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- Creating a Virtual Mac
- Downloading Garageband
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Garageband is a digital audio workstation developed by Apple for macOS, iPad, and iOS. Currently, there is not a Windows version of Garageband. In order to use Garageband on a Windows PC, you will need to install macOS Big Sur on a virtual machine. Then you can download and run Garageband and other Mac apps through the virtual machine. Be aware that installing macOS on a virtual machine is a little more complicated than installing other operating systems. This wikiHow teaches you how to install Garageband on a virtual machine.
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Download VirtualBox. VirtualBox is virtual machine software developed by Oracle. Use the following steps to download and install VirtualBox:
- Go to https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads in a web browser.
- Click Windows hosts below «VirtualBox 6.1.18 platform packages.»
- Click the VirtualBox «.exe» file in your web browser or Downloads folder.
- Click Next.
- Click Next.
- Click Next (it is recommended you install the virtual machine at its default location. Don’t change the install location unless you know what you are doing).
- Click Yes to acknowledge it may temporarily disconnect your internet.
- Click Install.
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Download VirtualBox Expansion Pack. You will also need to download and install the VirtualBox expansion pack. This contains fixes for USB 3.0 keyboard and mouse support. Use the following steps to download and install the Virtual Box Expansion Pack:
- Go to https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads in a web browser.
- Scroll down and click All supported platforms below «VirtualBox 6.1.18 Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack.»
- Double-click the expansion pack file in your web browser or Downloads folder to install it.
- Click Install.
- Scroll down the to bottom of the text and click I agree.
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Download a disk image file for macOS 11.0.0 or higher. The latest version of Garageband only works with macOS 11.0.0 (Big Sur) Go to the link below and click Download to download a zip file containing macOS Big Sur. You’ll need to extract the contents of the extract the contents of the zip file to a location that you can remember. If the link below doesn’t work, either try again later or use the link in the macOS installation guide below.
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Install macOS in VirtualBox. Installing macOS Big Sur on a virtual machine is a bit of a lengthy process. It’s recommended you follow a dedicated guide to make sure you are doing it correctly. You will need at least 8 GB of RAM, and at least 128 GB of hard drive space to set it up. The following are the general steps you need to follow to install macOS in VirtualBox. Use the following steps to install macOS Big Sur on VirtualBox:
- Open Virtual Box.
- Click New at the top to create a new virtual machine.
- Type a name for the machine.
- Select MacOS as the type, and MacOS (64-bit) as the.
- Set the memory size to 8 GB or more
- Click Create.
- Select a location for the virtual hard drive.
- Set the file size to at least 128 GB.
- Select VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) as the hard disk type.
- Click Create.
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Adjust the settings for the macOS virtual machine. Use the following steps to adjust the settings for the virtual machine:
- Click the macOS virtual machine.
- Click Settings at the top.
- Click System in the panel to the left.
- Uncheck Floppy and ensure «ICH9» is the selected chipset.
- Click the Processor tab.
- Allocate at least 2 CPU cores to the virtual machine (more if you can).
- Ensure «Enable PAE/NX» is checked.
- Click Display in the panel to the left.
- Allocate 128 MB of video memory.
- Click USB in the panel to the left.
- Ensure «USB 3.0» is select (Requires VirtualBox Expansion Pack which is available at the VirtualBox download website).
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Load the macOS 11.0.0 disk image file into the virtual machine. Use the following steps to load the macOS disk image (.iso) file into the virtual machine.
- Click Storage in the panel to the left under Settings.
- Ensure Use Host I/O Cache is checked.
- Click Empty below «Storage Devices.
- Click the CD icon next to «Optical Drive».
- Click Choose a disk image.
- Click the macOS Big Sur disk image (.iso) file and click Open.
- Click the virtual hard disk (.vhd) file below «Storage Devices».
- Use the drop-down menu next to «Hard Disk» to set the SATA Port to «2.»
- Select the macOS 11.0 Optical Disk and set the SATA Port to «0.»
- Set the Virtual Hard Disk (.vhd) file to «1.»
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Click Ok. Once you are done setting all the settings for the macOS virtual machine, click Ok to save the settings.
