hi,
i'm new to the whole digital autio thing an have some questions cause i know basically nothing. in several months i'll be buying an ibook, and i would like to create some music on it. so i have read something about samplers and stuff, but can you use them as standalone products, or do you need programs like garageband, and why? as i am into hip-hop, i took a look at the jampack2 from apple, and i kinda like it, but i read you need garageband to use it. i also took a look at native instrument's battery 2, would i need garageband to use it? i have no clue.
which programs would you recommend for a total beginner?

thanks a lot,

(p)

I could be wrong, but yes most samplers need a host program to run them.
Think of samplers as a synth. You will need to trigger the samples with a midi seqencing program. And a midi sequencer that will accept the sampler chosen. Garage Band probably will not work to well for this.

All Native Instruments samplers and synths will run both as standalones and as VST or AU plug-ins. MOTU's Mach 5 is a plug-in only. Linplug instruments are plug-ins only, too.

The rule is: if it's a plug-in, you need a sequencer or a VST or AU host to get sound out of it. If it's standalone, it turns your iBook into a synth module.

For a total beginner, I'd recommend Mackie's Tracktion. Very, very, very good, and a more powerful sequencer than GarageBand (and less of a resource hog). It's normally $80 but they're doing a free licence giveaway at the moment. Details at the Mackie site, I believe.

Kind regards.

Another program thats well spoken of is Metro/Metro SE at:
http://www.sagantech.biz/downloads.htm
You can download a demo and try it out.

On your iBook you will not be able to do very much with Garageband.
(stay away from the program - maybe you can use the loops for something)

I have trouble playing even one of the demos from the program on my iMac.
Using the gear i have in "my signature no problems" at all.

Cheers: Dixiechicken