Keyboard shortcuts
Every key in one place — this is where editing speed comes from.
3 min
Editing fast isn't about using the mouse well — it's about reaching for it less. Left hand on the keyboard, right hand on the mouse, and cutting, deleting and playing back all happen in an instant. This page lists every key.
Don't try to memorise them all. Start with Space, S, Delete and Ctrl+Z — those four cover ninety per cent of the work. The rest will stick on their own, as you come to need them.
Playback and navigation
- Play / pause
- Space
- Shuttle: backward / stop / forward (−4× … 4×)
- JKL
- One frame back / forward
- ←→
- 10 frames back / forward
- Shift←→
- To the start / end of the project
- HomeEnd
- To the previous / next clip edge
- []
- Set the play range in / out point
- IO
- Fullscreen preview
- F
Editing
- Split the clip at the playhead
- S
- Trim the clip's start to the playhead
- Q
- Trim the clip's end to the playhead
- W
- Add / remove a marker
- M
- Delete the selection (leaves a gap)
- Delete
- Delete and close the gap (ripple)
- ShiftDelete
- Copy
- CtrlC
- Paste at the playhead
- CtrlV
- Cut
- CtrlX
- Duplicate
- CtrlD
- Copy the style (color, effects, settings)
- CtrlAltC
- Paste the style
- CtrlAltV
Selection
- Select every clip
- CtrlA
- Clear the selection
- Esc
- Add a clip to the selection (
Ctrlworks too) - Shiftclick
- Drag from an empty spot — marquee (rubber-band) select
- drag
Timeline and mouse
- Zoom the timeline (the moment under the cursor stays put)
- Ctrlwheel
- Scroll horizontally
- wheel
- Zoom on a touchscreen or trackpad
- pinch
- Drag the ruler — move the playhead (scrub)
- drag
- Drag a clip edge — trim; drag its middle — move it
- drag
General
- Undo
- CtrlZ
- Redo
- CtrlShiftZ
- Open the shortcuts dialog
- ?