To export a song from an app, finish your project, open the share or export menu, choose an audio file format (usually WAV for quality or MP3 for size), then save it to Files, your camera roll, cloud storage, or send it straight to a distributor. The exact menu wording changes from app to app, but the steps below work the same way across GarageBand, FL Studio Mobile, BandLab, Cubasis, n-Track Studio and most other mobile DAWs.
Exporting is the moment your project becomes a real, playable audio file. Get the settings right once and you will not have to re-do it.
Mixdown vs. project file: know the difference
Before you export, understand what you are creating. Your project file holds every track, edit and setting so you can keep working on it. A mixdown (also called a bounce or render) flattens everything into one stereo audio file that plays anywhere. When people talk about how to export a song from an app, they almost always mean the mixdown. Keep the project file too, in case you need to make changes later.
Choose the right file format
Most mobile music apps offer at least two export formats:
- WAV (or AIFF) — uncompressed, full quality, larger files. Use this for mastering, sending to a collaborator, or uploading to a distributor.
- MP3 (or AAC/M4A) — compressed, smaller files, slightly lower quality. Fine for quick demos, messaging apps and casual sharing.
If you plan to master the song on your phone or send it for mastering, always export WAV. For a rough idea you want to text to a friend, MP3 is perfect. When in doubt, export WAV — you can always make an MP3 from it later, but you can never add back quality you compressed away.
Understanding bit depth and sample rate
When you choose WAV, some apps also ask for a bit depth and a sample rate. These two numbers describe the resolution of your audio, and a couple of sensible defaults will cover almost everything you do.
- Sample rate is how many times per second the audio is measured. 44.1 kHz is the standard for music you will stream or burn to disc; 48 kHz is common for video. If your project was recorded at one rate, export at that same rate to avoid an unnecessary conversion.
- Bit depth sets the dynamic range and the noise floor. 16-bit is the final delivery standard for streaming and CDs. 24-bit captures more headroom and detail, which is why it is the better choice when you are sending a file off to be mastered.
A reliable rule of thumb: export 24-bit WAV at your project’s sample rate when the song still has work to do (mastering, collaboration, a final mix on a computer), and 16-bit WAV at 44.1 kHz when you are handing the finished master to a distributor. Avoid up-sampling a project to a higher rate at export — it inflates the file size without adding any real quality that was not captured in the first place.
Get the levels right before you export
Your exported file is only as good as your mix. Before bouncing, check that nothing is clipping (the meters should not slam into red) and leave a little headroom — aim for your loudest peaks to sit a touch below the top. If you are unsure, our guide to mixing a song on your phone walks through balancing levels so the export sounds clean rather than distorted.
Leaving headroom matters more than it sounds. If your mix is already slammed right up to the ceiling, a mastering engineer (or a mastering app) has nowhere to work, and any conversion to MP3 afterwards can push those peaks into audible distortion. Aiming your loudest moment a few decibels below the top gives every later stage room to breathe.
How to export in popular apps
The wording differs, but the path is similar everywhere.
- GarageBand (iOS/iPadOS) — tap the projects view, press and hold your song, choose Share, then Song. Pick the quality, and it lands in Files or another app.
- FL Studio Mobile (iOS/Android) — open the project menu, choose Export, then select WAV or another format and a destination.
- BandLab (iOS/Android) — from the editor, use the share/export option to render the mix or save it to your library and downloads.
- Cubasis (iOS/iPadOS) — open the Media or export panel and choose Mixdown, then set the format. If the panel layout is unfamiliar, our guide to using Cubasis shows where the mixdown option lives.
- n-Track Studio (iOS/Android) — use the export/mixdown option in the file menu.
If you are new to any of these, the walkthroughs on using FL Studio Mobile and using BandLab cover the rest of the workflow.
Where to save and how to share it
Once exported, you can save the file to your device’s Files app, cloud storage like Drive or Dropbox, or AirDrop it to a computer. From there you can attach it to an email, upload it to a streaming distributor, or drop it into a desktop DAW for a final polish. On Android, exported files usually appear in a Music or Downloads folder you can browse with a file manager.
It is worth thinking about file naming and backups at this stage too. Give the export a clear name — song title, plus a note like “master” or “24bit” — so you can tell versions apart later. Once you have re-mixed a song two or three times, a folder full of files all called “export” becomes impossible to navigate. Keeping a copy in cloud storage also protects the one file you would hate to lose if your phone died.
How to choose the right export for the job
Rather than memorising settings, match the export to where the file is going:
- Sending to a distributor or mastering service — WAV, 24-bit (or the 16-bit the platform specifies), at your project sample rate, with headroom left in the mix.
- Sharing a quick demo — MP3 or AAC at a high bitrate; small enough to message, good enough to judge the idea.
- Continuing the song on a computer — WAV stems if the app supports them, so each part stays separate and editable.
- Archiving the finished track — keep both the WAV master and the original project file, ideally in two places.
Common export problems
- Track sounds quiet or cut off — check that the export range covers the whole song and that no fade is trimming the end.
- File won’t upload to a distributor — most platforms want 16-bit or 24-bit WAV; re-export in that format.
- Effects missing — some apps need you to “freeze” or commit certain effects before they print to the mix.
- Export sounds distorted — the mix is likely clipping; pull the master level down a touch and bounce again rather than exporting a file that is already overloaded.
- Silence at the start or a click at the end — tighten the export range to the first and last sounds, and add a very short fade so the file does not cut off abruptly.
Frequently asked questions
What format should I export for Spotify or Apple Music?
Upload a high-quality WAV (typically 16-bit or 24-bit) to your distributor and let them handle the streaming conversion. Never upload an MP3 if you can avoid it, because the platform will compress it again and quality suffers twice.
Why is my exported song quieter than other tracks?
Your mix probably needs mastering to bring it up to a competitive loudness. Export a clean WAV with headroom first, then run it through one of the best mastering apps or a mastering service rather than just turning everything up in the mix.
Can I export individual tracks instead of the full mix?
Many apps let you export stems — separate files for drums, vocals and so on — usually through a “stems” or “tracks” export option. This is useful when a collaborator or mixing engineer wants to work on your song in another program.
Should I export at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz?
For music headed to streaming or CD, 44.1 kHz is the standard. Choose 48 kHz mainly when the song will sit under video. The safest approach is to export at whatever sample rate the project was recorded in, so the app does not have to convert and possibly soften the audio on the way out.
