The fastest way to copy a song section in Reaper
To copy a section of a song in Reaper, select the time range you want using your mouse on the timeline, then press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Cmd+C (Mac). The copied audio stays in your clipboard until you paste it elsewhere in the project or close Reaper. You can paste it into a new track, a different spot on the same track, or even into a separate project.
The key is making sure you have the right section selected before copying. Reaper highlights your selection in a lighter shade on the timeline so you can see exactly what you are about to copy. If you select the wrong range, just click somewhere else to deselect and try again.
Key Takeaways
- Click and drag on the timeline to select the section of audio you want to copy, then use Ctrl+C or Cmd+C to copy it.
- You can paste the copied section into a new track, a different time position on the same track, or into another Reaper project using Ctrl+V or Cmd+V.
- If you want to copy multiple sections at once, hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) and click-drag to create separate selections before copying.
- Copying a section does not remove it from the original location — use cut (Ctrl+X or Cmd+X) if you want to move it instead of duplicate it.
Selecting the exact section you need
Click on the timeline at the point where you want your section to start. The timeline is the horizontal ruler at the top of your tracks showing time in minutes and seconds. Your cursor will snap to the nearest grid line if grid snapping is turned on, which you can toggle with the Snap button in the toolbar.
Once you have clicked your start point, hold down your mouse button and drag to the right to select the section. As you drag, Reaper shades the selected area in a lighter color so you can see the range. Release the mouse when you reach the end point. If your selection is slightly off, you can adjust it by holding Shift and clicking at a new endpoint to extend or shrink the selection.
For more precise selections, you can type exact start and end times into the Time Selection fields in the toolbar. Look for two boxes showing time values — click the first one to set your start time and the second to set your end time. This method works best when you know the exact timestamps you need.
Copying to a new track
After you copy your section with Ctrl+C or Cmd+C, you can paste it into a new track by first creating that track. Right-click in the track panel on the left side and choose Insert new track, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+T (Windows) or Cmd+T (Mac). A new empty track appears below your current tracks.
Click on the new track to make sure it is selected, then position your cursor at the time where you want the pasted section to start. Press Ctrl+V or Cmd+V to paste. The copied audio appears at that position on the new track. If you want the pasted section to start at the very beginning of the project, click at the zero mark on the timeline before pasting.
Copying to a different spot on the same track
You can paste a copied section onto the same track at a different time without creating a new track. Click on the track to select it, then click on the timeline at the exact spot where you want the pasted section to begin. Press Ctrl+V or Cmd+V and the copied audio appears at that position.
If the pasted section overlaps with existing audio on the track, Reaper will layer them on top of each other. You can see both items in the track — they will play together unless you move one of them. To avoid overlap, either paste onto an empty track or paste at a time position after all existing audio ends.
Using cut instead of copy to move sections
If you want to move a section rather than duplicate it, use cut instead of copy. Select your section the same way, then press Ctrl+X (Windows) or Cmd+X (Mac). The section is removed from its original location and stored in your clipboard. When you paste it with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V, it appears in the new location without leaving a copy behind.
Cut is useful when you want to rearrange parts of a song — for example, moving a chorus to a different spot or removing a section entirely. After you cut, the space where that section was becomes empty. If you want to close that gap and shift everything after it earlier in time, select the empty space and press Delete.
Copying multiple sections at once
Reaper lets you select more than one section before copying. Hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and click-drag to create your first selection. While still holding Ctrl or Cmd, click-drag again to create a second selection. You can repeat this to add as many sections as you need. All selected sections appear highlighted on the timeline.
When you press Ctrl+C or Cmd+C, all highlighted sections are copied together. When you paste, they appear in the same relative positions to each other as they had in the original. This is useful for copying a verse and chorus together, or for duplicating a complex arrangement that spans multiple sections of your track.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I copy a section and then copy something else before pasting?
The new copy replaces the old one in your clipboard. Only the most recent copy is stored. If you need to keep multiple sections copied, paste the first one before copying a second section, or use Reaper's undo feature (Ctrl+Z or Cmd+Z) to go back to your earlier copy.
Can I copy a section from one Reaper project and paste it into another?
Yes. Copy the section in the first project, then open or switch to the second project and paste it. The audio data stays in your clipboard even when you switch between projects. Make sure both projects have the same sample rate, or the pasted audio may play at the wrong speed.
How do I copy just the audio without any effects or automation?
Copy and paste copies the audio item itself. Effects and automation are applied to the track, not to individual items, so they do not copy with the audio. If you want to paste the audio without hearing the original track's effects, paste it onto a different track that has no effects applied.
What if I want to copy a section but keep it in the same location and create a duplicate?
Copy the section, then paste it onto a new track at the same time position. Both versions will play together. Alternatively, select the section and press Ctrl+D (Windows) or Cmd+D (Mac) to duplicate it in place on the same track — this creates a copy directly below the original without using the clipboard.
Can I copy a section that spans multiple tracks at once?
Reaper's standard copy function works on one track at a time. To copy a section across multiple tracks, select all the tracks you need by clicking the first track, then holding Shift and clicking the last track. Then select your time range and copy. When you paste, all tracks paste together at the same time position.