Icon of program: Apple GarageBand

Apple GarageBand for Mac

By AppleFreeUser Rating

Key Details of Apple GarageBand

  • Turn your iOS device into a collection of touch instruments and a full-featured recording studio.
  • Last updated on 2/29/2024
  • There have been 3 updates
  • Virus scan status:

    Clean (it's extremely likely that this software program is clean)

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Editors' Review

Download.com staff

Apple's GarageBand puts a music studio right on your Mac, giving both musicians and the musically challenged a broad range of powerful tools you can use to create and edit songs.

Pros

Quick to get started: To start creating a song, pick a project template. You can go with a blank template or choose one tailored to a style or instrument (such as hip hop or guitar). For finer control over the project, you can pick a tempo and set key and time signatures as well as input and output devices.

Lay down your tracks: After setting on a project type, plug in your instrument or mic, and start recording a track. GarageBand comes with an expansive library of sounds and effects to apply to your track to produce the sound you want. You can use Apple-created loops or add third-party drum beats and riffs.

Cue the drummer: Choose from more than two dozen drum loops from a variety of styles -- from EDM and hip hop to Latin and blues -- and then tweak the loop to get the exact sound you want. For example, you have control over the sound of the kick drum, snare, toms, and hi-hat.

Synthesizers: GarageBand also comes with 100 synth sounds designed for EDM and hip hop. As with the drum loops, you can tweak the sounds to match the feel of your tune.

Cons

Big files: On initial setup, GarageBand warns you it may take a while to download its starter collection of files. If you want the full collection of patches, drummers, and loops, the file is significantly larger (topping 10GB), so make sure you have the time and space if you want them.

A bit of a learning curve: While GarageBand is not a professional-level tool (Apple's Logic Pro X fills that spot), it is a deep music-creation program that takes some time to get comfortable with.

Bottom Line

GarageBand for Mac offers a wealth of tools for creating, editing, and fine-tuning your music. While it's not a professional tool like Logic Pro X, its abilities must not be underestimated.

Explore More

Full Specifications

WHAT'S NEW IN VERSION 10.0.3
  • Adds support for OS X Yosemite
  • Access audio effect plug-ins for more detailed control over the sound of your tracks
  • Build your own bass rig with Bass Amp Designer using vintage and modern amps, cabinets, and mics
  • New Voice Template for fast and easy vocal recordings
  • Share GarageBand projects with Mail Drop
  • Vertical zoom automatically adjusts the height of your tracks
  • Contains multiple enhancements to Accessibility
GENERAL
Release
October 16, 2014
Latest update
February 29, 2024
Version
10.0.3
OPERATING SYSTEMS
Platform
Mac
Operating System
OS X 10.10, OS X 10.9, Mac OS X
Additional Requirements
None
POPULARITY
Total Downloads
740,446
Downloads Last Week
47
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User Reviews

4/5

26 User Votes

Developer's Description

By Apple
Turn your iOS device into a collection of touch instruments and a full-featured recording studio.
GarageBand is the easiest way to record and create great-sounding songs on your Mac. Add realistic, impeccably produced and performed drum grooves to your song with Drummer. Easily shape the sound of any instrument in the Sound Library with Smart Controls. Crank up the bottom end with brand-new bass amps, or mix and match electric guitar amps, cabinets, and pedals with Amp Designer and Pedalboard. Control GarageBand and play any software instrument wirelessly on your iPad using the Logic Remote app. Use iCloud to keep your GarageBand projects updated across multiple Mac computers, or even import GarageBand for iOS songs directly from iCloud.