GarageBand FAQ: No Loops

Q. I'm getting an error that tells me that I have no loops (or instruments) in the GarageBand Loop Browser, how do I get them?
[Related Entries : AIFFs Stored , Browser Buttons Disabled , Create MIDI Region , Missing Loops ]

A. For these older versions of Apple's GarageBand only, search your entire hard drive (not just your 'Home' Folder) for "Apple Loops Index" and delete the contents of any folders that show up. Then drop your folder(s) of Apple Loops onto the Loop Browser so GarageBand can re-index them.

At least in the first release of

the latest versions of Apple's GarageBand, the loops are not all installed by default. When you get the dialogBox asking if you'd like to Download them, or install them from the DVD, choose the DVD option and insert either your iLife disc, or Disc#2 that came with your computer, into your Mac so GarageBand can install them (why would you bother downloading what you already have anyway?).

The logic would appear to be that for anyone not planning to use GarageBand, the extra loops and instruments are wasting gigabytes of Hard Drive storage on your Mac for no reason. It also appears that the download option doesn't work for a lot of people, so just use the DVD.

(Yes, several discs DID come with your computer. No they are not CDs, they are DVDs, and yes, if you lost them you will have to go out and Buy the iLife software, neither I, nor Apple lost them. {If you did not get any DVDs, take the computer back to where you bought it and get the DVDs that you are supposed to have})
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GarageBand from Apple Computer uses audio loops and MIDI loops in Apple Loops format. It can work with Audio Units plug-ins. Apple Macintosh Compatible FireWire and USB interfaces can be used to connect Audio and MIDI instruments to your Mac, and be recorded into GarageBand.

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