FAQs on GarageBand

From beginner-level users to experts, any GarageBand user with a query can find out what they are looking for, here. Below is a compilation of such Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help you with your GB problems:

FAQ 1– Which of the most recent Guitar Amps has been added in the latest version of GarageBand?

Ans– Seven new Guitar amps have been added to the GB 11. These include the Stadium Stack Amp, British Blues Combo Amp, Large Tweed Amp, Brownface Combo Amp, Studio Combo Amp, Octane Stack Amp, and Sunshine Stack Amp.

FAQ 2– How do I make the GarageBand for my iPad to play the whole sections of a song, rather than playing just one section repeatedly?

Ans– Hit the “+” icon on the top-left corner of the timeline. Then, in the Pop-up menu, tap on All Sections. This way, you can play the entire section of a song, with just a tap.

FAQ 3– Which is the most recent version of GarageBand?

Ans– Since a lot of GB’s versions have been referred by different names, while others by number, it is difficult for people to put them in the right order. However, the latest version of the GarageBand series is under a numeric title, i.e., GarageBand 10.3.4, released in December’19. To install the new version, you need to uninstall the GarageBand.

FAQ 4-Where can I find the Magic GarageBand and Podcasting tools in GB10?

Ans– GarageBand 10 is considered as a complex version of Logic Lite X or Logic Pro X app. Hence, neither Magic GarageBand nor Podcasting is available in this version. However, installing GarageBand 10 does not require removing GarageBand 6, and can be moved to another folder in the Applications folder. Hence, even though, you cannot use these tools in GarageBand 10, you can still use them in the previous version. We have also written an article about the best GarageBand Plugins you can use, give it a read.

FAQ 5– Can I use a multiple time signature option in a GB project?

Ans– The time signature option in a project restricts the loops being displayed in the loop browser to the meter the same as that for the project. And even though the grid and score may have an odd view, but the time signature doesn’t limit whatever you record on its own. Making any changes in the time signature will not change the way GB plays back the music and is only helpful while composing or printing a score.

FAQ 6– How to record voice using GarageBand’s in-built microphone?

Ans– Firstly, it is essential to see the location of the in-built microphone on your Mac, as it varies from model-to-model. Once the same has been found, open a New Project in the app, and hit option + ⌘ + N, open the new track box, and select the Real Instrument option. Once the new track has been created, go to the track info pane, look for a clickable drop-down menu, Monitor. Click on the menu and select the ON option. Now, the in-built microphone is ready for you to start recording. 

FAQ 7– Is an alternative for GarageBand available for Android devices?

Ans– Since the Android smartphones are not as advanced as the iOS devices, apps like GarageBand cannot run on these devices. Android smartphones do not have the capabilities of multi-tasking, as is with iPhones. Although you can try and check if your device supports the mobile version of FL Studio, another virtual studio app, it is not going to work like GarageBand.

FAQ 8– Is it possible to go back to a lower version, once upgraded to GarageBand version 10?

Ans– Yes, it is possible. There is nothing to be done to continue using GB ’11 (an older version). When you upgrade to GarageBand 10, the system moves the previous version (GarageBand ’11) to a folder within the applications folder. Hence, you only need to look in your Applications folder for a folder named GarageBand 6.0.5 and launch it. So, you have the option of switching between two versions of GarageBand and use their features, as and when you want.

FAQ 9– How to add third party loops in the Loop Browser in GarageBand?

Ans– Start by dragging your loop files (Apple Formatted Loops) from the required location, over to the GB Loop Browser, and drop them on the screen. GarageBand will automatically index them and make the files available via the loop browser.

FAQ 10- Is GarageBand free?

Ans– GB is currently one of the best Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) and can be downloaded for free from the Apple Store. No subscription fee is required to access the full version of GarageBand. For users using operating systems other than Apple, you can also download it for free with the help of an iOS emulator on your PC.

FAQ 11- Is there a PC version of GarageBand?

Ans– Yes, there is a PC version of GarageBand available. Although the interface might differ a bit from the smartphone and iPad versions of the app, the contents are almost the same. However, a PC is recommended when you want to edit songs as it gives you a bigger workspace. When you open up the official website of GB, you will get a download link for Macs.

