See also the new video version of this post, on the Videos Page of this site!
I created a text file for clients to keep on screen, or print out and post near the monitor in their studios, listing what I consider essential Keyboard Shortcuts for Pro Tools.
Since there are so many Keyboard Shortcuts, my thinking was to try and pair it down to only those one needs for basic workflow, in recording and editing Audio and MIDI. Of course this is a subjective thing, and depends on a person’s thought process, and individual way of working.
On this document I use the plus (+) sign to indicate key combinations, for example ‘Control + Option” means hold the Control key and the Option key, (you already knew that, but I mention it to avoid potential confusion..) This version assumes you are running Pro Tools 8 or Pro Tools 9 on a Mac.
Remember that the Keyboard Focus Button must be highlighted yellow, indicating that Keyboard Focus is on, in order for Keyboard Shortcuts to work:
This is an evolving document that will probably be revised later, but here goes..
Essential Pro Tools Keyboard Shortcuts:
Zoom Horizontally Zoom out = R Zoom in = T
Zoom Vertically Control + Option + up and down arrows
Zoom in to Selection Option + F
Zoom to view entire session Control + Option + A
Zoom Toggle E
Open/Close Transport Command + 1 on Numeric Keypad
Toggle Tool Selection Esc
Toggle Mix and Edit Windows Command + =
Open MIDI Editor Control + =
Open MIDI Event List Option + =
Open Score Editor Control + Option + =
Close Window Command + W
Open/Close Event Operations Option + 0 (Zero)
Change Grid Value Control + Option + Plus/Minus keys on Numeric Keypad
Change Nudge Value Command + Option + Plus/Minus keys on Numeric Keypad
Nudge Events/Regions + and – keys on the Numeric Keypad
Separate at Selection B or Command + E
Copy and Paste Events/Regions Option + Click and Drag
Mute Regions Command + M
Create Fades Command + F
Create New Tracks Command + Shift + N
Import Audio Command + Shift + I
New in Pro Tools 9
Create New Playlist Control + \
Create Duplicate Playlist Command + Control + \
Transport mode Shortcuts (on Numeric Keypad)
Play/Stop 0
Rewind 1
Fast Forward 2
Record Enable 3
Loop Play back mode on/off 4
Loop Record mode on/off 5
Quick Punch mode on/off 6
Click on/off 7
Count-off on/off 8
MIDI Merge/Replace mode on/off 9
Note about Keyboard Shortcuts in General:
Holding Option while performing an operation applies that operation to all tracks.
Holding Shift-Option while performing an operation applies that operation to the selected tracks.
WOW this site is great! very informative and in plain English… Thanx
Hi & thanks for this great page. I have been using the shortcuts you describe but today they have become in-opereable, just disappeared?
Is there a way to restore them please?
Thanks you,
Hi Ken,
In the upper right corner of the Tracks Pane in the Edit Window click on the Keyboard Focus button so it is on (it’s the little square with the letters on it, that turns yellow when you click it on.)
The Keyboard Focus button can also be found in the upper right of the Regions List and the Groups List.
The Keyboard Shortcuts only work when the ‘Keyboard Focus’ button is on.
Thanks for your question, that one comes up often for people,
Marlowe
MARLOWE, THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE…
sorry I’m not really yelling!
Much appreciated, all the best, Ken
You’re welcome Ken, thanks for your comment