There is a second software keyboard available to use in GarageBand. In the Musical Typing window, select the piano icon in the top-left corner to switch to a representation of a piano keyboard. You can select the icon to the right to switch back to Musical Typing. GarageBand is a comprehensive digital audio workstation (DAW) application that ships with all versions of Apple's Mac OS X operating system. It can record and edit audio and MIDI data in a variety of ways, while being more user-friendly than professional DAW environments; such as Apple's Logic.
GarageBand User Guide for iPad
Using the Keyboard Touch Instrument, you can play different keyboards, including grand piano, electric piano, organ, clavinet, and synthesizer, by tapping the keys.
You can choose a keyboard sound, move higher or lower on the keyboard, hold notes, and change the keyboard layout and size. Some keyboards include controls for pitch bend, modulation, velocity, and other sound parameters. Alchemy synth sounds have an extended set of controls that you can use to customize the sound.
You can now use the chord strips (previously available on the Smart Keyboard) with all keyboard sounds to play chords, bass notes, and comping patterns.
Choose a keyboard sound
Tap the name of the sound near the top of the screen, then tap the sound you want to play. You can also swipe left or right to change to the previous or next sound. To view keyboard sounds in a different category, tap one of the category names.
Play higher or lower on the keyboard
To move the keyboard by octaves, tap the Octave Down or Octave Up button. To return to the keyboard’s middle range, tap the Reset button between the octave buttons. The number on the button shows the current octave transposition.
Hold notes longer
Touch and hold the Sustain control as you play. You can also drag the Sustain control to the right to lock it on.
Organ sounds have a Rotation switch instead of a Sustain control.
Change the keyboard layout and size
Tap the Keyboard button , then tap the single- or double-row keyboard to change the layout.
Tap the Keyboard button, then tap the small, medium, or large-size keyboard to change the size.
Bend notes and modulate the sound
Some keyboard sounds, including synthesizers and clavs, have pitch bend (Pitch) and modulation (Mod) wheels in the controls area. You can use these to bend notes or change the character of the sound as you play the keyboard.
Drag the Pitch wheel up or down to bend the pitch of notes as you play.
Drag the Mod wheel up or down to change the sound of the keyboard. Modulation can add vibrato, resonance, or other changes to the sound.
Adjust the touch sensitivity of the keys
Increasing the touch sensitivity makes notes sound louder or softer depending on how hard you tap the keys.
Tap the Keyboard button , and turn on Velocity.
Pinch the two ends of the Velocity bar apart to increase the sensitivity range, or pinch them together to decrease the range.
Drag the Velocity bar up or down to move the sensitivity range. This is particularly useful after pinching the ends closer together to limit sensitivity to a narrow range.
Play the keyboard by swiping left or right
You can control the keyboard in different ways by swiping left or right across the keys. By default, swiping horizontally plays notes on the keyboard smoothly. You can change the swiping behavior using the Glissando button.
To move higher or lower on the keyboard by swiping across the keys, tap the button until it says Scroll.
To return to the default behavior, tap the button until it says Glissando.
Some instruments, particularly synthesizers, have a third setting. For these instruments, to slide smoothly between notes (called portamento), tap the button until it says Pitch.
Adjust the sound
Some keyboard sounds, including electric piano, synthesizer, and organ, include knobs or other controls you can use to change the sound while you play. When available, the knobs are labeled with the sound parameters they control. When you record the Keyboard, any movements to the controls are also recorded.
Turn the knobs while you play the keyboard, and listen to how the sound changes.
Adjust Alchemy synth sounds
Alchemy synth sounds include additional parameter knobs, the Transform Pad, and XY pads. You can view the other Alchemy synth controls by swiping the controls area left or right.
The Transform Pad has eight sections (called snapshots) that represent a group of settings for the sound of the instrument. You can adjust the sound by tapping a snapshot or dragging the rectangular framing box between the snapshots. When the framing box is over one snapshot, you hear the sound of that snapshot. When the framing box partially covers multiple snapshots, the sound of those snapshots is transformed to create a new sound. The amount that each covered snapshot contributes to the sound is determined by how much of the framing box covers the snapshot.
Do one of the following:
Play using a single snapshot: Tap a snapshot to place the framing box over it.
Transform the sound between multiple snapshots: Drag the framing box so that it partially covers the snapshots.
Transform the sound using Gyro control: Tap the Gyro Control button above the keyboard and tilt your iPad to move the framing box.
Transform the sound using the XY pads: Swipe the controls area left or right to view the XY pads, then drag the pucks on the two XY pads. Moving a puck changes the X and Y axis values on its pad.
