Garageband for Windows - A Discussion on Exclusivity and Alternatives

This article explains a little bit about Garageband, why there is no version available for Windows, and lists several viable alternatives that will work instead of Garageband for Windows.

Garageband is a music production and recording software distributed by Apple. It is part of their iLife suite and runs exclusively on Apple's OS X. Garageband is a very accessible and yet powerful entry-level music composition software. Not unlike iMovie, Apple's own movie editing software, it allows users a low cost program to try to exercise some creativity in a new medium and see if they like it.

Garageband offers a lot of power and flexibility while being very accessible to someone just beginning to piece together music. It offers multi-track recording, full midi support, built in effects, loops, virtual guitar amps and tools so that someone can feel success in a short period of time. Also, if someone wants to upgrade to something more powerful, Garageband files will load directly into Logic or Logic Express, which are professional level audio editing and creation applications.

Why Don't They Make Garageband For Windows?

I'm not actually sure, but let's make some guesses.

1.) Just like the rest of their iLife and iWork suite, Apple seems to want to make certain pieces of software exclusive to their platform. Applications like iMovie and Garageband are so good for their price that many are attracted to getting a Mac simply because of these programs.

2.) Secretly, even though they could make massive amounts of money by making Garageband for Windows available, I think Apple likes to keep some kind of elitist status, especially among the music, movie, and photo crowd. Macs have been known to be the best in these fields in the past, and Apple must want to keep this perception.

3.) Garageband is part of a suite of music applications. Logic, Logic Express and Garageband are all built on the same basic system. That is why you can go from one to the other so well. Garageband is simply a module of Logic, and Logic is an exclusively Mac native program. To turn them all around for PCs simply to make Windows for Garageband would be quite an ordeal.

4.) There are currently many other choices that are Windows only or cross-platform between Macs and PCs for audio recording and editing. Having an exclusive program for Apple's machines gives them a strong set of customers that will hopefully stay loyal to their products.

Garageband either comes preloaded on your Mac or else sells in the iLife bundle at a base price of $79.00. Then you can buy add-on Jam Packs for $99 each. But the basic package goes for an arguably affordable price of under $100. So since there is no Garageband for Windows, what are some of the comparable choices that someone with a Windows machine can choose from at around the $100 mark or less?

Audacity - Audacity is completely free and available on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It can be very powerful for some things, but does not offer multi-track editing like Garageband does. You can make a multi-track recording, but you must dub over one track with another. Because it is free, it is definitely worth looking at first to see if it will fit your needs before spending money on something that costs much more. I have used it with some success, but if you want to get serious you will need to look into the multi-track recording software listed below.

Mixcraft Acoustica - Mixcraft is a full featured software suite that has many of the same features of Garageband including a multi-track recorder, full midi support, virtual software instruments, and many built in special effects and professionally recorded loops. It is also under $100 and so would be a great alternative to Garageband for Windows.

FL Studio - FL Studio comes in many flavors, with two versions, their Express and Fruity being at the $100 and less mark. FL Studio claims to be the most complete virtual studio available, and it is Windows only. You can add modules to it similar to the Jam Packs for Garageband, and the more expensive packages are on par with Logic and Ableton.

Ableton Live Intro - This lesser version of Ableton can be used for audio recording and for playing live. It is able to be expanded further into the full suite version of Ableton or Ableton Live both of which are very powerful virtual studio solutions. Available for Mac and PC.

Sony Acid Music Studio - Acid was one of the first digital audio workstations to offer full multi-track recording, midi support, and loop making options for a low price and with an easy to use interface. I have heard people refer to this software along with Mixcraft as the closest thing to Garageband for Windows that you'll find.

If you end up buying multiple Jam Packs for Garageband you will quickly be in the $200-300+ range, and Logic Pro run up at around $500. Both Ableton and FL Studio have very expensive and full featured versions that will cost as much or more than Logic Pro. When choosing to go with a professional audio recording software, it is always important to choose wisely and look at all the features that each solution provides. 

Do you record music on your computer? What software do you use?