Pro Tools SE Shortcuts Guide

Version 8.0.3
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Pro Tools SE Shortcuts Guide
(for Pro Tools SE on Mac and Windows)

For increased operational speed and ease of use, there are many Pro Tools® SE keyboard and Right-click shortcuts to give you fast
access to a wide variety of tasks. This guide lists a variety of keyboard shortcuts and Right-click shortcuts available in each window
of Pro Tools, and 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.

Conventions Used in This Guide

Our guides use the following conventions to indicate menu choices and key commands:

Convention Action
File > Save Session Choose Save Session from the File menu.

Command+N/Control+N Hold down the Command (Apple) key (Mac) or the Control (Ctrl) key (Windows) and
press the N key.

Option+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys Hold down the Option key and press the Plus (+) or Minus (–) key (on numeric keypad
or QWERTY, as noted).

Command-click (Mac Only) Hold down the Command key and click the mouse button.

Right-click Click with the right mouse button.

Pro Tools SE Shortcuts Guide 1

Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard Shortcuts in the Main Pro Tools Window
The following shortcuts can be used in the main Pro Tools window for the features noted.

Action Mac Windows

Fine Tune adjustment
• Plug-in parameter editing • fader movement • automation data trimming

Fine Tune (Fine Adjust mode) Command-click on applicable Ctrl-click on applicable

fader/pot/breakpoint function (appli- fader/pot/breakpoint function (appli-
cable functions bulleted above) cable functions bulleted above)

Multi-select
• Tracks • Regions

Select multiple contiguous items (tracks, regions) Click to select first item, then Click to select first item, then
Shift-click another to select all similar Shift-click another to select all similar
items between (applicable items items between (applicable items
bulleted above) bulleted above)

Select multiple non-contiguous items (tracks, regions) Click to select first item, then Com- Click to select first item, then Ctrl-click
mand-click another to select all similar another to select all similar items
items between (applicable items between (applicable items
bulleted above) bulleted above)

Playback

Start/stop playback Spacebar Spacebar

Pause (pre-prime deck for instant playback and record) Control+Spacebar, or Option-click, on Start+Spacebar, or Alt-click on Trans-
Transport Play button port Play button

Center on selection start/end Left/Right Arrow keys (when selection Left/Right Arrow keys (when selection
exceeds window view) exceeds window view)

Loop playback toggle Command+Shift+L, or Control-click on Ctrl+Shift+L, or Start-click on Trans-

Transport Play button port Play button

Half-speed playback Shift+Spacebar Shift+Spacebar

Enter/Exit record during playback Command+Spacebar, F12, or click Command+Spacebar, F12, or click
Transport Record button Transport Record button

Record

Start record Command+Spacebar, F12, or 3 (on Ctrl+Spacebar, or F12, or 3 (on

numeric keypad)* numeric keypad)

Stop record Spacebar Spacebar

Loop record toggle Option+L Alt+L

*Some Pro Tools recording shortcuts use the same key commands as some Mac OS X shortcuts. If you want to retain use of these key
commands in Pro Tools, these Mac OS X shortcuts must be disabled. For more information, see the Avid Pro Tools SE User Guide.

2 Pro Tools SE Shortcuts Guide

Action Mac Windows
Transport Mode using Numeric Keypad

Play/Stop 0 0

Rewind 1 1

Fast Forward 2 2

Record 3 3

Loop Playback mode on/off 4 4

Loop Record mode on/off 5 5

Click on/off 7 7

Countoff on/off 8 8

Auditioning

Cue Transport to selection start/end Command+Left/Right Arrow keys Command+Left/Right Arrow keys

Edit Modes and Tools

Snap to Grid button on/off F4, or Option+4 (on QWERTY keyboard) F4, or Ctrl+4 (on QWERTY keyboard)

Zoomer tool F5, or Command+1 (on QWERTY key- F5, or Ctrl+1 (on QWERTY keyboard)
board)

Trimmer tool F6, or Command+2 (on QWERTY key- F6, or Ctrl+2 (on QWERTY keyboard)
board)

Selector tool F7, or Command+3 (on QWERTY key- F7, or Ctrl+3 (on QWERTY keyboard)
board)