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Patch the virtual machine. After you create a macOS virtual machine, you will need to patch it in order for it to work. To do this click first you need to close VirtualBox. Click the Windows Start menu and type CMD. Right-click the Command Prompt and click Run as Administrator. Then type or copy and paste the following commands and press Enter. Replace «[macOS_VM name]» in the commands with the actual name you gave your virtual machine. The commands are as follows:
- cd "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\"
- VBoxManage.exe modifyvm "[macOS_VM_Name]" --cpuidset 00000001 000106e5 00100800 0098e3fd bfebfbff
- VBoxManage setextradata "[macOS_VM_Name]" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemProduct" "iMac11,3"
- VBoxManage setextradata "[macOS_VM_Name]" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemVersion" "1.0"
- VBoxManage setextradata "[macOS_VM_Name]" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiBoardProduct" "Iloveapple"
- VBoxManage setextradata "[macOS_VM_Name]" "VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/DeviceKey" "ourhardworkbythesewordsguardedpleasedontsteal(c)AppleComputerInc"
- VBoxManage setextradata "[macOS_VM_Name]" "VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/GetKeyFromRealSMC" 1
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Run the macOS Virtual Machine and format the virtual hard disk. Before you can install macOS on the virtual hard drive, you need to format it. Use the following steps to format the virtual hard disk when you run the macOS virtual machine for the first time:
- Open VirtualBox.
- Select the macOS virtual machine and click Start.
- Wait for it to initialize.
- Select your language.
- Click Disk Utility and click Continue.
- Select VBox HARDDISK Media and click Erase at the top.
- Type a new name for the hard disk and click Erase.
- Click Disk Utility at the top and click Quit Disk Utility.
- Click Install macOS.
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Go through the macOS setup process. The first time you run macOS, you will need to go through a setup process. This involves selecting a language, keyboard layout, creating a new macOS username and password, creating a new Apple ID, and turning accessibility features on or off. Follow the directions to finish the macOS setup process. Once you are finished with these steps, you can log in to macOS through the virtual machine.
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Start the macOS virtual machine. Once macOS is successfully installed on a virtual machine, open VirtualBox and select the macOS virtual machine. Then click the Start icon at the top.
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Log in to macOS. Enter the username and password you selected as your macOS log in and press Enter on the keyboard to log in.
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Click the App Store icon
. It’s the blue icon with a capital «A» in the middle. Click the icon in the dock at the bottom of the screen to open the App Store.
- If you are asked to log in with your Apple ID, enter the email address and password associated with your Apple ID and click Continue.
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Type Garageband in the search bar. Type Garageband in the search bar and press Enter to search for Garageband.
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Click GET next to Garageband. This downloads and installs Garageband on the macOS virtual machine.
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Launch Garageband. You can find apps that you have downloaded to macOS in the Applications folder. To find it, click the Finder icon in the dock at the bottom of the screen, select Applications’ in the left panel, and then click the Garageband icon.
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About This Article
Article SummaryX
1. Install macOS Big Sur on a virtual machine.
2. Run the macOS virtual machine.
3. Go through the macOS setup process.
4. Log in to macOS Big Sur.
5. Open the App Store.
6. Use the search bar to search for Garageband.
7. Click GET next to Garageband.
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 65,778 times.
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File | GarageBand |
Version | Current Version (Windows PC) |
Compatible | Windows 11,10,8 |
Minimum Requirement | 4 GB RAM, Core i3 |
Security | Tested (Working) |
Size | 240 MB |
Downloads | 57,89,879+ |
As GarageBand is an exclusive app for Mac and iOS, it cannot be directly installed on a Windows 11 PC. However, you can use a virtual machine software such as VMware or VirtualBox to run Mac OS on your Windows 11 PC and then install GarageBand on the virtual machine.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Download and install a virtual machine software such as VMware or VirtualBox.
- Download a Mac OS ISO file, which is the operating system file required to run Mac OS on the virtual machine.
- Create a new virtual machine on the software and select the Mac OS ISO file as the operating system.
- Configure the virtual machine with sufficient RAM and hard disk space to run Mac OS and GarageBand smoothly.
- Start the virtual machine and complete the Mac OS installation process.
- After the installation, you will have a virtual Mac OS on your Windows 11 PC. Go to the App Store and download GarageBand.
- You can now launch GarageBand and start using it on your Windows 11 PC.
Note: Keep in mind that running GarageBand on a virtual machine may cause performance issues and may not be as smooth as running it on a Mac or iOS device.
GarageBand — довольно популярная программа для создания аудио для устройств MacOS и iOS. Что ж, это не лучшая DAW для профессионального использования, но если вы хотите, чтобы портативная DAW играла, училась и записывала — GarageBand должен помочь. Однако, каким бы хорошим он ни был, он по-прежнему недоступен для Windows. Итак, в этой статье мы увидим, есть ли способ использовать GarageBand для Windows, а если нет — каковы альтернативы GarageBand.
- Тысячи лупов из популярных жанров, таких как EDM, Hip Hop и другие.
- Почти идеальная виртуальная ударная установка.
