Pinnacle Systems Pro Tools User's Guide
Pro Tools
®
Mac Shortcuts
Version 8.0
Legal Notices
This guide is copyrighted ©2008 by Digidesign, a division of Avid Technology, Inc.
(hereafter “Digidesign”), with all rights reserved. Under copyright laws, this guide
may not be duplicated in whole or in part without the written consent of
Digidesign.
003, 003 Rack, 96 I/O, 96i I/O, 192 Digital I/O, 192 I/O, 888|24 I/O,
882|20 I/O, 1622 I/O, 24-Bit ADAT Bridge I/O, AudioSuite, Avid, Avid DNA, Avid
Mojo, Avid Unity, Avid Unity ISIS, Avid Xpress, AVoption, Axiom, Beat Detective,
Bomb Factory, Bruno, C|24, Command|8, Control|24, D-Command, D-Control, DFi, D-fx, D-Show, D-Verb, DAE, Digi 002, DigiBase, DigiDelivery, Digidesign,
Digidesign Audio Engine, Digidesign Intelligent Noise Reduction, Digidesign
TDM Bus, DigiDrive, DigiRack, DigiTest, DigiTranslator, DINR, D-Show,
DV Toolkit, EditPack, Eleven, HD Core, HD Process, Hybrid, Impact, Interplay,
LoFi, M-Audio, MachineControl, Maxim, Mbox, MediaComposer, MIDI I/O, MIX,
MultiShell, OMF, OMF Interchange, PRE, ProControl, Pro Tools M-Powered,
Pro Tools, Pro Tools|HD, Pro Tools LE, QuickPunch, Recti-Fi, Reel Tape, Reso,
Reverb One, ReVibe, RTAS, Sibelius, Smack!, SoundReplacer, Sound
Designer II, Strike, Structure, SYNC HD, SYNC I/O, Synchronic, TL Aggro, TL
AutoPan, TL Drum Rehab, TL Everyphase, TL Fauxlder, TL In Tune, TL
MasterMeter, TL Metro, TL Space, TL Utilities, Transfuser, Trillium Lane Labs,
Vari-Fi Velvet, X-Form, XMON, and Xpand! are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Digidesign and/or Avid Technology, Inc. All other trademarks are
the property of their respective owners.
Product features, specifications, system requirements, and availability are
subject to change without notice.
Guide Part Number 9329-59290-00 REV A 11/08
Documentation Feedback
At Digidesign, we're always looking for ways to improve our documentation. If you
have comments, corrections, or suggestions regarding our documentation, email
us at techpubs@digidesign.com.
Pro Tools Shortcuts
(for Pro Tools Systems on Mac)
For increased operational speed and ease-of-use, there are many Pro Tools® keyboard and Right-click shortcuts to give you fast access to a wide variety of tasks. This guide lists keyboard shortcuts and Right-click shortcuts. Shortcuts are grouped by functional
area for your added convenience and quick reference.
Menu commands that have a keyboard shortcut display their keyboard shortcut on-screen, to the right of the menu command.
References to Pro Tools LE® in this guide are usually interchangeable with Pro Tools M-Powered™, except as noted in the Pro Tools
M-Powered Setup Guide.
Conventions Used in This Guide
Digidesign® guides use the following conventions to indicate menu choices and key commands:
Table 1. Global keyboard shortcuts
Convention Action
File > Save Session Choose Save Session from the File menu.
Command+N Hold down the Command (Apple) key and press the N key.
Option+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys Hold down the Option key and press the Plus (+) or Minus (–) key (on numeric keypad
Command-click Hold down the Command key and click the mouse button.
Right-click Click with the right mouse button.
or QWERTY, as noted).
