Create tracks in a project in GarageBand on Mac

You add tracks to a project to hold your recordings, loops and other material. When you add a track, you can choose the track type, format, input source (for audio tracks) and output. The options in the New Track dialogue vary, depending on the type of track you’re creating.

The new track appears in the Tracks area.

Create a new track

In GarageBand on Mac, do one of the following:
- Choose Track > New Track (or press Option-Command-N).
- Click the Add Track button above the track headers.
Select the track type by clicking one of the buttons in the New Track dialogue.
You can create a software instrument track, a Drummer track or an audio track (using either the “Mic or Line” or “Guitar or Bass” option).
If necessary, click the Details disclosure arrow to show new track details.
To change the output device, click the arrow after the text “I hear sound from”, then choose a device from the Output Device pop-up menu in Settings.
For audio tracks, do any of the following:
- To change the input source, choose an input from the Input pop-up menu.
- To change the input device, click the arrow after “My instrument is connected with”, then choose a device from the Input Device pop-up menu in Settings.
- To turn on monitoring for audio tracks: Select the “I want to hear my instrument as I play and record” tick box.
Click Create.
The new track appears in the Tracks area and the Library opens so you can choose a patch for the track.
For information about choosing patches, see Choose a patch in GarageBand on Mac.

Create a new track with the same settings as the selected track

In GarageBand on Mac, do one of the following:

Select a track, then choose Track > New Track with Duplicate Settings.
Control-click a track header, then choose New Track with Duplicate Settings from the shortcut menu.

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GarageBand User Guide

Create tracks in a project in GarageBand on Mac

Create a new track

Create a new track with the same settings as the selected track