What is Digg?Sponsored by newegg
Ready. Set. Shop view!
newegg.com - Newegg.com Black Friday Sale starting 11/25 3PM PST. No Lines, No Crowds, Click and Save.
80 Comments
- ZylogZ80, on 10/12/2007, -6/+32Garageband is a really powerfull, and all around excellent application. I've been using computers for recording for over 10 years now, and after I switched to Mac, I was shocked by GarageBand. Jaw to the floor, speachless, shocked. It is an incredible program, and if you put in the time to learn it inside and out it is a much better tool for producing great sounding recordings at home than any of the rival "pro" applications.
GarageBand is hands down the finest peice of software to be bundled with a computer at purchase. Period. Hands down. - Kazaki, on 10/12/2007, -0/+17Too bad you're an illegal OS X user complaining about the software that didn't come with your illegal copy of OS X.
- Ireland, on 10/12/2007, -11/+27Microsoft wont let you down, they're in the process of copying everything apple does as we speak........../type.
- Krush, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16What did you switch from? I've owned a recording studio, and been recording with computers for well over 10 years also, and GB is a great application for the "home studio" or the music "enthusiast", but it's not Protools or Logic Audio. And yes I know Apple owns Emagic/Logic Audio, but GB is nothing near as powerful. You must have never really learned how to properly use the "pro" applications to say that GB is more powerful. Again, it is a great app for the, well, garage bands, but it's not made for the professional studio environment and doesn't provide the tools or sound as nice as software that is. Provided you have the proper equipment to support the professional applications you can produce better sounding recordings at home with them than you would be able to with GB.
- zweben, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12Because getting people to buy a $1200 computer is a lot more profitable.
- dwdrummerboy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12Its an amazing app.! I've been using it professionally with my Roland V-Drums as a MIDI controller to sequence and record drums parts for various bands that I write for and produce. With the jam packs, too, the sounds are amazing!
I've also been using it to produce a podcast for my church's ministry outreach andI have to say, it's sooooooo easy! - oncomouse, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8I used to play in a small local group in central Wisconsin. For our purposes, Garage Band was perfect. We were able to go into a real studio and record a 3 track demo, and yes, you could tell the difference. For just laying stuff down to show to friends and fans, Garage Band was perfect. I've seriously been considering switching to mac for a while now. Garage Band put me over the edge. Now I just need to come up with the cash...
- carcus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Acid and Live are more remix based (even though live is making efforts) garageband is more of a multitracking tool. I would suggest cubase or protools more than those two. Only if audacity was more than just a sound editor....
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9I wish they had a windows alternative I love grageband!
- javierror, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7"If you're really doing serious sound, you want Live or Acid Pro. Garageband could be good for making some little tracks but there is no room for the serious tweaking and customization of a professional audio program."
Umm...no. You get ProTools, Logic, or Cubase. Those are professional recording programs. - deadmoo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7I think the article is about GarageBand, the Apple application. It is not talking about the site garageband.com.
- node3, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Just to nip things in the bud, he clearly pointed out that he's referring to *home* use.
- fitzfan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7"But I plan on being recognized as a serious musician/producer some day"
Keep dreaming moron. - deadbaby, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I adore GarageBand. I admit I'm not making the next Sgt. Pepper here but getting my ideas down motivates me to keep working at my music. When I sit down and record something I feel like I'm actually producing something of value instead of just noodling away in an empty room.
- avatarpalin, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Because having an amazing list of killer apps, which are free with a puchase is a great way of selling your product. Garageband is one of many killer apps. It really is simple, amazing solid hardware, married perfectly with the OS. Add killer apps and you have an amazing machine.
but for some people, it's only about the price.. they would rather pay a little for a problem than 'a little more' for a solution... you can't help some people - remo2012, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7122385127184309260&q=garageband
Learn how to use GB!!! - computerdude33, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Well, there is Audacity. Er, I mean, no there isn't.
- Rayza, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6With Reason? Keep planning.. Maybe you'll win the lottery while you're at it..
- Prod1gy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4@lobstermafia
I somewhat agree....if you stick to just using downloaded loops, then yes, that is *****. Recording your own however, it becomes what a real mix is. And yes Reason is a very very powerful tool, but I don't use it for everything. Mainly composing/instruments, then i export each track and EQ/mix it with Acid. - zweben, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Good article. One thing though.
