GarageBand for macOS release notes

Accessibility

• VoiceOver now correctly announces the state of the mono/stereo selector in the Smart Controls inspector.
• The second, spurious button for Keyboard Sensitivity in Smart Controls is no longer present when using VoiceOver.

Performance

• GarageBand no longer remains stuck on the Guitar Lesson page if that page is open and a connected Apogee Hype MiC is unplugged.

Plug-ins

• Intel Audio Unit plug-ins now load and function as expected.

Import

• Audio from Voice Memos can now be dragged directly onto a track in GarageBand.

Export/Bounce

• Performing Bounce and Replace All Tracks with the Include Automation option deselected no longer mutes track-based automation on the destination tracks.

General

• Recording MIDI over an existing region in Replace mode no longer removes audio from other tracks at the same position in the time line.
• The tone slider for the Metronome now has more consistent control for newly created projects.
• The recording setting for overlapping regions no longer resets to Merge when GarageBand is restarted.
• The volume slider now remains visible and functional for all track header widths.
• When recording MIDI over an existing MIDI region in Replace mode, the existing MIDI recording is no longer unexpectedly audible.

New Features/Enhancements

• Choosing the Go to Left Locator and Go to Right Locator commands to move through a song project may now be performed using key commands.
• For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT201222.

Stability/Reliability

• GarageBand no longer closes unexpectedly when sharing to SoundCloud.

Accessibility

• VoiceOver now correctly announces the state of the record button.

Plug-ins

• Audio Units that use PACE copy protection now work in GarageBand.
• The graph in Channel EQ now displays the effect of the overall Gain setting.

Flex

• The key command Show/Hide Flex now works as expected.

Smart Controls

• Smart Controls on a locked track now immediately display as active when the track is unlocked.

Import

• Files can now be dragged directly from Music into GarageBand.

MIDI Controllers/Control Surfaces

• Lua scripts for external MIDI controllers now continue to work when Logic Remote is connected to GarageBand.

Editing

• The Piano Roll Notes tab now retains changes made to the Quantise value when a song is saved, closed and then reopened.

Accessibility

• VoiceOver now reliably announces the state of controls in the GarageBand Preferences window.

Plug-ins

• Plug-ins that use PACE copy protection now work correctly with GarageBand.
• The values of Alchemy synth controls now update as the controls are adjusted.

Editing

• Resizing the Smart Controls or Editor window no longer causes selected tracks to lose focus.
• It is now possible to choose "None" in the Articulation Set pop-up menu.

Undo

• Undo now works after changing the Quantisation value in the Piano Roll inspector.

General

• It is now easier to resize editor windows.
• Resolves an issue where the GarageBand startup screen was sometimes blank at launch.

New features

• Eight Producer Packs with royalty-free sounds from today's biggest hitmakers, including Boys Noize, Mark Lettieri, Mark Ronson, Oak Felder, Soulection, Take A Daytrip, Tom Misch and TRAKGIRL.
• Sound Packs feature slap house, modern ambient and a collection of 808 drum kits, bass samples and loops.
• Adds a total of 2800 loops, 50 kits and 120 patches.

Stability and reliability

• GarageBand no longer hangs when the Learn to Play window is opened while there is no network connection.

Performance

• GarageBand no longer displays a spinning wait cursor when dragging loops into a track from the Finder.

Sampler

• Instances of Sampler in songs created on GarageBand for iOS and iPadOS now load correctly when the song is opened in GarageBand for macOS.

Content

• Software Instrument patches can now be filtered by Sound Pack name in the Patch Library.

Automation

• The Show/Hide Automation button now functions correctly when there are no automation points currently in the track.
• Region-based automation in the Piano Roll editor is now dimmed when automation is disabled.

Learn to Play

• Resolves an issue in which Artist lessons may not output sound after a basic lesson was opened and played first.

Undo

• Replacing a movie file and then performing Undo no longer leaves the audio from the just-replaced movie.

Control Surfaces and MIDI Controllers

• GarageBand now provides LUA script support for developers of third-party MIDI controllers.

General

• GarageBand no longer displays an Accessibility Access Event alert message when using VoiceOver to trigger a key on the Piano Roll keyboard.
• The Master Echo button no longer flashes unexpectedly when the Master button is clicked.
• MIDI Sustain events now respond correctly when starting playhead in any position on the timeline.

• This update contains stability improvements and security updates. Find out more about Apple security updates.
• Adjusting the Limiter level parameter in the Smart Controls no longer causes an unexpected drop in level.

Accessibility

• Plug-ins can now be opened in Controls view, which makes their functions available while using VoiceOver.

Editing

• The region header in the Audio Editor now updates correctly when a track is muted.

Content

• Sounds from the 808 Bass collection now sound and play correctly.

General

• On the Region tab of the Audio Editor, Time Quantise for audio regions displays as expected after a take folder is deselected and then reselected.

New feature and enhancements

• Refined new design on macOS Big Sur.
• Improved performance and efficiency on Mac computers with Apple silicon.
• Allows customisation of region colours in your tracks.
• Adds 1800 Apple Loops in a variety of genres including Hip-Hop, Chill Rap, Future Bass, New Disco, Bass House and more.
• Adds over 190 instrument patches and 50 vintage and modern drum kits.

Stability and reliability

• GarageBand no longer becomes unresponsive sometimes when dragging the top edge of the Smart Controls display.

Performance

• When GarageBand is on a secondary display, the app is now immediately visible when exiting from Full Screen mode.