FAQ 12- Is GarageBand good?

Ans– GB is considered to be one of the most powerful DAWs in the industry currently. Although it has been extracted from Logic Pro X, the friendly user interface of GarageBand has allowed first-time music producers and professionals to work with the same comfort. Moreover, the application can be downloaded for free. As it is developed by Apple, there is little to no worry about security and privacy.

FAQ 13- What is the closest thing to GarageBand on Windows?

Ans– While every application has its own set of pros and cons, GB can be compared to several Windows alternatives. Some of the applications are LMMS, Mixcraft 9, FL Studio, Reaper, and Music Maker JAM. These applications are compatible with Windows. Some of them can be downloaded for free while others need a nominal subscription fee.

FAQ 14- What is similar to GarageBand?

Ans– Logic Pro X from Apple is very similar to GB. Rather, phrasing the sentence the other way round would better justify the relationship between these two applications. GarageBand is a smaller version of Logic Pro X and it was developed keeping in mind beginners and intermediate users. In Windows, the FL Studio can be paralleled to the GarageBand as it has a powerful software instrument section.

FAQ 15- Is GarageBand good enough for professional recordings?

Ans– GB is capable, more than enough, to assist in professional recordings. It has in its arsenal all the tools that are required to perform professional recordings. On top of it, the Musical Typing feature allows users to play MIDI keyboards without physically having one.

FAQ 16- Is GarageBand good for beginners?

Ans– The main vision behind developing GB was to create a powerful and intuitive DAW that would not intimidate beginners and first-time users. Therefore, GarageBand is probably the best application to use if you are just starting on a musical venture.

FAQ 17- What is the difference between GarageBand and Logic Pro X?

Ans– There are more similarities in these two applications rather than differences. Logic Pro X can be thought of as the universal set and GB as one of its subsets. Logic Pro X is the complete package that requires a subscription fee to download it from the website. However, GarageBand is a smaller and more compact version of it that encapsulates all the important functions and tools of Logic. Even though it is a smaller application, there is no compromise in the audio quality and editing and mastering possibilities offered by GarageBand. GarageBand is also available in smartphones, unlike Logic Pro X.

FAQ 18- Can you sell music made with GarageBand?

Ans– Since Apple allows you to use the GarageBand audio library for loops and samples royalty-free, you can sell original compositions that you make on the app. To aid the process, GB provides several export settings.

FAQ 19- Is FL Studio better than GarageBand?

Ans– It will not completely be justified to compare the two applications given the parameters that surround it. FL Studio requires you to pay a download price for the full version while GarageBand is a free application. Considering that, FL Studio has a bigger working audio lab with more features. However, GB provides better security and MIDI support. Musical Typing is one of the highlights of GB while the virtual piano of FL Studio is one of the best in the industry. Overall, both applications are evenly pitted but GarageBand has a slight edge.

FAQ 20- Is it illegal to use GarageBand Loops?

Ans– GarageBand allows users to use their audio library royalty-free. This means that GarageBand loops can be used to create original compositions and that would be perfectly legal.

FAQ 21- How do I use GarageBand like a pro?

Ans– The more you use the application, the more you will get used to the various functionalities, audio effects, virtual mixers, and software instrument components. There is no guide book for producing good music. It all depends on your taste and the idea that you have in your head. GarageBand is merely a facilitator. If you find the tools in GarageBand are not enough to give you song the wings that are required, you can always fall back to Logic Pro X which is just an extension of GarageBand. 

FAQ 22- Is GarageBand better than Audacity?

Ans– Both GarageBand and Audacity are leading Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) in the audio production community. Both applications have some features that are better than the other. GarageBand has a very strong MIDI support system which includes the well renowned Musical Typing feature. Audacity, on the other hand, is credited with one of the best mixers. Its multi-track mixer. It also edges out on compatibility as it is a cross-platform application whereas GarageBand is only compatible with macOS. Overall, GarageBand has the upper hand as it provides excellent security to safeguard your projects.

FAQ 23- Is GarageBand considered a DAW?

Ans– DAW stands for Digital Audio Workstations. As GarageBand is an audio editing software that can be downloaded online from the Apple Store or the company’s official website, it is a Digital Audio Workstation that facilitates the creation of mind-blowing music.

