Learn How to Use GarageBand for Online Music Lessons!

Online Lessons are Efficient for Music Theory and J-POP Analysis!

In this article, we’ll explain how to set up your environment to use the popular DAW software “GarageBand” for online music theory, j-pop analysis and DTM lessons.

Main Steps

Here are the main steps for getting started with GarageBand for online lessons:

1. Check your microphone and speaker settings in Zoom
2. Launch GarageBand
3. Change the audio device to “Zoom Audio Device”
4. Open the Steinway Grand Piano sound
5. Open the Soft Square Lead sound
6. Turn on “Original Sound” when joining the lesson
7. Share your screen and sound

This guide assumes you will be using Zoom for your lessons. If you have a Mac with Apple Silicon, make sure to install the version of Zoom that is designed for Apple Silicon.

Step 1: Check Your Zoom Audio Settings

First, open Zoom and click the settings icon highlighted in the red box.

Next, check your microphone and speaker settings under the “Audio” tab. Choose either your audio interface or the built-in microphone and speakers. If your instructor has specific instructions, follow them. If not, use the setup you used during your initial consultation.

Make sure to check the box for “Original Sound for Musicians.” Afterward, enable both “High Fidelity Music Mode” and “Echo Cancellation.”

Step 2: Launch GarageBand

Next, launch GarageBand. You can use any previously saved project, but if you’re starting fresh, select “Empty Project.” If you don’t see this screen, press “⌘+N” to create a new project.

Select “MIDI” to create a new track.

Step 3: Change the Audio Device to “Zoom Audio Device”

Similar to Zoom, you also need to adjust the audio settings in GarageBand. Go to “GarageBand” → “Preferences” → “Audio/MIDI” and change both the input (microphone) and output (speaker) devices to “Zoom Audio Device.” This setup is needed during lessons, but be sure to switch back to your regular settings for music production, or you won’t hear any sound.

If “Zoom Audio Device” doesn’t appear, try sharing your screen and sound in Zoom (Step 7), then restart GarageBand.

Step 4: Open the Steinway Grand Piano Sound

Next, open the “Library” from the top-left corner of the screen. Click “Piano” → “Steinway Grand Piano” to load the piano sound.

Step 5: Open the Soft Square Lead Sound

In addition to the piano, you’ll need to create another track. Open the “Library” again, then go to “Synthesizer” → “Lead” → “Soft Square Lead.”

This sound will be used as a guide melody. Other sounds can work, but it’s best to choose one that stands out and doesn’t blend with other instruments or sounds.

Step 6: Turn on “Original Sound” When Joining the Lesson

If “Original Sound” is not enabled, Zoom may treat the piano sound as noise and cancel it out. Click “Original Sound: Off” at the top of the Zoom window to turn it on. You may need to adjust this setting for each lesson, so follow your instructor’s guidance.

Step 7: Share Your Screen and Sound

When sharing GarageBand’s sound with your instructor, check both “Share Screen” and “Share Sound” in Zoom. If you’ve changed your audio device to “Zoom Audio Device” in Step 3, you won’t be able to hear the sound from GarageBand without completing this step.

Reference Video