Adjust organ sounds
Organ keyboard sounds include drawbars on the left side of the controls area. Drawbars let you quickly change the sound of the organ by adjusting the relative volume of different harmonics or stops. The drawbars are arranged left to right from lower to higher stops; dragging a drawbar down increases the volume of its harmonic, while dragging it up decreases the volume of its harmonic.
You can also control the speed of the rotating speaker effect using the Rotation switch.
Make the speaker rotate faster or slower: Drag the Rotation switch right or left.
Adjust the sound with Face Control
If your iPad supports facial recognition, you can add vibrato, resonance, or other changes to some keyboard sounds by moving your mouth while you play.
Hold your iPad 10–20 inches (25–50 cm) away from your face and tap the Face Control button .
The first time you use Face Control, GarageBand asks for permission to access the camera on your iPad.
As you play, open and close your mouth to change the sound.
To turn Face Control off, tap the Face Control button again.
When playing Alchemy synth sounds, you cannot use Gyro Control and Face Control at the same time.
Note: GarageBand uses ARKit face tracking features to translate your facial expressions into instrument effect controls. Your face information is processed on device, and only music is captured during your performance.
Play the keyboard using a particular scale
Tap the Scale button , then tap the scale you want to play.
After you choose a scale, the keyboard changes to show note bars rather than keys. Tap the bars to play the notes of the scale.
View note labels on the keyboard
You can view note labels for every key on the keyboard.
Close GarageBand.
Open the Settings app, scroll down, then tap GarageBand.
Tap Keyboard Note Labels.
Play arpeggios automatically
The Keyboard Touch Instrument includes an arpeggiator. When you turn on the arpeggiator, chords you play on the keyboard are arpeggiated, or played one note at a time rather than simultaneously.
Note: The arpeggiator is not available for Alchemy synth sounds listed under Arpeggiated.
Tap the Arpeggiator button , then tap the Run switch.
When you turn on the Arpeggiator, other controls appear below the Run switch, letting you set the order, rate, and octave range of arpeggiated notes.
Tap Note Order, then choose the direction of arpeggiated notes.
Tap Note Rate, then choose a note value for arpeggiated notes, based on the tempo of the song.
Tap the Octave Range up or down arrow to set how many octaves the arpeggio covers.
When the Arpeggiator is turned on, the Sustain control becomes a Latch control. If you touch and hold or lock the Latch control, the current arpeggio keeps playing. Tapping a different key transposes the current arpeggio to start on the tapped note.
Play the keyboard using chord strips
Tap the Chord Strips button to view the chord strips.
Play chords or bass notes with chord strips
Play chords higher or lower: Tap one of the five upper segments of a chord strip.
Play a bass note or sets of bass notes: Tap one of the three lower segments of a chord strip.
Play chords and bass notes together: Tap an upper segment and a lower segment at the same time.
You can add your own custom chords to play.
Play comping patterns
Turn the Autoplay knob to one of the numbered positions.
Tap a segment of one of the chord strips.
The upper segments (showing the chord names) play chords and bass notes together.
The middle segments play chords only. Tapping with two or three fingers plays variations of the pattern.
The lower segments play bass notes only.
Tap the segment again to stop playing the pattern.
Chord strips for monophonic keyboard sounds are not divided into segments. Turn the Autoplay knob to select a pattern that plays when you tap the chord strips. Tapping a different chord strip plays the same pattern with the notes of that chord.
Save your own custom sounds
Modify an existing keyboard sound by adjusting the keyboard controls.
Tap the name of the keyboard sound near the top of the screen, then tap Save.
Type a name for your custom sound, then tap Done.
The first time you save a custom sound, a new Custom category appears. You can rename or delete the sound by tapping Edit, then tapping the icon (to rename the sound) or the red circle (to delete the sound).
If you’re sick of using the Musical Typing keyboard in Garageband, then look no further than this article. Connecting a keyboard MIDI controller to Garageband is incredibly simple.
Without further ado,
This is how you connect a keyboard into GarageBand.
The process for connecting a keyboard into your computer and DAW is identical for nearly all of them nowadays. However, with Apple and other laptop makers opting for USB-C, you may have to purchase a USB-C to USB cable. Click the link here to get one.
You don’t have to purchase an Apple one, necessarily. There are other good ones as well that are half the price, but I have the Apple one, and it’s the one I use, so I recommend it because I know it works from experience.
When purchasing a new MIDI Keyboard, it’ll likely come with all of the cables necessary for use, including the USB Firewire Cable, which you can also pick up at Amazon for fairly cheap if your keyboard, for whatever reason, didn’t come with it.
