In this guide
To shorten an edge, select the audio region and drag its edge. To remove a middle section, split at both boundaries, delete the unwanted region and check the join. Export a separate audio file after editing.
To cut audio in GarageBand, select the audio region and either drag an edge to trim it or split it at the playhead to create separate regions. To remove a section in the middle, split at both ends of that section, delete the unwanted region, and listen to the transition. Save your project and export an audio file when the edit is ready.
GarageBand uses different controls on Mac and iPhone. A split changes the arrangement in the project; it does not automatically create separate downloadable files or isolate a voice from music already mixed together.
Choose the edit you need
| Goal | Starting action | Check afterward |
|---|---|---|
| Remove the beginning or end | Trim the left or right edge of the audio region. | The first word, last sound and any reverb tail remain intact. |
| Remove a mistake in the middle | Split on both sides and delete the middle region. | Whether a gap is intentional and whether the join clicks. |
| Move one part independently | Split once and move the resulting region. | Timing against other tracks or video. |
| Save a playable file | Export or share the song as audio. | The selected range, other active tracks and the actual exported file. |
Cut audio in GarageBand on Mac
If the source is not in your project yet, follow how to import audio into GarageBand first.
- Open the project and locate the region. Import or record audio, then select the region in the Tracks area. Keep the original file and save a project copy if you may want to undo the edit later.
- Trim an edge. Move the pointer to a region edge and drag it inward to shorten the visible region. Zoom in to inspect the beginning or ending; Apple's GarageBand for Mac guide covers selecting and resizing regions.
- Split at a point. Select the region, move the playhead to the cut, and choose Edit → Split Regions at Playhead. Only regions selected at the playhead should be affected, so check the selection first.
- Remove a middle section. Split again at its other boundary, select the unwanted region and delete it. If you move the later region left to close the gap, check the timing of other tracks before doing so.
- Listen and export. Play across both cuts and the ending. Use Share → Export Song to Disk, choose a format and range, then play the exported file outside the project.
Apple's GarageBand export example shows selecting a region and choosing an export range. Check whether the cycle area or selected-region length is used in your project; a project save is not a standalone audio export.
Cut audio in GarageBand on iPhone
- Open Tracks view. Open your song and select the audio region you want to edit. If importing a long file, Apple says the song section should be set to Automatic to import the entire file; otherwise only the portion that fits may be imported.
- Trim an edge. Tap the region, then drag the left or right edge of its frame. For a looped region, Apple says to tap it again and choose Trim before dragging.
- Split a region. Tap it to select, tap again and choose Split. Drag the scissors marker left or right to the cut, then drag it down to make the split.
- Delete an unwanted segment. Repeat the split at the other boundary, select the middle region, tap it again and choose Delete. Listen to the remaining material before moving regions.
- Share a playable file. Return to the My Songs browser, touch and hold the song, then choose Share → Song. Choose audio quality and save the file using the available sharing options. Play the saved result.
Apple documents the iPhone trim and split gestures, import length and Song export. Menus can differ by version. Apple's VoiceOver instructions provide accessible alternatives for selecting, trimming and splitting regions.
Make the cut sound natural
Listen just before and after each cut at a comfortable level. In speech, avoid removing the start of a consonant or the end of a breath. In music, check the beat and any sustained note. A small fade can soften a click, but it cannot fix a missing word or incorrect timing. The GarageBand fade guide covers track automation and song-end fades.
Deleting a middle segment can leave a gap. Closing it changes the timing of everything after the cut; if the audio must match a video or another track, preserve or deliberately adjust that alignment. Keep an untouched original and check the exported file at both ends.
Trim a short file outside GarageBand
For a single excerpt rather than a multi-track edit, the Saturalabs audio trimmer handles supported mono or stereo MP3 and WAV files up to five minutes and 50 MiB locally. Select the start and end, choose WAV or MP3, prepare and preview the result, then download it. It does not edit a GarageBand project or remove multiple middle sections in one pass.
Common questions
Does splitting an audio region split vocals from music?
No. A timeline split divides the region by time. Any voice and instruments already mixed in the source remain together in each piece.
Why is the export longer than the part I kept?
Check the selected export range, cycle area, other tracks and song length. Listen to the actual export rather than assuming the visible region alone determined its duration.
Can I restore the audio I trimmed?
GarageBand edits regions in a project, but recovery depends on the action and project state. Use Undo when available and retain the original source and a project copy; do not rely on an exported file to contain the discarded material.