Getting started
Even though Apple's GarageBand for Mac has all sorts of built-in instruments (and a smaller complement of audio effects), it has always been expandable by adding Audio Unit (AU) plugins. Besides the vast assortment of commercial plugins, there is also a treasure trove of free synthesizers and effects that will really inspire your creative juices. We've taken the time to sift through the mountains of offerings to locate the gems in the pile.
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Some of the plugins include an installer, but for those that don't, you'll need to place the plugin (identified by the .component suffix) into the support folder Macintosh HDLibraryAudioPlug-InsComponents before starting up GarageBand. Power User note: The latest versions of OS X might try to stop you from installing these plugins (it's a long story), but you'll have success if you use this trick: hold down the Control key while clicking on the installer, and select the 'Open' command from the pop-up menu.
May 24, 2011 In the Software Instruments section under Horns, it only lists Dub Horns, Horn Section, Live Pop Horns, Pop Horn Section, and Trumpet Section. Are the other 'standard' orchestra instruments (oboe, English horn, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, and tuba, for example, plus the sounds strings can make, like tremolo) somewhere in GarageBand? I succeeded, and GarageBand For Dummies was released later that year. At the time, I was blown away by how easy and inexpensive it was to record, mix and master professional-sounding tracks using.
Once in GarageBand, you can access your AU plugins by creating a software instrument track, then clicking on the 'Edit' tab in the right-hand Track Info column (see left image). You can choose a custom AU synthesizer at the top of the stack, and there are hardwired slots for the Compressor and Visual EQ effects, plus four remaining slots for your installed Audio Units plugins.
You can reorder them by clicking-dragging them up and down the stack, and the position will have a direct impact on your sound; sounds start at the top and work their way down. You can also use AU effects on any GarageBand track - recorded vocals and guitars, for example - as well as entire songs (the upper right Master Track tab, then the Edit subtab, where you'll find a single AU effects slot).