The Mac as a “digital hub”, as the center of digital life, that’s what was meant a decade ago, when iPhoto, iMovie and iDVD were joined by another piece of software in the iLife package: Garageband. Music lover Steve Jobs himself presented the first version in January 2004 at Macworld in San Francisco. Over the years, Apple has expanded the entry-level program for musicians with useful functions or for specific purposes and has adapted the layout several times. In the meantime version 10 is available, since 2011 Garageband has an offshoot for iOS. For those who want to get to grips with music production on the Mac, Apple offers Logic Pro X, a software that should be familiar to Garageband users.
Quick start
For the first experiments in Garageband you don’t need any accessories, the Mac brings everything with it. In a project, Garageband offers four options for recording – from right to left: The (virtual) drummer, audio recording via sound input (guitar and bass), microphone, and recording a software instrument. The Mac keyboard is sufficient to record the sounds, the so-called music keyboard in Garageband can be brought to the foreground with the key combination “Command-K”. Unfortunately, the letters do not stand for sounds, the “A” in the middle row of the keyboard, for example, produces a “C”, only “F” and “G” are equivalent. If you want more, even if it’s just a better touch feel, you’ll need to connect a keyboard to your Mac (see the “Keyboards and Adapters” box on this page). In Garageband you can not only record instruments or vocals, but also shape the generated sounds with the included synthesizers. For the first own song you do not have to rent a recording studio or hire a band for a lot of money.
Free with additional features
Garageband for OS X is exclusively available in the Mac App Store for 4.99 Euro or preinstalled on a new Mac
Apple offers a 14 GB free download with numerous additional sounds within the app. But the installation is worth it for the virtual drums alone. In the application itself, the “Store for exercises” is included since 2009. For beginners of guitar and piano, Apple offers more than a dozen basic lessons each, teaching language is English. The tempo of the music examples to be played can be varied, the software gives feedback on the learning progress. In addition, there is the paid performer lesson, in which well-known artists explain basic features of one of their famous works on the guitar or piano. The interpreter lessons cost 4,99 Euro each. The software requires at least OS X 10 in the current version.9 ahead.
Connecting instruments
If the instrument is connected to the Mac via microphone, sound input or interface, a new input device appears in the System Preferences under the Sound tab. In Garageband itself, it’s also available under “Garageband>” Preferences …> Audio/MIDI” available.
Support for the first steps
Professionals use Garageband at best as a notepad for musical ideas, with its numerous aids and learning opportunities, the software is aimed primarily at beginners. An example are the music lessons: After opening Garageband, click on the “Learn Instrument” button. A teacher gives lessons either on the piano or on the guitar.
The so-called “Store for exercises” fills this section with numerous lessons, all of which are free of charge. The already mentioned artist exercises are also available here. However, you have to understand English for this, the lessons are not available in any other language. Logically, the free lessons do not replace a course at the music school. The exercises for guitar and piano cover the very first steps, so that you get a first feeling for the respective instrument.
Guitar lessons are divided into basics (eight lessons), blues guitar (seven) and rock guitar (five). For piano, in addition to the course for the first chords and scales, there is classical piano and pop piano music. In total there are 20 practice sessions for guitar and 18 for piano. All exercises are available as an extra download and are not integrated in the application by default, so you should save some space on your hard disk for them.
Predefined projects
As in Pages or Numbers, you don’t have to start with a “blank sheet of music paper” in Garageband either. Some project types are predefined, specifically keyboard, amp, voice, ringtone, hip-hop, electronic and songwriter. But it is also possible to start a completely empty project. In the predefined projects some tracks are already created and the window is configured according to the respective needs, so the selection of sounds or loops may be easier.
What you know as layers in image editing programs are the tracks in Garageband. However, with the difference that the mere arrangement of the tracks says nothing about what is in the foreground, what is in the background and what overlaps. Individual parts in tracks can be added later, hidden or edited individually. Simply select the desired instrument, press the record button and start playing.
Complex options for professionals
In Garageband one notices Apple’s desired balancing act between simple operation for newcomers and complex options for professionals. The detailed configuration options are well hidden behind intuitive click options. The equalizer, for example, can be set exactly to your own preferences. We advise you to use all the small buttons at least once to get a first impression of the possibilities. Mostly further options are hidden behind inconspicuous symbols.
Loops
Even professionals don’t always get their part right on the first try. Garageband helps musicians record by collecting multiple “takes” in a region (section in a track) on top of each other if you have turned on the loop function (symbol with two intertwined arrows) when recording. The best take you keep using, the rest you can delete.
Install extensions
Even if you don’t know how to play an instrument or don’t want to learn, Garageband lets you play around with predefined music snippets (loops) and tones. An advantage if you are alone and still want some background rhythms from different instruments – e.g. to accompany your podcast or your vacation movie. Instead of creating a band, all you need to do is download a 14 GB file with a variety of Apple loops.
Under the “View” menu you select “Show Apple Loops”, another library appears, which is navigated via a drop-down menu in the upper part of the window. From hip hop to tech house to world music, a variety of pre-composed sounds are available that can be combined in any way you like.
Stacked
In the factory settings, Garageband stacks the individual takes on top of each other when recording software instruments. This can also be changed, so that you can also play keyboard parts several times to hit the right notes.
Drag and drop to place loops on the timeline. Further editing is possible afterwards. Composing your own pieces is thus an interplay of selecting the right additional notes and placing them between or during your own recordings. Loops are free to use for non-commercial purposes.
Garageband for iOS
Garageband is also available in a stripped-down version for iOS devices. Many manufacturers offer support for OS X as well as connecting to an iPad, iPhone or iPod. With the support of iCloud you can sketch a song on the iPad and iPhone and edit it later on the Mac, the way back is not possible. Also Garageband does not (yet) know the option of collaboration via iCloud, as it is the case with Pages, Numbers and Keynote. Garageband files must be shared with other musicians, for example via Dropbox. Disadvantage: What they change or add, you only see when you get the file back.
The touch interface of the iOS variants offers the advantage over the Mac that you can also pluck individual notes on a virtual fingerboard of bass and guitar on the iPhone and iPad and not just hit the keys of a simulated keyboard. Guitar pros, and those who want to become one, just shrug their shoulders, but beginners will have fun learning a few fingerings, or playing single licks and riffs on the iPhone. The iOS versions also know “smart” instruments, the performer then only taps on chord symbols, iPhone and iPad do the humming. The patterns are selectable from several presets and you don’t have to think about how to play a chord or in which beat rhythm.
Export and share
The finished piece can be shared with other music lovers via the “Share” menu, but not the raw data. You can export a mix to your iTunes library or upload it to your sound cloud. The classic export as AAC, MP3 or AIFF is of course also possible. iCloud offers the possibility to store the project directly there, in order to continue working on it on another computer.
Conclusion: Useful for the first steps
Garageband is far from a substitute for music lessons. But if you are interested and intend to learn an instrument, the software offers a very good and simple environment for the first exercises and recordings.
The tutorials clearly explain what is important. After that, an inquisitive beginner is able to gain initial basic knowledge by watching more videos. Virtualizing the different types of keyboards and guitars also saves a lot of money to get started, and you can experiment on your own Mac first. Advanced users can write a first song using the many different loops and installed instruments, and then simply share it on Sound Cloud. Until the step to Logic Pro X becomes necessary, a lot of time passes with Garageband. For just under five euros certainly a good investment.