diff --git a/src/ProjectAudioManager.cpp b/src/ProjectAudioManager.cpp
index 264636969..3be8a7596 100644
--- a/src/ProjectAudioManager.cpp
+++ b/src/ProjectAudioManager.cpp
@@ -606,7 +606,7 @@ bool ProjectAudioManager::DoRecord(AudacityProject &project,
 
                // Pad the recording track with silence, up to the
                // maximum time.
-               auto newTrack = TrackFactory::Get( *p ).NewWaveTrack();
+               auto newTrack = pending->EmptyCopy();
                newTrack->InsertSilence(0.0, t0 - endTime);
                newTrack->Flush();
                pending->Clear(endTime, t0);
diff --git a/src/WaveTrack.cpp b/src/WaveTrack.cpp
index 602e5cddb..df8beb751 100644
--- a/src/WaveTrack.cpp
+++ b/src/WaveTrack.cpp
@@ -530,16 +530,21 @@ void WaveTrack::Trim (double t0, double t1)
 
 
 
+WaveTrack::Holder WaveTrack::EmptyCopy() const
+{
+   auto result = std::make_shared<WaveTrack>( mDirManager, mFormat, mRate );
+   result->Init(*this);
+   return result;
+}
+
 Track::Holder WaveTrack::Copy(double t0, double t1, bool forClipboard) const
 {
    if (t1 < t0)
       THROW_INCONSISTENCY_EXCEPTION;
 
-   auto result = std::make_shared<WaveTrack>( mDirManager, mFormat, mRate );
+   auto result = EmptyCopy();
    WaveTrack *newTrack = result.get();
 
-   newTrack->Init(*this);
-
    // PRL:  Why shouldn't cutlines be copied and pasted too?  I don't know, but
    // that was the old behavior.  But this function is also used by the
    // Duplicate command and I changed its behavior in that case.
diff --git a/src/WaveTrack.h b/src/WaveTrack.h
index 3195beeb8..c8f6d8a1b 100644
--- a/src/WaveTrack.h
+++ b/src/WaveTrack.h
@@ -158,6 +158,10 @@ private:
 
    Track::Holder Cut(double t0, double t1) override;
 
+   // Make another track copying format, rate, color, etc. but containing no
+   // clips
+   Holder EmptyCopy() const;
+
    // If forClipboard is true,
    // and there is no clip at the end time of the selection, then the result
    // will contain a "placeholder" clip whose only purpose is to make
diff --git a/src/effects/ChangeSpeed.cpp b/src/effects/ChangeSpeed.cpp
index 7969b98ce..8652a3c19 100644
--- a/src/effects/ChangeSpeed.cpp
+++ b/src/effects/ChangeSpeed.cpp
@@ -479,8 +479,8 @@ bool EffectChangeSpeed::ProcessOne(WaveTrack * track,
    // initialization, per examples of Mixer::Mixer and
    // EffectSoundTouch::ProcessOne
 
-   auto outputTrack = mFactory->NewWaveTrack(track->GetSampleFormat(),
-                                                    track->GetRate());
+   
+   auto outputTrack = track->EmptyCopy();
 
    //Get the length of the selection (as double). len is
    //used simple to calculate a progress meter, so it is easier
diff --git a/src/effects/Effect.cpp b/src/effects/Effect.cpp
index 7db471394..1fbace030 100644
--- a/src/effects/Effect.cpp
+++ b/src/effects/Effect.cpp
@@ -1613,13 +1613,10 @@ bool Effect::ProcessTrack(int count,
       cleared = true;
 
       // Create temporary tracks
-      genLeft = mFactory->NewWaveTrack(left->GetSampleFormat(), left->GetRate());
-      genLeft->SetWaveColorIndex( left->GetWaveColorIndex() );
+      genLeft = left->EmptyCopy();
 
-      if (right) {
-         genRight = mFactory->NewWaveTrack(right->GetSampleFormat(), right->GetRate());
-         genRight->SetWaveColorIndex( right->GetWaveColorIndex() );
-      }
+      if (right)
+         genRight = right->EmptyCopy();
    }
 
