Garageband work on Windows PC, the installation method and also how to use the application. Most Americans prefer to use iOS ecosystem for their daily work but if you are one of the selected few who prefers Windows OS, then we'll guide you on how to make this iOS application work on your Windows system.
Best free GarageBand for Mac plugins GarageBand for Mac is an excellent tool for making music, and it can be made even better through these free plugins By Martyn Casserly, Contributor.
GarageBand app has been revolutionizing the music Arena with its innovative features. The GarageBand app is an instrument and music app developed especially for iOS devices.- Originally, Synth1 was built as a DXi plugin when it was first released back in late 2002. Within six days of its release it was updated to add support for the VSTi format, only adding to its growing user-base. This is indeed an oldie but a goodie when it comes to free drum plugins that are more geared toward drum, bass, or ambient music.
- A solid polyphonic synth, Helm offers lots of tweaks and customizations for pro users.
- With the Sound Library, you've got instant access to an incredible and expanding collection of free loops and instruments from right inside the app. Explore and download Apple‑designed sound packs that include Touch Instruments, Apple Loops, Live Loops templates, and instrument presets that will help you produce tracks in a wide variety of genres and styles.
- Nick Crow 8505 Lead. A formidable VST amp for heavy metal fanboys and shred aficionados, Nick.
Features of GarageBand for Windows PC
The truth behind GarageBand for Windows PC
Unfortunately, there is no official app or software for GarageBand on Windows PC. Apple has not released any version of it for platforms other than those based on iOS. You might be trying hard to search for an official version of GarageBand that you can use on your Windows PC but you can save your efforts it is all in vain. But every cloud has a silver lining. There are ways you can use GarageBand on your Windows PC.Requirements for GarageBand On Windows
Download GarageBand for PC using iPadian
Step 1: You need to Purchase iPadian using your Paypal. Then only you can download it.Step 2: Once you have downloaded the file, install it to run the iPadian EmulatorStep 3: Once it has been installed, open the iPadian emulator and go to ‘App Store'Step 4: Search for GarageBand in the search bar and click on enterStep 5: Click on the GarageBand option and start downloading itStep 6: Once you have downloaded the software, you can use GarageBand on Windows using this iPadian emulatorAlternatives to GarageBand
There are several alternatives that you can try instead of GarageBand. These are just as good as the Apple product. Although several industry stars ranging from Fall Out Boy to Rihana have used GarageBand to record their hits, since it is only available on iOS devices and Mac computers, we have several alternatives that you can use if you are a Windows user.LMMS
Features of GarageBand for Windows PC
The truth behind GarageBand for Windows PC
Unfortunately, there is no official app or software for GarageBand on Windows PC. Apple has not released any version of it for platforms other than those based on iOS. You might be trying hard to search for an official version of GarageBand that you can use on your Windows PC but you can save your efforts it is all in vain. But every cloud has a silver lining. There are ways you can use GarageBand on your Windows PC.Requirements for GarageBand On Windows
Download GarageBand for PC using iPadian
Step 1: You need to Purchase iPadian using your Paypal. Then only you can download it.Step 2: Once you have downloaded the file, install it to run the iPadian EmulatorStep 3: Once it has been installed, open the iPadian emulator and go to ‘App Store'Step 4: Search for GarageBand in the search bar and click on enterStep 5: Click on the GarageBand option and start downloading itStep 6: Once you have downloaded the software, you can use GarageBand on Windows using this iPadian emulatorAlternatives to GarageBand
There are several alternatives that you can try instead of GarageBand. These are just as good as the Apple product. Although several industry stars ranging from Fall Out Boy to Rihana have used GarageBand to record their hits, since it is only available on iOS devices and Mac computers, we have several alternatives that you can use if you are a Windows user.LMMS
FL Studio
Mixcraft 7
Reaper
Music Maker Jam
Is Your Garageband Not Working? Here Possible Reasons To Work Your Garageband Successfully.
Do you know or aware of the possible reasons why GarageBand isn't working on your iOS device?