- Синтезаторы с изменяющими форму элементами управления.
- Плагины звуковых эффектов.
- Делитесь готовыми песнями через социальные сети.
GarageBand для Windows — возможно ли?
Хотя многие пользователи пытаются найти способ загрузить GarageBand для Windows, на самом деле ничего не работает. Мы рекомендуем попробовать альтернативы вместо того, чтобы пытаться использовать GarageBand в Windows. Официальной поддержки нет — так что экспериментировать совершенно бесполезно — потому что для правильной работы программных утилит для производства аудио очень важна программная / аппаратная совместимость (чего нет в данном случае).
Примечание: Каждая упомянутая альтернатива предлагает один и тот же базовый набор функций, необходимых для создания музыки. Они отличаются только качеством изготовления, VST, поддержкой плагинов и некоторыми проприетарными инструментами. Итак, мы упомянули только уникальные функции, чтобы вы могли рассмотреть лучшую альтернативу для вашего использования.
Лучшие альтернативы GarageBand для ПК с Windows
1. LMMS (бесплатно)
Возможности: Инструменты для воспроизведения, сэмплы, поддержка плагинов, Звуковой шрифт поддержка и Open-Source.
LMMS — это бесплатная кроссплатформенная рабочая станция цифрового аудио с открытым исходным кодом, которая является простой альтернативой GarageBand для Windows. Он имеет современный простой в использовании пользовательский интерфейс, позволяющий легко управлять им и создавать музыку. В программную утилиту входят плагины инструментов и эффектов, пресеты, петли сэмплов и VST. Однако база данных VST невелика. Итак, если вы занимаетесь производством музыки для базовых каверов, инструментальных композиций, фоновой музыки и т. Д., LMMS подойдет вам.
Плюсы:
- Бесплатно.
- Простой в использовании интерфейс.
- Поддержка SoundFont.
- Открытый источник.
Минусы:
- Небольшой набор инструментов.
- Ограниченная совместимость плагинов.
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2. CUBASE Elements 9.5 (платная)
Возможности: Уникальный редактор ударных, трек аранжировщика, аккордовые пэды, премиальные VST включены и более 40 процессоров звуковых эффектов.
CUBASE — одна из самых популярных альтернатив GarageBand для Windows 10. Она оснащена множеством продвинутых инструментов. Версия Cubase Elements гораздо более подходит, если вы просто хотите создавать музыку. Если вам нужна возможность записи вокала с эффектами, дополнительная поддержка VST и множество других профессиональных функций, Cubase Pro должен быть вашим выбором.
Однако, в отличие от LMMS, Cubase не является бесплатным. Фактически, все другие альтернативы GarageBand, упомянутые ниже (за исключением бесплатной версии Tracktion 6 и Pro Tools), потребуют покупки. На мой взгляд, если вы хотите создавать музыку вечно (как карьера / страсть) — стоит приобрести Cubase. Если у вас есть бюджет (100 евро), я бы сказал, что это GarageBand для Windows, который вы так долго искали.
Плюсы:
- Простой в использовании пользовательский интерфейс с расширенными параметрами.
- Включены виртуальные инструменты, такие как HALion Sonic SE Workstation.
- До 24 физических входов / выходов.
Минусы:
- Основные функции редактирования партитуры для нотной записи и композиции.
- 16 VST-слотов (если вы хотите больше, вам придется обновить его до CUBASE Artist).
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3.Studio One (платный)
Возможности: Редактор MIDI-последовательностей, выпуск Harmonic, оптимизированный для лучшей интеграции с MIDI-контроллером PreSonus и другим аудиооборудованием от PreSonus.
Studio One — еще одна впечатляющая альтернатива GarageBand для Windows. Использую лично (издание Studio One Artist). Его цена почти такая же, как и на версии Cubase. Если вы хотите использовать ограниченный, но хороший VST, версии исполнителя будет достаточно. Но если вы предпочитаете сторонние VST, вам придется подумать о его профессиональной версии. Studio One также поддерживает удаленное программное обеспечение для iPad, планшета Android или планшета Windows, чтобы вы могли управлять звуковой рабочей станцией со своего мобильного телефона, что в разы делает его более гибким и удобным.
Плюсы:
- Современный интерфейс.
- Гармоническое редактирование (нотации для печати).
- Расширенный семплер.
- Версия Studio One Prime доступна бесплатно (для новичков).
Минусы:
- Встроенные эффекты и виртуальные инструменты не так впечатляют.
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4. Инструменты Pro (бесплатные / платные)
Возможности: Расширенные возможности мониторинга, замораживание треков, более 60 подключаемых модулей, совместная работа в облаке.
