GarageBand for Mac is getting a sonic upgrade with 10 new drum settings and 100 new synth sounds designed for electronic dance music and hip-hop tracks.
The new features are coming June 30 — just in time for the launch of Apple Music.
The new sounds, plus new ways to tweak audio, add even more depth to Apple’s simplified music-making app for Mac. (The GarageBand for iOS website doesn’t say whether the mobile version will be get any upgrades.)
GarageBand for Mac, which costs $5, currently comes with 18 different virtual drummers genres like rock, alternative and R&B genres. The update will include 10 more for preset EDM, dubstep, hip-hop, and retro ’80s styles. The aforementioned new synth sounds will work with a new Transform Pad Smart Control for morphing and fine-tuning them to your heart’s desire.
One of the captions on the GarageBand page describes the currently available Smart Controls, as noted by MacRumors, but adds that “you can also fine‑tune your music later in the Piano Roll Editor.” A footnote reveals this feature will also arrive June 30 for U.S. users, though it’s not clear yet what the Piano Roll Editor feature entails.
Macworld writer Kirk McElhearn speculates on his personal blog that the GarageBand update will integrate new features tied to the Apple Music debut. He thinks GarageBand will include a way for users to upload their music to Apple Music Connect, the built-in social tool for sharing music and following artists.
GarageBand currently includes SoundCloud integration for artists to share their work. It seems unlikely Apple would want to give the competition an edge within one of its own apps. SoundCloud is already a successful platform for independent artists (or really anyone with a creative mind) to share original content. Apple could easily change that with GarageBand and Apple Music Connect.
George Tinari has covered Apple and technology for over six years. On the rare occasion that he’s not sitting in front of his laptop, you can find him eating, awkwardly socializing, listening to music or singing along loudly to said music. You can also follow George on Twitter if you need more complaints and sarcasm in your timeline.
6 responses to “GarageBand for Mac gets big upgrade for Apple Music launch”
“designed for electronic dance music and hip-hop tracks”
Just what the world needs right now.
Honestly, it’d shock me more if there was something for real music. Apple knows their user base. Eventually, all you’ll need to do to get a successful recording contract is stand in front of a mic and say, “yo”.
Pandering to the shallow seems like it’s become Apple’s new way
As a user of GarageBand since its inception I can say it has always catered to “real” music. For example just a few years ago they completely overhauled the guitar modeling effects! It has been lacking in electronic, hip hop, and synth areas. Other software has always been better. Good to see them improve these areas. GarageBand remains one of the easier multi-track recording software that is afforable(basically free) and easy to use.
I don’t grok why this is being dissed. Camel Audio produced truly amazing plugins that were very useful for those who produce highly advanced, cerebral electronic music – unfortunately sometimes referred to as IDM (Intelligent Dance Music) – which is a far cry from EDM.
Don’t knock the plugins until you try them. Alchemy was famed for having amazing Granulating possibilities.
Great, another 1+ gigabyte download on the same day as Apple Music, new iTunes version, iOS 8.4 update, and lord knows what else. Another 3 GB Apple download extravaganza. I have never touched GarageBand, fine for those who do, for us who don’t it’s just a huge amount of wasted space on our hard drives and a hassle on Download Day.