Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, Apple’s GarageBand is a great place to start a song, from a demo to the start of a finished production. While you won’t find GarageBand for Windows, there is a possibly superior option.
There is no GarageBand for Windows
As is the case with most software made by Apple, you won’t find a version of the popular GarageBand software made for Windows. That said, there are plenty of apps that aim to fill the void left by GarageBand.
The problem is, many of these apps are typicalDigital Audio Workstations (DAWs). While these are powerful tools, they’re often meant for use by professional audio engineers, whereas apps like GarageBand are meant for normal people.
While you won’t find a perfect equivalent to Apple’s GarageBand for Windows, there is a close competitor available in Akai’s MPC Beats software. It’s not a direct replacement, but if you’re looking to get started making music on your computer, there are few better places to start.
What is Akai MPC Beats?
Akai’s MPC Beats software is more aimed at producers and beat makers than singer-songwriters and lone musicians, but it’s a powerful tool for any music maker. Similarly to GarageBand, which is, in a way, an attempt by Apple to get you toupgrade to Logic Pro, MPC Beats is meant to teach you the Akai workflow and entice you into upgrading.
Akai’s legacy goes back to the digital samplers and drum machines that were a staple of hiphop, drum and bass, and countless popular electronic music styles. While MPC Beats opens the door, Akai likely hopes you’ll either move to its paid MPC software or even hardware like theAkai MPC One+.
Installing and Setting Up MPC Beats
Unlike plenty of other software made by hardware companies, you don’t need to buy anything in order to use MPC Beats for free. The app is freely available, and while you can buy expansions that offer extra sound options, all of the main capabilities are included for free, and never go away.
To download the app, head to theMPC Beats page on the Akai websiteand click theFree Downloadbutton. After the app downloads, double-click the downloaded file to begin the installation process.
Installation is fairly straightforward. Once the app is installed, double-click on the icon—either in the Start menu or on your desktop—to launch the app.
If you have a MIDI keyboard or control surface you want to use with the MPC Beats software (you’ll know if you have one of these), now is the time to set it up, using the instructions from your keyboard or controller’s manufacturer. Otherwise, you can proceed to start using the app.
How to Get Started with MPC Beats
Getting started with MPC Beats is easier than you may think, but if you’ve never used this type of software, the initial interface you’re presented with can feel daunting.
Launch the app, and it will prompt you to plug in your MIDI device, as mentioned above. Then, the wizard prompts you to decide whether you want to set up a simple or advanced workspace. If you’re relatively unfamiliar with music apps, choose simple. Assuming you’ve used music-making apps in the past, the advanced mode won’t seem overwhelming.
From here, you’ll see some starter templates for various genres of music, like Hip Hop, Trap, or Songwriter. These serve as starting points to start creating your own beats and songs in the app.
To truly learn the MPC Beats software, you’ll need to spend some time with it. The good news is, Akai has put together a list of videos in theMPC Beats Academy playlist on YouTube.
These videos will walk you over the basic interface, create your first beat, and learn chords and scales in the app. Once you’ve got a hold on the basics, there are other videos that show you how to chop your own samples, create certain genres of music, and create your own custom drum kits.
If you happen to have a USB keyboard, MIDI keyboard, or other kind of controller, Akai’s videos also show you how to get started using them in MPC Beats.
While Apple’s GarageBand may be a slightly better option for singer-songwriters, many modern musicians and producers deal with beats and loops more than traditional songs. If that sounds like you, MPC Beats is a better option, and it’s available for free on both Windows and macOS.
MPC Beats may be easy to pick up and start using, but there is a surprising amount of depth to the software. If you start to become proficient with MPC Beats, moving on to other software aimed at producers or even hardware like Akai’s standalone samplers should be a much easier prospect. That said, if the app doesn’t seem like a fit for you, there are otheroptions for making music on Windows.
