> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.gridshift.studio/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Loop and Locators

> Loops a section of the song between the braces in the ruler, and marks its parts with locators you jump between. Select clips or mark a range and press ⌘L; press ⌥L for a locator.

## Loop a section

<video src="/videos/timeline-loop.mp4" poster="/videos/timeline-loop.jpg" aria-label="Command L sets the loop over the selected clip, Command Option right moves it on by its length, Command Option down halves it" title="Command L sets the loop over the selected clip, Command Option right moves it on by its length, Command Option down halves it" muted loop playsInline preload="none" />

Select clips or mark a range and press `⌘L`. `⌘⌥→` moves the loop on by its own length, `⌘⌥↑` doubles it and `⌘⌥↓` halves it.

## Drag the loop's edges

With the loop on, drag a brace in the ruler to move that edge of the loop. It snaps to the grid; hold `⌥` to place it freely.

## Add a locator

Put the edit cursor where a part starts and press `⌥L` (**Add Locator at Cursor**). Type a name, for example *Chorus*, and press `Return`. The locator appears in the ruler. Or right-click the ruler and choose **Add Locator at** that bar.

## Jump between locators

Press `⇧End` to jump to the next locator and `⇧Home` to the previous one; the cursor and the playhead move there. Or click a locator in the ruler to move the playhead to it.

## Rename, color, move or delete a locator

Right-click a locator for **Rename…**, **Color** and **Delete**, or drag it along the ruler. From the keyboard, jump to it and run **Rename Locator**, **Locator Color…**, **Move Locator to Bar** or **Delete Locator** from the Command Palette.

## Good to know

* **`⌘L` with the loop on moves it to the new selection.** With nothing new to move to it turns the loop off: nothing selected, or in Focus Mode the focused clip already looped.
* **With nothing selected and the loop off, `⌘L` loops 4 bars** starting at the bar the cursor is in.
* **`⇧⌘L` (Set Loop and Zoom) sets the loop from the selection and zooms to fit it.**
* **Locators added from the ruler or dragged snap to whole bars.** Hold `⌥` to snap to the nearest beat instead. `⌥L` places one exactly at the edit cursor.
* **Every locator change is undoable**, one step each.

> **Details**
>
> * **The loop sits between the braces in the ruler.** A loop that is off is not drawn anywhere.
> * **The four steering keys act only while the loop is on.** `⌘⌥←` / `⌘⌥→` move the loop by one whole loop length: a four-bar loop jumps four bars, to the next phrase or the one before it. Your selection is not touched.
> * **`⌘⌥↑` / `⌘⌥↓` double and halve the loop, anchored at its start.** Halving stops at one beat, and a dragged brace stops one beat from the other.
> * **Moving the loop left stops at the first bar** and keeps the loop's length.
> * **With the transport stopped, the edit cursor travels with the loop.** The view scrolls to keep the loop visible. Your clip and note selection stays untouched.
> * **Looping is also how you [record in a loop](/record/record-midi.md)** and [capture over a loop](/record/midi-capture.md).
> * **`⌥L` on a locator that already sits at the cursor renames it** instead of stacking a second one.
> * **A new locator follows the theme's accent color.** **Color** → **Default (Theme)** puts a recolored one back.
> * **The Command Palette locator commands act on the locator at the cursor.** Elsewhere they show **No Locator at the Cursor**; `⇧Home` and `⇧End` leave the cursor exactly on one.
> * **Move Locator to Bar counts bars from 1, as the ruler does.** A fraction lands inside the bar: 2.5 is halfway through bar 2.
> * **Jumping to a locator clears the clip selection.**

> **Keys**
>
> | Action | Shortcut |
> | - | - |
> | Loop On/Off | `⌘L` |
> | Set Loop and Zoom | `⇧⌘L` |
> | Move Loop Forward / Back | `⌘⌥→` / `⌘⌥←` |
> | Double / Halve Loop Length | `⌘⌥↑` / `⌘⌥↓` |
> | Add Locator at Cursor | `⌥L` |
> | Jump to Next / Previous Locator | `⇧End` / `⇧Home` |


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.