Garageband for ipad has the same crap problem as every other iOS music app....

[Physicsdummy]

Does anyone else have this bug on GB that when you pick a different guitar you hear static and then the guitars don't produce sound anymore?

 

[Stetrain]

Wow just wow...

Many people do not understand the concept of practicing and the value of recording those sessions quickly and on the fly and the fun and convenience of doing it on an ipad.

I used to do this on my crappy verizon windows smartphone 5-6 years ago and yes the quality was horrid but I could hear pitch and rhythm.

It is amazing after I said I just wanted to use it as a low quality practice tool that people still insist that if I want to do this i need a 200-300 dollar mic(that said I will probably pick up the apogee or blue) at minimum and if I am a "professional" more.

In my business "professionals" spend there free time practicing and getting better or we do not work. We leave the recording up to the "professional" engineers.

Forgive me for thinking something as simple as the recording level should be including on what apple considers to be a comprehensive amateur DAW.

My needs are specific and probably not required for everyone but the
funny thing is my sister emailed me earlier this evening and she and her husband record guitar and vocal tracks for fun and she asked me "how do I control the internal mic volume on garageband for ipad like we do on the mac?"

No joke.

i told her to sing softer or stick a pillow over her ipad and told her to buy a $10k protools DAW if she wants to do that.

She laughed............

Sorry you seem to be so upset, but somebody posted an app that had a software input level adjustment. Have you tried it? That will answer the main question here, whether the issue is purely software or whether your needs truly outstrip the hardware capabilities of the iPad's microphone.

 

[ee4life]

hi OP, the studiotrack app seems to have what you need and more? (http://www.sonomawireworks.com/iphone/studiotrack/) it does cost a fair bit though

still puzzles me why some people need to validate their opinions of naysaying. if you're not going to offer any positive input to add to a discussion, why bother with a slamming "no, you shouldnt be expecting that" etc rah rah rah.. if a post is too "whingey" for you, go participate in other posts instead

Don't think that does what he wants. It allows one to monitor the input levels, but not adjust them it seems. Their guide says that input level monitoring is achieved by adjusting the source volume (duh) or readjusting the position/direction of the mic, but nothing about a software capability for doing so.

 

[vrDrew]

No record level on the mic or mic input!!!!

I looked again, and there certainly DOES appear to be a way to control the sound level from either the built-in mic, or from a line-input.

In the Audio Input instrument, in the upper left, at about 10.30 on the noise level meter there is an icon showing an audio plug. Press this, and it brings up a slider they have called "Audio Gate." This allows you to manually set the maximum input level.

Problem solved?

 

[ovrlrd]

I looked again, and there certainly DOES appear to be a way to control the sound level from either the built-in mic, or from a line-input.

In the Audio Input instrument, in the upper left, at about 10.30 on the noise level meter there is an icon showing an audio plug. Press this, and it brings up a slider they have called "Audio Gate." This allows you to manually set the maximum input level.

Problem solved?

Another problem solved because someone didn't RTFM*

* The theoretical manual that doesn't exist.

 

[radiohead14]

You have a valid argument but you've fallen into the trap that so many other Apple users do when they run into a questionable problem. You thought you could have an Apple discussion on an Apple discussion board.

Unfortunately, the way things work is that when Apple does something right then everyone gloats that Apple just did the impossible. But if Apple does something odd then the defenses go up and it's now your fault for expecting Apple to do the impossible. It stinks because there really should be a board for sensible Mac users to discuss problems like this without getting punched in the face for questioning fearless leader.

That's completely irrelevant. He did say he's a professional musician, but at no point did he say he was trying to record professional quality tracks. All these morons coming on the offensive against the OP didn't even bother to read his follow-up posts.

He wants to record without his instruments clipping from too high on an input level. It's the same reason why, if you use a headset to chat on your Mac or PC, you usually don't have the input level for the mic set to its' maximum.

This is such a reasonable thing for the OP to bring up and for once is a legitimate thread on the forums on a fresh topic. I don't see what people get out of coming in here assuming that the OP is trying to record tracks for actual professional use. He never said that or implied it, and it's irritating to see the attacks in here that are totally uncalled for.

wow.. posters that actually read others' posts and are sensible.. i wish more of you guys existed here

anyway, to the op: garageband is one of the reasons i'm considering getting the ipad (for rough sketches on the fly as well), so hopefully there is an input level there to solve this issue. i was talking to my friend who just got the new one and mentioned that there's a noise gate level (this might be what vrDrew mentioned above also). i know this isn't exactly what you're looking for, but it might help cut off some of the distortions you're getting. she's not sure if it's only implemented on the guitar amp screen, but maybe it's something to look into, and hopefully it doesn't take away from the dynamics. goodluck!

