GarageBand for macOS release notes
Find out about the current and previous versions of GarageBand for macOS.
New in GarageBand 10.4.11
• This update includes stability improvements and bug fixes and is recommended for all users.
Previous versions
GarageBand 10.4.10
Editing
Note velocity adjustments in the Piano Roll now work reliably in all selected regions.
Notes are now quantised to the expected value from the Piano Roll Notes tab.
Flex Time
Audio quantised to low values, such as 1/4 note, now align properly in time.
MIDI
Resolves an issue with some keyboard controllers where MIDI notes can hang if the Keyboard Sensitivity slider in Smart Controls is adjusted from its default position.
Smart Controls
Smart Controls for the Vintage Organ now reliably remain visible when playing the instrument.
GarageBand 10.4.9
Stability and reliability
Fixes an issue where GarageBand could quit unexpectedly when opening Learn to Play lessons or Chord Trainer.
Accessibility
Improves stability when using VoiceOver with GarageBand.
All plug-ins are now accessible when opened in Controls View.
Controls view is now available for the Amp Designer and Bass Amp Designer plug-ins, allowing for VoiceOver control of these two plug-ins.
Plug-ins
The Harmonics knob in the Vintage B3 instrument now continues to work after changing to a different patch.
Plug-ins now open in Controls View reliably when the “Open plug-ins in Controls view by default” setting is enabled.
Flex Time
The Show/Hide Flex button no longer disables Flex mode.
Drummer
Follow Mode for Drummer now works with tracks that contain Takes.
Automation
Resolves an issue where creating automation at the top or bottom edge of the Master Track with the Pencil tool could result in unexpected automation points being created
Sharing and export
Exported songs now include the minute the file was created in the file name.
Logic Remote
GarageBand no longer reopens the Save window each time a song is saved using Logic Remote
General
Fixes an issue where clicking on a template in the New Project panel could cause the view to scroll to the bottom unexpectedly.
Switching the Audio output device no longer also switches the Audio input device.
Downloading a Learn to Play Lesson no longer interrupts another in-progress lesson download.
The Keyboard Sensitivity slider now retains its value when switching between tracks.
GarageBand 10.4.8
This update provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users.
GarageBand 10.4.7
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.
GarageBand 10.4.6
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/HT201222.
Stability/Reliability
GarageBand no longer closes unexpectedly when sharing to SoundCloud.
Accessibility
VoiceOver now announces the state of the record button correctly.
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 re-opened.
GarageBand 10.4.5
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.
GarageBand 10.4.4
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.
GarageBand 10.4.3
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.
GarageBand 10.4.2
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 when a take folder is deselected and then reselected.
GarageBand 10.4.1
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 1,800 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 quantise 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 quantise 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.
GarageBand 10.3.5
• This update contains stability improvements and bug fixes.
GarageBand 10.3.4
Smart Controls now work as expected on Mac computers that don't support Metal.
GarageBand 10.3.3
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 during 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.
GarageBand 10.3.2
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, a dialogue is now displayed in GarageBand 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 can now be found correctly 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 are now displayed 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 is now displayed correctly in newly created projects.
The LCD display is now updated immediately 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.
GarageBand for macOS 10.3.1
Resolves an issue where third-party Audio Units and the PlatinumVerb plug-in could not be accessed.
GarageBand for macOS 10.3
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, transport and voice sound effects. Find out 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 has been disabled.
It is now possible to record audio during playback.