GarageBand

I do beleive you can add IR files and an SVT or something. @howard posted a YT video showing how somewhere. I will do it eventually, but I have not watched the video yet, and I want to update my DAI before I start messing with the AMPS. I was getting saturation and can only not get it by turning the Gain all the way down on my DAI, and I got better results leaving the amp off on my prior recordings. I beleive if I can get a DAI with a dedicated Instrument input that either does not have a pre amp , or one that has the HI-Z switch to turn it off.
Basically it is like having a passive / active input or switch on your amp.
Once I get this, I will start to play with IR viles, and SVT and adding patched in amps and effects.

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Yes! Not just amps, but also instruments and effects. GarageBand loads plugins in a format called AudioUnit (AU). Most companies that provide amp sims, cab sims, virtual instruments, and effects offer them in both VST and AU. You should be able to install most any amp sim you want.

Here’s a tutorial:

I haven’t done this in GB but basically the amp sim you install would be an effect on the track.

There’s an entire ecosystem of companies making DAW plugins out there, it’s huge.

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VST. :rofl:

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That’s cool too. I was thinking you might be able to download additional amp plugins from Apple as well, like you can new drummers, but I can’t try it as I don’t have Garageband currently installed on any of our macs. Will probably be throwing it on the wife’s mac later though.

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I know you can BUY packages of amps, but I am not sure if they run IN Garage Band, or their own VST. IDK if they can run parallel or within GB.
Ampeg has something for instance, and it has a name Ampsomething.
And there may be a free version with paid for content?

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So, VSTs are plugins that get loaded by DAWs. A VST is a plugin something like Reaper or Ableton would load. GB loads plugins the same way, just as AUs. I think GB can also load VSTs now as well, not sure.

The plugins (in both cases) are separate programs that are loaded and run inside the DAW.

It’s also common that companies also offer downloadable shell apps to load and run their plugins, and they load them just like DAWs do, and let you run them as standalone apps on your desktop, outside of the DAW.

And yup, tons of free and paid ones out there! It’s a serious rabbit hole. Likely about to buy a synth plugin myself in fact.

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Thanks @Lanny, @T_dub, @howard for the responses. I’ll watch the video and check it out.

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I bought a pretty cheap online course on udemy. It’s boring as hell but does the job. Also if you live by an apple store I believe they can give you classes. Edit: hmm dont know about in store but if you have an iPhone there’s this:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/course/garageband-video-tutorials/id1036059675

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I know enough to get buy, but anything I can pick up will be great. thanks for the link

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After I bought my little MIDI controller ( https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MiniLabMk2–arturia-minilab-mkii-25-slim-key-controller)I was looking for a good overview of Garageband. I wanted a simple tutorial that covered just enough to create simple loops. This guy’s video was perfect to get me started down the rabbit hole.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpOfou3K-L8

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