As I await further comment from Apple, here's what I'm able to tell about GarageBand 2:
- Multitrack: If you have a multichannel audio interface, you can now record eight tracks at once, plus one virtual instrument track.
- Notation view: Display and edit your music as real-time
notation; essentially a score view you can have on the screen at the
same time as the traditional track view. This apparently does not
print. (I'm getting more details on that.) - Timing and pitch correction: Displayed as a simple fader
for each, plus a 'constrain to key' for more sophisticated pitch
correction, a la Apple Logic Pro's Vocal Enhancer (or the Pro Tools
AutoTune plugin that generates the infamous 'Cher' effect if turned up
too high) - Built-in guitar tuner
- MIDI Import, Save to Loop Library: Finally here: you can
import MIDI files, and you can save audio directly to loops.
Unfortunately, still no MIDI export, which means you can't write a song
in GarageBand and export to a notation program for printing; you have
to upgrade to Logic Express. (Ugh!) - Orchestral Jam Pack 4: As predicted by rumor sites, Apple
has launched a new orchestral jam pack with 2,000 loops and 30 "of the
most important" orchestral instruments. (Hey, keep your viola jokes to
yourself!)
Cost: US$79 for iLife 05 (no separate GarageBand upgrade)
Availability: January 22 in the US, January 29 worldwide.
Burning question: Where's the rumored Asteroid audio interface? Apple
of course never comments on rumors, but a new version could mean new
hardware support — and the huge NAMM music tech show is next week in
Anaheim. Stay tuned.
well the sketches of the asteroid box looked pretty much like the mac mini now unveiled. nice smokescreen, apple
I don't need multi-tracking. It's nice. But I just want to hear that the darn thing is "lighter," that it won't chew up my processor as much as GarageBand 1. Any word on optimization? :sigh
Don't expect better performance from this version, as what's CPU-intensive is too things: the layered UI, and the plugins. If you want better performance, disable all those default reverbs.
As for the Asteroid box, that's an interesting theory. Apple is obsessive enough about secrecy that they could have engineered a distraction. We'll know soon enough.
Pnull"well the sketches of the asteroid box looked pretty much like the mac mini now unveiled. nice smokescreen, apple"
Um… this would then immediately render the Asteroid lawsuit FRIVOLOUS, so I'm afraid you're mistaken.
Look for it at NAMM next week, along with Logic 7.1, which MUST contain the same loop enhancements as GBand.
Doing my comedy/music CD on GB was a great experiment, and the best thing I've done (formerly used a Roland VS-880, which I bought for $$$ in 1996). But, I still hung on to Roland for recording others who needed more than 1 input at a time 😉 The new GB offers multitrack and pitch correction, which is about all I could ask for.
…but it costs as much for a Firewire 8-input device as it does to buy a Yamaha hard drive recorder (8 tracks, f/x, CD burner)! So…we'll see what happens with Asteroid.
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