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If you have GarageBand 3, Soundtrack or even Logic, chances are you have experimented with the royalty free loops provided by Apple. These are great if you are a video editor looking for a quick song for your commercial, a podcaster needing a catchy theme song, or even a composer looking for a quick background beat. But as with anything ?free?, you will discover the loops are few, limiting, and will quickly be snatched up by everyone else. The solution? More loops of course, and with the Apple Jam Packs, your addiction to music creation is quelled for the time being.
Loop-based audio creation software like GarageBand and Soundtrack are easy ways to develop content. Instead of paying large fees to license music libraries you can create your own. For those working with little to no budget, these applications are a blessing. As the name implies, loop based clips are designed to do exactly that ? loop. By varying pitch, tone, and tempo, you can create melodies with ease. At some point you will want to expand your instrument selection, and investing in a loop collection is a good start.
Apple currently offers four collections called Jam Packs that contain thousands of new loops based on four themes. At $99 each, this is a cheap solution to music creation. For the musical novice, editor with little music background, or a general consumer looking to create their own themes for their DVD or iMovie production, the Jam Packs open a whole new door to music creation.
World Music
This is the newest collection of loops that gives you the ability to create music from countries around the world. There are over 3000 loops from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, India, Europe, the United Kingdom, South and Central America, Cuba, and Jamaica. Included in this collection are 40 instrument tracks that allow you to use a MIDI keyboard or other interface to play these exotic instruments. These instrument loops are broken into three distinct categories: Drums and Percussion, Ethnic Wind Instruments, and Exotic Strings.
I found this a great collection if you are designing for a worldly sound. This collection helped me out while creating a Spanish feel for a piece on the Southwest, and it was a snap to create an Asian theme for a cultural exchange program.
Symphony Orchestra
If you are looking for a more cinematic sound, the Symphony Orchestra Jam Pack contains 2000 loops that cover the gamut from strings, brass and woodwinds, percussion, and keyboards. The instruments in this Pack cover not only the 1st and 2nd violins, but delve into the cello, double bases, and if my ears aren?t playing a trick on me, variations on loops that when combined create a whole spectrum of instruments playing the same theme.
I loved this one right away, and within 15 minutes had a complete string quartet with flute, oboe, and percussion section that sounded like it cost thousands to set up and record.
Rhythm Section
Many years ago, I knew a young man who was always looking for beats. ?I got to have my beats!? he would always exclaim. If you are a songwriter and need a quick backing band, then this is the loop collection for you. With over half of the loops in this 2000 loop collection devoted to drum beats, you?ll never have an excuse to find the exact beat for your tune. The remaining loops are guitar and bass riffs, chord progressions, and one hits perfect for adding into a song.
While Apple may be targeting songwriters and singers with this collection, if you need a driving rhythm to underscore your podcast discussion, this Jam Pack will have something to meet your needs. And don?t worry about not finding a musical genre that fits your show. The Rhythm Section contains everything from Rock, to Blues, to Metal, to Funk, and even Country.
Remix Tools
If you are a club DJ and need or want to compose your own trippy riffs, the Remix Tools Pack has everything you need for Electronica, Dance, and Hip Hop. Another 2000 loops are included in this collection, making this an ideal collection to create transitional effects for videos.
Final Thoughts
While you can certainly purchase each of these collections individually, I think you will get biggest bang for your buck by purchasing all four collections. 9000 loops for $400 means each loop is just under a nickel apiece. The other reason you might consider purchasing all the packs together is the real diversity in music you can create. I?m not a big Hip Hop guy (although I can bust a move), but taking riffs from the Remix Tools collection and combining it with strings and horns from the Symphony Orchestra Pack create a whole new sound.
If you are someone who uses GarageBand or Soundtrack Pro for your work and you are looking to expand your loop collection, the Apple Jam Packs are an excellent way to go.
For more information visit www.apple.com.
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