How to Import Audio Files Into GarageBand on iOS 11 and Later

Importing audio files in GarageBand: why do that?

Note: this is an updated version of a post that was published in 2016. The GarageBand app on iPad and the operating system accept had some changes since then, so this article is applicative to GarageBand on iOS xi and later.

Let's say you or your students take created an audio file in some other app or software program – such every bit Groove Pizza, Incredibox, Beepbox or i of the many other music app options – and now yous want to import that audio file into GarageBand so that you tin record a song office over the top.

The steps are non too difficult and it opens up some useful opportunities for your students to develop their musical creations.

You lot can apply Apple'south Files app as the "portal" to access audio (and MIDI) files in locations similar Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud Drive and more than.

Here'south a list of the quick, basic steps:

  • Save the audio file in an accessible location
  • Create a new certificate in GarageBand with an Audio Recorder track and caput to Tracks View
  • Open the Loop Library and import your file into Files list
  • Elevate the file from the Loop Library into the projection y'all're working on

For a more detailed explanation, read on.

Save the audio file in an accessible location

First, you'll need to save the audio file you want to import into GarageBand into a location that you tin access on your iPad. Luckily, Apple improved this process greatly with the introduction of the Apple Files app in 2017.

Apple's Files app is a key file direction system for all of the files on your iPad and iPhone. Through the Files app y'all tin can access documents, photos, videos, and audio files that alive in iCloud, Google Bulldoze, Dropbox or whatever other compatible app.

Apple Files app

If the file is currently on your laptop y'all can save it in one of these deject locations for piece of cake admission inside GarageBand.

How to access the file within GarageBand

When you open up the My Songs browser in GarageBand you can come across the drove of files – the same ones that you tin see in the Files app – in a listing on the left of the screen.

The options you tin can meet in your Locations list volition vary, depending on which apps you have installed on your iPad.

My Songs browser On My iPad

At the top there will be an On My iPad location. Borer on this allows you to access the files inside apps on your iPad. Some files that you tin can see hither will be greyed out since they are non compatible with GarageBand. For instance, the files in my Keynote app binder are greyed out because they are not sound, MIDI or GarageBand files and therefore non compatible with GarageBand.

If you have Google Bulldoze, Dropbox or iCloud (you lot take the apps installed and you are signed into those services) you volition also see those in the Locations list. Once again, some of the files that you lot can see here in those folders volition be inaccessible because they are not audio, MIDI or GarageBand files.

So, in order to import an audio or MIDI file into GarageBand, first salve information technology into Google Drive or Dropbox OR one of the other locations you tin can see here.

Steps for importing an audio file into GarageBand

  1. First, make sure the file y'all want to import is in an attainable location (encounter above)
  2. Side by side, open GarageBand
  3. Create a New Document
  4. Locate the Sound Recorder (microphone) on the instrument browser and tap on the Voice option
  5. Tap the Tracks View button

6. Tap the Song Sections button (the "+" at top right of the screen)

7. Tap Section A and plow Automatic on (this will permit GarageBand to suit the length of the file you're importing. If the song section is too short, the file will exist cropped)

Section length set to automatic

8. Tap the Loop Library button and so tap the Files tab. At the summit, you volition come across a listing of any files that have already been imported. To import your new file, tap Browse items from the Files app at the bottom of this window

Loop browser showing files

nine. The Files app will open. Cull the location of the file you lot want to import (such every bit Drive or Dropbox), observe the file and so select it. Your file volition be added to the list of files that live inside GarageBand

x. Next, elevate the file into your project: tap and hold your finger on the audio file and drag it across into the empty audio recorder runway (or even underneath the empty track – it doesn't really matter which selection yous choose)

File dragged into project

From email attachment to GarageBand

Instructions for this depend on which email client yous are using (Gmail, Apple Mail service etc), but the overall steps are:

  1. Open your email app.
  2. Locate the electronic mail with the sound file attachment you desire to import into GarageBand.
  3. Choose Save/Share and so save the audio file into the Files app (or straight into Drive or Dropbox)
  4. Follow the instructions above to import information technology into GarageBand.

One more option: iTunes

If you have a Mac laptop or desktop estimator you can also utilize iTunes to transfer files in GarageBand.

  1. On your computer, open iTunes and add together the audio files you want to import to the GarageBand File Sharing area.
  2. Open GarageBand on your iPad and follow the steps above to create a new document.
  3. Tap the Loop browser button and yous will see a bulletin asking if yous want to move the sound files to the GarageBand File Transfer folder. Tap Move Files and the sound file will be moved to the GarageBand File Transfer folder where you can access it in your project.

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Want More than?

Howdy! I'thousand Katie Wardrobe – an Australian music applied science trainer and consultant with a passion for helping music teachers through my concern Midnight Music.

I'm a qualified teacher but no, I don't currently teach in a school. I help teachers through my online professional evolution space – the Midnight Music Community – where there are tutorial videos, courses, links and downloadable resources.

I like to focus on piece of cake ways to comprise technology into what y'all are already doing in your music curriculum through a range of creative projects. I likewise run alive workshops and have presented at countless conferences an other music education events.

If you lot desire uncomplicated, effective ideas for using engineering in music teaching, I would Honey to help you lot within the Midnight Music Community.

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