If you aren't then no worries, as we bring forth on listing the all possible reasons why you are witnessing not working of GarageBand.
Reason 1: Updating to iOS 11
Do you have recently updated your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to iOS 11? If your answer is yes, then perhaps this is the first yet common cause GarageBand not working on your device.
Lately, many users have reported this issue and yet craving to get rid out of the same. Since Apple is inquiring about the problem and we hope soon they will dig out the root cause.
If unfortunately, you are one among of them encountering the issue, you should turn off iCloud for GarageBand on your device. For doing the same, all you need to do is:
- Navigate to the Settings > Apple ID banner and tap iCloud
- Next, check for the option 'Apps Using iCloud,' and underneath the same toggle the GarageBand off
NOTE: Let us remind you of one thing, temporarily disabling of iCloud for GarageBand will lead to the prohibition of accessing any GarageBand songs that you have stored in your iCloud account, but the songs would not be removed either. Furthermore, all the songs that you'll create after will be saved locally on your device itself instead of iCloud.
There is nothing you can do for it, all you have to be keep patience until Apple fixes the issue at their end and get back with some resolution.
Appreciatively, Apple is aware of the issue and stated themselves on the support page that they are investigating the solutions.
Reason 2: Miscellaneous
Apart from the aforementioned one, there might be other possible reasons for the GarageBand not working. You can consider deploying the same in the order we have enumerated below until you got your issue fixed and GarageBand up and running.
Without further ado, let's do it.
#1 Is your GarageBand is up to date?
Firstly, you want to make sure that you have installed the latest version of GarageBand. If you aren't aware of this, you should check the Updates by navigating to the App store on your device. Fl studio 20 full free. Not to mention, if you see the GarageBand app listed there, do update it at the earliest.
#2 Device or Software compatibility
It is always advisable that if you are using any external audio interface or other audio apps with GarageBand, ensure that they are fully compatible working the latest version of GarageBand. Device or software compatibility usually plays a significant role in running other external Audio Units Extensions or Inter-App Audio applications.
You should update the device or software by merely outreaching and following to the manufacturer support.
#3 Checking for External Audio Interface
It is one of the prevalent issues that causes hassles often. Incompatibility of the external audio interface could easily malfunction application and let you end up encountering GarageBand not working. Therefore, it is recommendable that if you are using an external device along with GarageBand do make sure that it's not causing any problem.
You can make sure it by unplugging the audio interface for a while that you were using earlier and then try playing back the same project using the in-built device speakers. This way you can make sure if this is causing you issues.
If fortunately, it works then you perhaps are one step away from getting your GarageBand up and running by either updating or servicing it. And for any further support on the same, you can contact the manufacturer.
#4 Delete Audio Unit Extension
Sometimes, usage of Audio Unit extensions or Inter-App Audio apps might be a possible reason for GarageBand not working. You can consider deleting them to get a clear idea whether it's something exactly causation issues or not.
- In your home screen, please and hold the extension until it waggles
- Next, you will see a symbol in the upper left corner. On taping, it enables you to delete the extension
- Once removed, you can now try opening the GarageBand and playback a project
If it opens and plays without any hassle, you got the right nerve. Because of the incompatible and malfunctioned Audio Unit Extension, you were not able to run GarageBand. So now as you have deleted it, you are good to go your way.
#5 Creating a new song
Yet your endeavors are not resulting as the way they should be or to be intended. You can try creating and playing back a new track in order to know the stem of the cause, whether the GarageBand is working fine or you have just missed it ensuring.
- Open GarageBand >> click '' in the Control Bar >> My songs
- Hit ''
- Next, click on 'Create New Song' option
- And add audio files or Apple Loops to the song
- Playback the song.
If the new song plays well so, you may undoubtedly determine that it was the issue with that previous specific track as for the reason you were encountering problems while playing it. You can try playing more songs to make it certain that app is working properly.
