A tutorial for Garageband users that want to move their song to REAPER.

Learn the trick to exporting stems from Garageband using the track lock/freeze function.

1 – set project end marker
2 – track menu: configure track header, enable lock button
3 – click lock button on each track
4 – PLAY – Garageband will begin freezing all tracks (rendering audio files)
5 – save project
6 – Find Garageband project in Finder (usually in username/Music)
7 – Right-click on project, choose “Show package contents”
8 – in media folder, find “freeze files no sync” – this is the rendered audio
9 – copy this audio to a folder for the REAPER project
10 – Name audio files
11 – import audio
12 – adjust item volume for headroom

Garageband really doesn’t make it easy and you lose a lot in this process. Your mix will likely sound very different
– no automation
– track volume not applied to audio
– master volume not applied
– no master fx like reverb
– track names not used for rendered audio

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5 responses to “How to transfer a Garageband project to REAPER”

  1. Bryan Avatar

    Awesome tutorial as usual! Can this process be done for Garage Band on the iPad? Didn’t know if you could do the same thing and share the files. I only ask because I have GB on the iPad and Reaper on the PC. Thanks!!

  2. Daniel Avatar

    When it’s all said and done, is there any drawback to rendering the files from GB (as wav)? It might take longer on the front end, but you’re printing FX, automation and volume adjustments. Just mute all other tracks and render one at a time. Thanks for all the great videos and info.

    1. Klemens Avatar
      Klemens

      That’s a really good question. Have you tried to simply do that and import the rendered wav to reaper? Did it work well?

  3. Bryan Avatar
    Bryan

    Great video! Worked like a charm! Thanks!

  4. Bill Butt Avatar

    Thanks for the video…I was successful in exporting my GB project over to Reaper…cheers

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