GarageBand '11: Import media files

Import media files

Using the Media Browser, you can find and import photos from your iPhoto library, songs from your iTunes library, and video files from your Movies folder into a GarageBand project. You can also import other GarageBand projects into the current project.

Note:   You can’t import protected iTunes songs into a GarageBand project.

To import media files with the Media Browser:

  1. Choose Control > Show Media Browser, or click the Media Browser button in the control bar.

    Loop browser-podcast sounds

    The Media Browser appears to the right of the timeline.

    Media browser button

  2. At the top of the Media Browser, click Audio, Photos, or Movies, depending on what type of media you want to import.

  3. Select the folder or location with the files you want to import. You can also search for files by name using the search field.

    The contents of the selected folder appear in the bottom area of the Media Browser. To preview audio files from iTunes or GarageBand and video files from your Movies folder before you import them, click the Play button at the bottom of the Media Browser.

  4. Drag the media file or files you want to import from the Media Browser to the timeline. You can also drag image files to the podcast track, or drag audio files to a Real Instrument track.

To be imported, media files must be in a format compatible with GarageBand. Many popular image formats, including JPEG, TIFF, PNG, and GIF are supported.

You can import a GarageBand project if the project was saved with an iLife preview. Projects saved with an iLife preview appear in the Audio pane of the Media Browser. When you import a GarageBand project, it appears as an orange region (like an audio file) in the timeline, with a small guitar icon next to its name.