    // Call the effect until we run out of input or delayed samples
diff --git a/src/effects/Equalization.cpp b/src/effects/Equalization.cpp
index 49550c308..d74bbcc10 100644
--- a/src/effects/Equalization.cpp
+++ b/src/effects/Equalization.cpp
@@ -1288,7 +1288,8 @@ bool EffectEqualization::ProcessOne(int count, WaveTrack * t,
                                     sampleCount start, sampleCount len)
 {
    // create a NEW WaveTrack to hold all of the output, including 'tails' each end
-   auto output = mFactory->NewWaveTrack(floatSample, t->GetRate());
+   auto output = t->EmptyCopy();
+   t->ConvertToSampleFormat( floatSample );
 
    wxASSERT(mM - 1 < windowSize);
    size_t L = windowSize - (mM - 1);   //Process L samples at a go
diff --git a/src/effects/Equalization48x.cpp b/src/effects/Equalization48x.cpp
index f0650e6b8..395a760d9 100644
--- a/src/effects/Equalization48x.cpp
+++ b/src/effects/Equalization48x.cpp
@@ -410,7 +410,8 @@ bool EffectEqualization48x::DeltaTrack(
    Floats buffer1{ trackBlockSize };
    Floats buffer2{ trackBlockSize };
 
-   auto output = mEffectEqualization->mFactory->NewWaveTrack(floatSample, t->GetRate());
+   auto output = t->EmptyCopy();
+   t->ConvertToSampleFormat( floatSample );
    auto originalLen = len;
    auto currentSample = start;
 
@@ -632,7 +633,8 @@ bool EffectEqualization48x::ProcessOne1x(int count, WaveTrack * t,
 
    auto trackBlockSize = t->GetMaxBlockSize();
 
-   auto output = mEffectEqualization->mFactory->NewWaveTrack(floatSample, t->GetRate());
+   auto output = t->EmptyCopy();
+   t->ConvertToSampleFormat( floatSample );
 
    mEffectEqualization->TrackProgress(count, 0.0);
    int subBufferSize=mBufferCount==8?(mSubBufferSize>>1):mSubBufferSize; // half the buffers if avx is active
@@ -818,7 +820,8 @@ bool EffectEqualization48x::ProcessOne4x(int count, WaveTrack * t,
 
    auto trackBlockSize = t->GetMaxBlockSize();
 
-   auto output = mEffectEqualization->mFactory->NewWaveTrack(floatSample, t->GetRate());
+   auto output = t->EmptyCopy();
+   t->ConvertToSampleFormat( floatSample );
 
    mEffectEqualization->TrackProgress(count, 0.0);
    auto bigRuns = len/(subBufferSize-mBlockSize);
@@ -907,7 +910,8 @@ bool EffectEqualization48x::ProcessOne1x4xThreaded(int count, WaveTrack * t,
    for(int i=0;i<mThreadCount;i++)
       mEQWorkers[i].mProcessingType=processingType;
 
-   auto output = mEffectEqualization->mFactory->NewWaveTrack(floatSample, t->GetRate());
+   auto output = t->EmptyCopy();
+   t->ConvertToSampleFormat( floatSample );
 
    auto trackBlockSize = t->GetMaxBlockSize();
    mEffectEqualization->TrackProgress(count, 0.0);
@@ -1152,7 +1156,8 @@ bool EffectEqualization48x::ProcessOne8x(int count, WaveTrack * t,
 
    auto trackBlockSize = t->GetMaxBlockSize();
 
-   auto output = mEffectEqualization->mFactory->NewWaveTrack(floatSample, t->GetRate());
+   auto output = t->EmptyCopy();
+   t->ConvertToSampleFormat( floatSample );
 
    mEffectEqualization->TrackProgress(count, 0.0);
    int bigRuns=len/(mSubBufferSize-mBlockSize);
@@ -1203,7 +1208,8 @@ bool EffectEqualization48x::ProcessOne8xThreaded(int count, WaveTrack * t,
    if(mThreadCount<=0 || blockCount<256) // dont do it without cores or big data
       return ProcessOne4x(count, t, start, len);
 
