How to adjust track volume in GarageBand on Mac, iPad, and iPhone

When you’re making music in GarageBand, you’re mixing regions and tracks to create your song. Whether you’re using vocals or instruments, not every track needs to have the same volume. You might want an instrument to play subtly in the background while emphasizing vocals, for example. Or you may want the volume of a track to increase and decrease at certain points.

Here’s how to adjust the track volume in GarageBand on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

Adjust track volume in GarageBand

Adjust volume for an entire track on Mac

If you want to change the volume for an entire track in GarageBand on Mac, open your song and follow these steps:

1) Select the track in the track list on the left.

2) Move the Volume slider right or left to increase or decrease the volume.

GarageBand Adjust Track Volume Mac

If you have automations in your song, you can click the Show Automations button at the top of the track list (or click Mix > Show Automation from the top), select Volume in the drop-down box for the track, and move the slider.

Alternatively, you can click in the middle of the track in the workspace. You’ll see a yellow line indicating the volume. Click at a point and drag it up or down to adjust the volume. You can see the line turn white, and the decibels change as you do this.

GarageBand Change Track Volume Mac

Adjust volume throughout a track

You may want a track to increase in volume for only certain parts and decrease for others. You can add automation points to change the volume throughout a track:

1) Click the Show Automations button if needed to expand the track options on the left. You can also click Mix > Show Automation from the top.

2) Choose your track in the list and make sure Volume is selected in the drop-down box.

3) Click in the middle of the track in the workspace to display the yellow Volume line.

4) Double-click to set the first volume point and then drag up or down to increase or decrease the volume. Continue the same process to adjust the volume throughout the track.

GarageBand Adjust Volume Points Mac

Adjust volume for an entire track on iPhone or iPad

If you want to change the volume for an entire track in GarageBand on iOS, open your song and do the following:

1) Tap the Track Settings button on the top left (before the FX button).

2) Select the track in the workspace and then adjust the Track Volume on the left using the slider.

GarageBand Adjust Track Volume iPad

Adjust volume throughout a track

Like on Mac, you can adjust the volume throughout a track by using automation points. Here’s how:

1) Swipe right on the left side to open the Track Headers.

2) Tap the track (on the left Track Headers side) and then tap once more to open the shortcut menu and select Automation.

GarageBand Automation Points iPad

3) Swipe to unlock the pencil icon on the top left; it will turn red. Alternatively, you can hold down the pencil icon with one hand as you make your changes with the other.

4) Tap the track in the workspace to add an automation point and then drag up or down to increase or decrease the volume. Continue the same process to adjust the volume throughout the track.

5) Tap Done when you finish.

GarageBand Adjust Volume Points iPad

Adjusting the volume for your tracks in GarageBand is another important piece to your musical puzzle. So be sure to remember these how-tos for making those changes.

Useful GarageBand tutorials: