Legacy GarageBand Project Having Issues with New(er) GarageBand Install and Current OS X

Question

Level 1

13 points

Legacy GarageBand Project Having Issues with New(er) GarageBand Install and Current OS X

Hello,

I have an issue that has me really frustrated. I'm positive it's something I'm doing wrong, but after hours and hours and hours of trying to correct, I am finally going to post here. I have searched high and low to find a solution, but nothing seems to quite match the issue I am having. I'm sure the answer is out there somewhere, and hopefully one of you have it. I will do my best to explain the issue succinctly...

I have a few GarageBand projects that I created several years ago, on a different Mac from the one I am using now. I kind of got interested in other design things (I'm a freelance multimedia designer and am always in the middle of something new so sometimes things get pushed to the back burner and/or forgotten), and basically stopped working on music compositions altogether. I recently got the itch to resume, and since I last worked on these types of things, GarageBand has undergone a few revisions. The same can be said of OS X.

In trying to bring my old projects in to my newer computer and installation of the newer version of GarageBand, I am experiencing issues that prevent me from fully restoring and resuming working on the old projects, and this is the source of the frustration and concern. Namely, the EXS24 instruments that were used in those old projects can't be located/accessed/imported (or whatever that technical term is). See attached screenshot. Without these instruments, the project is just completely wrong.

Luckily I kept that old hard drive, so I have access to the original projects, all the files needed to truly restore the project (as far as I can tell), etc. In scouring the internet for answers for the past few nights, I just haven't been able to find an answer that allows me to bring my projects in so that the sounds can be linked.

The question comes down to this: how do I bring those instruments in? I have several projects that have this type of issue, so a global fix would be good. If that's not possible, then a per-project solution would be acceptable, too.

Thanks for any help that anyone can provide.

iMac, macOS Sierra (10.12.4), My 27" - maxed-out!

Posted on Mar 28, 2017 11:04 AM

Reply

Answer 1

léonie

Level 10

200,783 points

Mar 30, 2017 8:55 AM in response to brettallica

With GarageBand it is best never to make a clean install of the system but to use the setup Assistent to migrate the old system to the new Mac. Then you will always have the previous sounds and loops from earlier GarageBand versions installed and can use theme with the newer garageBAnd versions.

The instruments "Clean Electric Guitar", "Pop Flute", "Hip Hop Kit" etc, are legacy instruments from older GarageBand versions, that are no longer available in GarageBand 10.

The easiest way to get them reinstalled would be to purchase MainStage 3 from the AppStore. It installs all sounds and loops from the previous GarageBand plus all JamPacks. You will then find the old sounds in the Legacy section of the instrument library in GarageBand.

Or use the free "Find Any File" to search the old hard drive for the missing instruments. You can download a free trial here: http://apps.tempel.org/FindAnyFile/index.html

When you find the missing files copy them to the corresponding folders on your new Mac.

For example, Pop Flute.exs should go here:

/Library/Application Support/GarageBand/Instrument Library/Sampler/Sampler Instruments/Pop Flute.exs

Reply

Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

200,783 points

Mar 30, 2017 8:56 AM in response to brettallica

In fact, there is no GarageBand directory at all in the Application Support folder.

If there were no GarageBand folder at all, GarageBand would not be able to launch at all.

Which library folder have you been looking in? There are two relevant Library folder.

By default the "Instrument Library" will be installed in the Library folder at the top level of your system drive,

at /Library/Application Support/GarageBand/Instrument Library/

If you opted to install GarageBAnd only for the current user the instruments might be in the hidden user library in your Home folder. ~/Library/Application Support/GarageBand/Instrument Library/

Did you check both locations?

Would a better option at this point be to simply go with that application, MainStage 3?

MainStage is using similar instruments as GarageBand, but it has a different purpose than GarageBand. You use MainStage to set up backing tracks for a life performance. I did not use it once. I simply purchased and installed it, because it was the cheapest way to get all Jam Pack sounds and old GarageBand sounds installed.

But I forgot to ask - did you already download and install all sounds that come with GarageBand 10?

Use the command: GarageBand > Sound Library > Download all available sounds:

This will download several GB of sounds and loops. Be prepared for a very long download time. You need a stable internet connection.

Reply

Answer 3

brettallica Author

Level 1

13 points

Mar 29, 2017 8:10 AM in response to léonie

léonie wrote:

Did you check both locations?

Boy, I feel like a real dummy.

I am really quite a "tech guy" but somehow missed the concept of finding/locating the GarageBand folder in the hard drive's library. It appears as though I was looking in the "user" version all along:

I have now spotted the GarageBand folder:

léonie wrote:

But I forgot to ask - did you already download and install all sounds that come with GarageBand 10?