#6 Resetting GarageBand
There might be a feasible cause that your custom preferences settings of GarageBand are preventing you from using it. So the only option you are left with is, resetting the GarageBand to its default Settings. Doing this will allow the app to store its original settings instead of running on custom picks. Let us tell you that you would be going to lose the custom settings that you have granted to GarageBand to run on.
Therefore, if you are pleased for the same, you can simply note your preferences down by navigating to the GarageBand >> Settings. Luckily, resetting the app doesn't affect your song files, presets, or patches.
To reset:
- Go to Settings >> Tap GarageBand
- Hit ‘Reset GarageBand' option, and you're done
#7 Deleting and Reinstalling GarageBand
Last workaround, but not the least. If the issue persists and making you miserable, you can try deleting and reinstalling GarageBand. And then try back again playing tracks on the app.
To delete and reinstall:
- In the home screen, press and hold the GarageBand icon until it jiggles
- And next tap to delete the app
- Once removed, navigate to the App Store and tap Updates >> Purchased
- Then, locate the GarageBand app and hit
- Once the app got downloaded, you can open and use it via the home screen
That's all folks! We have given our best aiding you in providing all the possible causes that might be pushing you GarageBand not working.
Conclusion
VST plug-ins are probably one of the greatest things about using a digital audio workstation, in addition to the fact you can go back to your work at any time and fix whatever you have to make your song sound good.
GarageBand, like many other DAWS, comes with the ability to install plug-ins and they're fun to use.
In this tutorial, I'm going to lay out a step-by-step process for installing plug-ins into GarageBand. At first, I struggled to make this work, but it became like second nature after a few tries. it's really quite simple.
Where Do I Find Plug-Ins?
First things first: If you want to get your hands on some solid VST's, check out VSTforFree(dot)com. It's a great place for all kinds of plug-ins. Many of them aren't compatible with Mac, however, there are still some great ones on there.
In this article, I'll show you some of the more popular plug-ins to use in Garageband so more on that later.
One of the great thing about VST's is that you can find them all over online. Many YouTubers show you what plug-ins they use, and where to find them, so finding a great plug-in is as simple as just going on YouTube or Google to find them.
Without further ado, this is how to download VST's for Mac in GarageBand.
How To Install Plug-ins In Garageband
For this tutorial, I'm going to be using the DSK Dynamic Guitars Plugin which you find here at VST4Free.
On this page, you can see the different options for downloading the plugin. We want to use the Mac AU version.
1) Click on the Mac AU file and download the Zip File. I prefer to put it all on the desktop, that way it's easy to find later when I want to drop it into the library.
It shouldn't take longer than a couple of minutes for it to download.
2) After it's finished downloading, you can open up the Zip File, and it's going to show you the components for the plug-in.
3) Now, go to your computer's home screen, then into the settings on the top left-hand side, and click on where it says 'Go.'
4) During this part, you have to hold the 'Options' button on your keyboard so that it brings up 'Library' in the drop-down menu. You have to hold the 'Options' button, otherwise, it'll disappear.
5) Go into your 'Library,' and find the folder that says 'Audio.'
6) Typically, it'll bring up four different folders, 'MIDI Drivers,' 'Plug-Ins,' 'Presets,' and 'Sounds.'
7) Open up 'Plug-ins.'
8) Open the file, 'Components.'
9) If you've followed the instructions I've laid out, you'll have the Dynamic Guitars Component sitting on your home screen, that way you can simply drag and drop the component into the 'Components' file.
10) In most cases, getting access to this plug-in simply requires you to open up GarageBand and you'll find your new plug-in in your Smart Control's plug-in settings.
However, some people struggle with this part, because, for whatever reason, they have to turn their computer on and off in order for the plug-in to show up.
11) So turn your computer on and off just to be safe.
12) Now open up GarageBand.
13) Go into your Smart Controls and find the plug-ins in your options.
14) Open up the Available plug-ins.
15) If you've downloaded Catalina, you're going to run into an error.
From here, you just have to hit cancel.
16) On account of the Catalina update, now, what you have to do is go into the System Preferences at the bottom of your computer's dashboard.
