Apple on Tuesday released a version of GarageBand for the iPhone and iPod touch.
The program is available in the App Store for $4.99. Those who already purchased the app for the iPad can access it on the iPhone or iPod touch via a free upgrade.
It is compatible with both iPads, the iPhones 3GS, 4, and 4S, as well as third- and fourth-generation iPod touches.
"GarageBand on iPad has been a big hit and we think customers will love using it on their iPhone or iPod touch," Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, said in a statement. "The innovative Multi-Touch interface combined with Smart Instruments makes it easy to create great sounding music, even if you've never studied music or played an instrument before."
The app will essentially turn your device into a mobile recording studio. Use the touch capabilities on iOS to "play" the keyboards, guitars, drums, or bass. The Smart Instruments feature lets you choose from a library of custom chords in order to play and strum along with favorite songs.
For the more accomplished musician, GarageBand lets users plug electric guitars into their iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch to play and record music with classic amps and stompbox effects. There's also the option to record your voice or any acoustic sound via the built-in microphone. Users can record and mix up to eight tracks, which can be shared with friends or sent to a computer.
GarageBand went mobile in March when Apple unveiled a version of the software for the iPad.
In his full review of the iPad version, PCMag's Jeffrey Wilson found that "GarageBand for iPad is a must-have for the musician, aspiring musician, podcaster, or music fan who wants to create compositions, shows, or any other audio project."
For $4.99, he said, the app is "affordably priced and surprisingly feature-rich, making it an obvious selection for an Editors' Choice Award." For more, see the slideshow below.