10.8. Reduce the Track Overhead

Every time you create a new GarageBand project file, the program allots some memory to hold a certain number of tracks. (The exact number depends on the speed of your Mac and how much memory is installed.)

But if you intend to create nothing but a single-line kazoo recording, that's a lot of memory being set aside that could be used for other purposes like keeping up with playback.

That's why, as soon as you know how many total tracks your piece will have, you should choose GarageBand Preferences, click the Advanced tab, and change the Maximum Number of Tracks pop-up menus (Figure 10-4, bottom).

You're telling the program: "I intend to use no more than eight Software Instrument tracks and eight Real Instrument tracks" (or whatever), "so please put whatever additional memory you were holding back into the pot. I could use it right about now."