Windows equivalent to GarageBand??

[StupidCatOfDoom]

Alrighty, we have finally have some Macs in our school, loaded with the iLife package... and I've fallen in love with GarageBand (http://www.apple.com/garageband/). Kick-arse piece of software.

I was wondering if anyone knows an alternative piece of software, which comes with loops et cetera, for Windows. I'm going to see if I can borrow the OSX Tiger install DVD and the iLife disc and rip 'em both, run them on PearPC alternatively, but on my beat up old PC I think being able to run a piece of software actually designed for x86 processors would run a lot faster.

So, is there a good piece of software I could get for Windows, much like GarageBand? I have Audacity and SoundForge 8, but they don't have samples and stuff...

I'm still gonna play around with PearPC so I can run Tiger on my PC while on windows as well :)

[Lewiji]

I think the closest thing is FruityLoops

http://fruityloops.com/

[waggit]

I allways say that garage band is a simpiler version of Reason (version i mean imitation) http://www.propellerheads.se/

Huge list on Newgrounds forumhttp://www.newgrounds.com/bbs/topic.php?id=255766

[wyrd_fish]

fruity loops is pretty cool

but you can get bogged down in millions of options and settings

[Soapie]

You will not be able to record audio directly into FL and Reason (Reason definitely not, FL, I am not quite so sure) so if you want to be doing that, then don't bother with them.

Otherwise, they are good bits of software, Reason is absolutely excellent, I use it loads. They're reasonably pricey though, Reason especially. It might be a better long term investment to replace your beat up old PC with a shiny new (or used) Macintosh.

[slavik453]

In addition to FL and Reason, I like to use Adobe Audition and Acoustica MP3 Audio Mixer. If its good enough for me, its probably not good enough for you.

[StupidCatOfDoom]

You will not be able to record audio directly into FL and Reason (Reason definitely not, FL, I am not quite so sure) so if you want to be doing that, then don't bother with them.

Otherwise, they are good bits of software, Reason is absolutely excellent, I use it loads. They're reasonably pricey though, Reason especially. It might be a better long term investment to replace your beat up old PC with a shiny new (or used) Macintosh.

Well, to be honest, it's not THAT beat up, I'm just saving up for a killer box I can play all me games up full on, and be able to watch G-Man say "Rise and shine, Mr. Freeman" without it actually going "Ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-s-ris-ris" ad infinitum :p so getting a Mac is a no, right now. Plus I'm so used to my custom Windoze interface and I like my stuff complicated.

I shall get it working on my PC, I'm determined to... while I don't wanna splash out for a Mac I'll happily steal the school's install discs and rip them to my hard drive...

Or alternatively I could break into the Mac suite at night and run off with one... though they only have six and that would be unfair :p

[Minted]

Ableton Live, seriously - it kicks ass. That would be a good long term investment. As for using garageband to do music work under PearPC - HAHAHAHAHA etc.

[albie_123]

Well, to be honest, it's not THAT beat up, I'm just saving up for a killer box I can play all me games up full on, and be able to watch G-Man say "Rise and shine, Mr. Freeman" without it actually going "Ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-s-ris-ris" ad infinitum :p so getting a Mac is a no, right now.


That'd sound cool.

Like a Gman rap or something.

It's ti-ti-ti-ti-time to choose

[Toph]

Is there a Windows imitation of iMovie anywhere? (Apart from Windows Movie Maker)

[Sichae]

Anytime I've ever needed to mess around with music, I've found Audacity to be a very nice program. It recently helped me pull a prank on my mother, but that is another story.

It is freeware, which is always good. It has a nice icon...

[StupidCatOfDoom]

Heh, I have Audacity, but there's no simple way of making music out of samples, loops and midi devices, which is why I was looking at GarageBand. I might root around for some more Audacity plugins to see if I can find what I want. I suppose I can make samples myself and put them in a folder or something to use with Audacity..

[Acid]

Adobe Audition? Sorry if this has nothing to do with windows, its just that we've been using it at school and its quite good.

[Soapie]

That'd sound cool.

Like a Gman rap or something.

It's ti-ti-ti-ti-time to chooseW-w-w-wake up and s-s-s-s-smell the a s-s-s-smell the ashes.