Introduction

Recording

• On-Screen Keyboards
• External Instruments
• Choosing a GB Instrument
• Recording Options
• Recording a Track

Editing

• Real Instruments
• Software Instruments
• Importing Files
• Creating Your Own Loops

Mixing

• Track Controls
• Track Effects
• Volume Manipulation

Exporting

• Preventing Clipping
• iLife Suite Integration
• Recording Podcasts

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Editing Real Instrument Tracks

Real Instrument tracks are essentially audio recordings, so they do not have as much editing potential as Software Instrument tracks.   Real Instrument tracks can be cut, copied, and pasted, but that's about it.

Here, I've found a sound effect loop that I like, but it's too long.   I'll edit the loop, cutting out a portion at the beginning that I don't want to use.

First, select the Real Instrument track you'd like to edit.   Here is the sound effect loop that I want to edit:

Now, I'll click on the Track Editor button in the lower left corner of the window:

This will bring up the clip in the Track Editor in the bottom part of the GarageBand window.

If you'd like to see more (or fewer) measures in the editor screen at once, adjust the sliding bar in the bottom left corner of the editor window.   This will zoom in and out from the clip.

Now, I'll select the portion of the loop that I want to edit.   When I place the cursor in the blue area of the editor, it will change to a dashed plus sign.   Click and drag left and right to highlight an area of the track.   Now, click once on the selection, and it will become a new track.

You can now move, delete, copy, extend, repeat, or modify each piece of the track in any way you'd like.   Here, the first 8 beats of my loop are now a separate selection; I can delete them and move the last 2 measures to wherever I need them.

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Editing Real Instrument Tracks
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