GarageBand is a great, free digital audio workstation (DAW) for creatives such as musicians and podcasters who use Macs. Here's how you can use it to record multiple instruments at once.

What Is Multitrack Recording?

A person editing audio on a laptop with a guitar on their lap in blue light

Multitrack recording is the process of recording numerous sounds over two or more audio tracks. This allows each individual track to be mixed and edited without impacting the other tracks.

This can be done at different times or simultaneously. For example, you could utilize multitrack recording to layer up three tracks one-by-one; one with vocals, one with piano, and one with guitar. Or, you could make use of multitrack recording to record a live piano performance, with one track for your piano and one for your vocals.

You could even use multitrack recording to record a whole band session at once and individually edit each band member's parts later on.

The Benefits of Multitrack Recording

Multi-track recording on GarageBand

There are multiple benefits to multitrack recording. Here are a few key reasons why you should be utilizing multitrack recording in your creative process.

You Can Record Multiple Instruments at the Same Time

Recording multiple instruments to a single track can often result in a muddy, unbalanced recording. In addition to this, any changes you make will impact every instrument.

With multitrack recording, you have the power to record every instrument clearly with the recording equipment that's best suited for each one.

You can do this individually but a key benefit to multitrack recording is that you can do this all at the same time, creating high quality recordings of each instrument without compromising on time.

You Will Have Greater Creative Control

Say you're hosting a podcast and one person speaks louder than the rest. This would be an issue if you were recording everything into one mic (i.e. on to one track). With multitrack recording (i.e. everyone speaking into their own mic) you'd be able to adjust the volumes accordingly.

The same can happen if you're recording a live take of a song and one instrument drowns out the others. Recording a song live as opposed to putting in each track one at a time can give it a very natural and unique sound. Recording everything at the same time allows you to maintain that natural feel to your performing whilst also giving you the freedom to tailor the mix as you like.

Your Ability to Produce Audio Will Increase

The more attention you pay to individual audio, naturally, the better your ear will be. The more time you spend mixing individual tracks, you'll improve on your ability to both see and reach the bigger picture. You'll get better at matching up the right equipment with the right instrument.

Simply put, though there's a learning curve associated with multitrack recording, there's an unlimited scope to what you can get out of it.

Multitrack Recording With GarageBand

Recording two tracks on GarageBand using an audio interface (Scarlett 2i2)

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to multi-track record using GarageBand. For this guide, we'll be demonstrating the principles using two XLR microphones via an audio interface with a quick look at adding MIDI instruments at the end.

You can also use two USB microphones to record as well. If you're using two USB mics to record on your Mac, check out our guide on how to record multiple USB mics at once on GarageBand.

Step One: Setting Up Your Equipment

Connecting an audio interface (Focusrite Scarlett 2i2) to a MacBook Pro

The first thing you'll need to do is set up your equipment. To record multiple tracks at once on GarageBand, you're going to need two or more audio/MIDI inputs.

XLR microphones are the most common type of microphone and, on average, produce a better quality sound than USB microphones. They require an audio interface in order to connect them to your Mac.

If you're new to audio interfaces, Focusrite's Scarlett range provides a variety of high-quality and portable interfaces for solo or band recordings.

When you have your XLR mics and audio interface ready, simply connect your mics to your audio interface along with a pair of headphones and connect your audio interface to your Mac.

Related: How to Make Beats on GarageBand

Step Two: Create a New Project

The opening screen on GarageBand with the option to select "Empty Project"

The next thing to do is to start a fresh new project on GarageBand. To create a new project, simply open the app and select Empty Project.

GarageBand might open up a previous project instead of displaying this page. If this happens, go to the top-left of your screen and under File, select New.

Step Three: Make Sure Your Audio Interface Is Selected

Selecting an audio interface (Scarlett 2i2) in the "Preferences" section of GarageBand

Before you start adding tracks, you're going to want to double check that your audio interface is your audio device on GarageBand.

To do this, at the top-right of your screen under GarageBand, select Preferences, then Audio or Audio/MIDI.

In the Input Device and Output Device pop up menus, select your audio interface. Close Preferences.

Step Four: Recording Multiple Live Instruments at Once

Recording two audio inputs at once using an audio interface (Scarlett 2i2) on GarageBand

Now we're going to start adding both our tracks and making sure they're ready to record. The general principles here also work for adding more than two tracks.

There's a few things to keep in mind so feel free to use the above image as a reference.

From Choose a track type, select the track with the microphone icon.

Once you've added this track, use the shortcut Cmd + Option + N to select another audio track, same as before (you can also go through Track, then New Track at the bar at the top of your screen). Do this for as many tracks as you want to record.

Next, select a track and at the bottom, where it says Track and Master, make sure that Track is selected. You should be able to see a drop-down box next to where it says Input and from there, you can select the inputs from your audio interface.

You can rename the generic names of your tracks by selecting the track and double-clicking the title and customize their EQs both manually and through the sound library on the right-hand side.

To activate recording each of your tracks, select a track, right-click it or use the shortcut Option + T and check Record Enable. A new icon should appear. Click on that icon to activate/deactivate it. You'll know which tracks are selected to record as this icon will be flashing red when active. Do this for all the tracks to want to record at once.

To listen to each of your tracks as you record, under Input, activate the icon next to Monitoring.

And, before you start to record, don't forget to save your project with Cmd + S.

Step Five: Adding MIDI Instruments

Multi-track recording on GarageBand with a MIDI device.

If you've got a MIDI controller, for example your digital piano, you can also multi-track record with this.

To record with your MIDI device, connect it up to your Mac either through your audio interface if it uses a MIDI output or directly to your Mac if your controller has a USB output.

Then follow the previous step but when you get to Choose a track type, select Software Instrument. From there, everything else is the same!

A Great Skill for All DAWs

Now that you've got the basic principles of multitrack recording, take your time and see what works for you.

It can be a lot to understand at first, but you'd be surprised at how quickly and easily you'll be recording and editing some great-sounding music. You can even use the drummer feature in GarageBand as part of your multi-track projects.

Learning to multitrack record live instruments is a skill that goes beyond just using GarageBand and one you'll find useful when using all kinds of DAWs.