The fastest way to copy a tempo map in Reaper

To copy a tempo map from one Reaper project to another, select all tempo markers in the source project, copy them to the clipboard, then paste them into your destination project at the same timeline position. The exact steps depend on whether you want to copy markers within the same project, between two open projects, or from a saved project file.

Reaper stores tempo information as tempo markers — individual points on your timeline where the tempo changes. These are separate from the project file itself, which means you can extract them and move them to a different project without moving audio or MIDI data.

Key Takeaways

  • Tempo markers live in the Tempo/Signature envelope, which you access by clicking the Envelope button next to your master track.
  • You can select multiple tempo markers at once by clicking the first one, then Shift+clicking the last one in your range.
  • Copying tempo markers to the clipboard works the same way as copying any other Reaper data — Ctrl+C on Windows or Cmd+C on Mac.
  • When you paste tempo markers into a new project, they land at the exact timeline position where your cursor sits, so position your cursor before pasting.
  • If you paste tempo markers at the wrong position, undo the paste and move your cursor to the correct bar or time code, then paste again.

Finding and selecting tempo markers in your project

Tempo markers appear in the Tempo/Signature envelope, which is hidden by default. To see it, look at your master track — the topmost track in your arrange window. On the left side of the master track, you will see a small button labeled "Envelope" or an icon that looks like a curve. Click it to open the envelope list.

From the dropdown menu, select "Tempo map" or "Tempo (BPM)". The tempo envelope will now appear as a separate lane below your master track, showing all the tempo markers you have created as small dots or nodes on a line. If you have not created any tempo markers yet, you will see only a flat line at your project's default tempo.

To select a single tempo marker, click directly on it. To select multiple markers in a row, click the first one, then hold Shift and click the last one. Reaper will highlight all markers between them. If your markers are scattered across the timeline and you want only some of them, click the first one, then Ctrl+click (or Cmd+click on Mac) each additional marker you want to include.

Copying tempo markers to the clipboard

Once you have selected the tempo markers you want to move, copy them using Ctrl+C on Windows or Cmd+C on Mac. Reaper will store these markers in your clipboard. Unlike copying audio or MIDI data, copying tempo markers takes almost no space and works instantly.

You can verify the copy worked by looking at your selection — the markers should remain highlighted. If you accidentally click somewhere else before pasting, your clipboard data is still safe. Reaper keeps clipboard data until you copy something else or close the program.

Pasting tempo markers into the destination project

Open the project where you want to paste the tempo markers, or switch to it if it is already open. The key step is positioning your cursor at the exact timeline location where you want the tempo markers to land. If your source project started at bar 1 and you want the tempo map to start at bar 1 in the destination project, click on bar 1 in the destination project first.

Once your cursor is in the right position, paste using Ctrl+V on Windows or Cmd+V on Mac. The tempo markers will appear in the Tempo/Signature envelope at that location. If the destination project does not have a visible tempo envelope yet, Reaper will create one automatically when you paste.

If you paste at the wrong position, press Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) to undo, move your cursor to the correct location, and paste again. This is faster than trying to move the markers after they land.

Handling tempo markers that land at the same time

If your destination project already has a tempo marker at the exact position where you are pasting, Reaper will create a second marker at that same point. This can cause unexpected behavior — the two markers may fight each other, or one may override the other depending on which one is higher in the envelope list.

To avoid this, delete any existing tempo markers at your paste location before pasting new ones. Click on the marker in the tempo envelope and press Delete, or right-click it and select "Delete point". Then paste your copied markers. If you have already pasted and created duplicates, undo the paste, delete the old marker, and paste again.

Copying tempo maps between saved project files

If you want to copy a tempo map from a project file you have closed, open that project first, select and copy the tempo markers as described above, then switch to your destination project and paste. You do not need to save the source project after copying — the clipboard holds the data independently.

Alternatively, you can open both projects side by side. Go to Window menu, select "New window for project", then use the Window menu again to switch between the two projects. This lets you see both timelines at once and makes it easier to position your cursor correctly in the destination project before pasting.

Copying only part of a tempo map

You do not have to copy every tempo marker in a project. If you have a complex tempo map with 20 markers but only want the 5 markers from bars 8 through 16, select only those 5 markers and copy them. This is useful when you have a specific drum break or tempo change you want to reuse in another song.

Remember that when you paste, the markers land relative to your cursor position, not relative to their original bar numbers. If the original markers were at bars 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16, and you paste with your cursor at bar 1, they will land at bars 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. The spacing between markers stays the same, but the absolute position changes based on where you paste.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy a tempo map without copying the audio or MIDI?

Yes. Tempo markers are stored separately from audio and MIDI data. Selecting and copying only the tempo markers in the Tempo/Signature envelope will copy nothing else. When you paste, only the tempo information moves to the new project.

What happens if I paste tempo markers at the wrong bar?

Undo the paste with Ctrl+Z, move your cursor to the correct bar number, and paste again. The markers will land at the new position. You can also manually drag markers in the tempo envelope after pasting, though this is slower than repositioning before you paste.

Do I need to save the source project after copying its tempo map?

No. Once you copy the tempo markers to the clipboard, they exist independently of the project file. You can close the source project without saving, and the clipboard data will remain until you paste it or copy something else.

Can I copy tempo markers from a template project?

Yes. Open your template project, copy the tempo markers from its Tempo/Signature envelope, then paste them into your new project. This is a common workflow for projects that always use the same tempo structure or tempo changes.