"While the program is easy to use, it still delivers powerful features, thanks in large part to using the same core technologies that Apple uses for its professional-level Logic music software.
“We started from scratch and made the best application we could for the novice user,” said Xander Soren, Apple’s senior product line manger for consumer audio applications. “That’s what Apple loves to do.""
Which is it? You can't use the same core technologies and also start from scratch. Or maybe you can and i'm too stupid to understand it. - iBookG4, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4For those interested in a community to post your creations made in GarageBand, I use iCompositions.com
http://www.icompositions.com
Provides free and unlimited space for uploading songs...good stuff. - JustMatt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I haven't used GarageBand yet, but I totally agree with you. I tend to just record stuff to remember my ideas, but I really just need a new laptop and I'll be ready to get serious.
- KathyAlbrecht, on 10/12/2007, -7/+10Some could argue that garageband is evil!
http://www.kevinfederline.com/ - monsieurx, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4For a great PC alternative that is more professional, includes all kinds of plug ins (vst, directx), all kinds of synthesizers, soundfonts, sampling, etc etc etc, try http://flstudio.com. I would bet Apple copied the concept somehow... Ah yes, FLStudio can also be used at a vst/directx plug-in in your favorite tool. How fatt is that?
The quality output IS professional too... And it's 1/10 of the price of pro tools...
Thought you'd like an alternative to the usual Apple limited (by Apple's usual over-simple) to use software... - devindotcom, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4No, you're absolutely right, as free tools go it's great. I mainly wanted to respond to the first comment, though, where the two were compared as apples and apples. Probably should have used that "reply" button, huh!
- Krush, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Yes but he also stated that GB was "much better" than "rival pro" applications for recording at home. What we are saying is that for the experienced home studio user, it simple isn't "much better" than pro apps.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2It won't rival pro apps, but it's ***** awesome when you hook it up to your main speakers and play a little concert at cook outs and such
- domr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Garageband also rocks for making mashups. Even for those of us with no talent.
This - http://media.dynamite.co.uk/pureunited.mp3 - was the result of getting completely distracted by GB for an afternoon. Beastie Boys vs Placebo. Fun. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I like the integration.
Record a video with the built in MacbookPro cam, edit in iMovie -> send to GarageBand to do the soundtrack and audio -> send to iDVD or Quick Time. - node3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The application itself was designed from scratch (primarily, the interface and feature-set), but it would make sense for them to re-use routines (either literally reusing the code, libraries and frameworks, or reusing the techniques their existing code utilizes) they have available to them.
- node3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I think you missed the part where he said he was talking about *home* use.
To quote: "it is a much better tool for producing great sounding recordings at home than any of the rival "pro" applications." - devindotcom, on 10/12/2007, -7/+9That's a bit like saying "iMovie is the greatest ever! Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro have nothing on this!" If you're really doing serious sound, you want Live or Acid Pro. Garageband could be good for making some little tracks but there is no room for the serious tweaking and customization of a professional audio program.
- trogdoor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Because it is based on Apples Core audio, so porting Garage Band would be like porting a DirectX game to Linux except in that case there is always OpenGL as an alternative wheras nothing like Core Audio exists for Windows.
- PrototypeRob, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4A Windows alternative was released earlier this month:
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/software/maudios-session-garageband-for-the-pc-179175.php - javierror, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Some words of advice....
If you're willing to pay for a new Mac, and already own a decent PC, you should just buy a new M-Box 2 for $450. It comes with ProTools (the industry standard for recording). It has two inputs (XLR and quarter-inch combo inputs, meaning you can plug in mics, guitars, keyboards, whatever). If you are planning on recording with anything other than a USB mic like the one that was mentioned in the article, you'll need to buy some sort of interface anyway. You can even find M-Box 1's on Ebay for like two hundred, the only substantial difference is that the M-Box 2 has midi in. Hope that helps. - Krush, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2They bought Emagic to make this app, period. They have carried over the great quality of Logic Audio, but only about 25% of it's power.
- t3hX, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Ireland, you're right - Microsoft's making software called Monaco to rip this off.
- blurplevtx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Obviously it's not meant to rival pro applications, it is the ease of use and it's integration with other OS X applications that makes it so great.
