Afinar
Afinar vs GarageBand for Mac
GarageBand for Mac can record your instrument alongside an imported song, with amps, effects, editing, and export. Afinar brings your scores, lesson websites, instrument sound, and takes together for practice.
Record with the music in GarageBand.
Bring the song. Import a supported audio file into a project. Add an instrument track, select your input, and record while the song plays. See Apple’s import guide.
Choose a sound. GarageBand includes guitar and bass amps, cabinets, pedals, and effects. Connect a compatible audio interface and enable monitoring to hear yourself. Explore GarageBand for Mac.
Keep several attempts. Cycle recording lets you play multiple passes and choose a take. GarageBand also includes guitar and piano lessons.
Edit the whole project. Arrange several tracks, edit regions, adjust timing, and mix the result. Export the finished song when you’re ready. See Apple’s export guide.
For an imported song file, GarageBand needs no separate audio-routing app. To bring browser audio into a project, capture and import an audio file separately, or configure audio routing. See an example of application-audio routing.
Practice in Afinar.
Your scores and lessons. Bring PDFs, Guitar Pro, and MusicXML files, plus tab or lesson websites. Keep your takes with each piece.
Amps and effects. Use Afinar’s amps and effects or import your own compatible NAM amp-and-speaker rigs, including A2.
Hear the take clearly. Use Tone Off to hear your playing without Afinar’s effects. Star your best takes.
Bring the recording. Play and record with an audio file, with or without a score. Afinar can also capture audio from YouTube.
| Feature | GarageBand | Afinar |
|---|---|---|
| Start with a song file | Import audio into a project track | Play and record with an audio file, with or without a score |
| Scores and lessons | Built-in guitar and piano lessons; audio and MIDI projects | Your PDFs, supported chart files, and tab or lesson websites |
| Instrument sound | Included amps, cabinets, pedals, and effects | Included tones and effects; compatible full-rig NAM imports |
| Keep takes | Multiple takes within a project | Takes saved with the piece; star favorites |
| Listen without effects | Bypass track effects when the input was recorded without them | Tone Off bypasses Afinar’s processing during review |
| Editing and export | Multitrack arrangement, region editing, mixing, and song export | Take trimming, instrument/music balance, and take export |
| Price | Free; check current Mac requirements | First year free in the beta, then $39.99 a year |
Afinar is in beta. Join now and your first year is free. After that it’s $39.99 a year, everything included. See what’s included.
This comparison covers GarageBand for Mac. GarageBand for iPad has different features. Afinar is coming to iPad.
Choose how you want to work.
GarageBand suits recording, arranging, and editing several tracks in a project.
Afinar brings your songs, scores, and lessons together for practice and recording. Export a take to keep editing in GarageBand.