The Replicate effect will clone a selection (or an entire file). The dialog lets you set the number of clones and whether or not there will be gaps between them.

Leaving gaps will create a digital “tape loop” with its own rhythm. Your choices are “selection divided by” or “multiplied by” a number. To make a four-beat phrase into a six-beat loop, use “divided by” 2. To make a four-beat phrase into a twelve-beat phrase, use “multipled by” 2. To make the gaps equal the phrase, multiply or divide by 1.

You can also set a gap of a specific duration, for example, 1/2 second, regardless of the length or timing of the original and replicas.

Since the gaps are an exact multiple of the beat, you can paste additional sounds into the gaps and the entire “tape loop” will stay in time.

Using Replicate on multiple channels lets you create some very complex overlapping digital tape loop effects.


Many thanks to Craig O’Donnell!