Getting a Song into the Right Key?

Question

I'm trying to use GarageBand as an accompanying "band" for improvisation practice for myself and my students. I can't seem to figure out how to get a tune using only GB loops into the exact key I want. For example, I set the song to E major (and that shows as the master track), and put together some loops for a really nice track, but realized that it ended up being in G major (E natural minor).
Any way to make sure any loops only are in that exact key, or to get them to transpose to that key? I'm sure I'm missing something simple.

Answer 1

The simple solution, but it may not sound to good, is to simply to change the region pitch parameter, located in the editors, until you hit the correct key.
HOWEVER, for audio loops, this ain't a gonna sound too good. My experience is that the loop engine sounds much better at transposition than simple rate conversion in the editor, assuming the use different technologies (the loop engine, same as in SoundTrack or Logic, being the one that transposes everything to the project key).
You could get really tricky: copy all the loops you want to a new folder. Download and launch the Apple Loop Utility. Calculate what keys you need for each loop, set this in the utility and save. You've now just changed the 'native' key for a loop and GB will transpose it differently.
For example if a loop was in C, and you've sinced moved your song up to the key of E, the loop is now a major third too high, so set the loops key (in the ALU) to G#/Ab. You can then of course in GB add this loop to your library.
In the long run, you need loops that match your chord progressions - there's no substitute for that.
AND it's best to always start out your song in the correct key. Susbsequent key changes then work better, since every track moves in sync.