Alchemy Synth Garageband Mac

Posted on by

While not as fully featured as the version available in GarageBand for Mac’s big brother Logic Pro, the stripped down Alchemy Synth that we have access to sounds fantastic and has one hidden feature in particular that you might not be aware of.

In the video Below I demo this feature and show you how to get the most from the version of Alchemy built into GarageBand for Mac.

Alchemy

So there you have it, that’s how you can Use one of GarageBand for Mac’s less well known features to take your MIDI sounds to the next level.

Garageband alchemy synth

Did you already know about this synth secret? What lesser known GarageBand features do you use regularly? Leave a comment and let me know!

  • No Alchemy in Garageband 2.2. January 2017 in General App Discussion. I updated my Ipad to allow for the GB 2.2 update. Opened it up, and there is no Alchemy in Keyboards. Anyone have any ideas on how to find it? I think it's fair to remember more was updated than just adding an Alchemy synth.
  • Aug 25, 2015 It’s also no stranger. As expected following Cupertino’s acquisition, Alchemy, a deep “sample manipulation” synth, has made its way into Apple’s product line. It’s now everywhere on the Mac desktop. Even in GarageBand, you can access Alchemy-based presets. In Logic Pro X, and even MainStage, you can access the full instrument.

What is Audiobus? — Audiobus isan award-winning music app for iPhone and iPad which lets you useyour other music apps together. Chain effects on your favouritesynth, run the output of apps or Audio Units into an app likeGarageBand or Loopy, or select a different audio interface outputfor each app. Route MIDI between apps — drive asynth from a MIDI sequencer, or add an arpeggiator to your MIDIkeyboard — or sync with your external MIDI gear.And control your entire setup from a MIDI controller.

Download on the App Store

Audiobus is the app that makes the rest of your setup better.

in General App Discussion

I updated my Ipad to allow for the GB 2.2 update. Opened it up, and there is no Alchemy in Keyboards. Anyone have any ideas on how to find it? Thanks!

Alchemy Synth Garageband Mac Free

Comments

The first time you use Face Control, GarageBand asks for permission to access the camera on your iPad. As you play, open and close your mouth to change the sound. To turn Face Control off, tap the Face Control button again. When playing Alchemy synth sounds, you cannot use Gyro Control and Face Control at the same time. Jun 15, 2015 GarageBand for Mac Gaining New Synths and Features on June 30. Hip Hop‑inspired synth sounds to GarageBand that each feature the Transform Pad Smart Control for morphing and tweaking sounds. Camel Audio Alchemy Lives On In GarageBand It looks like Camel Audio’s Alchemy synth may live on within Apple’s GarageBand and eventually Logic Pro. Apple Insider reports that Apple has updated its site with previews of an upcoming GarageBand release that features new synth sounds with the ‘Transform Pad Smart Control’.

Effects, EQs, filters and loops all benefit from major quality enhancements. Dj app for mac.

Alchemy Synth Garageband Mac Free

  • Maybe your iOS device doesn't support it. It only appears on newer ones.

  • It's only available for some devices.
    I've got it on my Air 2 but not on the old iPhone 5.. Both running iOS10.2.

    Could be a '64-Bit' thing.

  • edited January 2017

    I have Ipad Air1. Shoot. Weird bc I have the original Alchemy Ios app on the Ipad. Thanks.

  • Yes it is only a reward for those who regularly upgrade iPads/phones. Garbageband deleted again.

  • edited January 2017

    No 64 bit issue, just Apple's arbitrary cutoff. Barely three year old devices are deemed too old and must be replaced. It's funny, the original Alchemy app runs great on the 32 bit iPad 2.

  • @philowerx said:
    No 64 bit issue, just Apple's arbitrary cutoff. Barely three year old devices are deemed too old and must be replaced.

    >

    It is their policy; less for more equals innovation. A perfect example of doublespeak.

  • I had just updated GB on my 6s and the Alchemy synth is there; just yesterday there was a subsequent GB update, but I can't say what is any different from the (still slightly unfamiliar) previous recent update. GB does have a few new tweak controls but the UI is a bit different is some areas, to be sure. I think I'll still keep my copy of the Alchemy app around..

