How to create loops

1 Region ready

To start, you’ll want Garageband launched with a project open that has at least one track that contains an unbroken, unedited audio region you want to make a loop out of.

2 Cycle mode

Toggle on the Cycle mode via its button next to the record button in the control bar, or with the ‘C’ key. This shows a yellow strip-like cycle area within the project ruler.

3 Cycle area

Click and drag this yellow cycle area so it covers the whole region you wish to loop or just a desired section, grabbing the left or right edge to extend or reduce it.

4 Preview part

Mute any other tracks where desired before pressing the Play button or the space key. Tweak the cycle area into a position that produces a seamlessly repeated section.

5 Drag start

With loop section now found, we can edit most simply by resizing the region. Move the cursor over the lower left edge and drag right to match the start of the cycle area.

6 Drag end

Similarly, we can now edit the end point of our loop by hovering the cursor over the lower right edge of the region and dragging in left to match the end of the cycle area.

7 Loop icon

Perfectly cycled loop now isolated, toggle off the cycle area. Move the region along the track as required and hover the cursor over the top-right edge to see a loop icon.

8 Extending out

Now click and drag out the region along the track to extend the loop over however many bars. Notice the ridge points denoting the start and end of each loop section.

9 Iterative editing

Finally, preview playback to ensure the looped region is seamless. If not, drag it back in and repeat the trim editing from steps five and six until it cycles correctly.