GarageBand for iPhone

Pros

(1) Ease of use, (2) intuitive interface (3) "smart" instruments AND the ability to hook up to real instruments (via cord for electric guitar, via mic for everything else), (4) slick integration with the desktop program. Deftly treads the line between being approachable for total novice and completely useful for pro musicians. It removes the technical aspects of music creation, and allows you to concentrate on your ideas as you're on the go. All for the price of a pint of beer? Are you kidding me?? Apple hit it out of the park with this one.

Cons

Since the release of the first iOS version of Garageband (the iPad version) Apple has fixed the ability to import work on the iOS versions into the full, desktop Garageband program, and added the ability to import Apple loops. I'm at a loss to find other things you could add that don't start to tread into the land of feature-creep. It's not the full desktop program (nor should it be), but, WOW, it sure gets pretty darn close.

Summary

There are a handful of apps that could be considered essential. This is one of them. Even if you have no musical experience, this app will bring out the musician you never knew you were. I figured out how 80% of the program worked within a couple of hours of toying around with it. The process of discovery was fun in and of itself. I had delightful glee as I discovered "ooh, it can do that?!" Yes, it can do that.

Some may question the need for phone version of Garageband. As a hobbyist musician with a demanding day job, Garageband for iOS has transformed my songcrafting. I now capture melodies as the come to me. Before I started using the desktop version of Garageband, it would take me around 10 days to complete a song. When I started using the desktop version of Garageband, that went down to 4-5 days. With the iOS version, I can hammer out a song's melody, chord progressions and rhythm section on my 40 min bus ride into work, do some tweaking and lyric writing on my lunch break and on my bus ride home, and record lyrics, re-record the synth guitar tracks I created in Garageband with my real guitar, and finish the song over a few of hours in the evening. A complete song in one day versus 10 days a few years ago. That's a 90% cut in my songwriting workflow. Literally.

The difference is mobility. The ability to create music and not be tied to a computer or a lug around a laptop--or even an iPad--is truly freeing. It means I can create whenever and wherever inspiration strikes, in a way that is as serious and as productive as when I am at my computer or at my guitar.

Musician friends of mine caution that the truly ridiculous ease with which anyone (and I do mean ANYONE) can create music using the iOS versions of Garageband means the death of "real" music. I cannot disagree more. To me, it is the democratization of music. When Apple first launched the Mac, computers were the arcane province of geeks and programmers. By adding a graphical user interface and integrating the mouse, Apple's first Mac took out the technical barrier that hindered widespread adoption of the PC. Microsoft followed suit with Windows, and the rest is history.

The same thing is happening here. Garageband and other DAWs are taking out the technical barriers that prevent most people from creating music themselves, like being able to play an instrument and knowing music theory. But no program can make a crappy song great. The elements of a great song--tight song structure, clever lyrics, hooky melodies, original musical ideas and innovative use sounds--are products of our minds. Garageband allows you to concentrate on those things, in an uniquely mobile way.

I can see the day, soon perhaps, when people will hear a song and say, "Oh, that's nothing special. I could have created that on my phone in Garageband." For musicians, the stakes to create fresh, original and innovative music have been raised. Fortunately, the thing that has raised the stakes (Garageband) is the very tool we can use to surmount the challenge.

Apple revolutionized personal computers 30 years ago with the Mac. It sea-changed music distribution 10 years ago with the iPod and iTunes, and the smart phone industry 5 years ago with the iPhone. Now, with Garageband, it is well positioned to revolutionize music production and how we think and talk about music. Garageband for iPhone is going to be a game changer, no doubt about it.

Pros

has a really smooth interface, and a lot of instruments to play.
the song compilation is really easy and quick.

Cons

connecting real instruments with the iPhone is a little slow and sluggish, but works fine with the iPad.

Summary

enjoyed it on my MacBook Pro, now i can carry that experience where ever i go. truly amazing!
It is a must have app!

Pros

Brilliantly designed UI. My 5 yr old cousin can navigate it quite well. Truly smart instruments! Sound of digital instruments is quite impressive. Ridiculously fun as well!

Cons

Not really a software problem, but an iPad connectivity issue. You once could connect nice microphones (Blue Yeti) into the iPad to do audio recording. Apple lowered the power to the USB connection via iPad update. Now recording in the field with such a microphone requires a powered USB hub. Not very field handy anymore. Maybe in a future update Apple developers will give End Users the choice to "power save" or not "power save" on the USB connection via camera connection kit. Till then I am back to lugging my MacBook Pro around... Grrr @ Apple. They are acting like Microsoft on this.