Grabber tool F8, or Command+4 (on QWERTY key- F8, or Ctrl+4 (on QWERTY keyboard)
board)

Pencil tool F10, or Command+6 (on QWERTY key- F10, or Ctrl+6 (on QWERTY keyboard)
board, if Mac OS X Expose is disabled)

Cycle through Edit tools Escape (Esc) key Escape (Esc) key, or Center-click

Enable or disable Tab to Transients command Command+Option+Tab Ctrl+Alt+Tab

Edit Selection, Definition, and Navigation

Locate cursor to next region-boundary Tab (if Tab to Transients button is dis- Tab (if Tab to Transients button is
abled) enabled)

Locate cursor to previous region boundary Option+Tab (if Tab to Transients button Ctrl+Tab (if Tab to Transients button is
is disabled) enabled)

Go to and select next region Control+Tab Start+Tab

Go to and select previous region Control+Option+Tab Start+Ctrl+Tab or Start+Ctrl

Go to end of session Option+Return Ctrl+Enter

Extend selection to Song Start Shift+Return Shift+Enter

Extend selection to end of session Option+Shift+Return Ctrl+Shift+Enter

Set selection start/end during playback Down/Up Arrow keys Down/Up Arrow keys

Select entire region in Edit window Double-click with Selector Double-click with Selector tool

Pro Tools SE Shortcuts Guide 3

 Action Mac Windows
Select entire track in Edit window Triple-click with Selector, or single-click Triple-click with Selector tool, or sin-
in track and press Command+A gle-click in track and press Ctrl+A

Select all regions in all tracks in Edit window Return, then press Command+A Enter, then press Ctrl+A

Move the selection backward by the selection amount Command+Control+Option+L Ctrl+Alt+Start+L

Halve the length of the selection Command+Control+Option+Shift+L Ctrl+Alt+Start+Shift+L

Record enable tracks that contain the Edit cursor or Edit Shift+R Shift+R
selection

Solo tracks that contain the Edit cursor or Edit selectio Shift+S Shift+S

Mute tracks that contain the Edit cursor or Edit selection Shift+M Shift+M

Move the insertion to the beginning of the Edit selection Down arrow Up arrow

Move the insertion to the end of the Edit selection Down arrow Up arrow

Editing, Nudging, and Trimming

• In the following shortcuts, the Plus/Minus (+/–) key usage is on the numeric keypad only.

Change Grid value Control+Option+Plus/Minus (+/–) Start+Alt+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys

keys

Change Nudge value Command+Option+Plus/Minus (+/–) Ctrl+Alt+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys

keys

Nudge back by next Nudge value (Nudge Edit Minus (–) key (on numeric keypad) Minus (–) key (on numeric keypad)
selection and any regions entirely inside the Edit selection)

Nudge forward by next Nudge value (Nudge Edit Plus (+) key (on numeric keypad) Plus (+) key (on numeric keypad)
selection and any regions entirely inside the Edit selection)

Nudge start/end data to right/left by Nudge value Shift+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys Shift+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys
(keeps underlying audio and moves start/end)

Nudge data within current region to right/left by Control+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys Start+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys
Nudge value (keeps region start/end and moves underlying
audio)

Nudge left selection boundary right/left by Nudge Option+Shift+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys Alt+Shift+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys
value

Nudge right selection boundary right/left by Nudge Command+Shift+Plus/Minus (+/–) Ctrl+Shift+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys
value keys

Trim left edge of region to right/left by Nudge value Option+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys Alt+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys

Trim right edge of region to right/left by Nudge value Command+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys Ctrl+Plus/Minus (+/–) keys

Reverse Trimmer tool direction when trimming region Option+Trimmer tool Alt+Trimmer tool

Trim up to, but not over, adjacent regions Hold down Control key while trimming Hold down Start key while trimming

Duplicate region(s) in Edit window Option-click selection and drag to des- Alt-click selection and drag to destina-
tination tion

Delete selection Backspace or Delete (on QWERTY key- Backspace or Delete (on QWERTY key-
board) board)

Constrain audio region to vertical movement Control-click to move audio region with Start-click to move audio region with
Grabber tool Grabber tool

