Move and copy items in the Score Editor in Logic Pro

In addition to moving and copying items using the pointer, you can also use the Layout tool, key commands, and Copy and Paste commands.

Move and copy items using the Layout tool

Remember that you can unintentionally change a symbol’s bar position with the Pointer tool. To limit changes to an event’s vertical and horizontal position, without changing the bar position, use the Layout tool to move and copy items in the Score Editor. See Position items graphically in the Score Editor in Logic Pro.

Move items with key commands

The Nudge Region/Event Position section of the Key Commands window contains a group of key commands that can be used to move selected objects along the time axis. The Nudge commands most useful for score work are those that nudge regions or events left or right by bar, beat, or division.

Copy and paste items via the Clipboard

When you copy items via the Clipboard, the first item is pasted at the target time position. Subsequent items retain their position relative to the first object. You can simultaneously paste the Clipboard contents into several regions, at the original position.

When you paste (or paste multiple) items from the Clipboard, the position of the first inserted event is automatically quantized, in accordance with the current division value (set in the LCD). For example, if the current bar position is 4.1.1.37, and the division value is set to 1/16, the pasted object is inserted at position 4.1.1.1. If you want to preserve the unquantized timing, use another method to copy and paste the items.

Move a note or symbol with the pointer

Select one or more notes or symbols, then drag to the new position.

Copy a note or symbol with the pointer

Select one or more notes or symbols, press and hold Option, then drag to the new position.

While you drag, a help tag shows the operation (drag or copy), the difference from the original position (transpose and time shift), and the current pointer position (bar position and, for notes, pitch).

You can simultaneously move or copy items from different regions or staffs. Each event is moved or copied to its new position, within its original MIDI region.

Note: You can’t use the Option-drag method to copy or move events between MIDI regions in the Score Editor. You can, however, copy and paste between regions and staffs.

Restrict movement to one direction (vertical or horizontal)

Press and hold Shift while dragging.

There is also a general setting for this constraint: Logic Pro > Settings > General > Editing > Limit Dragging to One Direction In: Piano Roll and Score.

Move items using key commands

Use any of the following:
- To move the selected notes forward or backward one bar: Use Nudge Region/Event Position Left by Bar and Nudge Region/Event Position Right by Bar.
- To move the selected notes forward or backward one beat.Use Nudge Region/Event Position Left by Beat and Nudge Region/Event Position Right by Beat.
- To move the selected events forward or backward one division step (as set in the LCD): Use Nudge Region/Event Position Left by Division and Nudge Region/Event Position Right by Division.

Paste the Clipboard contents into several regions

Select all targeted regions (either in the Tracks area or Score Editor) by Shift-clicking the staffs/regions, or dragging to select adjacent regions.
The Region inspector title indicates the number of selected regions.
Choose Edit > Paste Multiple (or use the Paste Multiple key command.)

Copy an entire musical passage to the same time position in another region

You can use the Paste at Original Position and Paste Multiple at Original Position commands to quickly copy passages from one MIDI region to another, at the same time position. No insert position is required, and no automatic insert quantization takes place.

Select the notes and symbols of the passage.
Select the staff you want to paste the passage to.
Choose Edit > Paste at Original Position (or use the Paste at Original Position key command).

The notes and symbols are pasted at the position they were originally copied from, regardless of the current playhead position.

The Paste Multiple at Original key command works in a similar way, but allows you to paste a musical passage to the staffs of other instruments. You need to select all destination staffs before using the Paste Multiple command.

You can use these commands in combination with the Select Similar function, to quickly copy all dynamic symbols from one staff into other staffs or instruments, for example.

Moving items in time is affected by the display quantization grid (Quantize) setting. If a hybrid Quantize value is selected (16, 24 for example), the grid corresponds to the duple value (16, in this example).

If note positions are not aligned with the time grid (because they were recorded in real time), their relative offset is retained when they are moved or copied.
You can move or copy unquantized passages within the Score Editor, without losing the original feel of the performance.

The following types of symbols cannot be copied or moved in the Score Editor:

Global symbols, such as repeat signs, time and key signature changes—except in the Signature List and Signature track—and global text elements (headers and so on). (For additional information, see Logic Pro time and key signature overview.)
Symbols directly attached to notes, such as accents, fermatas, note heads, and so on.

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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