Apple today updated its GarageBand music-creation app with new sounds and features for kids and advanced users alike. For example, a downloadable Toy Box sound pack includes free education sound. Mar 28, 2018 GarageBand, from Apple, was updated with a new Toy Box of sounds! This is a free 'educational' sound pack that includes animals, vehicles, and counting in various languages. The update also brings a Modern Wah guitar stompbox effect.
GarageBand, part of Apple's iLife suite, allows you to create and mix your own music tracks not only on your Mac, but on the iPhone and iPad as well. With a full suite of musical instruments at your fingertips, the possibilities of what you can create with GarageBand are endless. The current version of GarageBand for Mac lets you layer and mix up to 255 tracks at once. The Sound Library in GarageBand is also free to use and offers a wide array of tracks, including Apple Loops.
While the Mac version of GarageBand has many more features than the iPhone and iPad version, you can use iCloud to sync your tracks back and forth wirelessly between OS X and iOS. When you're ready to share your tracks, GarageBand supports sharing through email, Facebook, YouTube, SoundCloud, or AirDrop.
GarageBand not only gives you the ability to choose from premixed tracks, but allows you to create your own using on screen controls or by plugging in your own mixing boards, instruments, and mics. Record anything you want from vocals to drum riffs and then use them to create and export your own music tracks right to iTunes.
Aside from creating your own music inside of GarageBand, you can also import existing tracks and create ringtones for your iPhone or iPad. Simply drop the clip in that you'd like to use and cut it down to 30 seconds or less. You can then share it to iTunes just like you would any other GarageBand track. Plug your iPhone or iPad into your Mac, sync your ringtones, and you're good to go.
GarageBand used to come bundled with iLife for $79 but in recent years has become a free offering through both the iOS App Store and Mac App Store. You can grab both versions from the links below.
- GarageBand for iOS - Free - Download Now
- GarageBand for Mac - Free - Download Now
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Toybox Garageband 2
Live Loops. Make music like a DJ
• Use Multi-Touch to tap and trigger a Live Loop cell or group of cells
• Get started with templates or build your own grid from scratch with Apple Loops
• Create custom loops by recording directly into a cell using any Touch Instrument
• Use Remix FX to perform DJ-style effects
• Tap record to capture your performance
Play your iPad, and iPhone, like a musical instrument
• Play a variety of musical instruments on the innovative Multi-Touch keyboard
• Play and record using the Alchemy Touch Instrument
• Build grooves inspired by classic electronic drum machines with the Beat Sequencer
• Download free instruments, loops and sound packs for GarageBand with the Sound Library
• Capture any sound and apply studio-class effects
• Recreate legendary guitar or bass rigs using virtual amps & stompboxes
• Use 3D Touch to play keyboard sounds with polyphonic aftertouch*
• Record performances from third-party music apps directly into GarageBand using Audio Unit Extensions**
Drummer for iOS
• Add virtual session drummers to your song, who take direction and play realistic grooves
• Choose from acoustic, electronic drummers and percussionists***
• Each character provides their own sound and the ability to create over a million realistic grooves and fills
Sound like a virtuoso with Smart Instruments
• Play an entire string orchestra using Smart Strings
• Perform with Chord Strips and autoplay using any keyboard instrument
• Groove with a variety of Smart Basses using upright, electric, and synth sounds
• Strum chords or trigger autoplay patterns on an acoustic and electric Smart Guitar
Create a song anywhere you go
• Record, arrange and mix your song with up to 32 tracks using Touch Instruments, audio recordings, and loops****
• Record multiple times over any song section and choose your favorite using Multi-Take Recording
• Use professional mixing effects, including Visual EQ, Bitcrusher, and Overdrive
• Recording, mixing and exporting a song can be done at 24-bit audio resolution
• Trim and place musical regions exactly where you want them to play
• Automate the volume and record the movement of controls on Touch Instruments
• Add comments or lyric ideas to your song with an integrated notepad
Share your songs
• Keep your songs up to date across all devices using iCloud Drive
• Create custom ringtones and alerts for your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch
• Share your songs using email or Facebook, YouTube, and SoundCloud*****
• Remotely add new tracks to your Logic Pro X project from your iPhone or iPad via iCloud
* Polyphonic aftertouch is available on iPhone 6s or later.
** Requires compatible third-party Audio Unit Extensions apps from the App Store.
*** Requires free download from GarageBand Sound Library.
**** Multitrack recording requires a compatible third-party audio interface.
***** Sharing to Facebook and YouTube requires iMovie.