Short answer: set the cycle region over the whole song, then solo each track and use Share > Export Song to Disk as 24-bit WAV, one track at a time. Every stem should start at the same point and peak below -6 dBFS.
In this article, you’ll learn how to share GarageBand projects.
To do this properly, you need to export individual tracks from your session for mixing.
Start by opening your project and saving a new version using File > Save As. Add “for mixing” to the project name to keep your original session unchanged.
Now prepare your session for export.
1. Name your tracks clearly.
Use simple, descriptive names like “Kick”, “Snare”, “Vocal_Lead”. Avoid default names like “Track 01” or “Audio_1”.
2. Prepare and clean up the project.
Ensure vocals are properly tuned and instruments are in time. Major Mixing offers tuning, timing, and sample replacement services if needed.
If you have layered takes of the same part, consolidate them into one track. For lead vocals, separate by section:
- Lead_Verse
- Lead_Chorus
- Lead_Bridge
3. Bypass unnecessary effects.
Turn off EQ, compression, and reverb unless essential to your sound. If needed, duplicate a track and export both dry and wet versions (e.g., “Guitar_Dry” and “Guitar_Wet”).
4. Check levels and headroom.
Make sure none of the tracks are clipping. Adjust volumes so that the peaks do not exceed -6 dB on the master output. This gives the mix engineer enough headroom to work with.
5. Make sure your cycle selection covers the whole song.
In the timeline area, activate the yellow cycle region and stretch it to cover the entire length of your track.
Now you are ready to export individual tracks in GarageBand.
- Solo the first track.
- Go to Share > Export Song to Disk.
- Create a new folder for your exports. Name it after your song and include the BPM (e.g. “MySong_85BPM”).
- In the export window:
- Choose WAV as the file format.
- Select 24-bit for audio quality.
- Use the track name in the Save As field.
- Press Export.
- Repeat this process: solo the next track, export it, and save it with the correct name. Do this for each track in your session.
When done:
Import all exported tracks into a new GarageBand project to verify that they’re aligned and complete.
Finally, zip your folder and upload it to MajorMixing when placing your order.
| Setting | What to send | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| File format | WAV or AIFF | Never MP3. Lossy files are already missing information a mix engineer would otherwise have to work around. |
| Bit depth | 24-bit | Gives plenty of resolution below the noise floor. Going to 16-bit throws that away for no benefit. |
| Sample rate | Same as your session | 44.1 or 48 kHz is fine — just don’t convert. Resampling on export adds artefacts nobody asked for. |
| Start point | Bar 1 / timeline zero | Every stem the same length from the same start, so the whole set drops in and lines up without editing. |
| Peak level | Below -6 dBFS | Leaves headroom to work with. Clipped stems cannot be repaired later. |
| Master bus | Bypassed | Any limiter or compressor on the 2-bus prints onto every stem and cannot be undone. |
| Track effects | Bypassed unless integral | Amp sims, special delays and tuned effects are part of the sound — send those as both a dry and a wet version. |
| Naming | Descriptive | “Kick”, “Lead_Verse”, “Gtr_1_Dry”. Not “Audio_07”. Clear names save hours on a large session. |
| Also include | Tempo and key | A one-line text file with BPM, key and any tempo changes prevents a lot of guesswork. |
This is the spec our engineers ask for on every project. Getting it right the first time is usually the difference between a mix starting today and a mix starting after a round of re-exports.
Exporting this session for a mix? Send it to us instead of fighting it yourself: professional mixing and mastering from $133 per song, 2–3 days per song, 6 revision rounds included. Full prices are on the pricing page.
Exporting stems from GarageBand — FAQ
Can GarageBand export all tracks at once?
No — GarageBand has no batch stem export, so you solo each track and use Share > Export Song to Disk one at a time. Set the cycle region to the whole song first, so every file comes out the same length.
Should I send stems or the whole GarageBand project?
Stems, in almost every case. Audio files open anywhere, with no missing plugins and no version mismatch. A project file only helps if the engineer runs the same DAW with the same plugin set, and even then it slows the start of the work.
What do I do with virtual instruments and MIDI?
Print them to audio before you export. A MIDI track is not a stem — it’s an instruction for a plugin that may not exist on the other end. Render each instrument to its own audio track, then export that.
Should volume automation be rendered into the stems?
Yes. The rides you’ve already made are part of the performance, not a mistake to be undone, so we ask for them printed. What should stay off is master bus processing and anything added just to make the rough mix listenable.
My session is 96 kHz. Should I convert it down first?
No. Export at the session rate and leave conversion to the end of the chain. Sample rate conversion is one more process between your recording and the finished master, and there’s no reason to spend it before mixing has started.
How do I send the files once they’re exported?
Zip the folder and upload it with your order. Name the folder with the song title and BPM — for example “MySong_92BPM”. If the archive is large, a cloud link works just as well; what matters is that all the stems arrive together.
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