How to Use GarageBand for Music Production

Learn music production in GarageBand with step-by-step instructions for recording, editing, and mixing your tracks on Mac and iOS devices.

1. Create a new project and select your track type. Open GarageBand and click 'New Project' or tap the '+' icon on iOS. Choose 'Empty Project' for maximum flexibility. Select your primary track type: Software Instrument for virtual instruments, Audio for recording microphones or instruments, or Drummer for automated drum tracks. Set your tempo and key signature in the project settings.
2. Set up your audio interface and monitoring. Connect your audio interface or microphone to your device. Go to GarageBand > Preferences > Audio/MIDI and select your input device. Enable 'Monitor' on your audio track to hear yourself while recording. Adjust input gain on your interface until the level meter shows green with occasional yellow peaks.
3. Record your first track. Select your track and click the red record button or press R. Count yourself in using the metronome (Control + U to toggle). Record your performance, then press spacebar to stop. If you make a mistake, enable Cycle Mode (C) to loop a section and record multiple takes automatically.
4. Add virtual instruments and loops. Create a new Software Instrument track by clicking the '+' icon. Browse the Library panel for instruments like piano, guitar, or synthesizers. Double-click to load an instrument, then play using your computer keyboard or connect a MIDI controller. Access Apple Loops by clicking the loop browser icon and drag loops directly onto the timeline.
5. Edit and arrange your recordings. Use the Scissors tool (Command + T) to split audio regions. Drag region edges to trim or extend them. Copy and paste sections to build song structure. Move regions between tracks by dragging. Use Flex Time to adjust timing by selecting the region and dragging the timing markers that appear.
6. Apply effects and mixing. Click the Smart Controls button or press B to access EQ and effects for each track. Add reverb, compression, or other effects from the Plug-ins menu. Adjust track volumes using the mixer panel (Command + 2). Pan tracks left or right using the pan knobs to create stereo width.
7. Master and export your finished track. Create a Stereo Out track for mastering effects. Apply gentle compression and EQ to glue the mix together. Use the Multipressor for dynamic control and Linear Phase EQ for surgical frequency adjustments. When satisfied, go to Share > Export Song to Disk. Choose your format: AIFF for highest quality, MP3 for smaller files.