Quick Tip: Page (1) of 1 - 08/19/06

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Whenever you install GarageBand, or the numerous Jam Packs available from Apple, the primary hard drive is the only option available.  This can quickly lead to a hard drive full of files that may not be used that often.  Since there is no other option available for storing these loops during the install, what is a budding musician or podcaster to do?

As great as the Apple Jam Packs are, they take up an incredible amount of space on my hard drive.  Each Jam Pack can take up to 5GB apiece, and with 80GB of space on my MacBook Pro, potentially using/losing 20GB for loops is a hard nut to swallow.  The solution is to move the loops to another drive, and the steps are so simple, you?ll be jumping for joy.

Step 1:  Install your loops as directed.  The instrument files are not that large, so they can stay on your primary hard drive.  It?s the loops - the .aiff files specifically, that are taking up all the room on your drive.

Step 2:  Depending on your loop library collection, the files will be installed in either Macintosh HD>Library>Application Support>GarageBand>Apple Loops or Macintosh HD>Library>Audio>Apple Loops.

Step 3:  Drag the loops to your external hard drive.  When the transfer is complete, delete the files from the primary drive.

Step 4:  Launch GarageBand, open the Loop Browser, and drag the folders from the external hard drive into the browser.  A pop up will appear asking if you want to copy the files to the Apple Loops folder or use them from the current location. 

Select Current Location.

Step 5:  When complete, select a loop from the Loop Browser window.  You should get a pop up telling you it needs to re-index the library to use the file.  Go ahead and do that.  It can take a couple of minutes depending on how many files need indexing.

When finished, you will have access to all of the loops on your external drive, and have freed up precious space on your primary hard drive.

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