Entered CNET Catalog: 01/21/2004
SKU: M9696Z/A
Manufacturer: Apple Inc.
Manufacturer description
Open a new door of musical creativity with this diverse set of prerecorded loops, software instruments, and audio effects for iLife '04. Whether you're laying down tracks for your next hit single or creating your own dance party grooves, this expansion pack gives you thousands of new ways to enhance your music projects. Kick-start your next composition with a wide selection of prerecorded musical performances. It's like having your own backing band. With a USB or MIDI keyboard, you can play and record using hundreds of additional instruments including a grand piano, 12 string guitars, vibraphones, additional drum sets, organs, electric pianos, synthesizers, and basses. Sweeten, distort, and adjust individual sounds or entire tracks with even more preset mixing board effects to choose from. The GarageBand Jam Pack also features new amp sounds, from clean bluesy rhythm tones to distorted grunge, and everything in between.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 02/23/2004
Since it's so expensive, you'd expect Jam Pack to act like a sixth iLife component, but the program merely gives GarageBand a shot in the arm. The GarageBand loop browser still offers the same options, but Jam Pack lengthens the loop list. Similarly, instead of entirely new software instruments, you get more menu choices for the existing ones. For example, Baritone and Tenor join the Solo sax selection.
If you're an effects-hungry guitarist, you might have fun with some of Jam Pack's effects and amp simulators. Fifteen new options, from Bright Country to Eighties Pop, spice up things, but they just aren't rockin' enough to make us spend 100 bucks.
If you're looking for a greater variety of sounds and instruments, you might do better buying Apple/M-Audio's $99 USB MIDI keyboard, the Keystation 49e. It lets you record original tracks and loops using the software instruments already in GarageBand.
 Guitarists might appreciate Jam Pack's 15 new amp sounds, but there's not much else here. |
User opinions
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User Rating: 
7/10
Has all the bells and whistles, but not the bells and whistles you though you bought
Pros: Fun and easy user interface, easily create music with a minimal understanding of music composition.
Cons: Where are half the instruments in my instrument library? I bought the expansion pack but still no bagpipes nor accordians. No one at apple seems to have any ideas of why or where these instruments are. I feel a little ripped off. I really wouldn't buy
User Rating: 
4/10
Still lacks enough instruments
Pros: Adds many more versions of already-present instruments, such as drums, synthesizers and a few more guitar loops.
Cons: Where's the slide guitar? The mandolin? So many instruments are promised by GarageBand, and even this expensive software doesn't add them to your library. I'm guessing Apple is going to slowly introduce expensive disc after disc until you have the all the
