Is there any way to export garageband files at a higher quality?

i second that question.

What are your import settings in iTunes set at?

There are no solutions. GB exports 44.1K, 16-bit AIFF files. That's it B-(>

troubleshooting brainstorm:

if you have an input/output device, you could do a live to tape mixdown out of garageband. that would warm things up considerably. (actually, you could do this from the headphones out, too)

if tape is not an option, you might be able to work with the film's editor and see if they have any gear 1) that you could mix into, or 2) that could warm up the soundfile post-mix -- mastering software like toast/jam could do that.

also, check your itunes equalizer - maybe it's set to "talk radio" or something!

please post your results/fix/work-around. very interested.

brandon

I changed my itunes import settings, but it didn't
make any difference.

Just for completeness so no one else gets frustrated trying to change an iTunes setting: iTunes has nothing to do with the quality of a GB export, changing its Import setting, as you found, has no affect. GB exports 44.1K, 16-Bit AIFF files, there is no current way to change that.

Your Logic solution was a good one, and the only way to create Higher Resolution Audio files with with a GB project (Logic Pro and Express are the only apps that can open a GB project). --Hang

While Garageband is limited to 16bits as Hangtime mentioned, you can improve the export by making sure all your levels are as high as possible without clipping. This decreases the amount of noticeable quality loss when GB converts the file down to 16bit. Each track should be in the upper green to red level and the main mix as high as possible. Use compression/limiting to keep the levels from clipping.

Kurt

I'm having a similar problem to the original post in this thread. Most of my exports are fine, however: One song has a strong low G on the guitar (acoustic) which sounds great in Garageband and buzzes after the export. I'm not clipping and my iTunes eq is off. I notice that the export is louder than the original, but the sound quality still ***** even with the volume in iTunes turned down, and is fine with Garageband cranked. Since my input is 44.1/16bit and my export is the same, I shouldn't be losing quality, yet the loss is obvious.

Any help would be appreciated.

Jason

OK, so someone suggested having levels set as high as possible without clipping, which is what I've always read, but I solved my problem by lowering the master volume some before exporting. I don't know why it is coming out louder in iTunes than GB, but it is evidently related to the problem.

Jason

I don't know why it is coming out louder in iTunes than GB,

iTunes has the optional Equalizer. Try turning the Equalizer off or set it to 'flat'.

To me, the most difficult part of the process is the mix. What I have done is to set up my eq setting in iTunes to give the best sound on a professional recording. In other words, take a recording that sounds well done and use it as your standard for your eq setting in iTunes. Then, when you mix down your Garageband session adjust the Master track eq until it sounds good in iTunes. If it is too heavy on the bass take a little bass off. If the treble clips, take some treble off. If it is too harsh work on the mid range. I find Garaband's simple EQ effect quite useful for mixing, especially the mid range slider.

I also listen to my mix on my boombox, car stereo and iTunes and keep fine tuning it until it sounds good on all of them.

Turning the mix down will avoid clipping, which is a very nasty sound in digital recording, but you will lose more quality when Garageband mixes down to 16 bit. The trick is to keep the mix high without clipping.

Kurt

I'm having a problem too (and I might actually start a thread for this).

When I export a GB project to iTunes, the audio gets compressed. This is in addition to compression I put in the signal going into the original recording, and it sounds terrible.

I used GB to mix several tracks for a podcast: a piano track and two spoken-word vocal tracks. One of these tracks was a studio-recorded voiceover which had compression put on the signal going in. The other was a sermon recorded in a church service.

I used GB to put in overlaps and fades, and got it where I liked the sound in GB.

When I export to iTunes and then play it back there, it sounds as if really hard compression has been added.

I'm importing to iTunes as an AIFF file, and EQ is flat. The exported tracks are nowhere close to clipping. (I'm a pretty experienced podcaster, but I am relatively new to GB.)

Any ideas?

Dave

(See other thread.)