GarageBand has a great system that allows you to not only create clearly defined sections within your song, but also record and edit exclusively within those sections before putting the whole project together again when you’re done.
When you create a new song in GarageBand, you’ll have 8 bars to work with by default. Whether you’re capturing a Smart Instrument performance or recording an instrument externally, when you hit that default 8 bar limit, the playhead will loop back to the start.
Here’s how to extend the number of bars you can work with:
To get started, tap the small ‘cross’ icon in the top right corner of the track view.
This brings up the song Sections menu. Next, tap ‘Section A’
Jan 19, 2017 Tap the song sections selector and increase the number of bars or select Add or Duplicate to create another song section. IPhone, iPod Touch Tap the gear and choose Sections, then increase the number of bars or tap Add or Duplicate to create another song section. Jan 07, 2017 Question: Q: How to add extra bars into a Garageband arrangement? This should be simple, but it's really hard to get a good answer to this. I want to insert, say 4 bars. Oct 03, 2016 GarageBand is an extremely powerful tool by Apple on iOS and Mac. But things get more interesting once you go mobile, because at that point you come to realize the true power of. Many of the commands that you’ve grown accustomed to as a Mac user are all the same functions for Garageband. How To Zoom In And Out (Command + Left and Right Arrow Key) You can zoom in and out on your MIDI region to see the audio file in more detail.
Oct 16, 2019 Import iOS songs or Music Memos in GarageBand on Mac. Open your song in GarageBand on Mac and then follow these steps to import iOS songs or Music Memos saved in iCloud. 1) Click File from the menu bar and put your cursor over iCloud. 2) Select either Import GarageBand for iOS or Import Music Memos File in the pop-out menu. Jan 10, 2018 To record the pattern to your song, tap in the control bar. Beat Sequencer starts automatically. The pattern plays back in a loop until you stop recording. When you’re finished recording the pattern, tap Tracks view button to view the recorded track. Tap in the control bar to hear the pattern in the context of your other tracks. Nov 22, 2017 A look at Live Loops. To get started, open up the free GarageBand app, create a new project, and tap Live Loops at the top of the screen. Like everything in GarageBand, Live Loops work on both iPhone and iPad. The easiest way to get started with Live Loops is to open up one of the existing templates.
You now have the choice to either manually adjust the number of bars in your song, or set the size to ‘Automatic’. Setting to automatic will allow your song to run as long as you want it to (up to a maximum of 320 bars).
Bear in mind that if you are shortening the number of bars in a section, any regions that extend past the end will automatically shorten to fit. Regions that ran to the end of a section will loops automatically if you increase the number of bars in it.
You can close the Sections menu by tapping anywhere on the track view.
You can use the sections menu to take things a step further and create separate parts that operate independently of each other:
In the Sections menu, tap the ‘Add’ button to create a new section in your song.
Labelled ‘Section B’ by default, you can increase/decrease the number of bars the same way you did with Section A.
Now that you’ve created your new section, you can navigate to it by holding your finger anywhere on the track view and swiping to the left.
You can now work on this section separately from the rest of your song – while recording, when the playhead hits the last bar, it will loop back to the beginning of the section.
You can move back to previous sections in the same way – holding on the track view, but swiping right instead of left.
You can even switch the order of your sections on the fly. At the Sections menu, tap and hold on the section you’d like to move and drag it into the desired position. Simple!
If you’d like to record or extend a loop over several sections, open the Sections menu and tap ‘All Sections’. The playhead will no longer loop back to the start of the current section when it hits the last bar.
There you have it – that’s how you can use GarageBand iOS’ Sections menu to sculpt and edit your song!
GarageBand is a fully equipped music creation studio right inside your Mac — with a complete sound library that includes instruments, presets for guitar and voice, and an incredible selection of session drummers and percussionists. With Touch Bar features for MacBook Pro and an intuitive, modern design, it’s easy to learn, play, record, create, and share your hits worldwide. Now you’re ready to make music like a pro.
Start making professional‑sounding music right away. Plug in your guitar or mic and choose from a jaw‑dropping array of realistic amps and effects. You can even create astonishingly human‑sounding drum tracks and become inspired by thousands of loops from popular genres like EDM, Hip Hop, Indie, and more.
More sounds, more inspiration.
Plug in your USB keyboard and dive into the completely inspiring and expanded Sound Library, featuring electronic‑based music styles like EDM and Hip Hop. The built‑in set of instruments and loops gives you plenty of creative freedom.
