Creating Region Loops

The Loop function allows you to repeat a region automatically, without needing to copy it. A looped region repeats until it encounters another region on the same track, or the project ends. A loop also terminates at the end marker of a folder, if the looped region is inside a folder. (See Working with Folders.)

Loop repeats are displayed as extended segments of the original region, but are displayed with less color. Each segment is the same length as the original region, and changes if the length of the original region is changed.

Figure. Add Region to Apple Loops Library dialog.

Tip: If you want to create polyrhythmic structures, try experimenting with the length of the original region.

To loop a region with the Loop parameter
  1. Select the region in the Arrange area.

  2. Select (turn on) the Loop option in the Region Parameter box of the Inspector (or use the “Loop Regions/Folders on/off” key command, default assignment:  L).

    Figure. Region Parameter box indicating Loop parameter checkbox.

The region is looped until it encounters another region on the same track (or the project or folder ends).

Figure. Arrange area showing region loop up to the following region on the same track.
To turn off the Loop parameter
  • Select the Loop option in the Region Parameter box (or use the “Loop Regions/Folders on/off” key command, default assignment:  L).

To loop a region with the mouse
  1. Move the pointer to the end of the region that you want to loop.

    The pointer changes into a circular arrow (the loop length editing tool) when positioned in the upper area of the region.

    Figure. Arrange area showing loop length editing tool in upper right area of region.
  2. Drag the end of the region to the right to set the length of the looped region.

    Figure. Arrange area showing looped region by dragging.

The loop repeats are shown as segments (of the same length as the original region) within the overall looped region. The Loop parameter in the Region Parameter box is automatically activated.

Note: Deactivating the Loop parameter resets the manually created loop length. The next time the Loop parameter is used, the region is repeated until it encounters another region on the same track or the end of the project (or folder) is reached.

The pointer only turns into the circular arrow (and offers the loop length editing functions), when the track is of sufficient height. Use any of the zooming options to resize, if necessary.

If you want to select the looped region (to move it, for example), click in the lower half of the looped area, or Shift-click in the upper loop area.

Note: Most of the other tools can also be used to set the loop length—they also take on the circular arrow shape when held over the top-right area of regions. You should use the Pointer tool, however, because clicking the wrong spot on a region when the Eraser tool is selected will delete the region, rather than set the loop you intended to create.

Loop repetitions are merely pointers to the original region. They cannot be transposed and don’t have any playback parameters in the Region Parameter box, shown in the Inspector. Only a real region (or a copy) offers playback parameters and can be transposed. If you want to use different playback settings for each of the loop repetitions, you need to turn them into real copies.

To convert an existing loop into a real copy
  1. Select the original region.

  2. Choose Region > Loops > Convert to Real Copies (or use the Convert Loops to Real Copies key command, default assignment:  Control-L).

    New regions replace the loop repeat segments.

The advantage of real copies is that they can be independently resized. This may be useful in situations when you want to resize a few loop copies among hundreds that span the song length.

To convert a loop into aliases or clones
  1. Select the original region.

  2. Choose Region > Loops > Convert to Aliases (or use the Convert Loops to Aliases key command).

MIDI region loop repeats are converted into aliases. Audio region loop repeats are converted into cloned audio regions.

As such, any alterations to the length of the original region affect all aliases and cloned regions.