Pro Tools — одна из лучших цифровых звуковых рабочих станций, доступных для профессионалов. Если вы новичок в сфере создания музыки, вам подойдет версия Pro Tools First, которая доступна бесплатно. Вы получите все основные инструменты для создания потрясающего музыкального произведения. Конечно, библиотека циклов будет намного меньше платной версии, но это выполнимо. По понятным причинам он намного лучше, чем GarageBand.
Плюсы:
- Профессиональные инструменты | Во-первых — бесплатный инструмент для новичков.
- Улучшения редактирования MIDI.
- Подписка на Pro Tools (вам не нужно платить огромную сумму, если вам временно требуется программное обеспечение для создания музыки).
Минусы:
- Встроенные плагины не так уж и хороши.
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5. FL Studio 20 (платно)
Возможности: Управление автоматизацией, многодорожечная аудиозапись с быстрым изменением высоты тона, более 80 плагинов в комплекте, поддержка мультитач, также доступна мобильная версия.
FL Studio — настоящий зверь, когда дело касается создания музыки. Он предлагает огромную библиотеку лупов, плагинов и инструментов. В зависимости от того, какую версию вы приобретете, вы получите контент цикла, образцы, плагины и инструменты, необходимые для вашего проекта. Я бы не рекомендовал фруктовую версию FL Studio — так что, если вы планируете заменить FL Studio с помощью GarageBand, вы должны получить хотя бы версию производителя.
Плюсы:
- Отличный контроль автоматизации.
- Продвинутое создание битов.
- Большой пул встроенных плагинов.
- Доступна мобильная версия (если это важно).
Минусы:
- Поддержка MIDI-контроллеров не впечатляет (при использовании у меня были ошибки).
- Интеграция сторонних VST также не очень хороша.
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6. Ableton (платный)
Возможности: Мгновенное сопоставление, живое сообщество, семплер, идеально настроен для контроллеров Novation MIDI.
Ableton Live — это то, что вы чаще всего слышите как профессиональное предложение, когда у вас есть MIDI-контроллер. Что ж, каждая DAW, упомянутая в этой статье, хорошо оснащена функциями для интеграции MIDI-контроллера. Тем не менее, Ableton Live, похоже, является популярным выбором для этого. Если у вас есть устройство Ableton Push — это однозначно плюс. Вы, вероятно, даже забудете, зачем вам GarageBand для Windows.
Плюсы:
- Хорошая библиотека петель.
- Удобный интерфейс.
- Хорошая поддержка интеграции сторонних плагинов.
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7. Mixcraft 8 (платный)
Возможности: Интегрированное программное обеспечение Melodyne Tuning, инструменты мастеринга iZotope.
Mixcraft 8 от Acoustica — отличный инструмент для создания музыки для творцов любого уровня. А для новичков это обязательная замена GarageBand для Windows. Кроме того, это не сильно загружает системные ресурсы — поэтому, даже если у вас есть старый ноутбук, с которым вы хотите поэкспериментировать, вы можете попробовать. По сравнению с другими DAW Mixcraft 8 — более дешевая альтернатива со всеми продвинутыми инструментами, которые вы можете себе представить для программного обеспечения для создания музыки.
Плюсы:
- Удобный интерфейс.
- Лучше всего для новичков.
- Загружен множеством встроенных плагинов и циклов.
- Доступные цены.
Минусы:
- Отсутствует интеграция сторонних плагинов (с довольно большим количеством важных VST).
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8. Жнец (оплачивается)
Возможности: MIDI Notation Editor, Rescript (создание чего угодно, от простых макросов до сложных новых функций), дорожка программирования в реальном времени при использовании видео.
Довольно популярная DAW, которая является бюджетной альтернативой другим дорогостоящим программным продуктам для создания музыки. В него встроены почти все инструменты, необходимые профессионалу для создания музыки.
Плюсы:
- Доступный.
- Подходит для начинающих.
- Поддержка VST3.
Минусы:
- Меньше встроенных эффектов и плагинов.
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9. SONAR от Cakewalk (платный)
Возможности: Поддержка маршрутизации MIDI, автоматизация, сценарии, поверхности управления.
SONAR — очень похожая цифровая звуковая рабочая станция, которая может выступать в качестве мощной замены GarageBand для компьютеров с Windows. Кроме того, он предлагает лучшие / более дешевые тарифные планы — на случай, если вы не хотите тратить целое состояние на эксперименты в создании музыки. Лучшее в этом то, что вы можете попробовать программное обеспечение в течение 30 дней, не требуя предоставления данных своей кредитной карты. Так что да, это должно быть отличное предложение — когда вы уже знаете, что получаете, прежде чем покупать это.