The Touch Bar takes center stage.
The Touch Bar on MacBook Pro puts a range of instruments at your fingertips. Use Performance view to turn the Touch Bar into drum pads or a one-octave keyboard for playing and recording.
Plug it in. Tear it up.
Plug in your guitar and choose from a van-load of amps, cabinets, and stompboxes.
Design your dream bass rig.
Customize your bass tone just the way you want it. Mix and match vintage or modern amps and speaker cabinets. You can even choose and position different microphones to create your signature sound.
Drumroll please.
GarageBand features Drummer, a virtual session drummer that takes your direction and plays along with your song. Choose from 28 drummers and three percussionists in six genres.
Shape your sound. Quickly and easily.
Whenever you’re using a software instrument, amp, or effect, Smart Controls appear with the perfect set of knobs, buttons, and sliders. So you can shape your sound quickly with onscreen controls or by using the Touch Bar on MacBook Pro.
Look, Mom — no wires.
You can wirelessly control GarageBand right from your iPad with the Logic Remote app. Play any software instrument, shape your sound with Smart Controls, and even hit Stop, Start, and Record from across the room.
Drummer, the virtual session player created using the industry’s top session drummers and recording engineers, features 28 beat‑making drummers and three percussionists. From EDM, Dubstep, and Hip Hop to Latin, Metal, and Blues, whatever beat your song needs, there’s an incredible selection of musicians to play it.
Each drummer has a signature kit that lets you produce a variety of groove and fill combinations. Use the intuitive controls to enable and disable individual sounds while you create a beat with kick, snare, cymbals, and all the cowbell you want. If you need a little inspiration, Drummer Loops gives you a diverse collection of prerecorded acoustic and electronic loops that can be easily customized and added to your song.
Audition a drummer for a taste of his or her distinct style.
Get creative with 100 EDM- and Hip Hop–inspired synth sounds. Every synth features the Transform Pad Smart Control, so you can morph and tweak sounds to your liking.
Sweeping Arp
Droplets
Bright Punchy Synth
Pumping Synth Waves
Epic Hook Synth
Get started with a great collection of built‑in lessons for piano and guitar. Or learn some Multi‑Platinum hits from the actual artists who recorded them. You can even get instant feedback on your playing to help hone your skills.
Take your skills to the next level. From any level.
Choose from 40 different genre‑based lessons, including classical, blues, rock, and pop. Video demos and animated instruments keep things fun and easy to follow.
Teachers with advanced degrees in hit‑making.
Learn your favorite songs on guitar or piano with a little help from the original recording artists themselves. Who better to show you how it’s done?
Instant feedback.
Play along with any lesson, and GarageBand will listen in real time and tell you how you’re doing, note for note. Track your progress, beat your best scores, and improve your skills.
Tons of helpful recording and editing features make GarageBand as powerful as it is easy to use. Edit your performances right down to the note and decibel. Fix rhythm issues with a click. Finesse your sound with audio effect plug‑ins. And finish your track like a pro, with effects such as compression and visual EQ.
Go from start to finish. And then some.
Create and mix up to 255 audio tracks. Easily name and reorder your song sections to find the best structure. Then polish it off with all the essentials, including reverb, visual EQ, volume levels, and stereo panning.
Take your best take.
Record as many takes as you like. You can even loop a section and play several passes in a row. GarageBand saves them all in a multi‑take region, so it’s easy to pick the winners.
Your timing is perfect. Even when it isn’t.
Played a few notes out of time? Simply use Flex Time to drag them into place. You can also select one track as your Groove Track and make the others fall in line for a super‑tight rhythm.
Polish your performance.
Capture your changes in real time by adjusting any of your software instruments’ Smart Controls while recording a performance. You can also fine‑tune your music later in the Piano Roll Editor.
Touch Bar. A whole track at your fingertips.
The Touch Bar on MacBook Pro lets you quickly move around a project by dragging your finger across a visual overview of the track.
Wherever you are, iCloud makes it easy to work on a GarageBand song. You can add tracks to your GarageBand for Mac song using your iPhone or iPad when you’re on the road. Or when inspiration strikes, you can start sketching a new song idea on your iOS device, then import it to your Mac to take it even further.
Play, record, arrange, and mix — wherever you go.
Your personal music creation studio.
A companion app for Logic Pro X.