AU (Audio Units)
Plugins for GarageBand
GarageBand on the Mac loads Audio Unit plugins, so anything that ships as an AU works in it: effects on any track and instruments on Software Instrument tracks. Every Goldwire plugin installs an AU on macOS 11 or later, on Apple Silicon and Intel. GarageBand for iPad and iPhone only runs AUv3 apps from the App Store, so these desktop plugins don't load there.
Tune
- Input
- Hz
- No pitch yet
- ShiftVoice
- ct
- Tenor
Harmony
Always inC listeningCorrection
Key & scale
Pitch & mix
The real plugin engine, running in your browser: same DSP code and presets as the VST3/AU.
Best picks for GarageBand
Try itTune
€49Pitch correction
Real autotune with retune speed, humanize, formant and harmonies, beyond GarageBand's one-slider pitch correction.
Try itVelvet
€49Vocal chain
A finished vocal in one plugin: clean-up, compression, de-essing, tone and space.
Try itThump
€39Drum machine
A drum machine with a gliding 808 for beats GarageBand's Drummer doesn't play.
Try itKeys
FreeElectric piano
A free modelled electric piano (tine and reed) that responds to how hard you play.
How to install plugins in GarageBand
- 1Run the installer and keep the AU (Audio Units) option ticked.
- 2Open GarageBand and go to GarageBand → Settings (Preferences on older versions) → Audio/MIDI.
- 3Tick “Enable Audio Units”, then close Settings.
- 4Select a track, press B to open Smart Controls, click an empty slot under Plug-ins and choose Audio Units → Goldwire.
- 5For instruments, select a Software Instrument track and click its instrument slot in Smart Controls, then choose AU Instruments → Goldwire.
Where AU (Audio Units) plugins are installed
- macOS · AU
/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components
Questions
Installing and using plugins in GarageBand.
Can GarageBand use VST plugins?
No. GarageBand on the Mac only loads Audio Units (AU). Most plugin makers ship an AU version for Mac; every Goldwire plugin does.
How do I use autotune in GarageBand?
GarageBand has a built-in Pitch Correction slider in the track editor, with Limit to Key. For the hard-tune effect or natural tuning with more control, add Tune as an Audio Unit on the vocal track and set the retune speed: 0–10 ms for the hard effect, 20–50 ms for transparent tuning.
Do these plugins work in GarageBand on iPad or iPhone?
No. GarageBand for iOS only loads AUv3 plugins installed as apps from the App Store. Goldwire plugins are desktop Audio Units for macOS.
Are there free plugins for GarageBand here?
Yes. Keys (electric piano), Pump (sidechain-style volume shaper) and Spread (stereo widener) are free Audio Units that load in GarageBand.