- ZylogZ80, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1" if you put in the time to learn it inside and out it is a much better tool for producing great sounding recordings at home than any of the rival "pro" applications."
Why is this true for me, and anyone who records like me? I record demos at home and do the final cuts and mixing in a logic based studio. There is a shocking amount of power hidden in GB's simple interface. If you spend a couple months with it, you find that the sound design and mixing capabilities are much more than they seem at first glance - ad GB can be operated exteremly fast, with only one person.
I write, compose, and perform, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, and vocals, all at home, and I have no one to help me. An application like Pro Tools or Logic requires allot more work to record. You spend more of your overhead and time devoted to operating the DAW then you do playing music.
Now if you have someone to run the rig for you while you work on the music it isn't an issue, but when you're trying to do the work of 4 or 5 musicians, trying to operate a pro DAW just takes that much more time.
I would say that if you do the vast majority of your home work on outboard gear, especially analog instruments, garageband makes a better home and demo DAW. It has very few limitations, and coming from both Logic and Pro Tools, there is very little that I could do (that I need to do) in either of those DAWs that I can't do in GB - and I can do it faster in GB. - OBKenobi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I use Renoise for screwing around with song ideas and to make practice beats. You might want to take a look if you know what a tracker is, this one has VST, ASIO, and MIDI support:
http://www.renoise.com/?cat=1001
There's a Mac version too, for all you Mac cultists who were about to mod me down. - shuffle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Thank you for the most useful post in this thread...
- thatsiebguy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I liked the power of Logic, never used ProTools but knew people who did professionally and liked it allot. GB is a nice app and for most people/artists its just right both in tools and price, especially for music newcomer's. But to me, GB just seemed like a spruced up version of Acid Pro. Either way, as good as it may be, like any home consumer app, it would never compare to the pro multi-thousand dollar apps and would never sub-plant a pro app in a recording studio. Its like using iMovie to replace FCP for a professional movie. Ha!
- Funakoshi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Was Feder-whos-its album recorded in GB? Is there a link to an article with that information?
- sanman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1What's the closest similar app for PC? (I'm not buying a whole new computer just to try this one app)
I've heard of M-Audio's Sessions, which was posted on Digg before:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1972047,00.asp?kc=PCRSS02129TX1K0000530
I dunno, as someone who's never used GB, is Session anything close? - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Good stuff, but it's too bad they've got a frickin' monkey working the camera.
- trogdoor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1What they mean is Apples Core Audio. It is kind of like the DirectX / OpenGL of audio on the mac.
- metfuel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1mookieXL yes you can use vst plugins with Garageband using an app that converts them, and it works really well.
http://www.fxpansion.com/product-auadapter-main.php - node3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@Krush
And that's obviously not what he meant by "home user". To quote you, "but it's not made for the professional studio environment and doesn't provide the tools or sound as nice as software that is. Provided you have the proper equipment to support the professional applications you can produce better sounding recordings at home with them than you would be able to with GB." In other words, that's definitely *not* talking about the "home user". Obviously, you can have a professional studio in your home, and you can also take home projects you've recorded in a studio home, and in both cases you're not going to switch to GarageBand just because you're physically in your home. Zylog wasn't using home as a location so much as a category of user.
If all you're saying is that for pro users in the home, GB isn't enough, or that an extremely small fraction of home users will prefer Pro Tools or Logic or Reason or whatever, then point well taken, but the replies Zylog received at first almost entirely consisted of "are you mad? GB isn't better than [product X], since it doesn't have all the features that a true pro would need!", which is completely *not* the sort of user he was talking about. - successless, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1actually, most professional digital studios (and most knowledable amateur ones) record in 24-bit. Doing this leaves you with a much better dynamic range and more headroom available to properly master your audio before dithering down to 16-bit for release. And no, dithering is not a bad thing...it's just a way to prevent rounding errors in the process of converting the bit-depth. It's basically inaudible, and any (negligible) trade-off in fidelity is more than made up for by the gain in dynamics and clarity.
- irchs, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It is strictly 16-bit, but so are CD's if I am not mistaken, so until CD's get an upgrade, 16-bit will do.
Anything more and you will end up dithering downwards... and that's not good :)
Thanks
Jan -
Show 51 - 80 of 80 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is