Плюсы:
- Широкая поддержка интеграции со сторонними производителями.
- Автоматизация.
- Сценарии.
Минусы:
- Меньше встроенных эффектов и плагинов.
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10. T6 DAW от Tracktion (бесплатно)
Возможности: Вложение клипов, расширенное управление MIDI, пошаговая последовательность действий.
T6 DAW — это бесплатная альтернатива GarageBand для Windows. Это абсолютно бесплатно, без покупок в приложении. Вы можете выполнять все основные работы по созданию музыки, не тратя ни копейки. Однако, если вы хотите использовать его богатую коллекцию плагинов, улучшенные виртуальные инструменты и многое другое, вам придется приобретать их отдельно.
Плюсы:
- Бесплатно.
- Простой в использовании интерфейс.
- Также поддерживает платформу Linux.
Минусы:
- Отсутствует интеграция сторонних плагинов.
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Заключение
Мы понимаем, что мы не можем использовать GarageBand в Windows, потому что нет никакой официальной поддержки. К тому же GarageBand — не лучшее решение для создания музыки. Да, это может пригодиться, если у вас есть MacBook и iPad. Однако для Windows альтернативы предлагают лучшие и более мощные функции, чем сам GarageBand. Итак, вам следует попробовать альтернативы — и если вы профессионал — Cubase, Studio One и Ableton Live были бы моей личной рекомендацией.
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Garageband for Windows—is it even possible? The short answer is no. Garageband on Windows doesn`t exist. The long answer is a bit more complicated, but it is technically possible.
Garageband is Apple’s proprietary beginner DAW that often comes with a fresh Mac install. Sadly, there has never been an installation package that allows you to run Garageband on Windows.
There are workarounds to get Garageband for Windows, though. That being said, there are also terrific Garageband alternatives you should consider before even trying to run it on Windows.
In this article, I’ll show you the best way to install Garageband on Windows. I’ll also provide you with the best Garageband alternatives to consider for music making on a Windows machine.
How to install Garageband on Windows
To install Garageband on Windows, the first thing you’ll need is a virtual machine. The specific virtual machine you’ll need is an emulation of a Mac environment that runs on a PC. Within this virtual environment, you’ll be able to install Garageband.
One of the best free virtual machines available at the time of this writing is Virtualbox. Using Virtualbox, you’ll be able to install a copy of the Mac operating system Big Sur. This OS is the minimum system requirement to install and run Garageband at the time of this writing.
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If you’re set on using Garageband on Windows, this is the way. Help Desk Geek has written a terrific step-by-step guide on installing Virtualbox. I highly recommend following this guide, as setting up Virtualbox does require some technical prowess.
Be sure to pay attention to the minimum requirements for installation. This type of software has the potential to bog down your PC, as it’s quite resource-intensive.
Once you install Virtualbox and run Big Sur as the operating system, navigate to the App Store and install Garageband using your Apple ID.
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Can you use Garageband on Windows?
Yes—running Garageband on Windows is technically possible, but it comes with a few caveats. Running the virtual machine itself will eat a ton of your computer’s power. If you don’t have a top-of-the-line computer, you’re going to run into some technical limitations in Garageband.
When installing third-party software and GarageBand add-ons, you’ll have to use the partition of space you allocated when setting up the Virtual Machine. Depending on your overall hard disk space, you might not have much room for your favorite plugins and sound libraries.
Overall, the virtual machine route can be buggy. Don’t expect Garageband to work as if you’re using a true Mac computer. With that said, I’ve lined up some of the best alternatives to Garageband for PC.
Just because Garageband is for Mac only, doesn’t mean you can’t get started on an easy-to-use alternative. These DAWs boast most of the same features—if not more than Garageband.
1. Ableton Live Lite
Ableton Live Lite is the lightweight version of the renowned DAW, Ableton Live. Within Ableton Live Lite, you’ll have access to 205 Loops, 1626 Drum Hits, 667 Multisamples, FX and other one-shots. Live lite even comes with 4 software instruments, 27 effects, and countless presets for each.
Ableton Live is a pro-DAW used by tons of professional producers. Learning Ableton Live Lite is the perfect way to start making music. It’s also a perfect building block to progress to the complete suite of Ableton. If performing is on your roadmap, then Live is the perfect DAW for you. It was built for live performance in mind, and makes it insanely easy to build a track.
2. FL Studio
FL Studio is particularly loved by hip-hop producers.
FL Studio is one of the most popular DAWs among hip-hop producers. Its unique workflow makes it simple to get an idea going fast. Like Ableton Live Lite, FL Studio comes with a plethora of content ranging from virtual instruments to samples.
