GarageBand
Amazingly powerful audio workstation unleashes creativity
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GarageBand
Pros: The app's multitouch capabilities are great for playing Smart Instruments, multitracking, and triggering DJ loops.
Cons: Can't see elapsed time in projects or buy more Apple loops; no VU meter in Audio Recorder or brass and woodwind in Smart Instruments.
Bottom Line: There's exceptional functionality in this solid, all-inclusive audio workstation that's fantastic for high-quality, anytime, and anywhere audio recording and sharing.
For an amazing array of audio arts experiences, GarageBand’s your tool. Play virtual instruments to compose original music, learn multitrack recording and audio engineering, and share and collaborate creations with ease. Teach the elements of music by exploring Apple Loops and Smart Instruments. Put a contemporary twist on old-style radio dramas by recording original reader’s theatre pieces, then add a score and SFX. Repeat through the year and create a subscribable podcast series. GarageBand’s ideal to record podcasts and oral histories in the field. Record voiceovers for videos or custom school PSAs (a dose of humor from the Principal goes a long way). Experience history and explore expressive culture through music: add The Blues to a unit on US History and social justice and have students compose and record original music and lyrics in The Blues Form (AAB). Sharing creations online and exporting songs to other apps is easy. Students can even play/record together in-app with Jam Session via Bluetooth.
GarageBand is an audio recording and editing app available on iOS platforms from iOS to laptop and desktop computers. This review primarily covers the mobile version which turns an iPad or iPhone into a powerful multitrack recording studio complete with awesome loops, impressive editing/production/sharing features, and compatibility with 3rd party digital instruments. GarageBand’s a storage hog, but it’s well worth the space. It's designed to give anyone an amazing musical experience, regardless of ability. Play Smart Instruments as-is or with assignable scales/chord progressions; layer rhythms in the Drummer matrix to make custom grooves; synch Live Loops to trigger DJ tools; capture any live sound with Audio Recorder. Standout features eliminate guesswork and tighten up performances: Smart Instruments can pre-tune chords to any key; Autoplay, Note Editor, and Quantizer sharpen articulation and help students land on the beat. Production standouts include robust tools like EQ, FX, pitch correction, and Automation for custom fade ins/outs. Jam Session pairs up to four GarageBand iOS players so they can jam together on the same song. Songs can be exported to iTunes or iMovie, shared online, via email and text, and even as ring or text tones.
Editor's note: The author of this review has worked previously with Apple as curriculum writer and consultant from 2004 to 2008.
Imagine being able to compose, record, and share your own music or podcast anywhere, with pro-level production and editing tools at your fingertips: that's GarageBand. While, like any powerful tool, it'll take some time to learn and master, students can mix loops, vocals, and instruments to create songs and audio arts projects with relative ease. GarageBand’s visual interface makes sound more visible and is excellent for teaching multitrack recording/audio engineering, composition, and podcasting. While the mobile version's lack of a VU meter is noticeable, and the inability to measure projects by elapsed time can be frustrating, there’s no need to look further: GarageBand’s a multimodal, jaw-droppingly functional, music-making powerhouse.
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Community Rating
GarageBand: User friendly and engaging for all ages!
This was an amazing opportunity to allow my students an engaging learning experience through this creative application. I appreciated how user friendly the application was for all ages. My students were able to teach me a thing or two also. I believe that this applications allows students to demonstrate their creativity when it comes to music production. They were able to showcase their favorite music genres, demonstrate their musicianship, collaborate with peers and preserve in their final products. My students were also able to use the phone application version of it which is extremely helpful for when they were not present in class. I am excited to teach this class again!
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