Stretch Tasks

Record your vocal lead, then record it again on a second track, singing exactly the same thing. Pan one slightly left and one slightly right. The result is a thicker, wider vocal sound used in lots of recorded music.

It's much harder than it sounds. The timing and pitch need to be close. But even an imperfect double track teaches you a huge amount about what makes a vocal recording sit in a mix.

• BandLab / GarageBandAdd a second vocal track and record again, then use panning controls to spread left and right
• ShortcutDuplicate the track and shift it by a few milliseconds for a similar effect electronically

Overdrive is the effect that makes electric guitars sound warm and gritty, or keyboards sound edgy and lo-fi. Applying it digitally is simple:

• BandLabTap FX on any instrument track and choose an Overdrive or Distortion preset
• GarageBandUse the Amp Designer on a guitar track, or add the Clip Distortion plugin to any instrument
• ExperimentTry it on a synth pad or even a drum track — there's no wrong answer

Automation means making something change over time automatically: like the volume fading in, or the reverb getting bigger as a chorus hits. It's one of the things that makes a track feel alive rather than static.

• BandLabTap the Automation icon in Studio view and draw in volume changes on any track
• GarageBandUse the Automation button (small curve icon) to draw volume or effect changes over time

Start simple: just try fading the whole track out at the end instead of stopping abruptly.

Try writing a proper MIDI part: a chord progression, a bassline, or a melodic hook. Record it on a keyboard (real or virtual), then layer your voice or another instrument on top.

• GarageBandGo to the keyboard view and play chords using your fingers on screen
• AbletonClick the keyboard icon to map your QWERTY keys to notes
• HardwareThe Arturia MiniLab Mini (around £29–£39) or Akai MPK Mini (around £49–£59) both work out of the box with all tools in this guide