Here is how to export a song from GarageBand in short: open the Share menu, choose Export Song to Disk, pick a file format (MP3 or AAC for sharing, uncompressed WAV or AIFF for mastering), set the quality, and save. The right format depends on whether the file is the finished product or is heading to another stage.
This guide assumes you have a finished mix open in GarageBand on a Mac.
- Give the mix a final listen and clear any accidental solos or mutes.
- Check the master output is not clipping; pull the fader down if it touches the red.
- Set the cycle region to cover the whole song, with space for the final reverb tail.
- Open the Share menu and choose Export Song to Disk.
- Pick a format: WAV or AIFF for mastering or distribution, MP3 or AAC for quick sharing.
- Set the quality, name the file clearly, and choose a folder.
- Export, then play the file back to confirm the start, end, and level.
Get your project ready to export
Before exporting, tidy a few things so the bounce reflects your final mix:
- Set the cycle/song region so the export captures the full length with no dead air at the end.
- Check the master output meter is not clipping (going into the red) — pull the master down if it is.
- Make sure no tracks are accidentally muted or soloed.
If your master is peaking hot, revisit your levels — gain staging explained covers leaving safe headroom so the export does not distort.
It is also worth giving the song a final listen end to end before you bounce. Automation moves, fade-outs and reverb tails are easy to overlook, and they are far quicker to fix now than after you have sent a file to someone. If you have effects on the master channel — an EQ, a limiter or a compressor — decide whether they belong there or whether that processing is really the job of a separate mastering stage. Many home producers leave heavy master-bus processing off the GarageBand export and add it later on a dedicated pass.
Export to disk from the Share menu
- Open the Share menu and choose Export Song to Disk.
- Pick a file format — MP3, AAC, AIFF or WAV.
- Set the quality (for MP3/AAC, a higher bitrate means better sound and a larger file).
- Name the file, choose a location, and export.
GarageBand also offers options to share directly to other apps and to your Music library, but exporting to disk gives you a file you control. It is good practice to keep a clearly named folder for your exports — for example the song title plus the date — so you can tell a rough bounce apart from a final master later. If you export more than one version, note the format and quality in the filename so there is no guessing when you come back to it.
If you tick the option to export at a higher resolution, GarageBand can render the cycle region as a single continuous file rather than processing in real time, which is usually quicker. Whichever route you take, the exported file is a flat stereo bounce: a fresh recording of everything you hear on the master output. Once it is written to disk you can play it in any media player to confirm the start, end and overall level are exactly what you expected before you share it anywhere.
Which format should you choose?
- MP3 / AAC: compressed and small — best for emailing, messaging or quick listening. Some quality is lost.
- WAV / AIFF: uncompressed and full quality — use these if the song is going to a mastering engineer, a distributor, or any further processing.
For anything you plan to master or release, export an uncompressed WAV or AIFF and create MP3s later from the mastered file. If you are unsure which container suits a given job, WAV vs MP3 breaks down the trade-offs. The reason also ties into sample rate and bit depth — see sample rate and bit depth explained.
A simple rule of thumb: if the file is the finished product that a listener will hear, a high-bitrate MP3 or AAC is fine. If the file is going to be processed again by anyone — mastered, mixed into another project, or submitted to a distributor — keep it uncompressed. Every time you compress to MP3 you discard audio data permanently, and compressing an already-compressed file compounds the loss, so always work from the uncompressed original for as long as you can.
Common mistakes when exporting from GarageBand
A few avoidable errors account for most bad exports. Watch for these:
- Cutting off the tail. If your cycle region ends too early, the export clips the final reverb or note. Leave a beat of space after the last sound.
- Exporting while clipping. A master that touches the red gives a distorted bounce that no amount of later processing fully repairs. Pull the master fader down and re-export rather than hoping it is fine.
- Mastering a compressed file. Sending an MP3 to a mastering engineer ties their hands. Always hand over the uncompressed WAV or AIFF.
- Forgetting muted or soloed tracks. A solo left active anywhere in the project means only that part exports. Clear all solos and check your mutes first.
- Trying to make it loud in GarageBand. Pushing the master to match a commercial release usually introduces distortion. Leave loudness to the mastering stage.
Exporting for streaming and loudness
Streaming platforms normalise loudness, so you do not need to crush your master to be loud. Aim for a clean, dynamic mix and let the platform handle levels. If loudness is your concern, how to make a song louder explains the right way to do it without wrecking the dynamics. The targets and why they matter are covered in LUFS explained, and the broader picture is in what is mastering.
Exporting stems instead of a stereo mix
Sometimes you need each part as its own file — for a collaborator, a remix, or external mixing. That is stem bouncing, and the general approach (solo or route each part and export individually) is the same in GarageBand as anywhere; see how to bounce stems in a DAW. For more finishing tutorials, browse the mixing and mastering hub.
Frequently asked questions
What format should I export from GarageBand for mastering?
Export an uncompressed WAV or AIFF. These keep full quality so a mastering engineer or further processing has the best source. Make MP3s afterwards from the mastered file rather than mastering a compressed export.
Why is my exported song quieter than commercial tracks?
GarageBand exports your mix at the level you set it, without the loudness processing a mastering stage adds. Streaming services also normalise loudness, so a clean, dynamic export is fine. Mastering raises perceived loudness when needed.
How do I export only part of a song?
Set the cycle region to cover just the section you want, then export to disk. GarageBand bounces the selected range rather than the whole project.
Why does my GarageBand export sound different from the project?
The most common cause is a master-bus effect or a track that was soloed or muted at export time. Check that no solos are active, that your mutes are intentional, and that any processing on the master output is what you actually want printed into the file. The export is a faithful capture of the master output, so what you hear on playback is what gets written.
Where does GarageBand save exported songs?
Wherever you choose in the Export Song to Disk dialog. GarageBand asks for a name and location before it bounces, so pick a dedicated exports folder and use clear filenames that include the version and format. That way you can always tell a rough bounce from the final master without opening the files.