Mac Shortcuts for Pro Tools 1
Keyboard Shortcuts
Global Keyboard Shortcuts
Table 2. Global keyboard shortcuts
Task Shortcut
Change parameters on all similar channel strips Option+applicable function (applicable functions listed below)
Change parameter on all selected similar channel
strips
Applicable functions: Automation mode • Monitor mode • playlist enables • record, solo and mute enables
• record and solo safes • inserting plug-ins • I/O, bus, send assignment
• volume/peak indicator • extend Edit or Timeline selection • track heights • clear clip meter
Task Shortcut
Toggle item and set all others to same new state Option-click on applicable item (applicable items listed below)
Toggle item and set all others to opposite state Command-click on applicable item (applicable items listed directly below)
Applicable items: Tracks in Track List • Group enables/activation
• Automation Enable window • Memory Location parameters
Task Shortcut
Fine Tune (Fine Adjust mode) Command-click on applicable fader/pot/breakpoint function (applicable functions
Applicable functions: Plug-in parameter editing • fader movement • scrubbing
• automation data trimming (requires larger Track View for highest resolution)
Option+Shift+applicable function (applicable functions listed directly below)
listed below)
Task Shortcut
Select multiple contiguous items (tracks, regions,
paths)
Select multiple non-contiguous items (tracks,
regions, paths)
Applicable items: Tracks (click Track Names) • regions in Region List
Mac Shortcuts for Pro Tools2
Click to select first item, then Shift-click another to select all similar items between
(applicable items listed below)
Click to select first item, then Command-click another to select all similar items
between (applicable items listed below)
• paths in I/O Setup
Playback and Record
Table 3. Playback and Record shortcuts
Task Shortcut
Start/stop playback Spacebar
Start record Command+Spacebar, F12, or 3 (on numeric keypad)
Stop record Spacebar
Stop record and discard recording take (not undoable)
Half-speed playback Shift+Spacebar
Half-speed record Command+Shift+Spacebar, or Shift+F12
Pause (pre-prime deck for instant playback and
record)
Enable/disable online record Command+Option+Spacebar
Enable/disable online playback Command+J, or Option+Spacebar
Center on selection start/end Left/Right Arrow keys (when selection exceeds window view)
Play Edit selection Option+[
Back/Forward (move the playback location backwards/forwards by the Back/Forward amount)
(Pro Tools HD only)
The Mac OS X Dashboard feature uses the same key command Pro Tools uses to
start recording (F12). If you want to retain use of this key command in Pro Tools, this
shortcut must be disabled. For more information, see your Setup Guide.
Command+Period (.)
The Mac OS X Dashboard feature uses the same key command Pro Tools uses to
start recording (F12). If you want to retain use of this key command in Pro Tools, this
shortcut must be disabled. For more information, see your Setup Guide.
Control+Spacebar, or Option-click, on Transport Play button
Command+Transpor t Rewind button or Transport Fast Forward button
Back/Forward and Play (move the playback location
backwards/forwards by Back/Forward amount and
then begin playback) (Pro Tools HD only)
Extend a selection backwards by the Back/Forward
amount (Pro Tools HD only)
Extend the selection backwards by the Back/Forward amount and begin playback (Pro Tools HD only)
Record-safe track Command-click on track Record Enable button
Solo-safe track Command-click on track Solo button
Cycle through record modes: normal, Destructive,
Loop, QuickPunch
Loop playback toggle Command+Shift+L, or Control-click on Transport Play button
Loop Transport Mode Command+Control+P
Loop Record Option+L
TrackPunch (Pro Tools HD only) Command+Shift+T
™, TrackPunch, DestructivePunch
Command+Option+Transpor t Rewind button or Transport Fast Forward button
Shift+Command+Transport Rewind button or Transport Fast Forward button
Shift+Command+Option+Transport Rewind button or Transport Fast Forward button
Control-click on Transport Record Enable button
Mac Shortcuts for Pro Tools 3
Table 3. Playback and Record shortcuts
Task Shortcut
QuickPunch Command+Shift+P
Enter/Exit record during playback in QuickPunch Command+Spacebar, F12, or click Transport Record button
The Mac OS X Dashboard feature uses the same key command Pro Tools uses to
start recording (F12). If you want to retain use of this key command in Pro Tools, this
shortcut must be disabled. For more information, see your Setup Guide.