  • @philowerx said:
    No 64 bit issue, just Apple's arbitrary cutoff. Barely three year old devices are deemed too old and must be replaced. It's funny, the original Alchemy app runs great on the 32 bit iPad 2.

    On an iPad 1 running iOS 5 even. Nothing about Alchemy requires anything newer in and of itself:


  • But you can run several instances of alchemy in GarageBand ..

  • @BiancaNeve said:
    But you can run several instances of alchemy in GarageBand ..

    .. or, I can use my several older iPads all in concert

  • @Cib said:
    And there is yet Alchemy 2 engine behind...

    That's possibly true, but we don't have full-blown Alchemy in GB - just the player still. At least with Logic they went the whole way - and Logic bundled free with desktop Alchemy is useful to have.

  • @MusicInclusive said:

    @Cib said:
    And there is yet Alchemy 2 engine behind...

    That's possibly true, but we don't have full-blown Alchemy in GB - just the player still. At least with Logic they went the whole way - and Logic bundled free with desktop Alchemy is useful to have.

    One can even - with desktop Alchemy - run Soundflower and route the output from Logic to another DAW. I've done that with Studio One for example.

    The downside with the iOS solution is that one cannot run GB into anything else.

  • @MusicInclusive said:

    @Cib said:
    And there is yet Alchemy 2 engine behind...

    That's possibly true, but we don't have full-blown Alchemy in GB - just the player still. At least with Logic they went the whole way - and Logic bundled free with desktop Alchemy is useful to have.

    As far as I can remember Alchemy is also included with Garageband on macOS?
    So do the 'custom' patches carry over to iOS Garageband?

    I don't have the latest Gargageband for macOS but I do have LogicPro X..
    Sadly the Garageband Export from Logic Pro X is just a 'bounce down' with a tempo-track.

  • They don't even hav the same patches. iOS has a totally new library.

  • As to why Apple cutoff the upgrade of GarageBand to newer devices, I think it's fair to remember more was updated than just adding an Alchemy synth.

    Apple has always operated under a few years for iOS devices to be fully compatible. Until we see the hardware specs start to reach a threshold peak level as they have with PCs we'll continue to see new apps and iOS that will leave behind older devices after a couple of years. Apple attempts to strike a balance between enticing people to buy new devices which can do new things versus discouraging current users who feel their current devices are obsolete and that the rug is being pulled out from underneath them.

  • If Apple want to avoid people encountering serious crackling and audio degradation while running the synth on more than one channel (which is not unlikely) it's not strange they require a pretty substantial margin in terms of available horsepower.

    Keep in mind that Garageband is 'for everyone', not just for advanced users who know how to manage the scarce resources of their devices. In order for it to 'just work' without going down in flames immediately, I can see how they err on the safe side and set minimum requirements like this.

    It's likely the same reason why they set the cutoff point for Audio Units on iPad 4, even though it's quite possible to make Audio Units that would run fine on an iPad 3 (which is also on iOS 9).

  • Alchemy simply doesn't run on old devices because Apple is pushing the envelope with GB. Full tech to the max.

  • As an Air 1 and Mini 2 owner it's the first time I feel that I've been 'Appled.'

  • @bigcatrik said:
    As an Air 1 and Mini 2 owner it's the first time I feel that I've been 'Appled.'

    Yep, 3 year upgrade cycles are too quick for my taste.

  • It is interesting how they manage to make the same app degrade gracefully so that you could run GarageBand on an original iPad and you can run GarageBand on a latest iPad and various ones in between, and it simply enables more or less features accordingly. Are there any other apps which do that?

  • @u0421793 said:
    It is interesting how they manage to make the same app degrade gracefully so that you could run GarageBand on an original iPad and you can run GarageBand on a latest iPad and various ones in between, and it simply enables more or less features accordingly. Are there any other apps which do that?

    Tyranny!

  • @u0421793 said:
    It is interesting how they manage to make the same app degrade gracefully so that you could run GarageBand on an original iPad and you can run GarageBand on a latest iPad and various ones in between, and it simply enables more or less features accordingly. Are there any other apps which do that?

    Oh I think Procreate does it. Maybe 'Essentials' can do this?

  • And also you have the polyphonic modulations via 3D touch, pitch bends etc. which needs some juice too.

