Apple introduces new instruments and sounds in GarageBand to celebrate Chinese music

What can be seen as Apple trying to get into the good graces of the Chinese and its authorities is the latest update to GarageBand. The music creation software adds a variety of Chinese instruments to celebrate the “rich history of Chinese music.”  Apple has added instruments like the pipa, erhu, and Chinese percussion offerings that include drums, cymbals, gongs, and wood blocks. According to Apple, it has created 300 Chinese musical loops and these have been made from various instruments and styles ranging from the likes of guzheng, to dizi, to Peking Opera, to name a few. These instruments have different playing articulations as well such as rapid picking and note bend for the pipa and trill, grace note, and glissando for the erhu.

Apple has also added two new Chinese templates for Live Loops and sharing options for popular Chinese social networks like Youku and QQ. All the new instruments are available on iOS and Mac versions of GarageBand. These features are automatically enabled for users in Greater China. Mac outside of China also have these features automatically enabled, while iOS users outside of Greater China can enable this through the advanced settings menu. Chinese localization is also enhanced across the entire app, with all sounds, loops and instruments now translated to Simplified Chinese or Traditional Chinese. GarageBand 2.1.1 for iOS and GarageBand 10.1.2 for Mac updates are free for all existing users, and GarageBand is available for free with all new iOS and Mac devices. Customers with older, non-qualifying devices can purchase the app for US$4.99 (around CA$6) via the App Store and Mac App Store.

Source: Apple | Via: MacRumors