DestructivePunch or TrackPunch enable/disable an
audio track
DestructivePunch or TrackPunch enable/disable all
audio tracks
DestructivePunch or TrackPunch enable/disable all
selected audio tracks
Simultaneously DestructivePunch or TrackPunch
enable/disable and record enable/disable all audio
tracks
Simultaneously DestructivePunch or TrackPunch
enable/disable and record enable/disable all
selected audio tracks
Temporarily force all VCA slave tracks to toggle their
record enable status (Pro Tools HD only)
Temporarily force all VCA slave tracks to toggle their
Track Input status (Pro Tools HD only
Enable or disable pre/post-roll time Command+K
Set and enable pre/post-roll time Option-click with Selector before or after selection
Disable and set to zero pre/post-roll time Option-click within selection closer to front or back
Control-click the track’s Record Enable button
Option-Control-click a track’s Record Enable button
Control-Option-Shift-click a track’s Record Enable button
Option-click a track’s Record Enable button
Option-Shift-click a track’s Record Enable button
Option-click the VCA Record Enable button
Option-click the VCA TrackInput button
Toggle Transport Master (Pro Tools/Machine/MMC) Command+Backslash (\)
Auditioning
When Transport = Pro Tools
Table 4. Auditioning shortcuts when Transport = Pro Tools
Task Shortcut
Play by pre-roll value up to selection start/end
(or current location if no selection)
Play by post-roll value from selection start/end
(or current cursor location if no selection)
Play by pre- and post-roll value through selection
start/end
Mac Shortcuts for Pro Tools4
Option+Left/Right Arrow keys
Command+Left/Right Arrow keys
Command+Option+Left/Right Arrow keys
When Transport = Machine/MMC
Table 5. Auditioning shortcuts when Transport = Machine/MMC
Task Shortcut
Cue Transport to selection start/end Command+Left/Right Arrow keys
Cue Transport with pre/post-roll to selection
start/end
Option+Left/Right Arrow keys
Scrub (Jog)/Shuttle
Table 6. Scrub (Jog)/Shuttle shortcuts
Task Shortcut
Temporary Scrub mode when using Selector Control-click and drag
Extend selection while scrubbing Shift-click and drag with the Scrubber tool, (also in temporary Scrub mode)
Shuttle Option-click-drag with Scrubber tool, (also in temporary Scrub mode)
Shuttle Lock (Classic or Transport mode) Control+number key 1–9 (1=minimum, 5=real-time, 9=maximum)
Change direction during Shuttle Lock (Classic or
Transport mode)
Shuttle Lock stop (Classic or Transport mode) 0 (press number key to resume shuttle)
Exit Shuttle Lock mode (Classic or Transport mode) Spacebar or Escape (Esc) key
Plus/Minus (+/–) keys
For example, Control+number+Minus (–) key
Transport Mode Shortcuts with Numeric Keypad
Select Transport mode in the Operations Preferences page.
Table 7. Transport mode shortcuts
Task Shortcut (on Numeric Keypad)
Play/Stop 0
Rewind 1
Fast Forward 2
Record Enable 3
Loop Playback mode on/off 4
Loop Record mode on/off 5
QuickPunch mode on/off 6
Click on/off 7
Countoff on/off 8
MIDI Merge/Replace mode on/off 9
Mac Shortcuts for Pro Tools 5
Shuttle Mode Shortcuts with Numeric Keypad
(Pro Tools HD Only)
Select Shuttle mode in the Operations Preferences page.
Tabl e 8 . Sh ut t le mod e s hor t cu ts
Task Shortcut
1 x Forward playback speed 6
1 x Rewind playback speed 4
4 x Forward playback speed 9
4 x Rewind playback speed 7
1/4 x Forward playback speed 3
1/4 x Rewind playback speed 1
1/2 x Forward playback speed 5+6
1/2 x Rewind playback speed 5+4
2 x Forward playback speed 8+9
2 x Backward playback speed 8+7
1/16 x Forward playback speed 2+3
1/16 x Backward playback speed 2+1
Loop playback of Edit Selection 0
Edit Modes and Tools
Table 9. Edit mode and tool shortcuts
Task Shortcut
Shuffle mode F1, or Option+1 (on QWERTY keyboard)
Slip mode F2, or Option+2 (on QWERTY keyboard)
Spot mode F3, or Option+3 (on QWERTY keyboard)
Grid mode F4,or Option+4 (on QWERTY keyboard)
Enable Snap To Grid while in another Edit mode. Shfit+F4
Enable Snap to Grid and Shuffle mode. F1+F4
Enable Snap to Grid and Slip mode F2+F4
Enable Snap to Grid and Spot mode. F3+F4
Zoomer tool F5, or Command+1 (on QWERTY keyboard)
Trimmer tool F6, or Command+2 (on QWERTY keyboard)
Selector tool F7, or Command+3 (on QWERTY keyboard)
Mac Shortcuts for Pro Tools6
Table 9. Edit mode and tool shortcuts
Task Shortcut
Grabber tool F8, or Command+4 (on QWERTY keyboard)
Scrubber tool F9, or Command+5 (on QWERTY keyboard, if Mac OS X Expose is disabled)
Pencil tool F10, or Command+6 (on QWERTY keyboard, if Mac OS X Expose is disabled)
Smart Tool F6+F7, F7+F8, or Command+7 (on QWERTY keyboard)
Cycle through Edit modes Single Open Quote (‘) key, located above the Tab key
Cycle through Edit tools Escape (Esc) key
Lock out or unlock Shuffle Mode Command-click the Shuffle button