Snap region start to stationary playhead or Edit selection Control-click new region with Grabber Start-click new region with Grabber tool
start tool

4 Pro Tools SE Shortcuts Guide

Action Mac Windows
Snap region end to stationary playhead or Edit selection Command-Control-click new region Ctrl-Start-click new region with Grabber
start with Grabber tool tool

Zoom

Horizontal zoom in or out Command+ ] or [ Ctrl+ ] or [

Zoom to show entire session horizontally Command+Control+[ Ctrl+Start+[

File Menu Commands

• The following are shortcuts of commands found in the File Menu

New Session Command+N Ctrl+N

Open Session Command+O Ctrl+O

Open Recent Command+Shift+O Ctrl+Shift+O

Close session Command+Shift+W Ctrl+Shift+W

Save Session Command+S Ctrl+S

Export Audio Command+Option+B Ctrl+Alt+B

Import Audio Command+Shift+I Ctrl+Shift+I

Import MIDI Command+Option+l Ctrl+Alt+l

Import Movie Option+Shift+Command+I Alt+Shift+Ctrl+I

Print Score from Pro Tools Session Command+P Ctrl+P

Edit Menu Commands

• The following are shortcuts of commands found in the Edit Menu (some commands do not appear in the Edit Menu)

Undo Command+Z Ctrl+Z

Redo Command+Shift+Z Ctrl+Shift+Z

Cut Command+X Ctrl+X

Copy Command+C Ctrl+C

Paste Command+V Ctrl+V

Select All Command+A Ctrl+A

Paste Special to Current Automation Type Command+Control+V Ctrl+Start+V

Duplicate Selection Command+D Ctrl+D

Insert Silence Command+Shift+E Ctrl+Shift+E

Trim Region to Selection Command+T Ctrl+T

Trim Region Start to Insertion Option+Shift+7 Alt+Shift+7

Trim Region End to Insertion Option+Shift+8 Alt+Shift+8

Separate Region at Selection Command+E Ctrl+E

Heal Separation Command+H Ctrl+H

Combine selection Option+Shift+3 Alt+Shift+3

Pro Tools SE Shortcuts Guide 5

 Action Mac Windows
Marker Location and Markers

Create Marker Location Enter (on numeric keypad) Enter (on numeric keypad)

Delete Marker Location Option-click on a Memory Location Alt-click on a Memory Location marker
marker

Recall a Marker Location using the numeric keypad Period (.)+Memory Location num- Period (.)+Memory Location num-
ber+Period (.) ber+Period (.)

Automation

Vertically constrain automation movement Press Shift and move automation with Press Shift and move automation with
Grabber tool Grabber tool

Write new breakpoint to next automation value Press and hold Option+Shift while writ- Press and hold Alt+Shift while writing a
ing a breakpoint (by clicking with the breakpoint (by clicking with the Grab-
Grabber tool in a track’s Automation ber tool in a track’s Automation lane)
lane)

Write new breakpoint to previous automation value Press and hold Command+Option Press and hold Ctrl+Alt while writing a
while writing a breakpoint (by clicking breakpoint (by clicking with the Grab-
with the Grabber tool in a track’s Auto- ber tool in a track’s Automation lane)
mation lane)

Delete* Backspace Backspace

Cut* Command+X Ctrl+X

Copy* Command+C Ctrl+C

Duplicate* Command+D Ctrl+D

Clear* Command+B Ctrl+B

*Hold Down Control during the shortcut to affect all Automa-

tion parameters on the track

Fades

Create Fades Command+F Ctrl+F

Track Menu Commands

• The following are shortcuts of commands found in the Track Menu

New Track Command+Shift+N Ctrl+Shift+N

Duplicate Tracks Option+Shift+D Alt+Shift+D

Region Commands
• The following are shortcuts for region operations

Mute/Unmute Regions Command+M Ctrl+M

Bring to Front Option+Shift+F Alt+Shift+F

Send to Back Option+Shift+B Alt+Shift+B

Quantize Region to Nearest Grid Command+0 (zero) Ctrl+0 (zero)

6 Pro Tools SE Shortcuts Guide

Action Mac Windows
Elastic Audio
• The following shortcuts apply to tracks in Elastic Time view