Accessibility

• VoiceOver now provides audible feedback when showing or hiding the Master Track. 
• VoiceOver now provides audible feedback when showing or hiding Automation. 
• VoiceOver now provides audible feedback when showing or hiding the Library. 
• VoiceOver now provides audible feedback when showing or hiding alignment guides. 
• VoiceOver now provides audible feedback when toggling snap to grid. 
• VoiceOver now provides audible feedback when performing zoom. 

Apple Loops

• Transposition now works reliably after dragging an audio Apple Loop to an empty portion of the Tracks area.
• Creating Apple Loops from regions now works in cases where the end of the region is close to the end of the song.

Flex Time

• When quantize is enabled for an audio region, the “Strength” setting automatically is set to 100.

Smart Controls

• Choosing a different tab in a dual-tabbed Smart Control display now works reliably.

Plug-ins

• Newly inserted instances of Space Designer now show the correct reverb length.
• If dragging a plug-in to a new position or empty slot, this will no longer reset customised settings back to default.

Import

• GarageBand now displays an alert when an audio file that contains no tempo information is imported.
• GarageBand now displays a dialogue when an audio file is imported containing tempo information into an empty project.

General

• GarageBand now properly opens .CAF files created by Voice Memos that have been shared to the Finder or Mail.
• When “Create Takes” mode is active, GarageBand will no longer display a “Circular Structure” error while recording MIDI over an existing Take folder that is covered by another region.
• The quantize menu now remains visible after Flex Time is turned off and then back on.
• The level meters for the Master Output in the Control bar now continue to function when the output is set to mono.
• Saving a song that contains a movie no longer causes GarageBand to display a dialogue asking to replace to the movie file.
• Importing an audio file with the same name as an existing file in a song no longer overwrites the existing file.

• This update contains stability improvements and bug fixes.

• Smart Controls now work as expected on Mac computers that don't support Metal.

New Features/Enhancements

• The Loop Browser now allows you to filter by loop type.

Stability/Reliability

• GarageBand no longer quits unexpectedly when the Intro to Guitar lesson is opened a second time in the same Learn to Play session.

Editing

• The keys on the keyboard in the Piano Roll are now the expected size.

General

• Open System-based windows in GarageBand now immediately change between Light and Dark mode when the mode is changed in the System Settings.
• The input level meter now works in the Learn to Play setup window.

Performance

• GarageBand no longer hangs when opening the Sound Library, the Note Pad, the Loop Browser or the Media Browser when the Smart Controls are open.

Sound Library

• When opening GarageBand on a Mac in which the sound library has been moved using Logic Pro or MainStage, and the external drive containing the library is not connected, GarageBand now shows a dialogue indicating the drive must be connected to access to sounds.
• It is now possible to reinstall the Sound Library in GarageBand after moving the library in Logic Pro or MainStage, and then disconnecting the external drive that contains the library.
• Impulse Response files for Chinese and Japanese traditional instruments are now correctly found when a GarageBand for iOS project is opened on macOS.

Learn to Play

• The Tuning Hint window now opens in Learn to Play lessons that feature non-standard tunings.
• Chords now display in the correct positions in the Chord Trainer.
• The Chord Trainer again provides visual feedback when correct and incorrect chords are played.

General

• GarageBand now supports drag and drop from Voice Memos.
• The Smart Controls Inspector now displays correctly in newly created projects.
• The LCD display now immediately updates to reflect undo or redo of key signature change.
• The GarageBand window now remains visible after exiting full screen mode.
• It is now possible to position the end of song marker with greater precision.

• Resolves an issue where third-party Audio Units and the PlatinumVerb plug-in could not be accessed.

New features and enhancements

• Two new Drummers play roots- and jazz-influenced brush styles.
• Over 20 free downloadable Artist Lessons show you how to play hit songs on piano and guitar, taught by the artist who made them famous.
• Includes 1,000 new electronic and urban loops covering Reggaeton, Future Bass and Chill Rap.
• Includes 400 animal, transportation and voice sound effects. Learn how to download the new sounds.
• Play and record using traditional instruments from China mainland and Japan with the Guzheng, Koto and Taiko drums.
• Add classic sounds to your song with five Vintage Mellotron patches.
• Updates compatibility with GarageBand for iOS.

Stability and reliability

• GarageBand no longer quits unexpectedly when loading certain patches created in Logic Pro.

Editing

• MIDI Pan data can now be edited in GarageBand.
• The Help Tag for the Marquee tool now shows the total length of the current selection, as well as its start and end positions.
• Step editing of automation is now possible in the Piano Roll editor by pressing Command-Option.

Accessibility 

• VoiceOver now announces the type of track that is selected in the New Track dialogue.
• VoiceOver now speaks the names of tracks when interacting with regions in the tracks area.

Plug-ins

• The size of plug-in windows no longer sometimes changes unexpectedly when switching to presets that contain a different number of controls.

Flex

• Enabling "Follow Tempo & Pitch" in the Region editor now also enables Flex in the Track Editor if it is not already active.

General

• GarageBand no longer unexpectedly sustains notes when using Musical Typing.
• Metronome volume and tone can be adjusted in the GarageBand Preferences.
• The GarageBand LCD again displays times down to milliseconds.
• Master Echo and Master Reverb bypass settings are now saved in GarageBand projects.
• Performing Undo after changing the key of a project now correctly returns Apple Loops to the original key.
• Software Instrument tracks now respond properly to MIDI input after Track Lock is disabled.
• It is now possible to record audio during playback.