Edit Selection, Definition, and Navigation
Table 10. Edit selection, definition and navigation shortcuts
Task Shortcut
Enable or disable Tab to Transients command Command+Option+Tab
Locate cursor to next region-boundary/sync point Tab (if Tab to Transients button is enabled)
Locate cursor to previous region boundary/sync
point
Go to and select next region Control+Tab
Go to and select previous region Control+Option+Tab
Go to Song Start Control+Return
Extend selection to Song Start Shift+Control+Return
Extend selection to next region-boundary Shift+Tab
Extend selection to previous region-boundary Option+Shift+Tab
Extend selection to include next region Control+Shift+Tab
Extend selection to include previous region Control+Shift+Option+Tab
Return to start of session Return
Go to end of session Option+Return
Extend selection to start of session Shift+Return
Extend selection to end of session Option+Shift+Return
Link Timeline and Edit selection Shift+Forward Slash (/)
Option+Tab (if Tab to Transients button is enabled)
Set selection start/end during playback Down/Up Arrow keys
Set selection start/end to incoming time code while
stopped
Select entire region in Edit window Double-click with Selector
Down/Up Arrow keys
Mac Shortcuts for Pro Tools 7
Table 10. Edit selection, definition and navigation shortcuts
Task Shortcut
Select entire track in Edit window Triple-click with Selector, or single-click in track and press Command+A
Select all regions in all tracks in Edit window Return, then press Command+A
Extend cursor or selection across all tracks Enable “All” Edit group and Shift-click on any other track
Move the selection forward by the selection amount Command+Control+Option+Apostrophe (’)
Move the selection backward by the selection
amount
Double the length of the Edit selection Command+Control+Option+Shift+Apostrophe (‘)
Halve the length of the selection Command+Control+Option+Shift+L
Cancel Zoom toggle and remain at the same zoom
level
Fit all shown tracks in the Edit window Command+Option+Control+Up arrow or Down arrow
Record enable tracks that contain the Edit cursor or
Edit selection
Input enable tracks that contain the Edit cursor or
Edit selection
Solo tracks that contain the Edit cursor or Edit selectio
Mute tracks that contain the Edit cursor or Edit
selection
Move the insertion to the beginning of the Edit selection
Move the insertion to the end of the Edit selection Up arrow
Command+Control+Option+L
Option+Shift+E
Shift+R
Shift+I
Shift+S
Shift+M
Down arrow
Increase or decrease the height of any lane that contains the Edit cursor or an Edit selection
Control+Up/Down Arrow
Editing, Nudging and Trimming
In the following shortcuts, the Plus/Minus (+/–) key usage is on the numeric keypad only.
Table 11. Editing, navigation and trimming shortcuts
Task Shortcut
Change Grid value Control+Option+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys
Change Nudge value Command+Option+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys
Nudge back by next Nudge value
(Nudge Edit selection and any regions entirely inside
the Edit selection)
Nudge forward by next Nudge value
(Nudge Edit selection and any regions entirely inside
the Edit selection)
Mac Shortcuts for Pro Tools8
Minus (–) key (on numeric keypad), or Comma (,) (in Commands Keyboard Focus)
Plus (+) key (on numeric keypad), or Period (.) (in Commands Keyboard Focus)
Table 11. Editing, navigation and trimming shortcuts
Task Shortcut
Nudge start/end data to right/left by Nudge value
(keeps underlying audio and moves start/end)
Nudge data within current region to right/left by
Nudge value (keeps region start/end and moves
underlying audio)
Nudge left selection boundary right/left by Nudge
value
Nudge right selection boundary right/left by Nudge
value
Trim left edge of region to right/left by Nudge value Option+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys
Trim right edge of region to right/left by Nudge value Command+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys
Reverse Trimmer tool direction when trimming region Option+Trimmer tool
Trim up to, but not over, adjacent regions Hold down Control key while trimming
Duplicate region(s) in Edit Window Option-click selection and drag to destination
Delete selection in playlist Backspace or Delete (on QWERTY keyboard)
Constrain audio region to vertical movement Control-click to move audio region with Grabber tool
Snap region start to stationary playhead or Edit
selection start
Shift+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys
Control+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys
Option+Shift+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys
Command+Shift+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys
Control-click new region with Grabber tool
Snap region sync point to stationary playhead or Edit
