Now you’ll want to experiment with the amp effects of each track to find different tones that complement each other. Don’t be afraid to mix clean tones with heavily distorted ones if the song allows; remember, variety is key.
Select Track > New Track > Electric Guitar to find GarageBand's built-in amp effects.
Recording engineers recommend keeping vocal tracks as unadorned as possible. But there are some things you can do to improve the sound of your vocals
Most of us can’t afford the top-of-the-line microphones used by most studios, but you’d be amazed by how much of a impact a clear-sounding, quality mic in the $100-to-$200 range can have on your vocal mix. Muddiness is the enemy of a professional, lifelike sound.
Samson's CO3U USB studio condenser mic can be found for under $100 online.
Vocal tracks can wander all over the place in terms of volume. The solution: compression. In the Track Info pane, under Details, make sure Compressor is checked. If you still get volume spikes, click on the Edit button next to the Compressor drop-down and boost the Ratio.
Use compression to keep volume consistent and make mixing more manageable.
Well-placed harmonies give the impression of a full band at work. But if you’re not the harmonizing type consider simply doubling your lead vocal in spots—or actually, tripling: As with guitars, you want two different backing tracks, to pan left and right.
Bass track tend to be shoved into the background, and that's a shame. A solid bass line really brings an arrangement together.
As with vocals, a bass track can have pretty dramatic volume swings. So lay the compression on thick here, too; keeping the volume consistent allows bass dynamics to be heard without overwhelming the mix.
Real instruments' compressor effect is found under the Edit tab.
Choose a bass amp tone that contrasts with your guitar tones. That is, if your guitars sound “sharp”—think piercing metal solos or super-jangly British tones—choose a warmer, more rounded bass tone, like “Round Bass” or “Seventies Bass.” Conversely, if the guitars are all mellow tones and big, full chords, consider sharper tones like “Bright Bass” or “Edgy Bass.”
Sharpen or dull your bass sound in counterpoint to the guitars to help this underrated instrument stand out.
Most of the hints for recording these four basic instruments can apply to other instruments as well; experiment to find the combination that works best for your style. The best part about digital home recording is that you never run out of tape, and you never have to pay for studio time. So remember the most important rule: Have fun.
