High-quality, free music production software is hard to come by. Unless you’re willing to shell out the big bucks for Ableton Live, FL Studio, or Logic Pro, you’re pretty much stuck with either GarageBand or Audacity.
- Audacity Vs Garageband For Mac Download
- Audacity Vs Garageband For Mac Free
- Audacity Vs Garageband For Mac Pc
To be clear, both of these programs have been used successfully by thousands of musicians to create all kinds of music. Rock? A capella? Electronica? Hip hop? It’s all possible, and both are technically free (not freemium). But which one is right for you?
Compare Audacity vs GarageBand. 48 verified user reviews and ratings of features, pros, cons, pricing, support and more. Apr 29, 2018 How to Make a Trap Beat in Garageband Mac - Make Hip Hop Beats - Duration: 24:42. Studio Hacks 222,835 views. Jan 10, 2019 But as good as Audacity is, there are users who want to try out something different. If that includes you, then this listing of the best Audacity alternatives is exactly what you need. So without further delay, here they go! Best Audacity Alternatives 1. Simple yet feature loaded, WavePad is one of the best Audacity alternatives you.
The Pros and Cons of Audacity
First things first: Audacity is a digital audio editor, not a digital audio workstation. It’s mainly designed to manipulate audio data instead of helping you organize lots of different audio bits into a coherent whole, although you can certainly do that if you want to.
Audacity is free and open source, and has been since its debut in 2000. It’s old and well-maintained with lots of history and a large community of users, so you can be sure it won’t disappear overnight. Even if the current developers move on, new ones can always step in and/or fork the project and keep it alive Open Source Software and Forking: The Good, The Great and The UglySometimes, the end-user benefits greatly from forks. Sometimes, the fork is done under a shroud of anger, hatred and animosity. Let's look at some examples. Read More .
On the whole, Audacity is less stable than GarageBand. Most users never run into any issues with it, but edge-case users may experience crashes here and there, especially when extending Audacity with third-party plugins.
Although Audacity is a powerful music production tool, it comes with a learning curve. Whereas the interface is simple and easy to pick up, the sheer number of effects and settings can be tough to wrap your head around if you don’t have any background in audio engineering. Expect to spend several days getting comfortable with the software.
If audio manipulation is what you need, Audacity pretty much has it all: level meters, multi-track recordings, sample rates up to 384KHz and 32-bit depth, true export in lossless formats like AIFF and FLAC, unlimited undo and redo, procedural audio generation, change pitch and tempo, noise removal, and dozens of other built-in effects. It also allows for more fine-tuning of tracks than GarageBand (like applying filters to a region instead of entire tracks).
One big downside for music production is that, as of this writing, Audacity does not support MIDI recordings. You can only import, edit, and export MIDI files.
Putting together multiple audio sources and tracks can be cumbersome with Audacity’s primitive interface. And unlike GarageBand, Audacity doesn’t come with any pre-recorded material (e.g., loops) to help newbie music producers get started. But if you’re only going to record individual tracks (e.g., vocals, instruments) and align them together without much per-track editing, Audacity can be more than good enough.
Lastly, since Audacity is cross-platform, you can work on a single project on any Windows, Mac, or Linux device. This proves useful if you want to collaborate with someone, or if you just have an eclectic collection of workstations.
To learn more, check out our essential Audacity tips 7 Audacity Tips For Better Audio Editing On a BudgetWant to move beyond simple cut-and-crop jobs? Knowing just a few Audacity tips can make your audio-editing life a whole lot easier. Read More and creative uses for Audacity 10 Creative Uses For Audacity That You Probably Haven’t Thought OfMany people use Audacity for podcasts or music mixing, but that's not all it's good for. Read More .
The Pros and Cons of GarageBand
The best and worst part about GarageBand is that it comes bundled with all Macs. If you have a Mac but no GarageBand, you can download it for free in the Mac App Store. It’s great because it’s high-quality software with no price, but bad because you need a Mac for it.
GarageBand is a digital audio workstation, not a digital audio editor. While it can record and edit all kinds of audio sounds, it’s main job is to help you arrange and combine all of your individual audio sources into a single audio creation. It’s still a useful piece of music production software.
Unlike Audacity, which is open source and in the hands of its community, GarageBand is proprietary and in full control of Apple. Expect to wait 2–3 years between major updates, and if Apple ever decides to pull the plug and stop supporting GarageBand, you’ll have no choice but to shrug and move on. GarageBand puts you at the mercy of Apple.
