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Garageband IOS: How To Move Your Projects To Mac OS X

Like most musicians, inspiration usually strikes me at the most awkward moments.

 

I’ve lost count of the number of dead cert hit singles (honest…) and killer vocal lines i’ve cooked up while lying in bed, at work or when visiting the family…. and forgotten before I could get them even roughly recorded.

 

I’m sure you’ve been there too, right?

 

Luckily all that changed when the Garageband app for IOS came along…

I love the flexibility of Garageband on the iPhone/iPad. Having a mini recording studio in my pocket means that wherever I am and whatever I’m doing – when that flash of inspiration strikes, i’m able to capture and record those fickle melodies, fleeting tunes and sneaky beats whenever they pop into my head.

 

There often comes a point however, when I go as far as i can with the Garageband App and want to take my project a bit further – give it the full on Garageband ’11 treatment, you know?

 

Luckily, it’s easy enough to transfer your Garageband projects from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac.

 

 

How To Transfer Your Garageband IOS Projects To Mac OS X

 

 

 Step 1

 

How To Use Garageband IOS #3

 

In your Garageband IOS project window, hit the arrow in the top right corner and select ‘My Songs’ from the drop down menu.

Hold down on the song you want to transfer to your Mac for a second – you’ll know you’ve done it right when your song icons start to shake – don’t worry, they’re not scared. They’re just really excited about what’s to come……

 

 

Step 2

 

How To Use Garageband IOS #1

 

Hit the share icon in the top left hand corner of the screen to bring up this menu. From here, select ‘Share song via iTunes’.

 

 

Step 3

 

How To use Garageband IOS

 

You’ll then be greeted by this screen. Choose to send your song to iTunes as a Garageband file.

 

 

Step 4

 

How To Use Garageband OS X

 

Now, connect your iPhone/iPad to the Mac you intend to transfer it to, then open iTunes and select your device from the sidebar. From here, click ‘Apps’ from the device’s menu bar.

 

 

Step 5

 

Garageband Tutorial

 

Scroll down to your selection of file sharing apps and select Garageband from the list.   The project you sent to iTunes will be visible in the list to the right – select it, choose ‘Save To…’ and plonk it wherever you see fit.

 

 

Step 6

 

Garageband IOS Tutorial

 

From here, it’s simply a case of opening your transferred project the same way you would any normal Garageband project, though if you haven’t already, you’ll have to download an IOS compatability update before you’re able to dive in.

 

 

Success!

 

There you have it – transfer your Garageband IOS Projects over to Garageband ’11 in 6 easy steps.

 

This article was inspired by the lovely Rosa Naccarato’s query on The Garageband Guide Facebook Page, where she was wondering how to transfer a Garageband project from her iPad to her son’s Mac.

 

Got a Garageband question that needs answering? Come and post in on Facebook – I answer every single one as best I can!

Show Comments (57)
  1. There’s another way to do it using iCloud – you save the ipad version of the song to iCloud and grab it from the Macbook’s iCloud media file in the ‘Library’ folder.

    Your way seems much easier though.

    1. You’re absolutely right Jon and I almost included it as an alternative method in this post, but as you pointed out, this method is just plain easier!

      1. I don’t see this folder. Where is it supposed to be? At the top level :
        Macintosh HD / Library / iCloud ??

        thx

        1. Hi Brent,

          You first need to sync the projects to iCloud, you’ll then find them in Library > Mobile Documents Folder.

      2. Nice tutorial but I must say, I believe Jon’s way is much easier actually. As well, you then have all of your projects on the cloud. For me not having to connect in anyway is always easier.

  2. Good !

    Unfortunately, it seems that the reverse isn’t actually possible. I’s not possible to move your GB projects from Mac to iPad because of a compatibility trouble with the file format (in particular the projectData.xml file from the package).

    1. Hi,this is not the case, there are videos showing a Mac Garageband to iPad, Iphone and iPod Touch Garageband on a site on you tube.

      There are links in the description to go to the website to request full working trial copies. The guy has even solved the problem with manual conversion that the Mac Garageband software instruments turn into stupid piano voice, he’s created his own version that map perfectly. Its worth watch the whole video.

      What amazing is he’s showing the instruments, and casually converting Mac song to ipad and back in seconds.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHNRILXGEH4&feature=c4-overview&list=UUa7OD3xhZ0Xbb2aUSuIQujw

      there are around 8 videos.

      Cheers CF

  3. This made life very easy for me. Thanks Patrick

    PS I tried to FB like the page and all I got was the “redirecting” window that then disappeared. Not sure if it’s an issue. Might pay to get someone more used to FB to try!

    1. If you are just using the iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch as a Garageband digital sound recorder. You can just reduce the tempo.

      If you are currently recording 90 mins at 120 BPM, then if you half the tempo you should theoretically double the recording time or it may by possibly more. You could also play about with the time signature although I’m not convinced it will make a difference.

      Hope this helps

      fixed1t

  4. Wow! A brilliant blog! Patrick! I always sent eacht track to my email! Which meant muting all the tracks except the one to export!! Urgh! Awfull and time consuming!! Your tip is cream!! This has bugged me for over a year!!

  5. I was wondering, can I share my iOS project with another person’s iOS by moving it to a Mac through iTunes and sending the iOS .band file to them? Can they then move this iOS format .band to their iOS device?

