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What is the best Windows App equivalent to Apple's Garage Band?


Guest El Chalupacabra
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Guest El Chalupacabra

Like the title says, does anyone know what is the best Windows App equivalent to Apple's Garage Band?

 

I am looking for an app, even if it isn't free, that has as many of the functions that Garage Band has as possible, and that has an interface as close as possible, as well.

 

 

Thanks!

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Guest El Chalupacabra

Well this is for a friend of mine who uses garage band. Since my first post, he clarified and said he also uses audacity.

 

I am taking guitar lessons from him and he is not what you would call a power user, but what he typically does is record his own music, or that of his students, and does basic editing. Nothing really fancy, because for that, he uses a studio and someone else takes care of that stuff, when he records for a studio album. However, he has recently got into DJ-ing on the side, and may need tools for that, as well.

 

This is not my forte, and everything I know is based on google searches. So far, I have come up with these:

 

Audacity (free\open source):

http://audacity.sour...e.net/download/

 

Reaper (Free\Open Source)

http://www.reaper.fm/index.php

 

Sony Acid (has free trial):

http://www.sonycreat...om/acidsoftware

 

Abelton Live:

http://www.ableton.com/live

 

Fruity Loops\FLStudio (has demo version):

http://www.image-lin...s/flstudio.html

 

Adobe Audition (used to be cool edit pro, may have a free trial version..didn't check):

http://www.adobe.com...s/audition.html

 

 

Cubase (really powerful, also higher end)

http://www.steinberg...base/start.html

 

Of course I have never used any of this, so I don't know what is good, and what is crap.

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Guest El Chalupacabra

i too use audacity. pong, what's the best way to hook up to the computer through a half stack/fx-anything, to record on audacity? same for vocals? bc let me tell you, i haven't got great quality so far, lol.

 

I know some solid state amps can connect via USB. Mine does. I know for live performances a lot of people want tube amps, but would a solid state be ideal for a situation like that?

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not necessarily, just easier to connect.

 

my problem is my microphone input AND my line in on my PC gives me ****ty quality through a good mic, and my brother's built in laptop mic gets way clearer recordings. wat do?

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I've never used one, but I've kind of always wanted to get an audio interface for recording. There's a bunch of different levels of them from 100 bucks to 2000. They plug in through usb or firewire ports. I guess it's essentially a preamp with multiple inputs and it seems as though you can record multiple tracks at once with it. It's been a while since I've looked into them though, your post just reminded me that I wanted one. I think that's what you might want tommy.

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Guest bodega

Tommy and I have a similar problem. I have a nice old Roland M-16 mixer from the 80s I'm looking to interface with a PC. Any ideas what I could run it through ppl?

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  • 4 years later...

Hi,

 

I fell in here, me new to this forum. I read with interest what was said about Garage Band being a toy.. I had to offer my thoughts. Well, I use pot tops as Gongs, and some have a sound, that is truly unbelievable. So, maybe toys have some merit? Here follows my thoughts. I do not write to be right. I merely offer an opinion which drifts a bit further out.

 

Garage Band is a toy? Well, It does not have the innate power of editing others have; But I also know that it does not always matter as much as some may feel. \if you have Garage Band, or any other program, if a person does not posses the creativity, the 'Ears,' and the critical listening skills so necessary to a well produced product, it may not matter at all. Within the art of assembling, EQ'ing, and mixing, not all are created equal. .

 

So, instead of passing it off, lets look at what Garage Band does do. The Track volume is a line sort of like this -------------------------------------- A person can easily grab ANY part of it with the cursor, and pull it up, or down and easily create volume swells or decays, so effortlessly. As the line moves, so follows the volume specific for that section or volume curve.

 

All of the Sound efx and filters work in real time. You hear the change as you tweak the controls. That alone is a great feature. The tonality of some fx, are not as good as they can be- that is on their own. But combine a couple, and if your ears are tuned, a person can turn out a very respectable product. Technology is a great thing, but but I put my money behind talent, before technology.

 

I still use an old school EV Powered Mixer, 12 channel, that only pushes 100 watts. I drive four fifteen cabinets and three stage monitors. I've had guys Laugh saying oh, only 100 watts? Ha ha. Yet, I am who is called when they break down, or can't make a gig. Why? See, it is the bigger 'Johnson' thing. Most waste the watts. If a person knows how to eq to fit the circumstance, they will do well. I have people every single time I take my old pa out, ask me how I get such a good sound. I don't rob ny channels of power with stupid settings. I have an 800 watt power amp I take out, but so far, even doing a beach show, It was not needed. Technology is great, but it is only as good as the person who runs it.

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