One good thing about that, however, is that GarageBand is robust and runs very well since it’s designed and coded for a very specific platform, plus it has the developmental backing of one of the most successful companies in the world. Basically, it “just works” and rarely crashes.
GarageBand has a smaller learning curve than Audacity. The biggest hurdle for any newbie will be learning the interface, which is somewhat complex but reasonably intuitive. Once you get over that initial hump, it’s smooth sailing from there — you’ll only need a few dedicated hours to get comfortable with it.
And since it’s developed by Apple, you’ll feel right at home if you’re used to the general design of Mac-style apps. If you’d like to share and work on your audio projects with other non-Mac machines, GarageBand may not be for you since it is Mac-only. There’s also a mobile version of GarageBand that lets you produce music on your iPad A Quick Look At The iPad As A Music Production ToolWhen deciding whether one can justify the purchase of a tablet, rarely does 'music production' factor into the decision-making process – but it should. Read More .
GarageBand supports MIDI recording and editing out of the box, and comes bundled with lots of pre-recorded loops and synths that you can use to make music, even without any instruments. On the whole, GarageBand is more convenient to use if you’re going to have a lot of loop sequences and track splices.
So is it worth buying a Mac just for GarageBand? Not really, unless you’re planning to buy a Mac for many reasons of which music production is just one. If that isn’t the case, you’re better off spending a fraction of that money on a professional digital audio workstation for whatever operating you’re already on.
To learn more, check out our guide to using GarageBand How to Use GarageBand: A Step-By-Step GuideGarageBand is a powerful audio recording and editing software for Mac, but getting started is tough. This tutorial will show you how to use GarageBand. Read More .
Our Recommendation for Free Music Production Software
GarageBand is flat-out better for beginners to music production. Not only does it support MIDI recording and editing, which is arguably the easiest way to get started as long as you have a MIDI keyboard, but it comes with lots of pre-recorded material and is better at walking you through the entire process of music production.
Audacity offers more power as far as audio manipulation is concerned, but isn’t so easy when it comes to organizing lots of tracks and loops. We recommend it for longer audio pieces with fewer tracks, such as podcasts, speeches, audiobook narration, voiceovers and commentaries, etc. It’s also better if you want to edit on non-Mac machines.
Download:Audacity (Free)
Download:GarageBand (Free)
Regardless of which you choose, both are great music production software for beginners The Best Free Music Production Software for BeginnersIf you're just starting out making your own music, here's the best free music production software money can't buy. Read More .
If neither suit your needs, check out these GarageBand alternatives The 6 Best GarageBand Alternatives for Music Production on WindowsHere are the best alternatives to GarageBand, Apple's popular music production software, that you can run on your Windows PC. Read More and Audacity alternatives Need to Record & Edit Audio? 4 Audacity Alternatives to TryAudacity can be a fantastic audio recording and editing tool, especially because of its cross platform and open source nature. However, there may be a number of reasons why you do not wish to use... Read More . Regardless of what tool you end up using, be aware of these tips for optimizing audio files 5 Tips for Optimizing Audio File SizesIf you've ever wanted to reduce the size of an audio file but weren't sure how to do that without impacting the quality of the recording, here's everything you need to know. Read More .
Which music production software do you use? Which side of the GarageBand vs. Audacity argument do you come down on? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Incredible music.
In the key of easy.
GarageBand is a fully equipped music creation studio right inside your Mac — with a complete sound library that includes instruments, presets for guitar and voice, and an incredible selection of session drummers and percussionists. With Touch Bar features for MacBook Pro and an intuitive, modern design, it’s easy to learn, play, record, create, and share your hits worldwide. Now you’re ready to make music like a pro.
Start making professional‑sounding music right away. Plug in your guitar or mic and choose from a jaw‑dropping array of realistic amps and effects. You can even create astonishingly human‑sounding drum tracks and become inspired by thousands of loops from popular genres like EDM, Hip Hop, Indie, and more.
More sounds, more inspiration.
Plug in your USB keyboard and dive into the completely inspiring and expanded Sound Library, featuring electronic‑based music styles like EDM and Hip Hop. The built‑in set of instruments and loops gives you plenty of creative freedom.
The Touch Bar takes center stage.
The Touch Bar on MacBook Pro puts a range of instruments at your fingertips. Use Performance view to turn the Touch Bar into drum pads or a one-octave keyboard for playing and recording.
