GarageBand
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
Latest about GarageBand
ROLI LUMI Keys Studio Edition Review: A great modular midi keyboard that sounds as good as it looks
By James Bentley published
ROLI LUMI Keys Studio Edition is a small expressive MIDI keyboard that looks nice and sounds great to boot. Our review:
Katy Perry and Apple want to make you a better DJ
By Luke Filipowicz published
If you're a GarageBand user, you can download songs from Katy Perry and SEVENTEEN and remix them to your heart's content with plenty of free loops.
Apple updates Logic Pro & MainStage with support for new Mac Studio
By Joe Wituschek published
Apple has released updates for Logic Pro, MainStage, and Garageband with support for spatial audio monitoring and more.
Apple adds new GarageBand Sound Packs from Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga
By Stephen Warwick published
Apple has today announced it is adding new Sound Packs to GarageBand from famous artists and producers.
Apple shutting down Music Memos app, directing users to Voice Memos
By Joe Wituschek published
To support the transition, Apple is showing users how to transfer their recordings and import Voice Memos to Garageband.
GarageBand for iOS gets support for Dark Mode and external drives
By Brandon Russell published
Following the release of iOS 13, Apple on Thursday rolled out an update for GarageBand, and you can download it now for iPhone and iPad.
Apple is working on a fix for GarageBand in iOS 11
By Tory Foulk last updated
If you've been having trouble launching music creation app GarageBand after updating to iOS 11, you aren't alone. Thankfully, Apple is aware of the issue.
Get free Artist Lessons and more with GarageBand 10.3
By Tory Foulk published
Apple is rolling out a new update to GarageBand that's making Artist Lessons 100% free of charge.
Steve Lacy produces all his music like any 18-year-old would: On his iPhone
By Mick Symons last updated
Hip-hop/R&B producer Steve Lacy starts everything off on his iPhone with nothing but an iRig and GarageBand.
Got a new iPad Air? Don't forget your free iLife and iWork apps from Apple!
By Richard Devine last updated
GarageBand going free-as-in-freemium, iWork, iLife iOS 7-style app icons revealed on Apple.com
By Rene Ritchie last updated
Daily Tip: how to create free iPhone ringtones in GarageBand (Mac only)
By Allyson Kazmucha last updated
Review: I wrote and published a song in 30 minutes with Apple's Music Memos
By Serenity Caldwell last updated
In which Serenity goes hands on with Music Memos and likes what she finds. (And wrote a song!)
GarageBand for iOS now brings the noise iPhone X style, and more!
By Rene Ritchie published
GarageBand for iOS 2.3 adds iPhone X support, Sound Library, Beat Sequencer, and Asian Instruments.
Apple makes iWork suite free for everyone
By Lory Gil published
Apple's iWork suite, as well as iMovie and GarageBand, are now free on all iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices, not just those purchased in 2013 and later.
Master your iPhone in minutes
iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!