selection start
Snap region end to stationary playhead or Edit selection start
Control-Shift-click region containing the sync point with Grabber tool
Command-Control-click new region with Grabber tool
Track Compositing
Table 12. Track Compositing shortcuts
Task Shortcut
Solo any one Playlist lane containing the Edit cursor Shift+S
Move the Edit cursor up and down through Playlist
lanes
Copy the selection to the main playlist Option+Control+P
Copy the selection to a new playlist Command+Option+Control+P
Copy the selection to a duplicate of the main playlist Command+Option+Control+Shift+P
Control+P and Control+Semi-Colon (;)
Mac Shortcuts for Pro Tools 9
File Menu Commands
Table 13. File menu command shortcuts
Task Shortcut
New Session Command+N
Open Session Command+O
Open Recent Command+Shift+O
Close session Command+Shift+W
Save Session Command+S
Bounce to Disk Command+Option+B
Import Session Data Shift+Option+I
Import Audio Command+Shift+I
Import MIDI Command+Option+l
Print Score from Pro Tools Session Command+P
Missing Files Dialog Commands
Table 14. Missing Files dialog command shortcuts
Task Shortcut
Skip all missing files Command+S
Manually find and relink all missing files Command+M
Automatically find and relink all missing files Command+A
Regenerate missing fades (toggle on/off) Command+R
Mac Shortcuts for Pro Tools10
Edit Menu Commands
Table 15. Edit menu command shortcuts
Task Shortcut
Undo Command+Z
Redo Command+Shift+Z
Cut Command+X
Copy Command+C
Paste Command+V
Clear Command+B
Select All Command+A
Paste Special Merge Option+M
Paste Special Repeat to Fill Selection Command+Option+V
Paste Special to Current Automation Type Command+Control+V
Change Timeline Selection to Edit Selection Option+Shift+6 (on numeric keypad)
Change Edit Selection to Match Timeline Selection Option+Shift+5 (on numeric keypad)
Play Edit Selection Option+[
Play Timeline Selection Option+]
Duplicate selection Command+D
Repeat selection Option+R
Shift selection Option+H
Insert Silence Command+Shift+E
Trim Region to Selection Command+T
Trim Region Start to Insertion Option+Shift+7
Trim Region End to Insertion Option+Shift+8
Separate Region at Selection Command+E
Heal Separation Command+H
Strip Silence Command+U
Consolidate selection Option+Shift+3
TCE Edit to Timeline selection
(Pro Tools HD systems and Pro Tools LE with
DV Toolkit
Automation Region menu commands See Table 16 on page 12
Fades Region menu commands See Table 17 on page 13
Restore Last Selection Command+Option+Z
™ 2 only)
Option+Shift+U
Mac Shortcuts for Pro Tools 11
Automation
Table 16. Automation shortcuts
Task Shortcut
Toggle Track View on all tracks Option+Minus (–) key (on QWERTY keyboard)
Change to previous/next Track View on all tracks
included in the current selection
Change to previous/next Track View on all tracks Control+Option+Command+Left/Right Arrow keys
Disable/enable Automation playlist on selected
track
Disable/enable all Automation playlists on selected
track
Open Plug-in Automation dialog Command-Opt-Control-click on Track View selector (in Edit window)
Access Plug-in Automation commands (Pro Tools HD
only): Automation dialog, Enable/disable plug-in
automation
Copy Automation to Send (Pro Tools HD only) Command+Option+H
Thin Automation Command+Option+T
Write automation to start of session/selection
(Pro Tools HD only)
Write automation to end of session/selection
(Pro Tools HD only)
Write automation from start to end of session/selection (Pro Tools HD only)
Control+Command+Left/Right Arrow keys
Command-click on Track View selector
Command-Shift-click on Track View selector
Command-Option-Control-click on parameters (in Plug-in window)
Control-click on Transport Return to Zero button
Control-click on Transport Go to End button
Control-Shift-click on Transport Go to End or Return to Zero button
Write Automation to Current Parameter
(Pro Tools HD only)
Write Automation to All Enabled Parameters
(Pro Tools HD only)
Trim Automation to Current Parameter
(Pro Tools HD only)
Trim Automation to All Enabled Parameters
(Pro Tools HD only)
Glide Automation to Current Parameter
(Pro Tools HD and Pro Tools LE with DV Toolkit 2
only)
Glide Automation to All Enabled Parameters
(Pro Tools HD and Pro Tools LE with DV Toolkit 2
only)
Suspend Trim automation on all tracks In the Automation window, Command-click the Suspend button
Suspend currently displayed automation type on a
track
Vertically constrain automation movement Press Shift and move automation with Grabber tool
Command+Forward Slash (/)
Command+Option+Forward Slash (/)
Command+Shift+Forward Slash (/)
Command+Option+Shift+Forward Slash (/)
Option+Forward Slash (/)
Option+Shift+ Forward Slash (/)
Command-click the control name in the Track View selector
Mac Shortcuts for Pro Tools12
Loading...