Multitrack copying

Audacity Help Forum Windows
1

Hi, I want to highlight then copy & paste multiple tracks onto a new project all at the same time so that the tracks I want are all in sync with each other on the new project. I can drag the cursor across several tracks and highlight them but only the track outlined yellow will paste onto a new track on a new project. Is there a way to do this? Many thanks

2

Ensure that your version of Audacity is up to date (see: https://www.audacityteam.org/download/windows/)

If your new project already has some tracks, ensure that no tracks are selected in the new project when you paste multiple tracks into that project.

If you wish to paste into existing tracks in the new project, ensure that you have the same number of tracks, and the same type (mono/stereo) of tracks selected in the new project when you paste multiple tracks into that project.

3

Thanks Steve,
Is it possible to highlight say 3 or 4 tracks from one project, edit-copy, then paste all selected tracks onto new project as just one track?
So, I would be condensing, having say 3 bassline tracks onto the one track in a ‘new project’? Thanks

4

I’m not sure what you mean. Do you want to select and copy 3 tracks, and then paste a “mix” of the three tracks into the new project?

5

Hi Steve, yes that’s exactly what I’d like to do. Is that possible?

6

Not in one go, you need an extra step.

I’ll call the projects “A” (the one we are copying from) and “B” (the one that we will paste into.

  1. In project A, select the three tracks.
  2. “Tracks menu > Mix > Mix and Render to New Track”
    This creates a new track below all other tracks in project A.
  3. Double click on the “mix” track in project A to select the track.
  4. “Ctrl + X” (or select “Cut” from the “Edit” menu)
  5. Click on the [X] in the top left corner of the empty “mix” track (to delete the empty track)
  6. Pasting into project B
  • If you want to paste into an existing track, single click on the track at the point that you want to paste, then “Ctrl+V” (or select “Paste” from the “Edit” menu).
    • If you want to paste as a new track, single click in some empty space in the tracks panel, but below any existing tracks (not on a track), then “Ctrl+V” (or select “Paste” from the “Edit” menu).

Note that mixing tracks “adds” the waveforms together, which will usually create a waveform that is bigger vertically than the original tracks. If the mixed waveform is touching the top or bottom of the track, use the “Amplify” or “Normalize” effects to bring the level back down so that the waveform fits entirely within the height of the track.

7

Many thanks Steve! I will be playing around with that all night I should think!