FAQ 24- How much does GarageBand cost?

Ans– The best part about GB is that it can be downloaded for free from the Apple Store. Unlike its mother application, the Logic Pro X, which requires a yearly subscription, GB can be used for free. Both the PC version as well as the smartphone and iPad version of the application does not require any membership fee.

FAQ 25- What is Flex in GarageBand?

Ans– Flex is a very important tool in GB that allows you to manipulate the time signature of a particular track. The way to operate this tool is that you are required to use flex markers. Place a starting marker and an ending marker along the length of a track. This will allow you to either expand or contract that part of the track. Normally tracks are expanded to make finer edits and autotune changes if required. This is a simple way to expand the time frame without having to trim, move, nudge, or crossfade tracks.

FAQ 26- Is Pro tools better than GarageBand?

Ans– Pro Tools is a powerful DAW developed by Avid INC. Although it has a wide range of audio samples and tones to offer from its library, the GB takes the edge here because of various limitations in Pro Tools. While there are no limits to the number of tracks you can add in GarageBand, Pro Tools restricts you to just 16 tracks. On top of that, Pro Tools requires you to pay a membership fee to use the full version while GB can be downloaded for free from the Apple Store.

FAQ 27- Can you make good beats with GarageBand?

Ans– Yes, GB has the Live Loops feature in it that allows you to create funky and cool beats. The GB audio library has several thousand different ready-made loops for various genres that can be instantly uploaded into your Live Loops grid. Otherwise, you can also create your own beats with the help of instrument samples and virtual synthesizers. If you have MIDI instruments to assist you, the task at hand becomes even simpler to accomplish.

FAQ 28- What are Apple Loops on GarageBand? Do I need Apple Loops?

Ans– Apple Loops are readymade royalty-free loops that are available in the music libraries of all Apple produced DAWs like the GB and Logic Pro X. These loops can directly be imported onto your project without any copyright issues. If you do not want to create your own loops, you can always fall back to these Apple loops. The scale, tempo, and time signature of the loops can be set as you wish.

FAQ 29- How do you make a loop on GarageBand for the iPhone?

Ans– The Live Loops option is available in both the smartphone and Mac versions of the app. Therefore, if you want to create a loop in your iPhone, select Live Loops when you are selecting the track type. This will open up a grid view. Each cell of each row is designated for a particular loop. Each row of the grid is for a unique instrument. You can simultaneously use many loops on the same instrument. Audio recordings and files can be imported into each cell and used as a loop. After you have chosen a particular combination, save the loop into the My Songs section of GB. Thereafter, you can simply export the loops and share it on your social media platforms.

FAQ 30- Do I need Apple Loops?

Ans– Apple Loops can be found in the Lops folder of your GarageBand audio library. It is a matter of personal choice if you want to use loops in your project. These loops are very well structured and can be used royalty-free. If you are a beginner, it is recommended to get the taste of Apple loops when you are starting out.

FAQ 31- What music is royalty-free?

Ans– Royalty-free music is tracks that you can use in your project without triggering any copyright issues. In GB, the Apple Loops can be used royalty-free. All the other samples and instrument presets also fall under this category.

FAQ 32- What type of song can you legally copyright?

Ans– Many musicians list their music under the Creative Commons Licenses paradigm. This means that they allow you to use their music in your songs and videos. Royalty-free music can also be used without raising copyright issues. If you want to use music other than your original compositions, make sure that it falls under one of these categories.

FAQ 33- What does it mean no copyright music?

Ans– If you see a disclaimer somewhere that says no copyright music, it means that you cannot pass off someone else’s work as your own if you do not have the legal right to do so. Copyright strikes occur when you do not use royalty-free music. Apple Loops and the GB’s audio library can be used royalty-free. 

If you any question that you would like to ask and include in the FAQ section, please share it in the comment section.

1 thought on “FAQs on GarageBand”

  1. i am self teaching myself to use garage band to record voices for a puppet show.
    i used the deeper voice choice when recording one of the characters.
    when i copy and pasted to connect all the music and voices, the deeper voice to not copy over, only my own voice.
    any suggestions?

    Reply

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