Garageband made simple for Speaking and Listening

I love Garageband on the iPad both from a Music tech point of view and as a simple voice recorder. It is primarily a music making app, but it can be used for simple audio recording projects too.

I see many teachers struggling with clunky voice recorder apps and not realising that Garageband (when set up properly) is a great voice recorder.

So here’s how to do it – you can start with simple S&L sessions and then develop skills (er… I think this is called CPD* 😉 to create funky radio drama’s and podcasts. I’ve also shown how to create a re-useable template so that you don’t have to keep setting the project up each time you want to do simple voice recording.

* Good apps enable teachers to develop their skills and widen their project repertoire. This is why steering staff away from topic specific apps is a good thing. Generic apps offer a much better and flexible way of working. I guess I’m saying spend time learning open ended content creation apps lIke GarageBand as opposed to “closed” topic specific apps that don’t offer use elsewhere in the curriculum.

8 iPads supporting Speaking and Listening and MFL

8iPads  with 8 headphone splitters giving  access to 16 learners

Ok so the other 16 learners look on with envy, they wait their turn. They plan, prepare or do something completely different. All teachers can run carousel style activities. The biggest challenge in school is quiet spaces to record. The amount of group work skills and communication here cannot be underestimated.

4 apps (2 free)

  • built in Music app ( on all iPads) for selecting sound effects and stingers
  • I always make a playlist of sound effects to the iPads for additional sonic options in all media, video, audio, animation,ebook creation etc
  • Figure for top bleepy tunes (close your ears head of Music!)
  • BossJock for mashing the stuff up, mixing with voice and saving to..
  • Soundcloud ( a free space for publishing sounds and celebrating work, creating an audience)