Plug it in. Tear it up.
Plug in your guitar and choose from a van-load of amps, cabinets, and stompboxes.
Design your dream bass rig.
Customize your bass tone just the way you want it. Mix and match vintage or modern amps and speaker cabinets. You can even choose and position different microphones to create your signature sound.
Drumroll please.
GarageBand features Drummer, a virtual session drummer that takes your direction and plays along with your song. Choose from 28 drummers and three percussionists in six genres.
Shape your sound. Quickly and easily.
Whenever you’re using a software instrument, amp, or effect, Smart Controls appear with the perfect set of knobs, buttons, and sliders. So you can shape your sound quickly with onscreen controls or by using the Touch Bar on MacBook Pro.
Look, Mom — no wires.
You can wirelessly control GarageBand right from your iPad with the Logic Remote app. Play any software instrument, shape your sound with Smart Controls, and even hit Stop, Start, and Record from across the room.
Jam with drummers of every style.
Drummer, the virtual session player created using the industry’s top session drummers and recording engineers, features 28 beat‑making drummers and three percussionists. From EDM, Dubstep, and Hip Hop to Latin, Metal, and Blues, whatever beat your song needs, there’s an incredible selection of musicians to play it.
Each drummer has a signature kit that lets you produce a variety of groove and fill combinations. Use the intuitive controls to enable and disable individual sounds while you create a beat with kick, snare, cymbals, and all the cowbell you want. If you need a little inspiration, Drummer Loops gives you a diverse collection of prerecorded acoustic and electronic loops that can be easily customized and added to your song.
Audition a drummer for a taste of his or her distinct style.
Powerful synths with shape‑shifting controls.
Get creative with 100 EDM- and Hip Hop–inspired synth sounds. Every synth features the Transform Pad Smart Control, so you can morph and tweak sounds to your liking.
Sweeping Arp
Droplets
Bright Punchy Synth
Pumping Synth Waves
Epic Hook Synth
Learn to play
Welcome to the school of rock. And blues. And classical.
Get started with a great collection of built‑in lessons for piano and guitar. Or learn some Multi‑Platinum hits from the actual artists who recorded them. You can even get instant feedback on your playing to help hone your skills.
Take your skills to the next level. From any level.
Choose from 40 different genre‑based lessons, including classical, blues, rock, and pop. Video demos and animated instruments keep things fun and easy to follow.
Audacity Vs Garageband For Mac Download
Teachers with advanced degrees in hit‑making.
Learn your favorite songs on guitar or piano with a little help from the original recording artists themselves. Who better to show you how it’s done?
Instant feedback.
Play along with any lesson, and GarageBand will listen in real time and tell you how you’re doing, note for note. Track your progress, beat your best scores, and improve your skills.
Tons of helpful recording and editing features make GarageBand as powerful as it is easy to use. Edit your performances right down to the note and decibel. Fix rhythm issues with a click. Finesse your sound with audio effect plug‑ins. And finish your track like a pro, with effects such as compression and visual EQ.
Go from start to finish. And then some.
Create and mix up to 255 audio tracks. Easily name and reorder your song sections to find the best structure. Then polish it off with all the essentials, including reverb, visual EQ, volume levels, and stereo panning.
Take your best take.
Record as many takes as you like. You can even loop a section and play several passes in a row. GarageBand saves them all in a multi‑take region, so it’s easy to pick the winners.
Your timing is perfect. Even when it isn’t.
Played a few notes out of time? Simply use Flex Time to drag them into place. You can also select one track as your Groove Track and make the others fall in line for a super‑tight rhythm.
Polish your performance.
Capture your changes in real time by adjusting any of your software instruments’ Smart Controls while recording a performance. You can also fine‑tune your music later in the Piano Roll Editor.
Touch Bar. A whole track at your fingertips.
The Touch Bar on MacBook Pro lets you quickly move around a project by dragging your finger across a visual overview of the track.
Wherever you are, iCloud makes it easy to work on a GarageBand song. You can add tracks to your GarageBand for Mac song using your iPhone or iPad when you’re on the road. Or when inspiration strikes, you can start sketching a new song idea on your iOS device, then import it to your Mac to take it even further.
GarageBand for iOS
Play, record, arrange, and mix — wherever you go.
GarageBand for Mac
Audacity Vs Garageband For Mac Free
Your personal music creation studio.
Logic Remote
Audacity Vs Garageband For Mac Pc
A companion app for Logic Pro X.