The Mac Experience

[PianoWizard]

Hey LGM Family,

I was asked to create some instrumental Mp3’s, I was a little unsure of what to use as I have never done this before, but as a new Macbook owner I used the beloved Garageband. Before I send some of my Mp3’s away I would like to know how my LGM family feels I have done.

The Mp3 (Link Below) is my rendition of the Christmas carol ‘O Holy Night’:
http://www.learngospelmusic.com/media/displayimage.php?pos=-3154

This Midi (Link Below) is a piano rendition of this song, showing the chords and movements I used for the Mp3.
http://www.learngospelmusic.com/media/displayimage.php?pos=-3149
 
I do have one question for those who create Mp3 files, what programs do you use or do you recommend. Please rate and comment both files, as it will certainly help me in the future, if I should create any more Mp3’s.

Stay blessed - (ALL CREATED & POSTED ON A MAC.... )

PianoWiz...

[gtrdave]

*gtrdave offers PianoWizard a Mac-brutha fist bump* 

I'm listening to O Holy Night right now...really, really nice! My sub-woofer is happy 

For making mp3s I normally use iTunes.
You can export from GarageBand right to iTunes as an uncompressed AIF file and then convert to mp3 (or AAC or Lossless and maybe another format) while in iTunes.
For decent quality you may want to set the rate at 160kps or even 192kbps rather than the standard 128kbps.
To change the settings, go to iTunes - Preferences - General - When you insert a CD: - Import Settings...

Another option is Audacity. It's freeware and, like GarageBand, is multitrack recording and playback capable. The available mp3 encoder (also free) is good if you need to really compress a file down to nothing. I use it for our pastor's sermons; we record them on a MacBook in GarageBand and then export to iTunes as AIF. Then I open it in Audacity and convert it to mp3 at 16kbps. It squishes the 50 minute long file down to about 6meg in size which is suitable for voice streaming and download without losing a ton of quality.

[SirTJ]

Wow, I didn't know GarageBand was that expansive. I see all of the kids around here toying with it and thought it was just a lowly program for noobs. My Macbook should be arriving today so I'm defintely going to have to check this out.

I'll check out your tracks once I'm done with classes, as well.

[apostoliczak]

Wow I haven't heard the term noob in forever.

[lockslie1]

Good stuff PianoWizard. I like it a lot! I normally use Sony Sound Forge to convert most of my Protools wave files to mp3's.

[sjonathan02]

*gtrdave offers PianoWizard a Mac-brutha fist bump* 

I'm listening to O Holy Night right now...really, really nice! My sub-woofer is happy 

For making mp3s I normally use iTunes.
You can export from GarageBand right to iTunes as an uncompressed AIF file and then convert to mp3 (or AAC or Lossless and maybe another format) while in iTunes.
For decent quality you may want to set the rate at 160kps or even 192kbps rather than the standard 128kbps.
To change the settings, go to iTunes - Preferences - General - When you insert a CD: - Import Settings...

Another option is Audacity. It's freeware and, like GarageBand, is multitrack recording and playback capable. The available mp3 encoder (also free) is good if you need to really compress a file down to nothing. I use it for our pastor's sermons; we record them on a MacBook in GarageBand and then export to iTunes as AIF. Then I open it in Audacity and convert it to mp3 at 16kbps. It squishes the 50 minute long file down to about 6meg in size which is suitable for voice streaming and download without losing a ton of quality.

Hey Dave, how can I burn CDs using Itunes? I'll download songs and such, but can't burn them and use them elsewhere. 

Tech savvy I am not.

[fmason3]

Hey Dave, how can I burn CDs using Itunes? I'll download songs and such, but can't burn them and use them elsewhere. 

Tech savvy I am not.

Create a playlist and add the desired songs to the playlist.  Then go to the playlist and you'll see a button in the bottom right corner that says "burn disc."  You can click that and it'll tell you to insert a blank disc.

[sjonathan02]

Create a playlist and add the desired songs to the playlist.  Then go to the playlist and you'll see a button in the bottom right corner that says "burn disc."  You can click that and it'll tell you to insert a blank disc.

I'll try that and see if it works. Thanks!!

[gtrdave]

^^^+1^^^

[CJKeyboardPlaya]

One thing i like bout Itunes, you can have a CD of as many songs as you want.... I had bout 85 drums track, licks, and solos one time!!! I play that in da car for about a month!!!

[PianoWizard]

Thanks for the info about audacity "gtrdave", I have seen what it's about and I think it could be something I could use in the future. Thanks to all those who took the time to rate and comment on my Midi and Mp3 files. I do have a question is there an AIF converter. I have a lot of loops that are in wav format amongst others and I would like to convert them into AIF format so I could use them.

Thanks In Advance

PianoWiz... 

[gtrdave]

I'm pretty sure iTunes will do this, too.
In your import settings you can sellect AIF.
Drag the wav into iTunes, click on it and then convert it.

iTunes is like a swiss army knife in many ways. 

[SirTJ]

Sounds pretty good, Pianowiz. "First Class" as you'd say.   

[PianoWizard]

Thanks for the info "gtrdave" I'll certainly have to try that out, and thanks "SirTJ" there will be more posted shortly as I am asked to do more and more. Please continue to comment and post as it helps....Thanks to all & Stay Blessed.

PianoWiz...