Copy & Paste for pros – Repeat To Fill Selection

Repeat to fill selection is one of the most useful commands when it comes to quick editing. Especially when it comes to loop creation, it’s pretty handy.

Check out two simple examples of how to you use repeat to fill in your daily work. Don’t duplicate like a mad man, use repeat to fill.

Here’s the first example: There’s a single kick in the track and we want to place it in a four to the floor pattern.

Now, mark the length of my single kick. I want a four to the floor pattern, so I use every quarter note. Select the length or just the single region and copy it (⌘ + c)

Now, mark a selection to determine the length of the kick loop.

Instead of duplicating the kick, just press option + cmd + v (⌥ + ⌘ + v) and the kick will be placed over the whole selection on every quarter note. If your selection is longer than the region you will be asked if you want to add a fade or not.

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Now the second one: In the pic below, you’ll see a crazy automation which is wrecked up. There’s only one point which has the right level and I want that level to be all over a selected area.

Mark the single part which has the right level and copy it.

Now, press option + cmd + v (⌥ + ⌘ + v) while having a certain selection and the whole selection will have the same automation level.

Of course you can do the same with repeating automation curves like rhythmic filter sweeps or any other kind of automation.

Don’t get stuck in duplicating little regions or automations dozens of times. Be smart and use repeat to fill selection.