1) Assuming that you have the brand new MacBook Pro, you can connect your MIDI Keyboard by a USB Firewire cable directly into the back of the Keyboard.
2) Plug your *USB-C to USB adapter into your laptop.
3) Plug your USB Firewire into your *USB-C to USB adapter.
4) Now open Garageband.
5) After you’ve opened up the program, you don’t have to use musical typing anymore. The keyboard will automatically work right away, without any problems.
*If you have an older computer, it’s possible that you may not even need this adaptor. The keyboard, through the USB port, should be able to connect to your laptop.
In the past, MIDI Keyboards were connected through the use of Pin Drivers, but new MIDI Keyboards usually use USB. If you want to connect an older keyboard into Garageband, you’ll need a MIDI to USB adaptor.
What MIDI keyboard should I use for Garageband?
Considering you’re likely in the beginning stages of music production, I would recommend getting an Acorn Masterkey 49.
You can pick one of these up on Amazon. Click the link here to read more about the one I own. It has 49 keys, which is essential if you’re trying to get the full range of the piano (it‘s the one in the display picture for this blog post).
In my opinion, a 25-key is good for traveling and when you need something on the road, but for regular music production, a 49-key or larger is best.
It’s a nice little starter keyboard and it works perfectly for a beginner. There are even more options available, like a 61-key, and an 88-key.
Perhaps the most popular keyboard out right now is the Akai MPK Mini Mk2. A lot of people prefer this little machine, and there are more expensive, larger, and superior versions available.
In addition to the price, the Akai MPK Mini Mk2 only has 25 keys, so I didn’t want to get it for that reason.
Once you’ve gotten some experience under your belt, you can pick up a more professional keyboard like the Akai MPK, but it’s certainly not necessary for a beginner to drop this kind of money.
How To Assign Sounds to MIDI Keyboard in Garageband?
From what I understand, it’s not actually possible to assign individual samples to different keys in GarageBand anymore. I don’t know how to do it, and after scouring the internet for answers, I, unfortunately, can’t find a way.
In prior versions of the software, it was possible, but I don’t think you can anymore, for whatever reason. What Apple giveth, it also taketh away.
I could be wrong. Let me know in the comment section below if you know how to do this because I don’t.
If you have the older version of Garageband. The tutorial video at this linkwill show you how.
Piano Keyboard For Ipad Garageband Pro
How To Use A MIDI Keyboard in Garageband?
Background and General Information
The moment you connect your keyboard into your computer, it should work right away. Garageband will recognize exactly what tool you’re using the moment you connect it.
It works the same way that the Musical Typing option does, but with a much bigger range, which makes writing music a lot easier, especially if you like to use the piano.
MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. The ability to change phrases of music after you’ve recorded it is the main benefit of using MIDI.
For instance, if you’ve written a piano riff using a MIDI Controller, you can go back and adjust the timing, velocity, rhythm, as well as the pitch of the note.
It’s a lot easier to change and modify music created through a MIDI Controller, in comparison to an analog recording.
Tip: After making a melody with a MIDI Controller, open a new track with whatever instrument you want, and then copy and paste it into the new Software Instrument Track.
For instance, if you’ve created a melody using the Steinway Grand Piano, you could copy and paste your music into a new Software Instrument Track like String Movements, thus, filling out your mix within seconds.
Using the MIDI Keyboard
To use the MIDI Controller, you’ll have to open a “Software Instrument” track. On the left-hand corner of the string, Garageband has all of the different instruments and settings that you can use.
When using the MIDI controller for creating drums, the drum sounds will usually be within the first octave of the keyboard. Most drum-kits have a limited number of sounds, usually around 9-12.
When creating melodies, whether, through the use of the Steinway Grand Piano, or a Synth, the MIDI controller offers the range of however many keys you have with your controller.
Creating A New Software Instrument Track
If you want to create another Software Instrument track, click on the Track Header using the “secondary click (right click)” function, and choose New Software Instrument Track, or New Track With Duplicate Settings.
Deleting the Software Instrument or Audio Track
If you want to delete the existing Software Instrument Track, use the (Command + Delete) function.
Changing the Timing, Pitch, and Velocity (loudness) Of Your MIDI Notes
Through the use of the “Piano Roll Grid,” at the bottom of Garageband, you can adjust the timing and pitch of each note played.
Some people don’t even use the keyboard to create melodies and drum tracks, you can manually type in each MIDI note by double-tapping your trackpad and selecting the “create note” option.