    1. I’m not sure John – theoretically I suppose it could be done using iTunes’ File Sharing area… I’d definitely give it a try though – keep me informed of how you get on?

      1. YES! It works! I can put a .band project on a Mac through iTunes, rename it and put it back on my own iPhone. This should mean that you can send a copy of your iOS .band project to another person as long as I you don’t convert it to a Mac project!

  6. Hey there Patrick.

    I am working on a project which i started on my iphone. Then i sent it to iCloud and started using on my mac.

    But here’s come a problem i can’t resolve… can i keep the same project fed on my mac and my iphone at the same time? I mean, can i be working on this project in my mac, and then i have to go somewhere where i just have my iphone and i still want to work on my project. All the changes that i made on my mac are not being fed on my iphone..

    How can i resolve it?

    Thanks a lot

    1. Hey Ricardo. While you can easily convert your iPhone projects into GB 10, there’s (at present) no way to convert the other way, unfortunately 🙁

  7. Hi,
    I have Garageband projects on 3 different iMacs and now on an iPod touch.
    My iPod touch has great instruments and capability.
    How can I open my old Garageband projects on my New iPod touch?

  8. Got the file on the Mac but can’t open it in garageband.Window pops up saying it needs to be opened with iLife preview.Click Ok,nothing happens.I can’t find the app you show for Compatibility download.Found a reference on GarageBand Apple but can’t get the actual download

  9. thanks for this. just curious though. Garage band for mac OS X is only at version 10.0.03 as of oct 2014. there is no garage band 11 as you state. Do you know something I don’t?

    1. The ’11 in Garageband ’11 refers to the year it was released – it came packadged with the iLife 2011 softwared bundle that also had iMovie and other programs. When Apple released Garageband 10, Garageband 2011 became Garageband 6.0.5, which is how it’s known now. Very confusing, no idea why Apple did it that way… :/

  10. Hi!

    This made my day, until I hade this little problem….

    When I’m doing the IOS compatability update the download is going nice and easy, until it’s time for the installation.
    It just stops after 3/4 of the installation and doesn’t go any further. Just says “installing” and I can’t even close Garageband.

    Kind of a beginner of this so if there is any solution on this i would be thankful!

  11. The re got past the compatibility update. It won’t finish. Been trying for days. Updated iTunes, MacBook OS X, garage band for Mac and iOS. Seems like others are having the same issue. I figured updating all my software would fix it. Nope. Anyone know how to get thru this??

  12. I moved my files form iOS to my mac successfully but when I try to open them, it pops a compatibility update and starts to download it, and after it is done, it says it can not be installed and have to try again, so I CAN NOT OPEN MY FILES. I have done this like ten times and it´s always the same. WHAT CAN I DO?????? HELP!!!!!!!

  13. I ran across this today and have one question, I am not getting the “share to itunes” on my ipod touch – and I am not sure why. Trying just to email myself a copy of my song, we will see if that works – thanks!

  14. Hi, when I try to do this, the compatibility update appears in a popup but it will not work, it just doesn’t start downloading no matter what you do. Do you know if this update is available anywhere else? It’s not in the App Store.

    Thanks

  15. Thank you sooooo much !
    I’ve been using GarageBand on IOS for more than a year and when i finally got my computer I was so upset to be unable to transfer those files to my computer… Thanks again 😀

  16. Hi , I followed all your steps…fantastic . Then i have to download the latest version of garageband. I reluctantly do but as its almost finished the edownload it says” u
    nable to complete download refer to itunes store ?… HELLLLP
    🙂

  17. Hi.
    When I move a GarageBand project from iPad to Mac book pro via iTunes it keeps duplicating itself every time I open it in GarageBand on the Mac, anyone knows why and what to do?

  18. I have a 43 minute GarageBand Podcast that I’m trying to Export (Share) to my computers iTunes. I’m using a relatively old MacBook (2008 with OS X 10.7.5), but everything has worked great to this point. The project is ready, and now I want to get it in my iTunes (hopefully load it to a Blog at some point).

    When I start the ‘Share’ as an MP3 compressed file the progress bar just swirls at me. There appears to be no progress, the computer still runs normally, but nothing happens. I’ve left it for about 1 hour now. No change…?

    What can I do?

  19. What if the iPad and Mac are separated by 1000’s of miles lol?

    I’m trying to work long-distance with a partner, he has the iPad and I have the Mac.

    Can the song data be uploaded from the iPad, and then downloaded to the Mac? Via iTunes? Need to use the same iTunes login account probably?

  20. So if I want to send the song to someone else, can they log into my iTunes, or can I send to someone else’s iTunes?

    THANKS!! 🙂

  21. Thanks! You are the first site I’ve found that shows you the critical step of sharing via iTunes. I’ve been looking in the file sharing area and never seeing my projects. Finally I can do the final edits on something other than my iPad.

  22. Dear Patrick,
    The above is all very interesting but is it possible to export an unfinished project with say 10 -12 open tracks consisting of software files and real instrument/ voice files from one MacBook to another MacBook so that somebody else can continue working on the same music project.That means that
    all files must land on the second MacBook totally accessible and in the exact format as the original.
    Thanks in advance for any great ideas.

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