In an age of constant technological improvements and innovation, the process of making music has been democratized. No longer does one have to spend hours practicing piano or learning how to play the drums to incorporate these sounds in a music project. With a laptop or a smartphone, any teenager can start writing, producing, and releasing music.
This is possible because of digital audio workstation software such as GarageBand. It allows anyone with an Apple product to produce music. In 2004, standing before an eager crowd ready to be impressed, Steve Jobs exceeded their expectations by debuting GarageBand with Grammy Award winner John Mayer. In the following moments, the landscape of the music world was irreversibly altered. Creating music was no longer for savvy producers in the music industry. The process of making music became widely accessible, as anyone regardless of their background could open the app and start crafting.
Immediately, the price and quality of the unveiled product stood out. It was completely free and included samples of electric guitar, synths, piano, strings, drums, and several other instruments. It was a prime opportunity for budding artists to hone their skills and develop their sound.
Several current music juggernauts like Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna have produced hits using tools from GarageBand. Furthermore, this platform has set a lasting trend. Today there is a multitude of free and low-priced music production software in the market available on devices outside of Apple such as Audacity and Adobe Audition. And as a result, the quality of music and the age of musicians have both decreased.
Award-winning artists like Billie Eilish started off in their rooms messing around with Logic, an upgraded, more professional version of GarageBand. Together with her older brother Finneas in his makeshift bedroom studio, Eilish recorded the single Ocean Eyes, which blew up on SoundCloud and launched her career.
In just the span of a few years, the musician’s dilemma radically shifted. Instead of asking how, they now ask why not. If you’re confused about where to begin, there’s surely a savvy YouTuber ready to show a beginner the ropes. For instance, if one wants a technical guide to GarageBand, they could watch a video called “GarageBand Tutorial for Beginners” by the YouTuber TheGarageBandGuide, which has already amassed 1.6 million views. The video goes through the steps of how to select track types, use loops, and set up musical typing (establishing which keyboard keys correspond to a certain note or instrument).
If one wants a more personal tour, they could watch “How I Make My Songs On Garageband(BEGINNER TUTORIAL)”by Internet Jules, a YouTuber who has accumulated millions of views by making videos on “how to write an [insert famous pop artist name] song in less than an hour”. In the video, Jules shows viewers how she produces beats for a song. She also delves into how the process of making a beat allows one to develop a better understanding of other musicians’ music and how they manipulate sounds to compose an effect.
After witnessing the impact of GarageBand on an entire generation of musicians, in an Instagram post for the 15-year anniversary of the software’s debut, John Mayer wrote, “it’s brought music composition and production into the lives of millions of people who might have never had access to it otherwise. Looking back on it, I believe this was a kind of altruism on Steve’s part, offering the app for free on Apple devices and eventually for all.”
Overall, GarageBand and similar digital audio workstations have evened the playing field for musicians around the world. As long as one has a usable device, such as a laptop or even a phone, it’s possible to create music. The barrier for entry has been indelibly lowered, and for that reason alone, the world of music will never be the same.