Like I said before, the best part about using a MIDI controller is that you can fix mistakes that you’ve made simply by changing the position of the MIDI note.
How To Change The Timing Of Your MIDI Notes
The notes, which are little green squares, can easily be moved around by clicking and dragging it to the desired pitch and time.
If you use the Zoom-In function on your Mac, you’ll see that the Piano Roll Grid is divided up with equally distributed lines.
If you want your music to be perfectly in time, just drag and drop the MIDI notes to the closest line, that way your melody is in time, and when you create drums later, everything will be synchronized.
This is legitimately important. Otherwise, your melody is going to sound off-balance and weird. Although, maybe that’s what you want.
How To Change The Pitch Of The Notes
Drag and drop the MIDI notes either up or down to the desired pitch. On the left-hand side of the “Piano Roll Grid,” you’ll notice there is a vertical keyboard, showing at which point each note is played respectively to the piano.
Also, if you hover your cursor of the note, it’ll tell you the pitch, as well as the velocity (strength) of the sound.
How To Change The Velocity (loudness) of the Notes
To my knowledge, there are two ways of doing this in the newest version of Garageband. On the left-hand side of the “Piano Roll Grid,” you’ll see a slider along with the title, “Velocity.”
After selecting your note, you can change the loudness or strength of that note by dragging the slider to the left or right. Increasing the value, (0-100), will make it louder, and decreasing it will make it softer.
Underneath that option, there is also the “Controller” option. You get to this setting by clicking on the button, “Show/Hide Automation.”
Click the power button that looks like a typical “Power” Function.
Then you can drag the vertical slider up and down to change the loudness of that note.
Truthfully, using a MIDI Keyboard in a DAW is a straightforward process, and through a bit of trial and error, you should be able to figure it out.
How To Open Keyboard in GarageBand
Use the (Command + K) option to bring up musical typing in Garageband. You can also select the “Show Musical Typing” option in the settings in the toolbar up top in the DAW.
Additionally, if you want access to a much bigger, but more limited way of playing the keyboard, then click on the option, “Show Keyboard.”
This isn’t nearly as good as using a regular MIDI Keyboard, but it’ll do if you don’t want to go out and buy a keyboard, which you definitely should do.
Why Isn’t My MIDI Keyboard Working?
1) Make sure that you’ve selected the correct input and output options within your Garageband preferences to start. Usually, this part isn’t even necessary, but if your MIDI controller isn’t working for whatever reason, you can adjust these settings.
2) If your MIDI Keyboard isn’t working, go into your Garageband Preferences, Select “Audio/MIDI,” and then click the “re-set the MIDI Drivers” button.
3) Is it possible that your Instrument Track has been muted? In the “Track Header” region, you can see there are two buttons, one that looks like a loudspeaker with a line through it, and another one that looks like a pair of headphones.
The one that looks like a speaker is the “Mute” button, and the Headphones button is the “Solo” button that isolates that particular sound within your mix, in case you want to just hear that one track, and not the others.
You’ll know your mute button is selected because it’ll turn a turquoise green and the MIDI region is no longer green, but a darker shade of grey.
When the “Solo” button is turned on, it’s yellow.
Piano Keyboard For Ipad Garageband And Reason 10 1
Also, if you’ve accidentally isolated a track using the “Solo” button, you won’t be able to hear the MIDI controller, unless you’re currently playing the MIDI Controller through that particular “Software Instrument” track.
4) Another potential reason is that you’ve slid the “Volume Slider” all the way to the left, effectively muting the track.
5) Check your MIDI Keyboard connection. It may have something to do with your USB Firewire Cable.
6) If your computer isn’t recognizing your MIDI Controller, unplug and plug it back in after restarting Garageband.
A way to tell if your computer has recognized the controller is by hitting a note on your MIDI Controller, and seeing if it registers that note at the top of the DAW.
If you hit one note, a little circle will appear in the top right-hand corner of the “Beats Position Display” at the top-center of Garageband.
If you play a chord on the MIDI Controller, Garageband will tell you the exact chord.
Another way of checking to see if your computer recognizes the keyboard is to go into the “About This Mac” settings. Then click on “System Report.”
Go all the way down to where it says “USB,” and click on that.
On the right-hand side of the menu, it will say what’s connected to your computer currently. On mine, it says the name of the device, “masterkey 49.”
7) Try another USB (USB-C) Port on your computer. If you’re using the new MacBook, try a different device, it may be the adaptor.
Remember, the simplest solution is usually the correct one.
YouTube Video Tutorial
Conclusion
Ipad Piano Keyboard
That’s all for this tutorial. I hope it was helpful for you.