Garageband Instruments

Garageband makes it really easy to get in there and easily set up virtual instruments that come built-in. However, if you're going in to Garageband with the intention of using a third-party plug-in, y
  1. Garageband Instruments List
  2. Free GarageBand Instruments
  3. Garageband Instruments In Reaper
  4. Videos For Garageband Instruments
GarageBand

This GarageBand Tutorial, I share of my favourite free Instruments that you can add to your audio arsenal in GarageBand for.

Garageband makes it really easy to get in there and easily set up virtual instruments that come built-in. However, if you're going in to Garageband with the intention of using a third-party plug-in, you might be scratching your head at first.

In this Quick Tip, I'd like to show you how to easily set up a third party audio unit plug-in (like EZDrummer, Addictive Drums, Superior Drummer, etc).

  • Free GarageBand Instruments. GarageBand for MacOS comes with dozens and dozens of top notch virtual instruments for you to wrap your fingers around. That said, there will come a time when you want to broaden your sonic horizons with some new instrument sounds. In the video below, I share four of my favourite instruments that you can add to.
  • Garageband Samples. Browse our collection of Garageband samples, sample packs, loops, one shot drums and sound effects. All Garageband samples are available to download 100% royalty free for use in your music production or sound design project. Format Mood Genre Instrument.
  • GarageBand things like what notes were played, how long they were held, how hard they were hit, and so on. With this data recorded, you can play back your performance with any of GarageBand's built-in software instruments. If you originally recorded a flute sound with just a few clicks you can change it to a saxophone, a guitar, or a piano.
  • Apple's GarageBand contains scores of great software instruments and hundreds of audio loops. What it doesn't have is a sampler'a way for you to create your own instruments from audio files. Since GarageBand lets you use Audio Unit instruments, you can make use of samplers like Native Instruments Kontakt from within GarageBand.

In this tutorial, I'll be using Addictive Drums!

Garageband Instruments

Step 1

Create a Software Instrument Track!

Step 2

In the Software Instrument Tab on the Right, press the 'Edit' Tab.

Garageband Instruments List

Step 3

Free GarageBand Instruments

Under the 'Sound Generator' heading, click where it says 'Piano'. It will always default to the 'Piano' instrument when you create a new track.

Garageband

Step 4

In the drop-down list that appears, navigate to the 'Audio Unit Modules' section and choose your desired instrument. In my case, I'll choose 'Addictive Drums'.

Step 5

Once you select your instrument, a little orange Audio Unit Icon will appear, with your instrument next to it. But you still can't see it, right? Click the Orange 'Audio Unit' icon.

Step 6

Once you click the Audio Unit icon, your instrument will appear with it's graphically-friendly interface, ready for your use!

And that's really all there is to it! From here you can use your third-party instrument exactly the same as if you were using a built-in Garageband instrument! If you're using a MIDI Controller, you can trigger the instrument it the exact same way you would a regular Garageband Instrument.

One word of caution though: I would heartily recommend against running multiple versions of plug-ins like EZDrummer that use a lot of samples, or recorded audio. You can quickly eat up valuable system resources before you know it! Stick with one instance of EZDrummer, or Addictive Drums, and the rest should be smooth sailing!

Garageband Instruments In Reaper

Garageband instruments not installed

Videos For Garageband Instruments

Want to learn more? Check out these Garageband tutorials!