Updated 7.3.2021
We have to be efficient when sound editing and mixing film and video. Budgets are shrinking and it’s expected to deliver high quality sound in almost no time. The deadline is in 4 hours. A proper workflow with key commands is… the key.
The following key commands are focused on audio post production:
| Action | Key command | Alternative / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| create new project from template | cmd + n | |
| create new track | opt + cmd + n | |
| create new track with duplicate settings | cmd + d | |
| open global preferences | cmd + , | |
| move playhead | shift + click on empty area | |
| move playhead to beginning of project | return | |
| move playhead 1 frame forward (no default key command) | ctrl + . | shift + j |
| move playhead 1 frame backward (no default key command) | ctrl + , | shift + cmd + j |
| playback start/stop | space | |
| play from selection | shift + space | |
| scroll horizontally | shift + scroll | |
| fast scroll (horizontal and vertical) | shift + ctrl + drag | |
| horizontal zoom | cmd + arrows left right | shift + opt + scroll |
| vertical zoom | cmd + arrows up down | opt + scroll |
| zoom | z | |
| track zoom | ctrl + z | |
| area zoom | ctrl + alt + drag area | |
| 1 step back from zoomed area | ctrl + alt + click | |
| key commands window | opt + k | |
| library show/hide | y | |
| inspector show/hide | i | |
| toolbar show/hide | ctrl + opt + cmd + t | |
| smart controls show/hide | b | |
| mixer show/hide | x | |
| editor show/hide | e | |
| list editor show/hide | d | |
| loop browser show/hide | o | |
| file browser show/hide | f | |
| global tracks show/hide | g | |
| hide track | ctrl + h | |
| hidden tracks show/hide | h | |
| switch between screensets | 1-9 | |
| new mixer window | cmd + 2 | |
| new file editor window | cmd + 6 | opt + double click region |
| close window | cmd + w | |
| show/hide all open plugin windows | v | |
| close all open plugin windows | shift + close a plugin window | |
| open specific plugin window | shift + 1-9 | Not a default command. |
| open region in external audio editor | shift + w | I use Izotope RX8. |
| cut | cmd + x | |
| copy | cmd + c | |
| paste | cmd + v | |
| paste at original position | ctrl + alt cmd + v | Not a default command. Highly useful when copying regions to new tracks. |
| undo | cmd + z | |
| redo | shift + cmd + z | |
| split region(s) | cmd + t | |
| join region(s) | cmd + j | One method to create an interleaved stereo file 2 mono files. |
| split region inside a region | drag selection with marquee tool + click | ctrl + cmd + t |
| stretch audio region | opt + drag handles | |
| move region(s) or playhead in detail | ctrl + drag region(s) | |
| move region(s) by nudge value | opt + arrows left right | |
| duplicate region(s) | opt + drag | |
| duplicate region(s) to new track in sync | opt + drag to new track + shift | |
| move region(s) to selected track | shift + ctrl + t | |
| move regions to playhead position | ; | ctrl + cmd + , (for Nordic keyboards, not a default command) |
| tool menu | t | Example: t + a = fade tool |
| back to pointer tool | tt | |
| secondary tool | hold cmd | |
| mute track | m | |
| mute region | ctrl + m | |
| solo track | s | |
| solo region | ctrl + s | |
| solo safe track | ctrl + click on track solo button | |
| record enable | ctrl + r | |
| record | r | |
| import audio file | shift + cmd + i | |
| import video file | opt + cmd + o | |
| cycle on/off | c | |
| set cycle bar to selected region | u | |
| split region(s) by locator (cycle or marquee length) | ctrl + cmd + t | |
| loop region | l | |
| automation show/hide | a | |
| automation and fade curve tool | ctrl + shift | t + w |
| create 2 automation points at region border | shift + ctrl + cmd + 2 | |
| automation touch mode (no default key command) | ctrl + opt a | |
| automation latch mode | ctrl + cmd + a | |
| flex show/hide | cmd + f | |
| colors | opt + c | |
| color regions after track | shift + opt + c | |
| configure track header | opt + t | |
| configure global tracks | opt + g | |
| rename track | shift + return | double click on track name |
| rename region | shift + n | t + shift & t + click |
| rename regions after track name | opt + shift + n | |
| create bus track from mixer to main window | ctrl + t | |
| create track stack | shift + cmd + d | |
| learn parameter for controller assignments | cmd + l | |
| show audio file in finder | shift + cmd + r | Great for easily finding files in large OMF sessions to checking original location timecode using Wave Agent. |
| bounce in place | ctrl + b | I use this all the time with audio restoration when I want the original raw file/region to be there as a backup in the same session. |
| bounce to disk | cmd + b |
This list is also available in pdf. Download it and try them.
Here you can download my Logic Pro X key commands preset file.
Check out this Logic Pro X Key Command site for more tips.
Also check out the Matias RGB Backlit Wired Aluminum Keyboard for Mac I use in my studio. It’s great.