How to Record Vocals in GarageBand

To record vocals in GarageBand, connect your microphone, create an audio track set to your mic input, set a healthy recording level, enable monitoring through headphones, and hit record. GarageBand is free on Mac and surprisingly capable, so you can get a clean vocal take with very little setup.

This walkthrough assumes you have a microphone connected through an audio interface or a USB mic. If you are still choosing gear, read USB mic vs audio interface first.

Step 1: Connect and select your input

Plug your interface or USB mic into your Mac before opening GarageBand. Then open GarageBand > Settings > Audio and set the input device to your interface or mic. If you use an audio interface, our audio interface setup guide covers drivers and connections. If your mic needs phantom power, switch on the 48V button on your interface — see what is phantom power.

Step 2: Create an audio track

1. Start a new Empty Project.
2. When prompted to choose a track type, select the microphone / audio track (the one with the mic icon), not software instrument.
3. In the track’s input settings on the left, choose the correct input channel — input 1 for a single mic on most interfaces.

Step 3: Set your recording level

Good levels are the foundation of a clean vocal. Adjust the gain on your audio interface (not in GarageBand) while you sing at full performance volume. Aim for peaks around -12 to -6 dBFS, leaving headroom so the loudest words never hit 0 and clip. If you only have the GarageBand input slider, set the interface gain so the meter sits in that range. Proper levels here are part of good gain staging.

Step 4: Turn on input monitoring

Click the small monitoring icon on the track header so you can hear yourself through headphones while recording. Always use closed-back headphones, never speakers, to stop the backing track bleeding into the mic. If you hear an echo or delay, your buffer size is too high — lower it in Settings > Audio to reduce audio latency.

Step 5: Position the mic and record

Set the mic roughly a hand’s width from your mouth, slightly off-axis, with a pop filter in between to control plosives. Microphone distance shapes your tone and proximity bass — the principles in microphone placement for vocals apply in any DAW. When ready, move the playhead to where you want to start and press the red Record button (or the R key). Record several full takes rather than chasing one perfect pass.

Step 6: Comp, edit and add effects

GarageBand can capture multiple takes in one region. Click the take folder in the top-left of the region to switch between takes and pick the best phrases. Once you have your comp:

• Trim silence and breaths by splitting regions (Command-T) and deleting unwanted parts.
• Open the track’s Smart Controls to add EQ, compression and reverb, or load a vocal preset as a starting point.
• Use a gentle compressor to even out the level and a touch of reverb for space.

For a real mixing approach rather than presets, follow how to mix vocals and the EQ and compression fundamentals.

Quick tips for better GarageBand vocals

• Record at the highest sample rate you can manage in Settings > Audio for the cleanest source.
• Treat the room a little — even a duvet behind you tames reflections. See acoustic treatment for home studios.
• Keep takes consistent in distance and volume so editing is easy.

For the wider workflow beyond GarageBand, our general guide to recording vocals at home and the recording techniques hub go deeper.

Frequently asked questions

Can I record vocals in GarageBand with a USB mic?

Yes. Plug the USB mic in, then select it as the input device in GarageBand > Settings > Audio and on the audio track. You will not need phantom power, since USB mics are powered over USB.

Why is there a delay when I sing into GarageBand?

That delay is latency from a high buffer size. Lower the buffer in Settings > Audio while recording, and turn monitoring back off when you do not need to hear yourself live.

How do I stop my vocals from sounding distorted?

Distortion almost always means your level is too hot. Reduce the gain on your interface so peaks stay around -12 to -6 dBFS, well below the 0 dB clipping point.