Summary

Overall this software is fantastic!!! It is cheap, useful and a lot of fun! Can entertain 5 yr olds and adults alike for hours!

Pros

Simple interface that is easy to use, it doesn't take up all the resources of your phone to use. If you can hear it in your head, you can make the sound using your Garagebank i0S5

Cons

None that I've found.

Summary

I've been telling everyone I know with an iPod or iPhone about this fantastic application. You can choose to programme your own sounds or use the applications preconfigured samples. Smooth running, great sounds. Go on plug your device into external speakers and hear for yourself.

Pros

I have heard nothing but wonderful things about GB! I can't wait to figure it out.

Cons

But as a brand new user without much music theory I am overwhelmed. I am a singer and can sight read my vocal lines fairly well but beyond that I'm pretty illiterate. My goal was to be able to upload karaoke tracks from my itunes library to GB and then record my vocals over them, then adding harmonies and effects,etc...eliminating my need to go to a recording studio to make a demo. Thus far I cannot figure out a way to accomplish my goal and am wondering if there is a way to do this or a different app that may be more suitable.

Summary

Any feedback from ya'll would be greatly appreciated!

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Pros

Easy to use.
Enough options to create more chords for advanced players.
Auto-play is a great feature.
Shows you hands-on the basic theory behind playing music. (This is great exposure to those who want to get into music)

Cons

I wish there were more slots to add chords. If there was a way to just put a scroll bar so i can choose more than just 8 chords.

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Pros

GB for iPad is an amazing app at an amazing price. It allows me to record song ideas anywhere and then transfer them to my iMac's GarageBand program (and even to Logic. a full DAW program for professional studio work).

The app is easy to use and has a plethora of features. Various instruments.including a drum pad that alone is terrific. I'm am no longer tied to my Home Recording Studio while writing songs. I can record live via the iPad's built-in mic - vocals, piano and acoustic guitar. The app is a full multi-track recorder which basically makes the iPad a fairly complete recording studio.

I recently ordered the Alesis IO dock for the iPad which allows connections for guitars, synths, mics, midi etc. This device makes iPad with GatageBand an portable professional recoding studio and mixer.

Cons

I can't think of any cons for an app that does so much.

Summary

As a professional songwriter and musician, GarageBand for iPad is now my go to device for recording new songs. It allows me to record anywhere which means that I no longer do I have to stop and jot down ideas as I work. A truly amazing app for professional musicians and amateurs who want to mkae their own music.

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Pros

As always, GarageBand features Apple's great intuitive interface while providing a very complete set of instruments. There are endless possibilities for creating your own sounds using the built-in sampler, and there also are 'intelligent' instruments which make the process of creating your own song a lot easier. I love how it also supports the 4th gen iPod Touch and iPhone. Also, when you touch the screen harder, the sound gets louder and vice versa.

Cons

Even though the UI is intuitive, the iPhone or iPod Touch's screen might be a little too small for some to fully enjoy GarageBand.

Summary

Great app and surely well worth the money. For an app like this, it's quite cheap in my opinion. Handy addition to the Mac version.

Pros

Super easy controls. No music experience necessary. Great value (only $4.99) This is one of the best apps for music I've encountered yet! You don't need to know anything about music, and if you do, you can use that knowledge to your advantage. I didn't like the Mac version, because you had to hook up an physical instrument that you own. I don't own any instruments, but now with Garage Band for ios , i feel like i own them all! I can create my song or musical background on my Ipad and then transfer it to my mac for fine tuning! FABULOUS! And well done apple!!

Cons

Someone mentioned there are add-ons for this app. Im not sure if there are, but that would certainly be a big con. I feel if I payed $4.99 for the app , I shouldn't have to make any in app purchases. They should be included with the app. If you feel that raises the price of the app, the raise the price of the app accordingly. Second con (or first if the above isn't true) there are a limited amount of instruments. Its not a big deal, but with some future updates, I think a few more instruments should be added in! Now what I'd REALLY like to see is a feature to LEARN how to play all the included instruments step by step so you can slowly step away from the smart controls and gain more control over your music. Also , you learn something in the process. Im not asking for it to teach you to be a pro, but just some basics and a song or two. If you like the experience, go and get some music lessons!

Summary

Fantastic overall app with simple but to the point controls. For $4.99 I recommend this to anyone who likes music, whether you have experience or not. There is certainly ample room for improvements though! I look forward to the future updates!