Today ’s Mac Gem does n’t do a wad , but what it does is certain to be a big assistance to certain users .
Apple ’s GarageBand is a killer app , but it ’s also ahugeone — between the covering and all of its support file ( loops , instruments , and so on ) , we ’re verbalize around2.5GBof hard drive space . ( Not to advert any extra loops or Jam Packs you download or purchase ) . For exploiter with pocket-sized tough drives , that ’s a great deal o ’ space to be wastin ’ ! ( OK , OK , so it ’s not really “ wasted ” if you actually apply GarageBand — humour me here . )
Because of these space prerequisite , a dependable telephone number of Mac user — especially those with smaller hard drives — have seek to instal GarageBand somewhere other than their startup parkway . This makes thoroughgoing sense : I recognise quite a few people with crowded original drives who have since purchased an external or second internal hard drive for the extra storage it leave . Other users have found that GarageBand ’s performance amend when it and its living Indian file are installed on a loyal movement .
trouble is , the iLife installer wo n’t let you put GarageBand anywhere but your startup mass . And although you could imitate the program itself to another ride , the app is the small component of the package ( ~50MB)—the real space - user are the support file , which must lodge in in various folders in the /Library directory .
If you ’d like to be capable to amaze your GarageBand installing somewhere else , the easiest resolution is David Hodge ’s freeGarageBand Anywhere 5.0.1 ( ) . This nifty public utility can either move your exist GarageBand induction to another volume or , using the iLife ’ 05 installing magnetic disc , install GarageBand directly to another bulk .
The Install GarageBand option uses your iLife installation DVD to establish a novel written matter of the GarageBand program and its keep files on any loudness you choose . It then creates Unix links on your startup phonograph recording so Mac OS X handle the installation as if it ’s located on that startup disk .
The Move GarageBand option moves your live lotion and support single file — including any Jam Packs you ’ve set up — to a bulk of your choice . It then make Unix tie-in to those data file from your startup thrust so that GarageBand act as carry . As a forethought , the utility saves copies of all the move files in the directory ~/Old GarageBand Files — if the touched software works decently , you could edit this folder ; if not , you could manually drag on the files back to their original localization . ( The original directory system of all the files is maintain inside this folder , so it ’s clear where they should go . )
Finally , a Fail - Safe Remove option is also available in case you have any problems with the utility . break away GarageBand Anywhere in this mode moves all GarageBand file into a booklet called Removed GarageBand Files , located in your home directory , allowing you to only reinstall GarageBand from the iLife DVD ( and then , of course , edit the Removed GarageBand Files folder ) .
In my examination on two computers , GarageBand Anywhere work as advertised . In fact , it even work when it warned it might not : On one computer , it gave me a dire - sound monition about a “ link wrongdoing ” that might prevent GarageBand from find its loop ; however , that prediction change by reversal out to be rather pessimistic , as the touched interpretation of GarageBand worked great .
GarageBand Anywhere could use some improvements in the expanse of documentation . For model , it ’s unclear whether there will be a problem updating GarageBand — if Apple releases a new reading — after move it or install it on a unlike volume . ( If so , you could always remove the touched version , install GarageBand on your startup disk , update , and then employ GarageBand Anywhere to move the update rendering back to its alternate positioning — a bother , but belike worth it if you need the space . ) And although the Help system provides a good deal of descriptive information about GarageBand Anywhere ’s options , a ReadMe would be helpful so people can find out more about the app before launching it . ( A Web web site would also be utilitarian — the practical program is presently download - only — a VersionTracker product Thomas Nelson Page with a download data link is the only manner to get it . )
