This wikiHow teaches you how to record a song through the GarageBand app on a Mac. If you want to learn more about using GarageBand to make music without vocals, try composing your own music in GarageBand.
Step
Step 1. Make sure you have the equipment you need
If you want to compose and record songs, the best thing to do is to use a MIDI music keyboard and a USB microphone as using the Mac's built-in microphone will only degrade the recording quality.
You can also use your computer's keyboard keys and your computer's built-in microphone to compose a song, but the quality may be poor (especially in the audio aspect)
Step 2. Connect the necessary fixtures
If you use a piano keyboard (or similar device) to record songs in GarageBand, you will need to connect the device to your computer. If your computer uses a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port instead of a USB 3.0 port, you'll need a USB 3.0 to USB-C adapter.
- Skip this step if you don't have a MIDI piano or similar controller.
- If you use a USB microphone to record vocals, you will also need to connect it to a computer.
Step 3. Open GarageBand
Click Spotlight ”
type in garageband, and double-click the option “ GarageBand ” displayed at the top of the search results. The GarageBand window will open after that.
Step 4. Create a new project
Regardless of the content or window that is opened in GarageBand, you can create a new project by following these steps:
- Click the menu " File ”.
- Choose " New… ”.
- Click " Empty Project, then select " Choose ”.
- Choose " Software Project ”.
- Click " Create ”.
Step 5. Create song instrumentation
Add a new track by clicking on the option “ Track ", choose " New Track ", choose " Instrument Software, and clicked “ Create " After that, follow these steps:
- Select an instrument from the " Library " section on the left side of the window.
- Display the “Musical Typing” option if necessary by clicking on the “menu” windows " and choose " Show Musical Typing ”.
- Click the red "Record" circle button at the top of the window.
- Play the song's notes, then click the "Record" circle button again.
- Repeat the process adding new tracks and playing music until the song's instrumentation is complete.
Step 6. Try using loops
Loops are music segments that are pre-made and can be added to projects. To add a loop, follow these steps:
- Click the node-shaped icon in the upper-right corner of the window.
- Listen to a sample loop by clicking on it.
- Add loops to GarageBand by dragging them to the app's main window.
- Extend the loop (if necessary) by clicking and dragging its top right corner.
Step 7. Record the vocals
Create a microphone track by clicking on the “ Track ", click " New Track ”, select the microphone audio option, make sure your USB microphone option is selected (if necessary), and click the “ Create " Once an audio track is added to your project, you can record vocals along with instrumentation by clicking the " Record " button and singing to your heart's content.
- Make sure you click the "Record" button again when you're done recording sound.
- You may need to record several versions of the vocals to "stack" the vocal tracks.
Step 8. Listen to the song in its entirety
When you're done recording vocals as needed, drag the playback cursor (playhead) to the far left of the window, then click the " Play " button
. Once you're satisfied with your project, you can export the recording to an MP3 file.
If you need to edit the project, make the edits before continuing
Step 9. Export the project
With this process, you can create an MP3 file from the recording that can later be played on any computer:
- Click the option " Share ”.
- Click " Export to Disk… ”.
- Enter song information.
- Click " Export ”.
