No media browser in new version of Garageband.

It looks like it were intentional. The GarageBand Help does no longer mention the Media Browser in the new GarageBand version. The GarageBand 10.4.1 Help now tells us to drag Media from the Finder into the Track Area. Import audio and MIDI files in GarageBand on Mac - Apple Support

To import an audio file from my Music Library I now have to do this:

• Open the Music.app
• Find the song I want to use and select it.
• Use the command "File > Show in Finder".
• Then drag the revealed song into the GarageBand track

A bit involved, but I can use the Music.app to find songs that are not protected by DRM and to force a download from iCloud, before I try to use them.

We are not Apple and are not privy to its internal thought process. You can send feedback, but don't expect an answer. If it was an 'oops' it will just silently come back in the next update. 8^)

Product Feedback - Apple

Or you can call AppleCare, they sometimes will elevate a question and get you an answer from the development team.

The same is working for the Movie Track. With our videos in TV, we can launch TV, find our home videos, then reveal the video in the Finder and drag it into GarageBand's Movie Track.

Photos however does still not have a "Reveal in Finder", so we have to export the videos from Photos.

Thanks for passing that along, but I have to say that's just made GarageBand clunky and useless for my purpose. I've been using GB to program a four hour radio show typically using over 100 tracks. Having to locate each individual track and drag it into GB is going to seriously increase the amount of time it takes to put together the show. That was why I switched from using Audacity to GarageBand. Using the media browser and working from a playlist in Music I could have the show done in 45 minutes or less. With Audacity it was taking 2.5 hours.

Any advice on how I can delete this update and reinstall the previous version?

I found that I can create a show/playlist in Music, leave that window open next to the GB window and drag songs, drop-ins and announcements directly from the playlist into GB without having to use the finder. Kinda sorta like having the media browser.

I am experiencing the same problem. I am not sure why Apple deliberately has deleted the "Media Button". Perhaps that you purchase Logic? Deleting this button is a problem....Seems that there are many issues with Big Sur. I can't even access my media under TB2 on the New Mac mini. So frustrating. All should have had become easier....well....Not the case.

I made a video showing how I do it but it seems I can’t paste it here so I’ll try a more detailed description. Using Music, I create a playlist of all the songs, etc I plan to use on a radio show. Open the playlist and drag the Music window to the right so it’s only taking up half the screen. Open Garage Band and create a new project. Shrink the Garage Band window so it only takes up the left half of the screen. Go back to Music playlist, click and hold the song or announcement I want and drag and drop it into the tracks window in Garage Band. Move the play head to the end of the track, go back to Music and drag the next track into place. Repeat until all tracks are in place.

I’ve done nine shows this way and in about the same amount of time as when I had the Media Browser. It’s something of a pain to have to have two programs open but at least I can get a show done.

It does mention media browser at the end of the help but not how to access it. The media browser button has gone which was next to loop browser and notepad.

Media browser is in the help but no button to access it any more?

Restore from your backup, though it might not work in Big Sur.

I’m soooo upset about this. I can’t even use GarageBand now. It’s useless to me without the media browser.

I can’t even figure out how to get it to drag over. It won’t even do that for me.

Drag the file from Finder in the tracks area...it works but it is a tedious process.