Garageband

Use the Audio MIDI Setup utility in macos to create amalgamated input sources

•Learn how to set up aggregate input and output devices

We’ve highlighted previously Garageband’s ability to capture multiple sound signals from various inputs simultaneously. This concept of ‘multi-tracking’ allows you to cue several tracks before recording microphone vocals and guitar inputs etc at once. However, Garageband only allows for a single audio input and output source to be universally selected, so how do we select multiple ones? Well first, it requires the creation of what’s called an ‘Aggregate Device’ within a macos system utility called Audio MIDI Setup. Here you can amalgamate several available subdevices into a single one for Garageband selection, with constituent inputs assignable independently across tracks. In this guide we reveal how this is achieved by hopping between Audio MIDI Setup and Garageband itself to explain the process.

Creating an Aggregate Device allows you to record from several input sources into one Garageband selection…