 

[juliancs]

An attenuate or a cheap "ipod mic" type device will get you what you want, if you were happy of your phone recordings.

I would, however, suggest something like the Zoom H4n or even better the Tascam DR-100. They will record your sessions in stereo, easily transferred to a computer, and the quality is astounding. They, especially the zoom, can be had cheap on ebay.

And a pro-tools rig does not cost 10k

Good luck!

 

[dougb256]

No way that would work with the iPad using the camera connector because it requires the full USB power to do 48V phantom power. Not to mention that the camera connector is pretty hit or miss for that purpose anyway. It's better to just buy a proper dock adapter for microphones.

Hmm, I should return my Blue Yeti mic, right? Even tho it works perfectly AND has a trim knob...

 

[touchmonkey]

I looked again, and there certainly DOES appear to be a way to control the sound level from either the built-in mic, or from a line-input.

In the Audio Input instrument, in the upper left, at about 10.30 on the noise level meter there is an icon showing an audio plug. Press this, and it brings up a slider they have called "Audio Gate." This allows you to manually set the maximum input level.

Problem solved?

Cool.
But when the noise gate slider window is open it partially covers up the vu meter.
Wish they hadn't done that.

 

[touchmonkey]

An attenuate or a cheap "ipod mic" type device will get you what you want, if you were happy of your phone recordings.

I would, however, suggest something like the Zoom H4n or even better the Tascam DR-100. They will record your sessions in stereo, easily transferred to a computer, and the quality is astounding. They, especially the zoom, can be had cheap on ebay.

And a pro-tools rig does not cost 10k

Good luck!

Thanks for that. Tascam also makes a sweet little one for a more affordable $100. DR-05.
Do want.

 

[Bluemeanie1976]

Nowhere on there does it suggest blowing instruments down the mic.

 

[ZAiPhone]

There are two kinds of people those who do not have problems they have solutions and those that have problems and like to whine about them.

BTW the slider on the noise gate has limited effect I actual read the OP and tried it. There are solutions for those willing to make a small effort.

 

[vrDrew]

BTW the slider on the noise gate has limited effect I actual read the OP and tried it.

On thinking about it, the Noise Gate probably isn't the real solution. A Noise Gate actually is more useful if there is some background noise that you don't want the mic to pick up: Amp hum or the sound of an airconditioner running.

I think there probably IS some workaround for the OP's issue. I might break out my sound level meter and run some test tones through stereo speakers to see if there is a software solution.

 

[JoeG4]

This thread is a good showcase of overzealous defensiveness. I think, using the iPad for Garageband is an intended use for the device. Having software level control doesn't really sound like something incredibly hard because 486 laptops had that.

*scratches head* That means he's an adamant audiophile?! Holy cow! I see people in the audio thread with $300 headphones that use them to listen to Britney Spears and some other crappy pop/rock music. Seriously. This is utterly pathetic lol.

Admit Apple screwed up. Move on with life. The ipad is still a wonderful device otherwise and hopefully Apple will take this dude's suggestion to heart.

 

[MRU]

There is a limiter for recording audio. It cuts off before it distorts.

 

[ImMacBee]

more suggestion

4 more features need to be provided on the next version in order to make GarageBand for iPad a lot better:

1. Provide velocity setting for ALL kind of instruments, especially for the drum since it isn’t consistent (hit-and-miss) on it.

2. Ability to define custom key (group of chords) to be picked. The provided keys is nice but they’re VERY standard and boring. For example, why can’t we pick E on C major? Even C7 isn’t available on C major!

3. Ability to change or switch key while playing an instrument. It’s common to switch to D on a C based song, for example. I don’t know what is the correct term for that.

4. Mic input level. Enough said.

I’m NOT a musician or a music expert whatsoever. Being said that, the lack of those 4 features above are quite annoying for me when I want to create a SERIOUS song (though amateurish) on GarageBand for iPad (not just random and noisy sounds).

 

[BFizzzle]

No record level on the mic or mic input!!!!

I am a professional musician as is my wife and we both play instruments that overload the levels on iphone and ipad apps if the ipad is placed on the stand in front of us and we play a healthy volume.

...

i think the problem is you are looking to garageband as professional software..


if you are truely "professional" musicians, then you probably be using professional software, such as protools or logic pro..