Just about every application available for PC or Mac today that includes any type of editing adheres to the Cut, Copy and Paste convention. Most of us grew up with these concepts thanks to word processing applications that, due to such conventions, make editing text about as easy as sitting in a good lounge chair. Then, a wonderful thing happened, MIDI sequencing applications, and later audio applications, implemented these same conventions and the reign of quick and intuitive editing began. So, whether you are in the process of creating loops (Cut and Paste), simply want to move around some audio in your timeline (Copy and Paste), or any number of things, the Cut, Copy and Paste conventions make editing that much easier. With that in mind, we’ve decided that it was high time we added these terms to our WFTD archives. Enjoy!
Cut: In computer applications, Cut is a common convention used by many applications that allows the end user to remove a defined selection (text, images, sound clips, video clips, etc.) from an active document while automatically placing it into the computer’s Clipboard for use elsewhere via the “Paste” function.
Copy: In computer applications, Copy is a common convention used by many applications that allows the end user to copy a defined selection to the computer’s Clipboard while leaving the defined selection in place and unchanged. The defined selection is now available for use elsewhere via the “Paste” function.
Paste: Inserts the contents of the computer’s Clipboard at a defined insertion point, and replaces any defined selection. This command is available only if you have Cut or Copied a defined selection (text, images, sound clips, video clips, etc.). To “Cut & Paste” is the computer equivalent of using scissors to clip something and glue to paste the clipping somewhere else.
Clipboard: A special portion of your computer’s memory that stores the most recent thing you Cut or Copied. You can Paste the contents of the Clipboard into other parts of your document or application.