Bob LeVitus

Bob LeVitus, aka "Dr. Mac," is a veteran Mac enthusiast who has penned the "Dr. Mac" column for the Houston Chronicle since 1996. A regular contributor to tech publications, Bob believes computer books can actually be fun. He's written more than 80 of them on topics that include iPhone, iPad, and GarageBand, as well as various macOS versions.

Articles & Books From Bob LeVitus

Cheat Sheet / Updated 08-01-2023
Using keyboard shortcuts makes working with GarageBand ever so much easier on a Mac. But did you know that when using an external Bluetooth keyboard with your iDevices, you can use many Mac keyboard shortcuts!So, if you’re using GarageBand on an iDevice, give the Mac keyboard shortcuts a try. And, if you record a great take (on any device) with one or two small mistakes, here’s the easiest way to silence the boo-boos and salvage your otherwise stellar performance.
Cheat Sheet / Updated 11-15-2022
Whether you’ve purchased a new Mac with macOS Monterey pre-installed or you’ve upgraded from a previous version of macOS, you’ll find that Monterey makes your Mac easier to use and offers myriad improvements to make you more productive.This Cheat Sheet includes information on things you should never do to your Mac; a compendium of useful and timesaving keyboard shortcuts; a discussion of when folders are too full and when (and when not) to create subfolders; recommendations for backing up data; and a short discussion of iDevices and Continuity.
Article / Updated 08-25-2022
GarageBand for the Mac is a complete recording studio that includes hundreds of realistic-sounding instruments, effects, and presets configured by experienced recording engineers. GarageBand for Mac has a tiny on-screen keyboard (top) and musical typing keyboard (bottom), in case you don’t have an external piano-style keyboard handy.
Article / Updated 08-25-2022
Before you work and play with GarageBand, you should familiarize yourself with its six preferences panes and their settings. These settings are global and generally affect every project you create.You probably don’t know how you like your preferences, at least not yet. But you will soon. This article helps you adjust each item in every preferences pane.
Article / Updated 08-25-2022
GarageBand is relatively stable. For an application that does so much computing, it rarely crashes or freezes on any platform. Still, it is an app, which means it may occasionally cause you trouble. And most of that trouble involves performance, which is why this article offers 10 ways to shoot that trouble right between its beady little eyes and get your GarageBand rocking again.
Article / Updated 08-25-2022
Here are some ways that you can make your GarageBand recorded songs even better. Alas, most of these suggestions cost money, but each one will contribute to making your GarageBand compositions sound even better than before. Get a better microphone If you record acoustic instruments or vocals, an easy way to make your recordings sound better is to use a better microphone.
Article / Updated 08-25-2022
If you're just starting with GarageBand, begin by using any available microphone. I’ve made many GarageBand recordings using an old Andrea USB NC-7100, a cheap USB mic that was bundled with speech-recognition software I reviewed more than a decade ago.A microphone may be the most critical component that you buy.
Office 2021 for Macs For Dummies
Turn your Mac into a productivity powerhouse with Office 2021!Long gone are the days when Microsoft's powerful office suite was just for Windows users. Mac enthusiasts are also able to pop open ubiquitous apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on their preferred desktop or laptop! But if you're new to Microsoft Office on the Mac—or you just need a hand with some of its latest features—you should check out Office 2021 For Macs For Dummies.
Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-05-2022
Whether you've purchased a new Mac with macOS High Sierra preinstalled or you've upgraded from a previous version of macOS, you'll find that macOS High Sierra makes your Mac easier to use and offers myriad improvements to make you more productive. Get additional information on things you should never do to your Mac, a compendium of useful and timesaving keyboard shortcuts, a discussion of when folders are too full and when (and when not) to create subfolders, recommendations for backing up data, and a short discussion of iDevices and Continuity.
Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-17-2022
Microsoft Office apps are chock full of options and features that are just too tough to squeeze into the pages of a single book.This cheat sheet includes a handful of helpful tips and tricks to give your Office experience a boost, including learning how to create automatic replies to senders, check your documents for accessibility issues, embed fonts in your Word documents and PowerPoint presentations for better portability when sharing, and even check the current weather when perusing your Outlook Calendar.