Master Volume Adjustments Docs

Question

Apple's GarageBand '11 Help file says:
When the Master Volume automation curve is active, you can't adjust the master volume slider.
I found this is not so. Unlike the track volume sliders and automation curves, one can move both of the Master Volume controls independently of the other, and both are active.
Some questions: Does one override the other when exporting to disk or sending to iTunes? Is this a bug? How do I call Apple's attention to this?
TIA.

Answer 1

Hi,
first of all: The "Master" Fader is for trimming your mix to your monitors only. The bounce will be taken from the "stereo output" channel, so look there for the correct volume.
Now for the loudness issue: Garageband has kind of a built in foolproof bouncing. Normally, you would have to adjust not only volume to be an loud as you wish, but you have to insert some plugins into the stereo output channel to ensure that the signal doesn't get any louder than 0db, because this will produce clipping and with raising volume, distort the sound. But:
You can raise the volume if you insert the LIMITER plugin as very last plugin into the stereo output channel. Make sure it is the last plugin so there are no changes to loudness after it, not even an eq!
Any change of loudness before the limiter will be limited (hence the name) to a maximum of 0db by default (you can change the value - i use -0.1 db just to be sure.) while the softer parts of the music are being raised in loudness. If you listen to it, you'll notice the whole song is louder without distorting. Of course, if you overdo it, you'll hear the squished dynamics. Experiment!
Garageband seems to have a built in preset to perform these tasks fairly well. In Logic, you have the freedom of using or not using these settings and to customize them, which is quite normal for a pro tool.
Fox