GarageBand

For years, GarageBand has been the "go to" DAW for many novice music enthusiasts. The simple to use interface lets users jump right into creating music. The newest versions of GarageBand mimic the look and feel of Logic, which is a staple of the recording industry. Using GarageBand is an excellent way to get a deep insight into Logic, and may be a great way for new recording enthusiasts to test the product before they commit to its price point. The amount of options in GarageBand almost seems mind blowing for a free program. GarageBand comes with 28 built in amps and 35 individual stomp boxes for guitar, as well as a virtual midi keyboard. On top of the great virtual guitar options, GarageBand also has an integrated drum application similar to that of many drum looping programs. While you can create your own loops, GarageBand also comes with over 2000 "Apple Loops," allowing you to dig right in with rich and professional sounding presets. Perhaps the greatest addition to GarageBand, the integrated piano and guitar lessons are professional quality. These lessons are free for the most part, and allow users to start playing the guitar and piano quickly. While GarageBand may be limited in some respects when compared to other DAW's on the market, GarageBand's greatest asset is that it is free. Other software with the same amount of built in features would generally be priced at around the $100 dollar mark.