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.

Orange means it’s an unchangeable imported audio file.

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

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

Move your orange track over and make certain the playhead is at the beginning of your piece (see below):

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

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

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

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

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

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

Any questions?

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