I run The GarageBand Guide on YouTube and the web, helping beginners and hobbyists make better music with Apple gear through clear tutorials, honest reviews, and practical guides.
Most musicians are buying the wrong gear...
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Hi Reader, I get asked gear questions almost every day. Which Mac should I buy? Which audio interface is best? Do I need studio monitors? What headphones should I get? The problem is that there are now so many options available that it's surprisingly easy to spend hundreds on gear you don't actually need. For example, I think a lot of home studio musicians are buying far more computer than they'll ever use. And I think many beginners would get better results spending less on their Mac and more on other parts of their setup. So I put together a video walking through the Macs, audio interfaces, MIDI controllers, microphones, headphones and studio monitors I'd personally recommend in 2026. Watch it here: The Mac Music Production Setup I'd Buy in 2026Even if you're not planning to buy anything right now, it'll hopefully help you avoid a few expensive mistakes when the time comes. Cheers, Patrick The GarageBand Guide PS - If you're finding these messages helpful, please consider supporting The GarageBand Guide by buying me a coffee! |
The GarageBand Guide
I run The GarageBand Guide on YouTube and the web, helping beginners and hobbyists make better music with Apple gear through clear tutorials, honest reviews, and practical guides.
Hi, Reader If you use a Mac or iPad to make music, you’ve probably noticed that buying Apple hardware has become considerably more expensive recently. Price increases have hit Macs and iPads across the lineup, sometimes by hundreds of Dollars/Pounds. And that’s before you start looking at what Apple charges for additional RAM and storage… Now, there ARE legitimate reasons behind these increases. The global RAM and storage supply situation has affected the entire tech industry, so I don’t...
Hi, Reader Did you know GarageBand has a collection of Apple plugins hidden away in its settings? And I do mean hidden. You need to enable them in your iPad’s Settings first, then dig into the Audio Unit Extensions menu before you’ll even see them. It’s a shame, because there are some really useful effects in there. In my latest video, I show you how to unlock them and take a closer look at three of my favourites, including a much more powerful alternative to GarageBand’s usual compressor....
Hi, Reader Whether you’ve just opened GarageBand for the first time or you’ve finished a song and need to get it out of the app, I’ve got two new tutorials for you this week. First up, if you’re new to GarageBand for iPad, this is the place to start. I’ll show you how to navigate the Sound Browser, record Touch Instruments and real audio, adjust your project settings, add Apple Loops, download free sounds and import your own samples. WATCH: GarageBand for iPad Tutorial for Beginners And for...