GarageBand, oh GarageBand, how I adore you!
This year we finally have OS X on the 2 eMac labs in the library. Finally! We've been waiting for a long time for the district to make the leap from OS 9 to OS X, and now that we've finally arrived, we are seeing the dramatic impact of having GarageBand on all machines.
Management
We used to struggle mightily with students' inappropriate use of the computers. Instant messaging, chatting, visiting web sites with questionable content were some of the biggest issues that we had to contend with in previous years. Now we're seeing so much less of that because of GarageBand. Students are plugging in and tuning up! It's arguably the easiest application to teach, and interest in this application has spread like wildfire without the slightest need of encouragement by library staff. We're delighted to see students use these computers for productive purposes when they are visiting the library during lunch and study hall periods.
Intuitive
GB is one of the most intuitive apps I've ever encountered, especially considering how deceptively powerful it is. Yes, I know that ProTools is the industry standard, but ProTools is on the other end of the learning spectrum. I spent an entire summer getting familiar with the basics of ProTools, yet I mastered the basics of GB in less than an hour. Students are learning very quickly, and they are able to learn the fundamentals of working with loops within a few short minutes. I tend to teach the app in increments, allowing them to absorb a set of new skills before moving on to more complex tasks, such as shaping the pan and volume, processing the audio with various effects, and working with the master track.
My Use of GB
I've been using GB since its inception for my home recording projects, and it is the perfect tool for my needs. Granted, I don't do anything too complicated—I typically lay down less than 10 tracks with real instruments, including guitar (electric and acoustic), bass, banjo, harmonica, and vocals. I have an inexpensive (less than $100) analog to digital USB audio converter by Edirol, and a fantastic dynamic mic by MXL, purchased from MusiciansFriend for less than $100, and that's all I need. I would love to have a MIDI USB keyboard, but that would be a luxury. The creative process is more important than the tools themselves, which is why I prefer to use tools that help me to unleash the creative process with the least amount of distraction and frustration.
This year we finally have OS X on the 2 eMac labs in the library. Finally! We've been waiting for a long time for the district to make the leap from OS 9 to OS X, and now that we've finally arrived, we are seeing the dramatic impact of having GarageBand on all machines.
Management
We used to struggle mightily with students' inappropriate use of the computers. Instant messaging, chatting, visiting web sites with questionable content were some of the biggest issues that we had to contend with in previous years. Now we're seeing so much less of that because of GarageBand. Students are plugging in and tuning up! It's arguably the easiest application to teach, and interest in this application has spread like wildfire without the slightest need of encouragement by library staff. We're delighted to see students use these computers for productive purposes when they are visiting the library during lunch and study hall periods.
Intuitive
GB is one of the most intuitive apps I've ever encountered, especially considering how deceptively powerful it is. Yes, I know that ProTools is the industry standard, but ProTools is on the other end of the learning spectrum. I spent an entire summer getting familiar with the basics of ProTools, yet I mastered the basics of GB in less than an hour. Students are learning very quickly, and they are able to learn the fundamentals of working with loops within a few short minutes. I tend to teach the app in increments, allowing them to absorb a set of new skills before moving on to more complex tasks, such as shaping the pan and volume, processing the audio with various effects, and working with the master track.
My Use of GB
I've been using GB since its inception for my home recording projects, and it is the perfect tool for my needs. Granted, I don't do anything too complicated—I typically lay down less than 10 tracks with real instruments, including guitar (electric and acoustic), bass, banjo, harmonica, and vocals. I have an inexpensive (less than $100) analog to digital USB audio converter by Edirol, and a fantastic dynamic mic by MXL, purchased from MusiciansFriend for less than $100, and that's all I need. I would love to have a MIDI USB keyboard, but that would be a luxury. The creative process is more important than the tools themselves, which is why I prefer to use tools that help me to unleash the creative process with the least amount of distraction and frustration.
posted by Armin Heurich at Thursday, October 13, 2005
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