-   auto output = mEffectEqualization->mFactory->NewWaveTrack(floatSample, t->GetRate());
+   auto output = t->EmptyCopy();
+   t->ConvertToSampleFormat( floatSample );
 
    auto trackBlockSize = t->GetMaxBlockSize();
    mEffectEqualization->TrackProgress(count, 0.0);
diff --git a/src/effects/Generator.cpp b/src/effects/Generator.cpp
index 6d0c89272..680d35367 100644
--- a/src/effects/Generator.cpp
+++ b/src/effects/Generator.cpp
@@ -65,10 +65,7 @@ bool Generator::Process()
          {
             auto pProject = FindProject();
             // Create a temporary track
-            WaveTrack::Holder tmp(
-               mFactory->NewWaveTrack(track->GetSampleFormat(),
-               track->GetRate())
-            );
+            auto tmp = track->EmptyCopy();
             BeforeTrack(*track);
             BeforeGenerate();
 
diff --git a/src/effects/NoiseReduction.cpp b/src/effects/NoiseReduction.cpp
index 4b2a3dd5a..2d7280fd1 100644
--- a/src/effects/NoiseReduction.cpp
+++ b/src/effects/NoiseReduction.cpp
@@ -1317,7 +1317,7 @@ bool EffectNoiseReduction::Worker::ProcessOne
 
    WaveTrack::Holder outputTrack;
    if(!mDoProfile)
-      outputTrack = factory.NewWaveTrack(track->GetSampleFormat(), track->GetRate());
+      outputTrack = track->EmptyCopy();
 
    auto bufferSize = track->GetMaxBlockSize();
    FloatVector buffer(bufferSize);
diff --git a/src/effects/NoiseRemoval.cpp b/src/effects/NoiseRemoval.cpp
index 253fcb3d7..59b7f77e2 100644
--- a/src/effects/NoiseRemoval.cpp
+++ b/src/effects/NoiseRemoval.cpp
@@ -534,8 +534,7 @@ bool EffectNoiseRemoval::ProcessOne(int count, WaveTrack * track,
    StartNewTrack();
 
    if (!mDoProfile)
-      mOutputTrack = mFactory->NewWaveTrack(track->GetSampleFormat(),
-                                            track->GetRate());
+      mOutputTrack = track->EmptyCopy();
 
    auto bufferSize = track->GetMaxBlockSize();
    Floats buffer{ bufferSize };
diff --git a/src/effects/Paulstretch.cpp b/src/effects/Paulstretch.cpp
index f308e6c75..9d2f17560 100644
--- a/src/effects/Paulstretch.cpp
+++ b/src/effects/Paulstretch.cpp
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ bool EffectPaulstretch::ProcessOne(WaveTrack *track,double t0,double t1,int coun
       (dlen - ((double)stretch_buf_size * 2.0));
    amount = 1.0 + (amount - 1.0) * adjust_amount;
 
-   auto outputTrack = mFactory->NewWaveTrack(track->GetSampleFormat(),track->GetRate());
+   auto outputTrack = track->EmptyCopy();
 
    try {
       // This encloses all the allocations of buffers, including those in
diff --git a/src/effects/SBSMSEffect.cpp b/src/effects/SBSMSEffect.cpp
index d2feffd95..600b22707 100644
--- a/src/effects/SBSMSEffect.cpp
+++ b/src/effects/SBSMSEffect.cpp
@@ -374,11 +374,10 @@ bool EffectSBSMS::Process()
 
             auto warper = createTimeWarper(mCurT0,mCurT1,maxDuration,rateStart,rateEnd,rateSlideType);
 
-            rb.outputLeftTrack = mFactory->NewWaveTrack(leftTrack->GetSampleFormat(),
-                                                        leftTrack->GetRate());
+            rb.outputLeftTrack = leftTrack->EmptyCopy();
             if(rightTrack)
-               rb.outputRightTrack = mFactory->NewWaveTrack(rightTrack->GetSampleFormat(),
-                                                            rightTrack->GetRate());
+               rb.outputRightTrack = rightTrack->EmptyCopy();
+   
             long pos = 0;
             long outputCount = -1;
 
diff --git a/src/effects/SoundTouchEffect.cpp b/src/effects/SoundTouchEffect.cpp
index e3a8e81b7..b2c391d5d 100644
--- a/src/effects/SoundTouchEffect.cpp
+++ b/src/effects/SoundTouchEffect.cpp
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ bool EffectSoundTouch::ProcessOne(WaveTrack *track,
 {
    mSoundTouch->setSampleRate((unsigned int)(track->GetRate()+0.5));
 
