Add or remove gaps in Logic Pro for Mac

Sometimes you may want to remove an entire passage from a project—for example, you may want to remove the regions of all tracks between bars 17 and 20, so that all regions (and bar changes, tempo changes, and global score symbols) from bar 21 on are moved four bars to the left, closing the gap left by removing the four bars.

Alternatively, you may want to insert some empty bars in the middle of a project, to create space for another chorus, verse, or bridge, for example. As with the previous example, all existing tempo changes and so on are moved accordingly (to the right by the number of inserted bars).

You can limit changes to only selected regions. If you do this, rather than moving all regions within a project section, you are asked if you want to move global events such as bar changes, tempo changes, and score symbols. This global edit is performed on all regions, when used.

Note: The toolbar features a number of section-editing buttons that can be used to perform some of the operations described below. When these buttons are used, the operation affects all regions that fall between the locators, regardless of which regions in the area are selected. To perform these operations on selected regions within the locators, use the appropriate key command after selecting the regions.

Insert a gap between regions using the locators (the cycle length)

In Logic Pro, set the left and right locator positions by doing one of the following:
- Drag from left to right across a portion of the ruler.
- Set the values in the locator fields in the LCD.
Select the regions you want to move by the cycle length. If no selection is made, all regions that fall between the locators are affected.
Clicking the Insert Silence button in the toolbar also affects all regions that fall between the locators.
Choose Edit > Cut/Insert Time > Insert Silence Between Locators (or use the corresponding key command).
- For selected regions that are longer than the cycle length: Regions are cut at the left locator position; the second region (newly created from the cut) is moved to the right of the right locator position, creating a gap between the regions.
- For selected regions that fall wholly within the locators: Regions that began at the left locator position now begin at the right locator position.
- For a combination of partially and wholly selected regions that fall within the locators: The encompassed section is cut, and moved to the right locator position.

Remove gaps between regions

In Logic Pro, select the regions.
Do one of the following:
- Choose Edit > Move > Shuffle Left within Selection (or use the corresponding key command).
  The first selected region on each track remains unchanged, and all subsequent regions are moved to the left:
- Choose Edit > Move > Shuffle Right within Selection (or use the corresponding key command).
  The first selected region on each track is moved to the right, and all subsequent regions remain unchanged.

Remove a section of an arrangement using the locators

In Logic Pro, set the locators to span the section you want to remove (bars 5 through 8, for example).
Do one of the following:
- To cut all regions that fall between the locators: Click the Cut Section button in the toolbar, or choose Edit > Cut/Insert Time > Cut Section Between Locators.
- To cut selected regions that fall between the locators: Use the Cut Section Between Locators (Selection) key command).

Any regions that span the cycle area (for example, a 16-bar region that starts at bar 1 and ends at the start of bar 17) are cut.

The section between the locators (bars 5 to 8) is deleted from all selected regions. (In fact, it is copied to the Clipboard and removed from the arrangement.)

All regions to the right of the right locator are moved to the left by the length of the cycle (4 bars), including newly created regions that result from the operation.

In the case of the 16-bar region example, from above, it would be cut into two regions:

One would span bars 1 to 4.
The other would now be an 8-bar region that is placed from bar 5 to the start of bar 13.

Tip: The Snip command is ideal for situations in which you want to remove an entire section of your arrangement, such as a chorus.

Insert a cut section into the arrangement

In Logic Pro, set the locators to span the section you want to remove (bars 5 through 8, for example).
Do one of the following:
- To cut all regions that fall between the locators: Click the Cut Section button in the toolbar, or choose Edit > Cut/Insert Time > Cut Section Between Locators.
- To cut selected regions that fall between the locators: Use the Cut Section Between Locators (Selection) key command.
Set the playhead to the position where you want to insert the cut section.
Either click the Insert Section button in the toolbar (to affect all tracks, regardless of selection), or choose Edit > Cut/Insert Time > Insert Section at Playhead.
All selected regions are cut at the left locator, and a passage of one cycle length is inserted. Regions currently in the Clipboard are then pasted at the playhead position.

Tip: This workflow is perfect for when you want to insert a part (a chorus, for example) at another point in your arrangement. To guarantee all tracks are shifted, including tempo, time signature changes, and markers, make sure everything is selected (using Command-A or Shift-I) before cutting and inserting.

Copy a section of the arrangement

In Logic Pro, set the locators to span the section you want to copy (bars 5 through 8, for example).
Choose Edit > Cut/Insert Time > Copy Section Between Locators (or use the Copy Section Between Locators (Global) key command).
Set the playhead to the position where you want to insert the copied section.
Either click the Insert Section button in the toolbar (to affect all tracks, regardless of selection), or choose Edit > Cut/Insert Time > Insert Section at Playhead.
All selected regions are cut at the left locator, and a passage of one cycle length is inserted. Regions currently in the Clipboard are then pasted at the playhead position.

Repeat a section of the arrangement using the locators

In Logic Pro, set the locators to span the section you want to repeat (bars 5 through 8, for example).
Select the regions that you want to repeat. If no selection is made (or if you use the Repeat Section button in the toolbar), all regions that fall between the locators are affected.
Choose Edit > Cut/Insert Time > Repeat Section Between Locators (or use the corresponding key command).
The portions of all regions that are wholly or partially encompassed by the locators are copied and pasted starting at the right locator position.

You can also move, copy, and delete sections of a project using arrangement markers. For more information, see Add arrangement markers.

Download the guides:

Logic Pro User Guide: Apple Books | PDF

Logic Pro Instruments: Apple Books | PDF

Logic Pro Effects: Apple Books | PDF

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