How to Install GarageBand Home Recording Software

Apple's home recording software, GarageBand, is distributed as part of the iLife software package, which offers a variety of creative tools for music and movie hobbyists. GarageBand is not a full-featured package intended for professional recording. Instead, it is designed for the average user who wants to create a rough demo or a podcast. It's simple to install and very intuitive to use.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Macintosh computer
• External hard drive (optional)
• ILife software

Custom Install GarageBand Software on a Mac

1. Confirm that your Macintosh computer is running OS X or higher. The iLife package, of which GarageBand is a part, only works on Mac computers and was specifically designed for OS X.

2. Designate 2 GB of disk space for GarageBand, or 4.3 GB if you will be installing the entire iLife Suite, which includes iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes, iDVD and GarageBand.

3. Purchase the iLife software bundle. The package comes with both a CD and DVD-ROM, from which iLife can be installed. If your home computer has a DVD drive, then you will be able to install GarageBand. The application is not included on the CD installation disc.

4. Insert the DVD in your DVD drive.

5. Launch the iLife installer by clicking on the DVD icon.

6. Click on "Customize" if you want to do a custom install or only install GarageBand.

7. Choose the items you want to install from the provided list and click "Install" to continue.

8. Update your software after installation and prior to using the program.

Conserve Space after Installation

9. Install GarageBand's loops for home recording. The instrument files aren't that big, but the .aiff files (the loops) are very large and will take up a lot of hard drive space. They can be moved to another disk drive to conserve space.

10. Choose an external drive or storage device to which you will be transferring the loop library.

11. Locate your GarageBand loops on the hard drive. The location will vary depending on your library, and can be found either at "Macintosh HD->Library->Application Support->GarageBand->Apple Loops", or at "Macintosh HD->Library->Audio->Apple Loops."

12. Select (highlight) all the loops and drag them to the external device.

13. Wait until the files are done transferring, confirm that they are on the external drive and delete them from the hard drive.

14. Start GarageBand and open the "Loop Browser" before beginning a project. Then, drag the loop folders from the external device to the browser. When the pop-up asking if you want to copy the files to the Apple "Loops" folder appears, choose the "Current Location" option. This will allow you to use the loops without re-installing them to the hard drive.

15. Allow the library to re-index, as it will need to do this to use the file.

Tips & Warnings

• GarageBand includes 1,000 pre-recorded loops. More are available in expansion packs, known as Jam Packs, which are offered by Apple.