Kranky Kids® Software Cheat Sheets
historyradiotheatervideomusicscriptsdrivelevents
tech_videosoftware_cheat_sheetsresearchmaking_thingscows
Our in-school and after-school programs are provided gratis and there is NO ADVERTISING on this site.
No images? Make certain you're in krankykids.com - if you're in .net or .org the images may not show up. Just replace net or org with com - then refresh your browser - the images should then appear.

GarageBand 4: Changing Imported Audio Orange Tracks into Purple Tracks that allow tempo and pitch changes
Cheat Sheet 20090329

The following works in both Podcast Episodes and Music Projects.

Drag and drop your audio file (AAC, MP3, AIFF) into GarageBand and it will create its own new track.

GarageBand 4: imported audio track

Orange means it’s an unchangeable imported audio file.

When the track speaker icon is large, you have a software track (see below):

GarageBand 4: software track

When the track speaker icon is small and backlit, you have a real instrument track (see below):

GarageBand 4: real instrument track

Move your orange track over and make certain the playhead is at the beginning of your piece.

GarageBand 4: move track over

Record just a bit of nothing - hit record for a second and then stop - so you have a purple loop. (see below):

GarageBand 4: record purple loop

Slide the purple and orange loops together (see below):

GarageBand 4: slide purple and orange together

Select them both, and then join them (Command-J). GarageBand will tell you that you’re creating a mixdown (see below):

GarageBand 4: creating mixdown on same track

When the two tracks are merged, you will have one purple track (see below):

GarageBand 4: merged purple track

Open up editing and check Follow Tempo & Pitch (see below):

GarageBand 4: Follow Tempo & Pitch

You will then be able to change your purple track’s tempo and pitch like any other software loop.

Any questions?

return to top

Privacy Policy - Terms of Use - Copyright