Use the command: GarageBand > Sound Library > Download all available sounds:

I have actually done this already (on all computers), so we are good there:

I even did the option to reinstall on one of my computers. This was done before I created this post and after that point I had essentially given up.

léonie wrote:

MainStage is using similar instruments as GarageBand, but it has a different purpose than GarageBand. You use MainStage to set up backing tracks for a life performance. I did not use it once. I simply purchased and installed it, because it was the cheapest way to get all Jam Pack sounds and old GarageBand sounds installed.

Since my last message yesterday, I purchased and am installing MainStage as we speak. I'm going through all the motions of downloading every last little bit of content available in hopes that I can get these old instruments back. Are you saying that once MainStage is installed, GarageBand will be able to spot the sounds and we won't have the "xxx instrument not found" message? Is this automatic or do I somehow need to "help" GarageBand find them? If it's the latter, how would I go about doing that? I haven't seen any sort of option to "find missing instruments," "fix broken link," and so on.

Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it!

Reply

Answer 4

brettallica Author

Level 1

13 points

Mar 29, 2017 8:37 AM in response to léonie

léonie wrote:

The easiest way to get them reinstalled would be to purchase MainStage 3 from the AppStore. It installs all sounds and loops from the previous GarageBand plus all JamPacks. You will then find the old sounds in the Legacy section of the instrument library in GarageBand.

MainStage has been installed on the computer where I am now, and GarageBand now looks like this:

I can't see anything that references the term GarageBand, Legacy, or anything like what your screenshot looks like. I even searched for both of those teams in the search field. Maybe a restart is in order. The restart didn't do it. I still get this:

I'm not feeling really confident about this. 😟 Still holding some hope, though!

Reply

Answer 5

léonie

Level 10

200,783 points

Mar 29, 2017 10:59 AM in response to brettallica

In your screenshot it looks like you have a Drummer Track (soCal) selected. Look again at the Library after selecting a midi track (a software instrument with green regions, like Piano).

Then scroll the library panel up, until you are seeing "Legacy". The legacy section is at the bottom of the panel with software instruments.

Reply

Answer 6

brettallica Author

Level 1

13 points

Mar 29, 2017 11:20 AM in response to léonie

I just created a new composition, and that was the default object/instrument.

When I create another composition, I cannot for the life of me figure out how to insert a midi track. I apologize for naivety. It's been a long time since I've used this software and it feels like I'm starting over from scratch.

In either case, when I load my old project, the instruments aren't being located, and when I select any of the tracks, nothing like your screenshot ever appears. I have "green" tracks in the composition, too. In fact, most of my tracks are already green.

See here for full arrangement:

Reply

Answer 7

léonie

Level 10

200,783 points

Mar 29, 2017 11:41 AM in response to brettallica

I have "green" tracks in the composition, too. In fact, most of my tracks are already green.

Yes, these green tracks are midi tracks (software instruments). If you select any of them, you should be seeing the Legacy instruments.

Let us compare the sound library in MainStage 3. Open again the Sound Library Manager as shown below:

Does it show the Legacy instruments as installed?

Reply

Answer 8

brettallica Author

Level 1

13 points

Mar 29, 2017 12:21 PM in response to léonie

I actually don't even have a "Sound Library" option in the MainStage 3 menu.

That said, when I went to look for additional content to download, I spotted the "Legacy and Compatibility" section, similar in look to what is seen in your Sound Library Manager window from you most recent post. None (or very few; I forgot) of the things in that category were installed. I am installing them now and will post a screenshot when completed. It's quite a large download. Fingers crossed!

Reply

Answer 9

brettallica Author

Level 1

13 points

Mar 28, 2017 1:48 PM in response to léonie

Thanks for your help! I have seen your name around before; I saw it a few times during my investigation into this issue.

One of the main problems I am having at the moment as it pertains to resolving this issue is that my current installation of GarageBand and operating system does not have this directory:

/Library/Application Support/GarageBand/Instrument Library/Sampler/Sampler Instruments/Pop Flute.exs.

In fact, there is no GarageBand directory at all in the Application Support folder. This is consistent on all three or four computers that I've tested.

Would a better option at this point be to simply go with that application, MainStage 3?

Reply

Answer 10

brettallica Author

Level 1

13 points

Mar 30, 2017 7:58 AM in response to brettallica

Everything has been download on computer #1, and it looks like I am in business! I started my GarageBand project, and it went right into it without giving me the missing instruments message. I'll work the same process on my other design rigs.

Thanks for your incredible support. That is above and beyond. I'm eight days into this madness so I'm glad to see things finally coming to a close.

Reply

Answer 11

léonie

Level 10

200,783 points

Mar 30, 2017 8:53 AM in response to brettallica

Great you could fix it! 🙂

My pleasure!

Reply