How To Copy and Paste In Logic Pro

In this post, I'm going to teach you how to copy and paste in Logic Pro.

This a function that I probably use more than a hundred times in any production session that I'm working on. Learning how to copy and paste quickly will save you time, making you more productive, and in general, a happier producer.

Copying and pasting is one of the most essential tools you’ll use in Logic Pro and I have good news for you; there are multiple ways we can copy and paste! Each way has their own benefits to your workflow. These are the three most popular ways to copy and paste in Logic Pro and I will go over them in detail with examples.

1. Command C and V

2. Option Drag

3. Command R

Command C and V

As in most applications on Apple computers, the key command for copying is “command C”. 

When it comes to pasting. The key command for pasting is "command V".

By the way, the command key looks like this on your mac keyboard: ⌘. As shown below.

In order to copy and paste in Logic Pro with this function, you'll need to make sure whatever data you’d like to copy is highlighted. When you paste, make sure the track you’d like to paste on is highlighted and that the playhead is in the location where you want to paste. See photos below.

In the picture above, notice that Audio 1 is the highlighted track. On this track, there is one highlight region. Let's assume you'd like to past the highlighted region on track Audio 2. Therefore, highlight track Audio 2, as shown in the picture below. Next, move the playhead to the specific point where you would like the region to be pasted.

Whenever you have moved the playhead to the right position that you'd like to paste the region, click "command V". Voila, you've now copy and pasted in Logic Pro!

Option Drag

The option drag function to copy and paste in Logic Pro is the workflow that I use most often. I believe it to be the fastest, in most cases. However, you'll also notice the command R workflow (in the coming section) is quite fast too.

To copy and paste in Logic Pro with the option drag function, we will be using the option key on your mac keyboard. The option key looks like this: ⌥. As shown below.

In order to copy, hold down the “option” key and drag the data you’d like to paste.

Make sure you’re holding “option” until you finish moving the data you’d like to copy and paste. See photos below.

The "green plus" is a feedback signal to make sure you're aware that you're continuing to hold option. If you don't see the green plus then you are not holding option.

You can execute the click with a trackpad or mouse, both work equally the same.

You can also take this copy and paste method one step further and copy groups of regions. For example, let's say you have an entire chorus that you've been producing in Logic Pro but you'd like to copy and paste it to the next chorus section of your song.

Highlight all the regions in the chorus, hold option, click and drag all the regions to another section.

In the picture above, take note of how many regions I've copied. I can paste all of these regions anywhere I'd like too. The best part is, everything will be copied in time. Therefore, if you paste the regions where the chorus begins, all the pasted regions will be relatively adjusted in time together from as you copied them.

I can't stress the importance of this workflow if you'd like to learn Logic Pro faster, it's included in one of my main workflow pillars in my 6 steps to learning Logic Pro faster. Once you do this workflow enough, it will second nature to you.

Command R

As I mentioned in the section above, another copy and paste function I use quite regularly is the command R function. The R stands for repeat and when you execute this function Logic will immediately repeat regions or groups of regions. 

In order to execute this copy and paste function in Logic Pro, you must have a region or group regions highlighted. As soon as you press “command R” it will paste an identical region directly after your original region. The same thing goes for groups of regions too.

In the picture above, take note that the region is exactly 1 bar in length. Therefore, you can repeat the region back to back (very similar to looping) by executing "command R". Keep in mind that using this function makes a copy and pastes it directly after the region. In the picture above, this works perfectly because everything is 1 bar in length.

If your original region is timed poorly and not equally on the grid, this could present problems as soon as you start doing command R.

If this doesn't make sense while reading, no problem, watch me implement the command R function with this copy and paste tutorial.

Automation Data

This may have come up before and you've been puzzled why it's not working. Remember in the section above, when I showed you a picture of copying an entire chorus section with multiple regions?

Let's assume I created a ton of automation happening behind the scenes. For example, some EQ automation, or some volume automation. If you copy and paste groups of regions their automation data will not be copied over. This sucks because we have to create all the automation over from scratch.

Kidding! Did you think Logic was that dumb? Of course not.

If you want your automation data to be copied and pasted with your regions, you'll have to turn this setting on. Go to:

Logic Pro > Preferences > Automation

Make sure “move track automation with regions” is set to always.

Now let me throw a curve ball at you. Let's say you didn't copy and paste a region but you still want to copy and paste some automation data. For example, let's say you have a nice sound channel EQ automation at the introduction to your song that you'd like to have copied over to the outro of your song. Let's do this in the pictures below.

Highlight the automation with your mouse by creating a box around your automation points that you'd like to move. This selects the automation. Be sure that you also have your track selected. Take note of that in the picture below.

When you have the automation selected, execute the function "command C". Once you do so, the automation data is now saved behind the scenes in your clipboard.

Next step, is to move the played to wherever you'd like the automation to be pasted. In our case, the outro to the song. Therefore, move the played and also still make sure that the right track is selected. If not, the automation data will be pasted on another track. Take note of this in the picture below.

Can You Copy And Paste MIDI Data Too?

Yes, you absolutely can. The best part is, everything we've discussed in this post on how to copy and paste in Logic Pro can be executed in the midi editor.

Let's say you have a midi pattern, like the picture below, but you'd rather not draw out more midi notes to extend the entire section of your song. No problem, you can use an of the three copy and paste functions that we've discussed:

1. Command C and command V
2. Option drag
3. Command R

All of these functions will work within the midi editor in Logic Pro.

Final Thoughts on Copy and Paste

If you're looking to become a better music producer within Logic Pro or any other DAW it is essential to learn a productive workflow. It will save you time but more importantly, you'll be happier because in the end, you'll be creating more music.

I'd love to teach you more ways on how to be a better producer within Logic Pro. I suggest you get my 6 free pillars on learning Logic Pro faster.