Record sound from a microphone or an electric instrument

Record sound from a microphone or an electric instrument

You record sound from a microphone (voice or acoustic instrument, for example) or an electric instrument (such as an electric guitar) connected to your computer, to an audio track.

Record live audio

  1. Select the header of the audio or guitar/bass track you want to record to.

    Figure. Selecting the header of an audio track.

  2. Move the playhead to the point in the ruler where you want to start recording.

  3. GarageBand includes a metronome, which plays a steady beat to help you play in time while recording. You can turn this on or off using the Metronome button Metronome button in the control bar.

  4. Click the Count-in button Count-in button in the control bar to have the metronome play a one- or two-bar count-in before recording starts.

    Note: For the initial setup, choose Record > Count-in, then choose a measure.

  5. Click the Record button Record button in the control bar (or press R) to start recording.

  6. Start singing or playing your instrument.

    The recording appears as a new audio region on the track as you record.

    Figure. Showing a recorded audio region in red in the Tracks area.

  7. Click the Stop button Stop button in the control bar (or press the Space bar) to stop recording.