Pro Tools Shortcuts:
Note: It still seems to be the case that the majority of our readers are using Pro
Tools on a Macintosh computer, so well describe the Mac keystrokes. These
shortcuts will all work on a Windows computer, just substitute Control (Windows)
for Command (Mac), Alt (Windows) for Option (Mac), Start (Windows) for
Control (Mac). On the Mac, the Command key is the one with the Apple on it.
Universal Functions:
Apply changes to all tracks..Option
Apply changes to selected tracksOption-Shift
Fine control when moving faders, knobs & breakpoints..Command
Tools & Edit-Modes:
Shuffle mode..F1 or Option 1
Slip modeF2 or Option 2
Spot mode..F3 or Option 3
Grid mode..F4 or Option 4
Zoomer tool..F5 or Command 1
Trimmer tool.F6 or Command 2
Selector tool F7 or Command 3
Grabber tool.F8 or Command 4
Scrubber tool...F9 or Command 5
Pencil tool..F10 or Command 6
Pro Tools Shortcuts 1
Display/View Shortcuts:
Toggle edit & mixer [Link] +
Toggle waveform & volume [Link]
Toggle waveform & volume displays all [Link] Option
Navigating:
Move cursor to next edit point, sync point or audio transientTab
Move cursor to previous edit point, sync point or audio [Link] Tab
Zoom to end of selection...Right arrow
Zoom to beginning of selectionLeft arrow
Zoom to selectionOption F
Zoom to entire session...Option A
Zoom to preset zoom level..Control 1/2/3/4/5
Zoom In...Command right bracket
Zoom Out..Command left bracket
Increase waveform size vertically..Command Option right bracket
Reduce waveform size vertically..Command Option left bracket
Pro Tools Shortcuts 2
Selecting:
Extend selection to next region boundary..Shift Tab
Extend selection to previous region boundary..Shift Option Tab
Select next region..Control Tab
Select previous region..Control Option Tab
Select from cursor to beginning of sessionShift Return
Select from cursor to end of [Link] Shift Return
Set selection start while playing(down arrow)
Set selection end while playing..(up arrow)
Fades:
Fade In from the start of the segment to the [Link] D
Fade Out from the cursor to the end of the [Link] G
Edit / Create fades..Command F
Create crossfade by highlighting audio across two regions......Command F
Create default crossfade across two [Link] Control F
Pro Tools Shortcuts 3
Moving Regions:
Move region start to playhead..Control click with Grabber Tool (in Slip Mode)
Align two regions start times on different tracks..Select static region, then
control click on the second region with the grabber tool.
Drag region to new track retaining start time..Hold Control key, drag with
grabber to new track, in slip mode.
Playback:
Half-Speed PlaybackShift Spacebar
Temporary [Link] drag (with selector tool)
Change Playback Speed (shuttle lock).Control 1-9 on numeric keypad
(5 is normal, 1 is slowest, 9 is fastest.)
Custom Playback Speed Set Control 9 in Preferences>> Operation>>
Custom Shuttle Lock speed.
Importing and Exporting:
Import a soundfile into the region [Link] Shift I
Export a selected region from the region bin..Command Shift K
Pro Tools Shortcuts 4
Defining Regions:
Create [Link] E
(this creates a break at the cursor, or creates a new region if a section of the
soundfile is highlighted.)
Heal SeparationCommand H
(this rejoins separated regions, as long as they have not moved relative to one
another, or been altered by a destructive process, like normalizing, gain, EQ,
etc.)
A continuous soundfile can be automatically separated into multiple regions,
based on (relative) silence between sections. This is most helpful in separating
narration sessions or other recordings with spaces of silence separating the
takes.
Highlight the soundfile, then select Strip [Link] Shift U
Region Locking / Grouping:
Lock and unlock regions in timeCommand L
Group highlighted [Link] Option G
Ungroup grouped regions..Command Option U
Pro Tools Shortcuts 5
