This document will explain how to use Garageband to create a simple podcast with an audio track and still images. If you have questions after reading these instructions, you can ask for help from a student computer lab consultant, or visit Apple's GarageBand Tutorials or Support webpages.

Note: This document does not cover uploading your podcast to iTunes U or any other server, but your exported file will be ready for upload via your method of choice.

Create a New Podcast Episode

• Log into a Macintosh computer and open Garageband. It is located in the Applications folder on the Macintosh HD. To get there, double-click the Macintosh HD icon on your desktop and then double-click the Applications folder. Scroll down to the Garageband icon and double-click it to open the program.
• You may see a pop-up window that says Garageband '08. If so, click the "Create New Podcast Episode" button. If not, from the File menu at the top of the screen, choose "New," then click the "Create New Podcast Episode" button.
• You will get another pop-up window that asks you where you want to save your project. Title your project, choose a save location and click Create. The default location is a folder called Garageband that is located in your home directory/Music folder, but you can save your project anywhere you'd like in your home directory, on Temporary_Storage, or on a external flash disk or hard drive. You do not need to change any of the tempo, time, or key settings.
• The main Garageband window will now appear with four tracks. These tracks are pre-prepared for your podcast, but you can add new tracks or delete extraneous tracks as needed. The tracks are labeled as follows:
  • Podcast Track - This is where you will place still images like artwork, photographs, etc.
  • Male/Female Voice - This is where you will record your audio. These tracks are pre-configured for male and female voices, but that effect can be easily changed.
  • Jingles - This is where you will place background audio, like sound effects, music clips, etc.
• To add a track, click the button at the bottom of the Tracks column.
• To delete a track, highlight the track and select "Delete Track" from the Track menu in the menubar.

Garageband Browsers/Workspaces

Aside from the tracks, there are five major areas of the GB window you should be familiar with. Click the links to see screenshots of each area.

• The control bar contains the playback controls, the record button, the time clock, the volume control, and the toggle buttons for the other four areas.
• The loop browser provides access to the built-in audio clips provided with GB, such as sound effects and jingles.
• The media browser provides access to audio clips, photos, and movies stored in your Macintosh home directory.
• The track editor allows to you add chapter markers and URLs to your podcast's artwork track and tweak settings on your audio tracks.
• The track info window lets you see a preview of your podcast and adjust settings for each of your audio tracks. When your Podcast track is selected, you can use the track info window to enter metadata for your podcast, such as the title, author, and a short description of the podcast.

Pre-flight - Configure and test your audio settings

• From the GarageBand menu, select Preferences, then click the Audio/MIDI icon. Make sure your Audio Output and Input are configured correctly for the input (microphone) and output (speakers, headphone line out, etc) that you are using. When you are finished, close the window.
• In the bottom of the track info window, you will see your input source and a recording level volume slider. Set this to the halfway point for now.
  Note: if the recording level slider is greyed out, Garageband cannot control the recording level of the device. Use the Sound preference pane to adjust the input level for the device instead.
• Click on the Record button in the control bar and speak a few words into your microphone. You should see the audio waveform recording of your voice. When you are finished, hit your spacebar to stop recording.
• Hit the rewind button , or drag the playhead back to the beginning of your recording. Now hit the play button and listen to what you have recorded. If it's too quiet, increase your recording level. If it's too loud or your voice sounds distorted, lower your recording level or back away from your microphone.
• To delete and re-record, simply click on the waveform to select it and hit the delete key (above the return key).

Recording your track

• When you are satisfied with your volume settings, you are ready to record your track. Speak slowly and clearly as you record. Make sure you listen to your track before you save it to make sure it's what you want.
• If you need to crop sounds off the beginning or end of your recording, move your mouse to the bottom corner of the end of the track you want to crop. The icon will change to a bracket. You can then click and drag towards the middle of the clip to crop.
• If you want to change the visual scale of your recording, so you can see more or less of it in the Garageband window, use the scale slider in the bottom left corner to adjust your view.
• For more thorough instructions, read our complete instructions on GarageBand Voice Recording!

Adding artwork, chapter markers, and URLs

• Select the Podcast Track and show the Track Editor and Media Browser windows. In the Media Browser, click on the Photos tab.
• To add episode artwork - the "cover art" for your episode - drag and drop an image from the media brower or from the Finder into the "drag episode artwork here" well on the left of the track editor.
• To insert a marker, drag your playhead (the red line) to the point in the track where you want to add the marker and click "add marker" in the track editor or hit the "P" key on the keyboard.
• To add artwork at the marker, drag and drop an image from the media brower or from the Finder into the "drag artwork here" well.
• To make your marker a chapter marker, add a chapter title.
• To add a URL that your viewer can click on, type in a URL and give it a title.
• To make an image to start at a certain point in the timeline, enter the time in the Time column.
• Click to see a screenshot of several completed chapter markers.

Adding sound effects, jingles, or background music

• Open the Loop Browser and click on the Audio tab in the Media Browser.
• Select a sound effect, stinger, or jingle from the browser and drag it into the Jingles Track.
• If you prefer to add an audio track from your personal library, drag and drop it into the Jingles Track, or create a new Real Instrument track and add it there. Note: please observe copyright laws when adding audio tracks, especially if you plan to make your Podcast publicly available!
• You can add as many tracks as you need for your vocals and background sounds.

Mixing/Ducking

Garageband has a built-in feature called "ducking" that mixes sound levels between lead tracks and backing tracks. With ducking turned on, the volume of the backing tracks will automatically be lowered whenever there is sound on the lead track. In other words, the background music will be quiet when you are talking and loud when you're not. This can give your Podcast a professional sound, especially if you add theme music at the beginning and end.

• Ducking is turned on by default when using the Podcast preset. To turn it on or off manually, select "Ducking" from the Control menu. When active, you will see a √ mark beside the Ducking menu option and you will see two small arrows in the Mixer column of each track.
• A track can have three states:
  • Yellow up triangle - lead track
  • Blue down triangle - backing track
  • Both triangles grey - ducking is turned off for this track
• To adjust ducking settings:
  • Select a track with ducking turned on.
  • Open the Track Info window and select the Master Track tab.
  • At the bottom of the window, make sure the Ducker box is checked.
  • Adjust settings using the pull down menu, or click the pencil button for manual settings options.

Saving and exporting your podcast

• When you have finished recording, save your Garageband project by clicking "Save" from the File menu. This will save your track in a format that you can edit again later.
• To export your podcast in an iTunes-friendly format, click "Export Podcast to Disk" from the Share menu.
• You will see a pop-up window with some settings options.
  • You may export as an AAC (required if using images, otherwise recommended) or as an MP3
  • Select the type of podcast from the Audio Settings menu. Most users will select Spoken or Musical podcast, depending on the primary content
  • If you used images in your podcast, make sure the "Set Artwork to recommended size" box is checked.
• You will now see a Save dialog box. Choose where you want to save your finished track and click Save. You're all done!

Document Information

Publication Date:	01/07/2009
Revision Date:	04/21/2009
Operating Systems:	Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
Related Documents:	Student Computing Services Activate Your Macintosh Account Garageband Voice Recording Apple Tutorials | GarageBand Support

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