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Use percussion performance patches in GarageBand on Mac
Performance patches are designed to make it easy for you to play a percussion instrument using multiple performance techniques on your music keyboard. Performance patches include a small number of related instruments, such as several shakers with different performance techniques assigned to individual keys. This way, different keys will play the instrument differently; for example, one key might play the sound of a low bongo being hit in the center of the drum head, while another key might play the sound of a low bongo being hit on the side of the drum head.
Many performance patches also feature performance keys, which means a single keyboard key can be used to play related performance techniques. For example, when you play the Conga performance patch performance key, if you play the key softly, the Conga Mute sound is triggered. If you play the key moderately strongly, the Conga Open sound is triggered. If you play the key at hard, the Conga Slap sound is triggered. This makes it easy for you to create realistic conga performances with your keyboard or a drum pad. Performance patches can help you create more natural sounding recordings.
See below for how the different performance patches work across your music keyboard.
Use the Blocks and Bells performance patch
Blocks & Bells: The velocity you play triggers different playing techniques such as muted, stick and mallet strikes. There is no performance key mapping in this instrument.
Use the Bongos and Bongos Stick performance patches
Bongos and Bongos Stick: The velocity you play triggers different playing techniques, such as fingertips, open palm or thumb strikes.
Use the Cajon performance patch
Cajon: The velocity you play triggers different playing techniques, such as open palm or fingertips. There is no performance key mapping in this instrument.
Use the Claps and Snaps performance patch
Claps & Snaps: The velocity you play triggers different playing techniques, such as group size and timing. There is no performance key mapping in this instrument.
Use the Congas and Congas Bright performance patches
Congas and Congas Bright: The performance key uses the velocity you play to trigger three playing techniques. If you play the key at low velocity (softly), the Conga Mute technique is triggered. Moderate velocity triggers the Conga Open technique and high velocity (playing hard) triggers the Conga Slap technique.
Use the Shakers 1 and Shakers 2 performance patches
Shakers 1 and 2: The performance key triggers different shaker speed techniques based on playing velocity. In addition, pressing and releasing the performance key triggers different shaker forward and backward techniques, just like the movement of real shaker players.
Use the Tambourines performance patch
Tambourines: The Tambourines performance triggers different techniques, such as shake speed variations, when you play at different velocities. It also offers different movement techniques (forward/backward) when you play a note or pull your finger off of a note.
Use the Timbales performance patch
Timbales: The velocity you play is used to trigger different playing techniques, such as stick strokes, rim shots and rolls.