17) Once this is open, go into the section that says, 'Security and Privacy.'
18) You have to hit the option, 'Allow anyway.'
19) Now open up Garageband, and go into the plug-ins and try and open it.
Garageband will give you this prompt:
Just hit 'Open,' and then you're good.
20) Then go into your plug-ins and open it up.
It should say, 'Dynamic Guitars,' and you just click on the 'Stereo' option that it brings up afterward, and now you've successfully uploaded your new plug-in and it's ready to use.
16) In some instances, you might have to adjust the octave, otherwise, the plug-in won't work correctly depending on the VST.
However, with this particular plug-in, you won't have that problem because it's a guitar, and the designer of the VST made it so that you can play the guitar at many different octaves.
With my DrumPro plug-in that I always use, that isn't the case, and it has to be at Octave 3, or 'C3,' as GarageBand refers to it.
Why aren't my Plug-ins showing up in GarageBand?
Like, I mentioned above, most people can't find their plug-in in GarageBand because they haven't turned their computer on and off. I've noticed that other tutorials forget to mention this.
How To Install Lepou Plugins in GarageBand?
If you want to get your hands on LePou Amplifier Plug-ins, just click on this link here.
On the right-hand side of the page, you can scroll down and see where it says, 'Amp Sim Pack,' and underneath that, 'Mac AU (Universal Binary).'
You want to click on that, and then download the 5 different components listed in Google Drive. There's a download button on the right-hand side of this page where you can download all of it.
After that, just follow the steps that I laid out above. Just as a quick refresher, you'll have to unpack the downloaded ZIP file and then open up the file and drag and drop the individual 'component' files into your library.
When I was having trouble, I turned my computer on and off, and then I had to reboot GarageBand in order for the LePou plug-ins to show up in the 'Audio Units' file.
These are quite possibly some of the best Amplifier plug-ins that you can use in Garageband in my opinion. The Clean setting in the LePou plug-in is pretty great.
What Are The Best Plug-Ins for GarageBand?
Like I mentioned at the beginning of the article, there are a ton of free plug-ins on the internet that are a lot of fun to use. I've scoured the internet looking for the best VSTs, and I came up with this list.
As a side note, even though they're paid plug-ins, I included Superior Drummer and Amplitube 4 because they have such a good reputation.
Superior Drummer, especially, is a great program for people interested in making rock and metal songs. However, I'm sure that hip-hop producers can put it to good use as well.
Additionally, for this list, I polled users online and asked them what some of their favorite VSTs are to use, so I can't vouch for all of them personally.
Without going too far off topic, here's the list (I provided links to where you can find each one):
This is a synth plug-in made by U-he and based off of the Roland Juno-60 which came out in 1982. It's a classic. This plug-in has quite a bit more functionality, however, and it's powered by Amazona.de. U-he has a reputation for imitating analog models well.
This is a collection of 28 plug-ins that are extremely popular with not only GarageBand users but for other DAW users as well. You can pay for the license for added functionality and other features, but from what I understand, most people just take the free version and are happy with that.
This package includes reverb, mixing and mastering tools, modulators, filters, compressors, flangers, phasers, tremolos, tuners, vibratos, limiters, loudness analyzers, notepads, oscillators, and shapers.
This plug-in is known for its 'classic' stereo reverb which is very simple to use but sounds great. It also has a bunch of different presets that you can use.
LePou guitar amplifier simulators are pretty awesome. However, I actually like the clean version of the amps they give you, rather than the distorted channel.
It comes with five amplifiers: the Hybrit, Le456, LeCto, LeGion, and LeXtac. Each one is great for its own reason. I would say that my favorite, thus far, is the LeGion and the LeXtac.
- Crystal Synth
This is an old-school synthesizer plug-in that has been around for a long time and comes with all kinds of effects. The effects, honestly, sound pretty authentic for a free VST. Some users claim there are better plug-ins and there probably are, but this is great for what it is.