What makes FL Studio a great alternative to Garageband is its ease of use. While its workflow is different from other DAWs, starting out on FL Studio is intuitive and simple. The amount of content out there as well as the Image Line forum will always lend a hand when getting started.
Consider learning FL Studio if you’re just getting started with hip-hop productions.
3. Soundtrap
Soundtrap is free and you can use it in the cloud!
If you’re looking for something almost free with the convenience of running a DAW on any device, Soundtrap is the way to go. Soundtrap is an online DAW that carries many of the same features of Garageband. The best part is that it works right in your web browser.
With Soundtrap, you can collaborate with anyone around the world in the exact same session.
Our powerful, AI-driven mastering engine listens to your song and delivers pristine, studio-quality music that’s ready for release. Master a track.
You’ll have access to guitar amps, tons of synths, pianos and thousands of loops and samples. All this content is built right in the app. The only downside is that you won’t be able to install third party VSTs or software.
However, there’s no question that the functionality and ease of use of Soundtrap is comparable to GarageBand.
4. Reaper
Reaper isn’t on par with ease of use compared to GarageBand. But, if you stick with it it’ll be your go-to DAW for the rest of your music production life. It’s only $60, and comes with a long free trial to get started.
Reaper is completely open-source. This means you can customize it with user-generated skins, mods and scripts.
The only downside—there isn’t much built in content. Reaper doesn’t come with any instruments or sounds. But, with incredible free VST instruments and samples you’ll have Reaper populated with some amazing tools fast. It has a fully-fledged recording interface and supports VSTs. You’ll be able to install whatever you’d like
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5. Pro Tools Intro
Pro Tools Intro is Avid’s free version of the industry standard DAW, Pro Tools. Pro Tools Intro has a ton of content that is up to par with what Garageband offers.
Included is their proprietary instrument, Xpand!2. This multitimbral virtual instrument workstation offers everything from wavetables and FM synthesis. It even features sample playback to create parts for any type of music.
Pro Tools First also includes over 1,200 presets of instrument sounds. The list of sounds is extensive. You’ll get drums, synths, basses, guitars, pianos, strings, horns, woodwinds and more. It features 34 studio-essential plugins. Everything from EQ and dynamics to reverb, delay, and guitar amp emulators.
Move out of the Garage
Just because you’re on a Windows machine, doesn’t mean that limits your creativity. These GarageBand alternatives will have you up and running with your next track in no time.
If you’re successful running GarageBand on a Windows machine and it fits your workflow, all the power to you!
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You want to download Garageband for Windows? Don´t get confused by online rip-offs as there is no Windows version! Luckily you can run the original Mac version also on Windows and there are pretty good Garageband alternatives for PC as well.
These days I stumbled over a nasty fake page that promises to offer a download for Garageband for Windows as a ported version. The professional design of this website really struck me and I am sure quite some people stepped into that trap already. When you want to download Garageband for PC there you will get nothing but instead create ad-income for the website owner who forces you to do online surveys.
Digging a bit deeper I found that this was not the only case of fraud, there are plenty of other misleading pages like this one. When searching Garageband for Windows on Google a desperate user might really start to believe there was indeed an existing port of Garage band for Windows.
Some also want to make you believe that you can run the mobile version of Garageband with BlueStacks which is not true either as BlueStacks is an Android emulator and there is also no Android version for Garageband. You might however want to run a Garageband clone for Android using that technique which I explain here in detail.
Let´s clarify this, there is no native or ported Garageband for Windows! Instead you can run the original version for Mac OS X also with Windows using a virtual machine. This is not difficult to achieve, but as a real enthusiast you definitely should check out the native Windows Garageband alternatives which are also used by professional musicians. Here I show you all options.
Running Garageband for Mac OS X on Windows
The only way to use Garageband on your PC is to virtualize a complete Max OS X environment which then allows you to run Garageband like any other Mac OS X App.
While you can find working VMware images with MAC OS X quite easily, we advise you not to use them. Instead we recommend you to create your own virtual machine which is not too difficult. Here is a good guide which runs you through the process and provides a download which enables VMware to run MAC OS X.
This is what you need for a smooth experience
- System that supports Intel VT-x or AMD-V
- Intel i5 CPU or higher
- 8GB RAM or higher
- SSD Hard Disk or RAMDRIVE (otherwise it will be sluggish) with at least 45 GB space
- A retail copy of Mac OS X Mountain Lion operating system on DVD or in ISO format
- VMware Workstation Free Trial (for setup)
- Free VMware Workstation Player (running the machine)
- VMware Mac OS X Unlocker
Garageband for Windows alternatives
While Garageband is a great and intuitive Software to get started it is not the best music creation tool out there. There are plenty of other programs used by professional musicians which offer a Windows version. We have picked the six most recommended packages to make music.
