Whether you use GarageBand on Mac, iPad or iPhone, it’s been one hell of an eventful year for Apple’s most popular Digital Audio Workstation.
In this article I take a look back at some of the highlights (and low points!) of GarageBand’s year on both macOS and iOS and share some of the most popular gear, reviews and videos from The GarageBand Guide (and more) from 2018.
GarageBand on Mac
GarageBand on macOS saw a couple of updates released in 2018, the biggest of which landed back in June.
Released as version 10.3, this huge update saw the addition of new Roots and Jazz style drummers, 1400 new loops and sounds, all new Mellatron instrument patches and new traditional Chinese and Japanese drum sounds.
This update also made all previously premium priced artist lessons completely free.
Unfortunately the version 10.3 update also broke GarageBand on Mac, making all third party plugins unusable…
After a huge outcry from the community, Apple soon got their act together and released a patch – version 10.3.1 – which fixed the problem.
Apple released GarageBand version 10.3.2 at the start of December, though this smaller update only contained some stability and bug fixes.
Looking Ahead
GarageBand users on Mac have a lot to look forward to in 2019, though we may have to be patient for additional content.
While GarageBand for iOS users enjoy regular bite sized content drops via the App’s Sound Library, Apple seem happy to release new sounds to Mac users in larger, less frequent updates.
Having said that, we’ve seen a whole lot of features previously available in Logic Pro X make their way over to GarageBand in the last few years and I would expect this trend to continue in 2019 – Studio Horns and/or Studio Strings in some form being the most likely in my opinion.
GarageBand for iOS
Unlike GarageBand on Mac, GarageBand for iOS saw five ‘proper’ updates during 2018, as well as smaller additions to its library of sounds and loops in the form of new downloadable packs in the Sound Library.
Discovering, downloading and experimenting with these smaller content drops feels great and has really helped to cement the Sound Library as one of GarageBand for iOS’ greatest features.
2018 also saw Apple add even more functionality and accessibility options to GarageBand with the addition of keyboard shortcuts (when attached to a bluetooth or smart keyboard), the ability to import, playback and edit MIDI files, facial control of instrument parameters and certain stompbox effects (Face ID enabled iDevice required) and advanced integration with Apple’s Schoolwork App.
Looking Ahead
GarageBand for iOS is in a fantastic place right now, and I can’t imagine Apple doing anything other than adding more content and features in 2019.
I think we can certainly look forward to more Drummers, Loops and Instruments making their way across from GarageBand on Mac and as the iOS music making scene goes from strength to strength, more and more third party apps and effects will become available for use in our projects too.
My Favourite Gear of 2018
There was a lot of incredible audio gear released in 2018, but my absolute favourite was undoubtedly IK Multimedia’s MIDI controller come audio interface, the iRig Keys I/O.
Here’s what I though of it in my review back in March;
“Marketed as an all in one solution for musicians on the go, IK Multimedia have packed in an astonishing amount of features into the iRig Keys I/O. Equally useable as a MIDI controller and interface on both macOS and iOS, the I/O’s intuitive controls make tweaking every aspect of your recordings a breeze.
Whether you are a macOS user looking for a versatile MIDI controller, an iOS songwriter looking for a travel-proof studio set up or anything in between, the iRig Keys I/O has got you covered. You’ll struggle to find a more fully featured controller at this price point.”
You can find the full review here.
My Favourite App of 2018
2018 saw a huge amount of top quality music making apps hit the App Store. The year’s biggest surprise came in the form of Synth One – AudioKit’s two year labour of love that saw the input of over 100 volunteer audio wizards during its creation.
Here’s what I had to say about AudioKit Synth One when it earned The GarageBand Guide’s first ever five star review back in July:
“Believe the hype.
Packing in better sound quality and more features than most of its contemporaries on the App Store, Synth One is an essential addition to any iOS musician’s arsenal.
You can almost feel the blood sweat and tears that’s gone into creating every pixel, dial and sound in this remarkable App. A truly astounding achievement. Did I mention it sounds absolutely fantastic too?”
Must Watch GarageBand Videos From 2018
I read and watched a TON of music/production/GarageBand based YouTube channels over the course of this year – some for research, some just for fun.
Here are my favourites.
Studio Live Today
2018 is the year that Pete Johns, the man behind Studio Live Today, chose to drop a barrage of GarageBand knowledge bombs on an unsuspecting public.
Growing his following on YouTube via an unrelenting torrent of incredibly useful tutorials, reviews and information based videos throughout 2018, if you use GarageBand for iOS and aren’t subscribed to Pete’s channel, you’re missing out.
The Songwriting Studio
Dean Davis spent 2018 uploading incredible GarageBand for Mac focussed tutorial and how-to videos to his YouTube channel, The Songwriting Studio.
From creating fantastic drum sounds, mixing pop vocals and using autotune in GarageBand, to summer songwriting challenges and a peek behind the curtain on how to relocate an entire recording studio (!), Dean did it all and more in 2018.
One can only imagine what he has planned for 2019…
GarageBand and Beyond
Legitimately one of the hardest working men on YouTube, Lewin Barringer has spent the last 9 years creating some of the internet’s very best audio production tutorials on his channel, GarageBand and Beyond.
2018 was no different, with Lewin producing and sharing a huge amount of original songs (recorded and produced entirely on GarageBand for macOS, naturally), incredibly useful tutorials and a look at how he completely re-outfitted his studio space.
Here’s to 2019
Did I miss anything out? What GarageBand flavoured gear, apps and videos did you love in 2018?
Leave a comment and let me know.
See you in 2019!