Made by TAL, the purpose of this plug-in is for voice processing, but it can be used for a number of different functions. From what I understand, it's not compatible for Mac's that are 10.10 and higher, unfortunately. But I'm sure there is a way to make it work.
The Blue Cat audio plugin comes with a range of different modulation effects, including a 3-band equalizer, a gain-suite, a chorus, phaser, flanger, and a frequency analyzer.
This is an EQ plug-in that is now compatible with almost every DAW, depending on whether you get the professional version or not. It's styled after the Pultec EQ.
- Amplitube 4(Costs Money)
Amplitube 4 is a great plug-in for many users because they have an official Mesa Boogie Amplifier pack, including the dual rectifier, the triple rectifier, the Mark-III, and the transatlantic TA-30.
It has more features than that, including a cabinet section where you can choose microphone placement and a bunch of other settings. Moreover, Amplitube has worked with a bunch of other companies, including Orange Amplifiers.
You can actually get a free demo version of Amplitube though with the purchase of an iRig HD 2, which you should get anyways (if you're a guitar/bass player).
You can read more about the iRig HD 2 and some of my other favorite products here.
- Superior Dummer 2.0(Also Costs Money)
Created by ToonTrack, Superior Drummer has a great reputation for being one of the greatest drumming software. It has over 50 GB of drum kits and samples that you can choose from, and like Amplitube, companies worked with them directly in the creation of the samples.
Also created by u-he in 2005, this is a fairly old plug-in, but is considered as a classic synthesizer that comes with a ton of different presets. It comes with a filter, an oscillator, an envelope, an arpeggiator, and a sequencer.
This is another legit synthesizer plug-in created by Archetype Instruments. It's fairly simple to use, but can be used for a wide range of effects, including filters and distortion.
Another polyphonic synthesizer plug-in compatible for both PC and Mac. Modeled after an old Roland synth, the settings are adjustable with sliders rather than knobs, which some people prefer.
The SGA1566 is a virtual pre-amp that is used for boosting particular instruments and channels.
EZ Drummer, like Superior Drummer, is also created by Toon Track, but it's simpler, less expensive (about half as much), and doesn't come with as many drum-kits and settings.
The Nova-67P is another equalizer plug-in paired with a compressor. With this, you can input a side-chain signal.
This is akin to the Digitech Whammy Pedal, which you can see in the image for this blog post. Nonetheless, you can use this to make pretty bizarre sounds.
Tom Morello from Rage Against The Machine is known for using the stomp-box from which this VST takes its inspiration. Essentially, the Pitchproof plug-in is a pitch-shifter and harmonizer.
I actually own the Digitech Whammy Pedal, and obviously, the real analog model is far superior to any form of a plug-in that you can use. It's a great little piece of equipment for guitar playing. You can probably check it out on Amazon and get it for a good price.
Multiply is a nice little chorus effect that I like to use for guitars, piano, and vocals, primarily. Garageband comes with a chorus effect, but it isn't quite as good as this one.
The Voxengo Marvel GEQ is a 15-band equalizer that allows you to really take control of the EQ of your track. I actually own an MXR 10-Band EQ, and it's very similar to this plug-in, albeit, superior.
You can also grab one of those off of Amazon if you're interested in a legit piece of equipment.
This is, basically, a super powerful and useful compressor that allows you to do more than the compressor that comes with Garageband. It's pretty cool and worth checking out.
This, like the M-Audio FX Bundle, comes with over 20 effects and processors, 24 to be exact. It's a fairly old set of plug-ins, but I'm sure it can be quite useful.
I use this one quite a lot whenever I can't get ahold of my real acoustic and nylon string guitar. It's superior to the guitars offered in GarageBand, but still, not quite as good as the real thing, of course. For what it is, it works great.
I use this plug-in almost every day, especially the Trap Kit setting it comes with. It comes with over a dozen drum-kits, which makes it pretty handy for hip-hop producers.
