Apple today updated its GarageBand music creation software for Mac to version 10.3, introducing new loops, sound effects, drummers, and more, all for free.

There are two new Drummers that offer Roots and Jazz-influenced brush styles, along with 1,000 new electronic and urban loops that cover genres like Reggaeton, Future Bass, and Chill Rap.

garagebandformac
Apple says that it has added more than 400 animal, machine, and voice sound effects that can be worked into music creations, and there are also free downloadable Artist Lessons.

The new Artist Lessons are designed to teach users how to play hit songs on piano and guitar, and are taught by the artists that made the songs famous.

This is the first major update to GarageBand for Mac in a year. The last update, 10.2, was introduced in June 2017 and brought new Drummers along with support for the Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro.

Since April 2017, the GarageBand apps for both iOS and Mac have been available to download for free. You can get the new version of GarageBand for Mac from the Mac App Store. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

jayducharme Avatar
71 months ago
I got the FCPX update, but the GB update still isn't showing up. I agree that GB is from a legacy time when Apple was giving people a stronger reason to switch to Mac. But I'm glad it's still included and I know a few people who have purchased their first Mac specifically because of GB.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PBG4 Dude Avatar
71 months ago
I’m surprised (but glad) Apple haven’t dropped GarageBand, it seems very much a legacy of what Apple was about 10 years ago, not where it seems to be going now.
GarageBand is almost like a reskinned version of Logic Pro X to make it easier to use. As long as LPX is updated, I expect GB to stick around.

It is a great piece of software if you want no hassle multitrack recording.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wheat Wiliams Avatar
71 months ago
GarageBand 10.3 is unusable. It's introduced a serious bug.

GarageBand 10.3.0 has broken support for third-party AU virtual instruments. First it puts up an error message saying that you have to choose to reduce macOS security in your System Preferences to use a certain third-party AU plugin.

Then after you do that, it gives you an error message saying "Audio Unit plug-in can't be used. The Audio Unit could not be loaded for your project, and may need to be updated. Contact the manufacturer for an updated version or further assistance."

I have had this problem with 64-bit, up-to-date plugins that work just fine with no problem in MainStage 3.3.2 and other apps that use Audio Units. So the problem is with GarageBand 10.3.0.

I had no choice but to revert to GarageBand 10.2 from a backup so that I can keep working with my AU instruments.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NightFox Avatar
71 months ago
I’m surprised (but glad) Apple haven’t dropped GarageBand, it seems very much a legacy of what Apple was about 10 years ago, not where it seems to be going now.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thingstoponder Avatar
71 months ago
Ah... the 1GB+ app that I've removed a long time ago. I quite enjoy not having to update it to :p
The app you chose to install in the first place. What a pointless comment. :rolleyes:

Leave this thread for people who appreciate Apple giving us great software updates.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BornAgainMac Avatar
71 months ago
This is great but I would like to see Podcast creation added back in someday.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17

iOS 17.2 Will Add These 12 New Features to Your iPhone

Friday December 1, 2023 12:19 pm PST by
iOS 17.2 has been in beta testing for over a month, and it should be released to all users in a few more weeks. The software update includes many new features and changes for iPhones, including the dozen that we have highlighted below. iOS 17.2 is expected to be released to the public in mid-December. To learn about even more features coming in the update, check out our full list. Journal ...
anker new xmas 1

Anker's Cyber Week Sale Enters Final Days With Up to 60% Off Sitewide

Friday December 1, 2023 12:05 pm PST by
Anker's Black Friday/Cyber Week event is entering its final days this weekend, and it's still offering up to 60 percent off sitewide. There are also a few "mystery boxes" that can include hundreds of dollars in savings, if you're willing to risk not knowing what you're buying ahead of time. All of these sales will end on December 3. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Anker. When you...
iOS 17

28 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in December's iOS 17.2 Update

Friday December 1, 2023 2:57 am PST by
Apple made the first beta of iOS 17.2 available to developers in October. Since then we've seen three more betas, and with each iteration Apple continues to add more new features and changes, many of which users have been anticipating for quite a while. Below, we've listed 28 new things that are coming to your iPhone when the finalized version is publicly released this December. 1. Help...
top stories 2dec2023

Top Stories: iOS 17.1.2 Released, NameDrop Misinformation, and More

Saturday December 2, 2023 6:00 am PST by
Apple employees are back to work following a Thanksgiving break, and that means this week saw a number of new operating system updates for both public release and beta testing. This week also saw some misinformation about Apple's new NameDrop feature making the rounds, while Apple and Goldman Sachs appear to be on the verge of a break-up in their Apple Card and savings account partnership,...
General Apps Messages

Green Bubbles on iPhone to Gain These 7 New Features Next Year

Thursday November 30, 2023 9:00 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple announced that it will finally support RCS in the Messages app on the iPhone starting later next year. This change will result in several improvements to the messaging experience between iPhones and Android devices. RCS will become the new default standard for messaging between iPhones and Android devices, but these conversations will still have green bubbles like...
m2 macbook air green

Get Apple's M2 MacBook Air and M3 MacBook Pro for Record Low Prices

Friday December 1, 2023 6:59 am PST by
Best Buy is discounting a collection of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models to all-time low prices today. We're tracking these deals below in addition to great discounts on the Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Watch Ultra 1. MacBook Air Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the...
iPhone 16 Mock Header Updated 1

iPhone 16 to Include Action Button Across Entire Lineup

Thursday November 30, 2023 4:08 pm PST by
The release of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max saw the introduction of an entirely new user-configurable button known as the Action button, and now, MacRumors has seen extensive evidence confirming Apple is planning to include the Action button on the entire iPhone 16 range. Designs and plans for the Action button date back to at least 2021, as the button was intended for release alongside hapt...