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When GarageBand just isn't musical enough
For the last few years, Windows users have been clamoring for Apple to release it's vaunted GarageBand music creation software on Microsoft's OS. While we can't see this happening any time soon, we will say this: there are just some things GarageBand makes more difficult than they need to be, and for that, Windows users can be happy they have Acid Pro.
If you're a GarageBand user (and what Mac-based musician isn't?) then you've probably wondered how you can create your own digital instruments without spending an arm and a leg on software. Up til now, of course, making your own digital instruments was just too hard, but we suppose Apple figured their own digital instruments (and supplemental Jam Packs) would be enough aural eclectics to satisfy everybody. Sadly, musicians, like all artists, have ever-evolving tastes. What sounded good enough yesterday will sound horrible tomorrow.
That's why Sonic Amigos introduced their PolyPhontics Software Instrument Toolbox for GarageBand. This package will let you create your own software instruments--based on your own recorded samples. So if you think the built-in saxophone sounds like a dying mallard, you can now replace it with a software instrument of your own creation, perhaps sampled straight from grandpa's antique tenor sax... and the PolyPhontics package costs $25, so you could probably pay for it by selling grandpa's sax after you've sampled it.
Since this tool lets you assign an individual sample to each key on the keyboard (there are 88), you could create a very large drumset or percussion instrument with ease. When you're done sampling, PolyPhontics will compile and drop the new instrument into your GarageBand banks folder, and off you go. Check out the video tutorial and you'll be creating instruments in no time. Oh, and if you're a Logic or ProTools user who needs a little more power in your studio than what GarageBand offers, check out Sonic Amigos' high-end version of PolyPhontics, too.
Comments
4
Subscribe to commentsEricAug 24th 2007 7:11PM
"For the last few years, Windows users have been clamoring for Apple to release it's vaunted GarageBand"
We have? All I can remember hearing about is iPhone.
Is garageband on the iphone? now that would uber .....
useless.
jinto.linAug 24th 2007 8:47PM
So, when you guys file it under, 'Commercial' it is an ad?
Oh, and funny post, Eric. Good point too.
Ted WallingfordAug 24th 2007 9:08PM
Actually it says 'Commercial' because the software I blogged about is commercial software. And yes there is quite a demand for the iApps on Windows. Hence Apple's policy of keeping them Mac-only. I believe the idea is to keep them exclusive to the OS X platform as a way of driving sales of Macs, at least that's the theory. Thanks for commenting my blog.
PaulAug 25th 2007 1:52PM
Garageband is for elementary songs; Ableton Live is for upper-level stuff. It's great stuff, easy to learn, and runs on both platforms. They got it right.