1. LMMS (Freeware)
LMMS (download) stands for Linux MultiMedia Studio, although it has a working Windows version since quite a while. LMMS is a free open source sound generator, synthesizer, beat/baseline editor and MIDI control system. When you first install it you might be disappointed from its visual appearance which is quite the opposite of stylish Garageband.
But make no doubt, LMMS is like the Gimp (free Photoshop clone) of musicmaking and it does a great job. LMMS comes with a good variety of pre-loaded software instruments, samples and effects to get you started. It supports the VST and VSTi plugin standard for 3rd party audio synthesizer and effects.
Here is a list of tracks that have been made with LMMS featuring different instruments and styles.
The LMMS homepage provides a good list of free and commercial VST´s that have been found to work with LMMS for instruments like Guitar, Harmonica, Keyboard/Piano and many Synthesizers.
2. FL STUDIO
FL Studio (download trial) is like the big commercial brother of LMMS. It seems that developers of LMMS took their main inspiration from FL Studio, even the interface looks quite similar.
As an out of the box solution FL Studio will offer you everything you need to get started. While free software like LMMS lacks documentation, comes with bugs and problems and has no customer support. Apart from that FL Studio offers a much better support for VST plugins which can make a key difference for a particular project.
However this comes at a cost of at least € 89 for the very limited fruity edition which does not support audio recording, so be careful with that. Here you have a detailed feature overview of all four available FL Studio editions.
3. REAPER
With just $60 Reaper (download free trial) comes at a much cheaper price than FL Studio and has a simplified and highly customizable user-interface. It requires less system resources and comes with many great features and a good recording functionality.
When you like to chop sounds and throwing them around on different tracks, Reaper makes the job much easier than FL Studio. Out of the box you also get 300 free plugins which gives you enough material to produce decent pieces of good music. It might be more compley to use than if you´d have Garageband for Windows, but among the professional tools Reaper might be one of the more intuitive ones.
Check out their video section which gives you a quite good idea about how Reaper works.
4. ABLETON LIVE
Ableton Live (download free trial) is one of the big competitors of FL Studio and online there is a wild debate which is the better product. Judging by popularity, FL Studio has the lead. Ableton Live is being called more adequate for professionals.
Although FL Studio has also capabilities to use it for live-mixing, Ableton Live seems to do a better job in live settings. Looking at it from a Garageband perspective, this is definitely a product at the other end of the spectrum. If you look for specific features, here is the detailed comparison chart for the Intor, Standard and Suite versions of Ableton Live. Looking at just the cheapest offering, Ableton Live seems to be the better deal as the Intro edition comes with multitrack recording, something the FL Studio Fruity Edition does not offer.
5. REASON
Reason (download) is another powerful professional music software that puts its focus on an intuitive workflow and great sounding default instruments. While setting up and tuning instruments on other tools might require quite some effort, Reason makes it quite easy to use them right out of the box.
Reason in general puts a stronger focus on traditional instruments where other programs have better synthesizing features. If you are a instrument based musician, Reason might be the right tool to produce great songs adding virtual instruments to your own stuff.
6. BITWIG STUDIO
Bitwig Studio (download) is a quite new new suite for music production, the first version came out in 2012. Developers have taken a deep look at the existing programs and came up with some unique features you will not find elsewhere.
One of the most highlighted features of Bitwig Studio is its so called Clip Launcher which can show Session view mode together with Arrange and Mix view. Ableton, which also has great live session features requires you use two separate windows for each view mode which can get annoying when on the go.
Another unique feature worth mentioning is their VST Plugin & Crash Protection using sandboxing. This means if a plugin crashes, it will not crash the whole application. You still can save your project and don´t lose hours of work.
You can check out their article of Top 10 Reasons To Switch From Your Current DAW To Bitwig Studio to get a better idea about the differences of Bitwig Studio. Here a detailed video review from an independent source.
Running a Garageband for Android clone on Windows
The good thing about Windows is that using virtualization, you can run apps every from other platform. This also includes Android of course. Check out our guide with the 3 best methods to run Android apps with Windows 10 and you can also play with music apps from that platform.
While you might not find something of the same quality than Garage Band on Android, there are still some Apps worth checking out. To have a look, you can just use BlueStacks which is a no-brainer and then get started. Here the most popular Garageband alternatives for Android with their official app description.
