarageBand’splug-in,it worksvery

much this way, but you don’t necessarily

have to play chords. The various presets

offer choices here in terms of notes

and timing, but essentially it triggers

repeating cycles from each keyboard

press or MIDI note.

Knowledge base

Synth Bass Track

The green MIDI region is just

a single note line. If you toggle

the Arpeggiator off, it will

sound precisely that way and

lose that pulsating rhythmic

cycling so synonymous with

80s pop music.

Arpeggiator Plug-in

The button here toggles the

Arpeggiator on and off. However,

the dropdown is where you

define how it behaves, choosing

order, rate and octave range for

arpeggio notes. There aresome

presets also worth exploring.

Delayed Effect

Adding plenty of delay and

reverb is a key tip for an 80s

sound. In Smart Controls (B) you

can set the parameters for the

synth patch and play with things

like FM, Envelope and Decay.