  • @Cib said:
    And also you have the polyphonic modulations via 3D touch, pitch bends etc. which needs some juice too.

    Is there 3D Touch in GarageBand?

    If so I didn't realise that.

  • I've been away for a little bit, lots of bass work lately and a complete revamping of my bass setup. I decided to stop using ios in my live rig except for mixing monitors, etc, but not as a sound generator. Sad to see my air1, which had still never hit a processing wall, now considered out of date.

    I have all the apps I'll ever need to make music and I'm looking at only hardware these days, no desire to replace my air 1 anytime soon. And my 2011 macbook air that I bought used is plenty powerful for my needs too, although it's too 'old' to do airdrop.

    Anyway, that's my 2 cents, I'm not leaving but definitely haven't been as interested in the 'app race' lately. I invested too much money in amp modeling apps that I'm not going to use. Picked up a slamming envelope filter though, thanks to justin Timberlake making an envelope filter a requirement for cover band gigs these days.

  • @mrufino1 said:
    I've been away for a little bit, lots of bass work lately and a complete revamping of my bass setup. I decided to stop using ios in my live rig except for mixing monitors, etc, but not as a sound generator. Sad to see my air1, which had still never hit a processing wall, now considered out of date.

    I have all the apps I'll ever need to make music and I'm looking at only hardware these days, no desire to replace my air 1 anytime soon. And my 2011 macbook air that I bought used is plenty powerful for my needs too, although it's too 'old' to do airdrop.

    Anyway, that's my 2 cents, I'm not leaving but definitely haven't been as interested in the 'app race' lately. I invested too much money in amp modeling apps that I'm not going to use. Picked up a slamming envelope filter though, thanks to justin Timberlake making an envelope filter a requirement for cover band gigs these days.

  • @JohnnyGoodyear said:

    @mrufino1 said:
    I've been away for a little bit, lots of bass work lately and a complete revamping of my bass setup. I decided to stop using ios in my live rig except for mixing monitors, etc, but not as a sound generator. Sad to see my air1, which had still never hit a processing wall, now considered out of date.

    I have all the apps I'll ever need to make music and I'm looking at only hardware these days, no desire to replace my air 1 anytime soon. And my 2011 macbook air that I bought used is plenty powerful for my needs too, although it's too 'old' to do airdrop.

    Anyway, that's my 2 cents, I'm not leaving but definitely haven't been as interested in the 'app race' lately. I invested too much money in amp modeling apps that I'm not going to use. Picked up a slamming envelope filter though, thanks to justin Timberlake making an envelope filter a requirement for cover band gigs these days.

    Ha! It was nothing intentional or dramatic, just had a lot of bass work lately that required extra practice and attention, and when I got asked for more stage volume on my new years eve gig having a current iteration of a 60's group I got turned around and sold everything musical that wasn't nailed down! Now I have a killer sounding bass rig though, so that's good.

    It wasn't all a loss, turns out the irig blueboard is AMAZING with for score, made it really easy to use charts on that gig and the gigs the next week, which were necessary. Hands free Page turns and moving between charts was very cool, along with a fine point stylus to make changes and notes. Ok, it doesn't take much to get me excited..

  • Yep..i finally moved from iOS 9 to 10.2 just to get the new Garageband. If i had known I cant get Alchemy on my Air or my 5s I would have stayed still. Cool..Apple got me to upgrade my OS but I'm not buying new hardware, so they can suck it. This 128gb Air works just fine.

  • @Matt_Fletcher_2000 said:

    @Cib said:
    And also you have the polyphonic modulations via 3D touch, pitch bends etc. which needs some juice too.

    Is there 3D Touch in GarageBand?

    If so I didn't realise that.

    If you do not have a Wi-Fi connection available you can create an Ad Hoc (computer to computer) connection. Instructions on creating an Ad Hoc connection can be found 5- Once your laptop and your iPhone/iPad are connected to the same wireless network, open up VirtualDJ and click “Config” (on the top right for PCs or top left for Mac). Mp3 juice. 4- Connect your iPhone/iPad to your Laptop. 3- Download and install on your iPhone or iPad from the App Store. The easiest way is to connect your laptop AND iPhone/iPad to the same wireless network you use at your home.

    Ah. Found it. On some patches in Alchemy.