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

Importing sound 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 arrangement have had some changes since then, so this article is applicative to GarageBand on iOS 11 and later.

Allow'southward say you lot or your students have created an sound file in some other app or software program – such as Groove Pizza, Incredibox, Beepbox or one of the many other music app options – and now you want to import that audio file into GarageBand so that y'all tin record a vocal role over the meridian.

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

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

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

  • Salve the audio file in an attainable location
  • Create a new certificate in GarageBand with an Audio Recorder track and head to Tracks View
  • Open up the Loop Library and import your file into Files list
  • Drag the file from the Loop Library into the project you're working on

For a more detailed caption, read on.

Salvage the audio file in an accessible location

Offset, you'll need to salvage the audio file you desire to import into GarageBand into a location that y'all can access on your iPad. Luckily, Apple improved this process greatly with the introduction of the Apple Files app in 2017.

Apple'due south Files app is a key file management arrangement for all of the files on your iPad and iPhone. Through the Files app you tin access documents, photos, videos, and audio files that live in iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox or any other compatible app.

Apple Files app

If the file is currently on your laptop you tin salve it in one of these cloud locations for easy access inside GarageBand.

How to access the file within GarageBand

When yous open the My Songs browser in GarageBand you lot can see the collection of files – the same ones that yous can see in the Files app – in a list on the left of the screen.

The options you can see in your Locations list will vary, depending on which apps you have installed on your iPad.

My Songs browser On My iPad

At the summit at that place will exist an On My iPad location. Tapping on this allows yous to access the files inside apps on your iPad. Some files that you can run across here volition exist greyed out since they are not compatible with GarageBand. For case, the files in my Keynote app folder are greyed out because they are not audio, MIDI or GarageBand files and therefore non compatible with GarageBand.

If you take Google Drive, Dropbox or iCloud (you accept the apps installed and yous are signed into those services) you volition also encounter those in the Locations listing. Again, some of the files that y'all can encounter here in those folders will be inaccessible because they are not audio, MIDI or GarageBand files.

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

Steps for importing an sound file into GarageBand

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

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

7. Tap Section A and turn Automatic on (this volition permit GarageBand to accommodate the length of the file you lot're importing. If the song section is too short, the file will be cropped)

Section length set to automatic

8. Tap the Loop Library button and then tap the Files tab. At the height, you volition see a list of any files that take 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. Choose the location of the file you want to import (such every bit Drive or Dropbox), notice the file and and so select information technology. Your file will be added to the list of files that live inside GarageBand

10. Next, drag the file into your project: tap and hold your finger on the audio file and drag information technology across into the empty audio recorder track (or fifty-fifty underneath the empty track – it doesn't actually matter which option you choose)

File dragged into project

From email attachment to GarageBand

Instructions for this depend on which email client you lot are using (Gmail, Apple Mail etc), merely the overall steps are:

  1. Open your e-mail app.
  2. Locate the email with the sound file zipper you want to import into GarageBand.
  3. Choose Save/Share and so relieve the audio file into the Files app (or direct into Bulldoze or Dropbox)
  4. Follow the instructions above to import it into GarageBand.

1 more selection: iTunes

If you have a Mac laptop or desktop computer you lot can also use iTunes to transfer files in GarageBand.

  1. On your computer, open up iTunes and add the audio files you lot 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 you volition meet a bulletin asking if you lot want to move the audio files to the GarageBand File Transfer folder. Tap Motility Files and the audio file will be moved to the GarageBand File Transfer folder where y'all can access it in your project.

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Hello! I'chiliad Katie Wardrobe – an Australian music technology trainer and consultant with a passion for helping music teachers through my business Midnight Music.

I'm a qualified instructor but no, I don't currently teach in a school. I aid teachers through my online professional development space – the Midnight Music Community – where at that place are tutorial videos, courses, links and downloadable resources.

I like to focus on easy ways to contain applied science into what you are already doing in your music curriculum through a range of artistic projects. I also run live workshops and have presented at countless conferences an other music didactics events.

If you want simple, effective ideas for using technology in music education, I would LOVE to assist you within the Midnight Music Community.

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