-   auto outputTrack = mFactory->NewWaveTrack(track->GetSampleFormat(), track->GetRate());
+   auto outputTrack = track->EmptyCopy();
 
    //Get the length of the buffer (as double). len is
    //used simple to calculate a progress meter, so it is easier
@@ -262,10 +262,8 @@ bool EffectSoundTouch::ProcessStereo(
 {
    mSoundTouch->setSampleRate((unsigned int)(leftTrack->GetRate() + 0.5));
 
-   auto outputLeftTrack = mFactory->NewWaveTrack(leftTrack->GetSampleFormat(),
-                                                       leftTrack->GetRate());
-   auto outputRightTrack = mFactory->NewWaveTrack(rightTrack->GetSampleFormat(),
-                                                        rightTrack->GetRate());
+   auto outputLeftTrack = leftTrack->EmptyCopy();
+   auto outputRightTrack = rightTrack->EmptyCopy();
 
    //Get the length of the buffer (as double). len is
    //used simple to calculate a progress meter, so it is easier
diff --git a/src/effects/StereoToMono.cpp b/src/effects/StereoToMono.cpp
index 0bda8da70..a1d499e11 100644
--- a/src/effects/StereoToMono.cpp
+++ b/src/effects/StereoToMono.cpp
@@ -139,8 +139,8 @@ bool EffectStereoToMono::ProcessOne(int count)
    Floats rightBuffer{ idealBlockLen };
    bool bResult = true;
 
-   auto outTrack =
-      mFactory->NewWaveTrack(floatSample, mLeftTrack->GetRate());
+   auto outTrack = mLeftTrack->EmptyCopy();
+   outTrack->ConvertToSampleFormat( floatSample );
 
    while (index < mEnd) {
       bResult &= mLeftTrack->Get((samplePtr)leftBuffer.get(), floatSample, index, idealBlockLen);
diff --git a/src/effects/nyquist/Nyquist.cpp b/src/effects/nyquist/Nyquist.cpp
index a57430a0b..befa7bcab 100644
--- a/src/effects/nyquist/Nyquist.cpp
+++ b/src/effects/nyquist/Nyquist.cpp
@@ -1498,15 +1498,12 @@ bool NyquistEffect::ProcessOne()
 
    double rate = mCurTrack[0]->GetRate();
    for (int i = 0; i < outChannels; i++) {
-      sampleFormat format = mCurTrack[i]->GetSampleFormat();
-
       if (outChannels == (int)mCurNumChannels) {
          rate = mCurTrack[i]->GetRate();
       }
 
-      outputTrack[i] = mFactory->NewWaveTrack(format, rate);
-      if ( mCurTrack[i] )
-         outputTrack[i]->SetWaveColorIndex( mCurTrack[i]->GetWaveColorIndex() );
+      outputTrack[i] = mCurTrack[i]->EmptyCopy();
+      outputTrack[i]->SetRate( rate );
 
       // Clean the initial buffer states again for the get callbacks
       // -- is this really needed?
diff --git a/src/menus/EditMenus.cpp b/src/menus/EditMenus.cpp
index 23c1304fb..6a4b550e3 100644
--- a/src/menus/EditMenus.cpp
+++ b/src/menus/EditMenus.cpp
@@ -101,8 +101,7 @@ bool DoPasteNothingSelected(AudacityProject &project)
                   // Cause duplication of block files on disk, when copy is
                   // between projects
                   locker.emplace(wc);
-               uNewTrack = trackFactory.NewWaveTrack(
-                  wc->GetSampleFormat(), wc->GetRate()),
+               uNewTrack = wc->EmptyCopy();
                pNewTrack = uNewTrack.get();
             },
 #ifdef USE_MIDI
@@ -597,8 +596,7 @@ void OnPaste(const CommandContext &context)
                wt->ClearAndPaste(t0, t1, wc, true, true);
             }
             else {
-               auto tmp = trackFactory.NewWaveTrack(
-                  wt->GetSampleFormat(), wt->GetRate());
+               auto tmp = wt->EmptyCopy();
                tmp->InsertSilence( 0.0,
                   // MJS: Is this correct?
                   clipboard.Duration() );