audiobus_iconApple today updated its GarageBand app for iOS to version 1.4, bringing handful of improvements including support for playing and recording audio routed through Audiobus.

What's New in Version 1.4

- Play and record music apps supported by Audiobus directly into GarageBand*
- Turn off grid snapping to get finer control over region and note editing
- Fixes an issue that resulted in feedback while connecting 3rd-party audio accessories into the headphone/microphone jack

* Requires iPhone 4S, iPod touch (5th generation), iPad 2 or later. Audiobus requires a separate purchase.

Audiobus support for GarageBand comes just as Audiobus has announced a public SDK to allow developers to incorporate support into their apps. Over 100 apps have already been designed to support Audiobus through the previous closed beta.


GarageBand [Direct Link] is a $4.99 download on the App Store, while Audiobus [Direct Link] is priced at $9.99.

Top Rated Comments

commander.data Avatar
161 months ago
Apps siloing data has been a criticism of iOS. Hopefully this is a sign of more mechanisms for inter-app communication to come in iOS 7. It's kind of interesting that Apple is making the effort to make their first-party app compatible with a third-party app.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
darkslide29 Avatar
161 months ago
For those interested, Audiobus just got knocked down to $4.99 (50% off) due to GarageBand compatibility celebration.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gatearray Avatar
161 months ago
This is extremely surprising. The Apple of old would not be supporting an unofficial hack, cool though it is. I guess it's a sign that they are opening up more in the post-Jobs era.

Audiobus is not an "unofficial hack", though. The developers worked tirelessly with Apple during the development process to make sure it met all requirements and would be fit for approval.

If anything, Apple supported a so-called "unofficial hack" when they implemented "AudioCopy/Paste" into iOS Garageband but wouldn't you know it, that was implemented when Steve was still alive, so I guess your entire theory is sort of out the window. :)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
petsounds Avatar
161 months ago
Audiobus is not an "unofficial hack", though. The developers worked tirelessly with Apple during the development process to make sure it met all requirements and would be fit for approval.

If anything, Apple supported a so-called "unofficial hack" when they implemented "AudioCopy/Paste" into iOS Garageband but wouldn't you know it, that was implemented when Steve was still alive, so I guess your entire theory is sort of out the window. :)
It's definitely a hack. There is no official ability in the iOS SDK to send audio from one app to another. Apple hasn't exactly been encouraging of inter-app functionality. Don't get me wrong -- "hack" is not a bad word; what they did is a very clever workaround. But I'd rather see system-level APIs for sharing any kind of data between one app and another. I think GarageBand's support of Audiobus and copy/pasta (10 internet points for you on that) just highlights a lack of big innovations within iOS itself. Hopefully iOS 7 will push us far forward, instead of just following what 3rd-party developers are doing.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yadmonkey Avatar
161 months ago
It would be nice if they'd remove that stupid song-length limitation. For one think, it would make GarageBand useful for recording podcasts.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
petsounds Avatar
161 months ago
This is extremely surprising. The Apple of old would not be supporting an unofficial hack, cool though it is. I guess it's a sign that they are opening up more in the post-Jobs era.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature 1

Foldable iPhone Display Production Begins Ahead of Launch Next Year

Wednesday July 9, 2025 10:59 pm PDT by
Production of foldable OLED displays for Apple's first foldable iPhone have begun ahead of its expected launch next year, Korea's ETNews reports. The first foldable iPhone's displays are being produced by Samsung Display, who are establishing a production line dedicated to the upcoming Apple device its A3 factory in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do. The production line will make displays exclusively...
apple tv 4k new orange

New Apple TV Expected Later This Year With These New Features

Saturday July 12, 2025 3:09 pm PDT by
A new Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Rumors Faster Wi-Fi Support The next Apple TV will be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He said the chip supports ...
iphone 16 pro pro max

iPhone 17 Pro Models With BOE Displays Will Be Sold in China Only

Thursday July 10, 2025 11:59 pm PDT by
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models with displays made by BOE will be sold exclusively in China, according to a new report. Last week, it emerged that Chinese display manufacturer BOE was aggressively ramping up its OLED production capacity for future iPhone models as part of a plan to recapture a major role in Apple's supply chain. Now, tech news aggregator Jukan Choi reports...