Vst Plugins For Garageband
- Melodyne 4 and 5 (Buy here from eBay)
Melodyne is a very advanced audio editing tool from the company, Celemony, and it's easily the best pitch-correction software that's compatible with Garageband. I wrote all about it here.
For more tools, books, and software, check out my recommended products page.
What Plug-Ins come with GarageBand?
When you download stock plug-ins in Garageband, it comes with a plethora of useful VST's, including all of the software instruments.
Software Instruments
Garageband comes with 15 different categories of software instruments: bass, drum kit, electronic drum kit, guitar, mallet, orchestral, percussion, piano, synthesizer, vintage B3 organ, vintage clav, vintage electric piano, vintage mellotron, world, arpeggiator.
Each category has a number of different software instruments within it, especially the arpeggiator, which must have close to 50-70 models.
Plug-ins
In the plug-in settings, there are 12 categories of plug-ins with a ton of different sub-categories:
Amps and Pedals, Delay, Distortion, Dynamics, EQ, Filter, Imaging, Modulation, Pitch, Reverb, Specialized, and Utility are the main categories.
Amps and Pedals – Amp Designer, Bass Amp Designer, Pedalboard.
- The Amp Designer has 26 different Models, 26 Amps, and 26 Cabinets. Garageband's Amp Designer is actually pretty solid considering Garageband is a free program.
- The Bass Amp Designer has 4 different models, 3 amps, and 8 cabinets.
Pedalboard – The pedalboard comes with 36 different effects. It pretty much has everything you could need for playing guitar, including overdrive, wah, a whammy pedal, delay, chorus, overdrive, and so on and so forth.
Their quality isn't quite as good as some of the plug-ins that you can download or buy, but they're sufficient, nonetheless.
Delay – Delay Designer, Echo, Sample Delay, Stereo Delay, and Tape Delay
Distortion – Bitcrusher, Clip Distortion, Distortion, Distortion II, Overdrive, and Phase Distortion.
Dynamics – Compressor, DeEsser, Enveloper, Limiter, Multipressor, and the Noise Gate.
EQ – Channel EQ and Single Band EQ.
Filter – AutoFilter, Filterbank, Fuzz-Wah, and the Spectral Gate.
Imaging – Direction Mixer, and the Stereo Spread.
Modulation – Chorus, Ensemble, Flanger, Microphaser, Modulation Delay, Phaser, Ringshifter, Rotor Cabinet, Scanner Vibrato, Spreader, Tremolo.
Pitcher – Pitch Shifter, Vocal Transformer
Reverb – EnVerb, PlatinumVerb, SilverVerb, Space Designer
Specialized – Exciter and Sub-Bass
Utility – Gain.
Audio Units – This setting has a ton of different dynamics tools, including AUBandpass, AUDelay, AUDistortion, AUDynamicsProcessor, AUFilter, AUGraphicEQ, AUHighShelfFilter, AUHighpass, AULowpass, AULowShelfFilter, AUMatrixReverb, AUMultibandCompressor, AUNBandEQ, AUMultibandCompressor, AUNBandEQ, AUNetSend, AUNewPitch, AUParametricEQ, AUPeakLimiter, AUPitch, AUReverb2, AURogerBeep, AURoundTripAAC, AUSampleDelay.
Where are the Plug-ins in GarageBand?
When you first open the program, Garageband shows you all of the 15 software instruments on the left-hand side, and as I mentioned above, there are a ton of instruments and pre-sets within each category.
The other plug-ins are located in the bottom within the Smart Controls area, including within the plug-ins option as well as within the Amp Designer, Bass Amp Designer, and the Pedalboard.
Whenever you download plug-ins through the way I showed earlier in the article, the plug-ins will often appear in the Audio Units tab.
The plug-ins are in several locations, but it also depends on how you define plug-ins. If we're talking about the plug-ins that you've downloaded, then you'll find these in the 'Audio Units' tab within the Smart Controls plug-in settings.
Garageband Drum Plugins
YouTube Video Tutorial
Watch this video on YouTube
That's It!
That's all for now. Be a trooper and share this on social media.
