Last summer, Apple's music creation software GarageBand got a redesigned interface, Touch Bar support, and new drummers, with the 10.2 software update.
This summer, the app has received another big update that comes with a host of new improvements and features. GarageBand's latest software update (Version 10.3) adds new loops, sound effects, drummers, and also allows users to download Artist Lessons for free.
New Sound Effects, Loops, Drummers, And Instruments
With the latest update, Apple has introduced two new drummers that offer Roots and Jazz-influenced brush styles, along with 1,000 new electronic and urban loops in genres like Reggaeton, Future Bass, and Chill Rap.
The update also expands the app's sound effects library with more than 400 animal, machine, and voice sound effects that users can incorporate in their creations.
In addition, Apple also added five vintage Mellotron patches and new traditional Chinese and Japanese instruments: the Guzheng, Koto and Taiko drums. The sounds from these instruments were introduced as loops in 2016, and they were also among the options that came with the Sound Library feature Apple rolled out for GarageBand last year.
Furthermore, Apple also notes that the new release updates the compatibility between GarageBand on macOS and iOS, including other stability improvements and bug fixes.
Users No Longer Have To Pay For Artist Lessons
Artist Lessons, which were first introduced in 2009, are essentially a series of video tutorials in which popular music artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Sting, John Fogerty, and Fall Out Boy, teach users how to play some of their hit numbers on piano and guitar.
For instance, one can learn how to play "Roxanne" on guitar from Sting himself, or Norah Jones can show another how to play "Thinking of You" on the piano. It sounded like a good idea at first, however, it failed to resonate with users, probably because it hasn't had a substantial update in years.
The library comprises of 23 Artist Lessons and each tutorial previously cost $4.99, but the new software update has now made all of them free to download. The lessons were previously only available in 20 countries, but can now be accessed by users in more than 150 countries around the world.
It seems like a logical decision for Apple to offer the tutorials for free. Artist Lessons is all but dead, and the company probably no longer feels it should be charging users for years-old content.
