Garageband (Mac) minimum system requirements, etc.

Dougmeister

Senior member
Sep 15, 2004
568
2
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Looking to buy it as a gift for Christmas along with a used Mac to run it on. Don't know minimum system requirements, etc. Found this that lists these requirements:

* Intel dual-core processor
* 1 GB or more RAM
* Older PowerPC G5 and G4 computers will not be able to play back as many tracks
* PowerPC G4 and G5 computers will benefit greatly from having > 1 GB RAM

Wondering what a ballpark figure would be to buy a decent system that would handle it.

Thanks.
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
Don't spend more than the cost of a new Mac Mini. Those specs seem low...a Mini I bought 4-5 years ago would cover those requirements.

The specs you are looking at are old. Here are some more recent:


http://support.apple.com/kb/SP515
 
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gus6464

Golden Member
Nov 10, 2005
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If you find something used for $450-500 you are better off dropping the extra hundred on new mini.
 

Dougmeister

Senior member
Sep 15, 2004
568
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81
And is it true that you can't "buy" GarageBand, that it comes with Macs/iMacs?

Edit: budget was something like $100-$200, so I think they might end up going with MixCraft. Also thought about just using free Audacity and add-ons, self-imported loops, etc. But that might be a bit too complicated for them.
 
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gus6464

Golden Member
Nov 10, 2005
1,848
32
91
And is it true that you can't "buy" GarageBand, that it comes with Macs/iMacs?

Edit: budget was something like $100-$200, so I think they might end up going with MixCraft. Also thought about just using free Audacity and add-ons, self-imported loops, etc. But that might be a bit too complicated for them.

Garageband comes with iLife.
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
And is it true that you can't "buy" GarageBand, that it comes with Macs/iMacs?

Edit: budget was something like $100-$200, so I think they might end up going with MixCraft. Also thought about just using free Audacity and add-ons, self-imported loops, etc. But that might be a bit too complicated for them.

You can buy it for $15 in the app store.
 

Dougmeister

Senior member
Sep 15, 2004
568
2
81
I thought the $15 in the App store was for the upgrade and that you needed an existing/old version to use the upgrade?
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
I thought the $15 in the App store was for the upgrade and that you needed an existing/old version to use the upgrade?

Says the only requirement is OS. The apps in the store appear as updates when you have a version installed. It may also be assumed to be an update, because everyone with a Mac should have a version in some form.