GarageBand for Mac update adds Touch Bar support, more virtual drummers

Apple on Monday released an update for GarageBand on Mac, adding Touch Bar support to the music creation software, with other additions including a design refresh to make the audio tool easier to use, three new drummers, and more drum loops to be added to a user's composition.

Version 10.2 of GarageBand for Mac makes the MacBook Pro Touch Bar more useful for song creation, allowing users to navigate through a project's timeline, and also play instruments, such as the drums or keyboard. The Touch Bar support arrives just under five months after the same feature was introduced to Logic Pro X in the 10.3 update.

Three more drummers have been added to the collection of virtual session musicians users can tap to add percussion to their tracks, with the new additions providing beats in the styles of Pop, Songwriter, and Latin. A new set of "Drummer" loops have also been added, which can be quickly incorporated into projects with further customization possible with performance controls.

A "new modern design" has also been introduced in the update, promising "improved ease of use," according to Apple's release notes.

Owners of iPhones and iPads will also benefit from increased cross-platform creation, with the ability to add new tracks to an existing Mac-based GarageBand session from iOS. The iOS app also received an update at the same time as GarageBand for Mac, but version 2.2.2 contains stability improvements and bug fixes, not any major changes.

The free update to version 10.2 of GarageBand is available to download from the Mac App Store.

In April, Apple altered the pricing for its iWork suite and remaining iLife apps, including GarageBand, making them free for all iOS and macOS users. Previously, the apps were only free as part of a hardware purchase, with the policy change removing this requirement.

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10 Comments

SpamSandwich 20 Years · 32917 comments

About 7 years ago

Some very solid improvements to GarageBand with this latest update. I'm impressed with what's happening here.

cali 11 Years · 3494 comments

SpamSandwich said:

Some very solid improvements to GarageBand with this latest update. I'm impressed with what's happening here.

I've been thinking....

Apple could discontinue GarageBand and iMovie and replace both with free licenses for Logic and Final Cut. Apple is a huge company now so they won't lose much money and this move will do 3 important things.

1. They'll have more focus on these pro products instead of splitting focus on the weaker offerings, creating stronger software.

2. This will boost Mac sales like crazy. What they lose in licensing fees they'll gain in hardware sales and brand loyalty.

3. Further solidify Macs as pro hardware.

tzm41 9 Years · 95 comments

cali said:

SpamSandwich said:

Some very solid improvements to GarageBand with this latest update. I'm impressed with what's happening here.

I've been thinking....

Apple could discontinue GarageBand and iMovie and replace both with free licenses for Logic and Final Cut. Apple is a huge company now so they won't lose much money and this move will do 3 important things.

1. They'll have more focus on these pro products instead of splitting focus on the weaker offerings, creating stronger software.

2. This will boost Mac sales like crazy. What they lose in licensing fees they'll gain in hardware sales and brand loyalty.

3. Further solidify Macs as pro hardware.

I think the drawback here is not everyone needs to learn to use the pro softwares to create simple creations.

boltsfan17 13 Years · 2294 comments

I wish Apple would bring back Magic GarageBand. That was fun to play around with.

boltsfan17 said:

I wish Apple would bring back Magic GarageBand. That was fun to play around with.

It did result in some fun songs, but the limitations during the creation process were heavy.