1. Walk Band
Developer description: Walk Band (download) is a music studio (a toolkit of virtual musical instruments) customized for Android. It contains tons of features including Piano, Guitar, Drum Kit,Drum Machine, Bass, Multi-tracks synthesizer etc. All instruments use the realistic instrument sounds. You can add the drum beats and guitar chords to your piano melody. Play your favorite music everywhere with your phone. Another fantastic feature, External MIDI Keyboard over USB is also supported. You can connect your YAMAHA, Roland midi keyboard/controller with Walk Band.
- 88 keys piano keyboard
- 3 Guitar Type Sound: Nylon Guitar, Steel String Guitar, Clean Electric Guitar with Midi and Audio Recording, Playback and Sharing
- Drum Kit with Play Along Feature; Five Drum Kit Program: Jazz, Rock, HipHop, Percussion, Dance
- 3 Bass Type Sound: Acoustic Bass, Picked Bass, Slap Bass
- Multitrack synthesizer for different instruments
- Support for External MIDI Keyboard over USB MIDI. You can play Perfect Piano via the external midi keyboard (such as YAMAHA P105, Roland F-120, Xkey, etc) over USB
2. FL Studio Mobile
Developer description (download here): FL Studio Mobile (download) allows you to create and save complete multi-track music projects on your Android phone or tablet device. You can even load the FL Studio Mobile projects into the ‘FL Studio Desktop PC’ version* and take them to the next level.If it’s a beat on the step sequencer, a melody on the piano roll or a full song on the playlist, FL Studio Mobile has you covered. Never lose that idea again. Get it down and happening wherever you are.
- 133 high quality instruments, drum kits & sliced-loop beats
- All instruments have FL Studio desktop equivalents for FL Studio desktop import and extension
- Step sequencer for fast percussion programming and sliced-loop reworking
- Configurable virtual piano-keyboard
- Drum pads: Configurable number of pads
- Audio tracks: audio recording (with monitoring), wav/m4a import
- Wave editor: cut, trim, normalize, reverse, insert silence, fade in/out (3 curves)
- Browser with preview button and logical sorting into Instruments, Synths, Drum kits & Loops
- Pan, volume, release and attack time configurable per instrument
- Pitch bend via accelerometer
- High quality, battery-friendly audio engine (latency depends on the device)
3. Audio Evolution
Developer description (download here): The most powerful multi track audio and MIDI recording studio on Android with support for over 250 USB audio and MIDI interfaces, virtual instruments, editing with unlimited undo/redo, mixing, real-time effects, automation and much more! Record your voice, guitar, piano or any other audio source or create beats and synth tracks using a piano roll or external MIDI keyboard.
- Multitrack audio recording / playback
- MIDI sequencing (in-app purchase required)
- Drum pattern editor
- Non-linear non-destructive editing with move, trim, split, cut/copy/paste, remove, cross-fade and range editing
- Virtual instruments based on SoundFonts (in-app purchase required)
- Loop playback
- Automation of all mixer and effect parameters
- Latency correction
- Import of WAV, MP3, AIFF, FLAC, Ogg/Vorbis audio files (m4a and others when running Android 4.1 or higher)
4. MPC Music Studio
Developer description (download here): The Ultimate Beatmaker Tool to create music with your device!! The definitive music sequencer with a lot of electronic sounds selected only for you to create amazing beats only with your fingers. With this free version you can make music easily and FREE, with a few ads.
If you are a dj, music producer, music lover, you need this app to make music of any style: Hip-Hop, Dubstep, Electronic Music, load your favorite samples and create loops wherever you are with Music Studio.
- 60 Samples to Create Loop Sequences
- Social Features to Share your Beats
- High Audio Quality
- Amazing real-time edition
- Sound Effects
- Make any style thanks to Tempo Control
5. Cross DJ Pro
Developer description (download here): The best pro DJ app for Android. Mix tracks in perfect sync on a powerful audio engine. Engineered by Mixvibes, digital DJing pioneer for 15 years.
- Accurate BPM detection of your music, down to the last decimal
- Stable sync: one-press, and the 2 tracks never go out of phase
- Progressive, manual pitch bend
- Customizable, manual pitch range (4, 8, 16, 32, 100%)
- Beatmatcher: parallel waveforms to visually check if your tracks are synced
- Accurate beat-grid editing: make any track sync properly
- Quantize: hot cues and loops are automatically set on the beat
- Smart-seek: tap on the waveform to fast-forward & get a seamless jump
- Split Mono: pre-listen your music tracks before mixing them
- Automix: let Cross DJ mix your tracks and play music automatically, from any sources (playlist, album, etc.)
- External mixer: control EQs and crossfader with hardware mixers