Relocate a Warp marker (without applying warping) With the Grabber or the Pencil tool, With the Grabber or the Pencil tool,
Control-click and drag a Warp marker Start-click and drag a Warp marker to a
to a new location new location

Delete a Warp marker Double-click a Warp marker, or with the Double-click a Warp marker, or with the
Grabber or the Pencil tool, Option-click Grabber or the Pencil tool, Alt-click a
a Warp marker Warp marker

Delete all Warp markers in a selection Press Delete or Backspace Press Delete or Backspace

Preferences Dialog
• The following shortcuts apply to the Preferences dialog

Go to Audio tab Command+1 Ctrl+1

Go to Control Surfaces tab Command+2 Ctrl+2

Go to Sessions tab Command+3 Ctrl+3

Window Menu Commands

• The following are shortcuts of commands found in the Window Menu

Open Loops Option+Semi-Colon (;) Alt+Semi-Colon (;)

Open MIDI Editor Option+Control+Equal (=) Alt+Start+Equal (=)

Mixing
• The following shortcuts apply to the Mixer section of each track

Reset a control to default value Option-click on control Alt-click on control

Clear peak or clip-hold from meter Click on indicator Click on indicator

Bypass effect Command-click on effect name Ctrl-click on effect name

Clear all Clip indicators Option+C Alt+C

Numeric Entry
• The following shortcuts apply to current Location Counter

Edit Current Location and Big Counters Asterisk (*) (on numeric keypad) Asterisk (*) (on numeric keypad)

Move sub-unit selection to the right Period (.) Period (.)

Move sub-unit selection to the left/right Left/Right Arrow keys Left/Right Arrow keys

Increment/decrement the current sub-unit Up/Down Arrow keys Up/Down Arrow keys

Apply entered numeric value Enter Enter

Clear entered numeric value and exit Time Entry Esc (Escape) key Esc (Escape) key
mode

Text Entry
• The following shortcuts apply to all dialogs containing text fields

Move down or up rows Tab or Shift+Tab Tab or Shift+Tab

Move to beginning or end of edit contents Up/Down Arrow keys Up/Down Arrow keys

Move single letters at a time across a name label Left/Right Arrow keys Left/Right Arrow keys

Select entire word Double-click on word Double-click on word

Select entire line Triple-click on a word in the line Triple-click on a word in the line

Pro Tools SE Shortcuts Guide 7

 Action Mac Windows
Miscellaneous

Quit Pro Tools Command+Q Alt+F4

Scroll Wheel Commands

• The following shortcuts apply to moving scrollbars on systems with a scroll wheel.

Scroll horizontally Shift+Scroll Wheel Shift+Scroll Wheel

Fine-tune scroll (Fine Adjust mode) Shift+Command+Scroll Wheel Shift+Ctrl+Scroll Wheel

Zoom in/out of timeline Option+Scroll Wheel in timeline Alt+Scroll Wheel in timeline

8 Pro Tools SE Shortcuts Guide

Loops Window Shortcuts
The following shortcuts are available in the Loops window.

Action Mac Windows

Auditioning

Start or stop loop audition Spacebar Spacebar

Delete or Duplicate

Delete selected loops from the Loops dialog/disk Delete Delete

Create duplicates of any selected Loops Command+D Ctrl+D

Mouse Click

Select contiguous items Shift-click Shift-click

Column Headers: Make a secondary sort order Option-click Alt-click

– or –
Loops dialog Find button: Cancel a search, and closes the
Search pane

Loops window Up button: Open menu for navigating up sev- Command-click Ctrl-click
eral levels

Drag and Drop

From one folder to another folder on the same volume, cre- Option-drag and drop Alt-drag and drop
ate a copy of that item in the target location

Import loop to Timeline and create a new track Shift-drag and drop Shift-drag and drop

Navigation

Selection up Up Arrow key Up Arrow key

Selection down Down Arrow key Down Arrow key

Scroll Page up Page Up Page Up

Scroll Page down Page Down Page Down

Scroll to top of browser Home Home

Scroll to bottom of browser End End

Up one browser level (same as Up arrow icon) Command+Up Arrow key Ctrl+Up Arrow key

Enter/exit Name Edit field Enter or Return Enter

Revert to original text Escape (Esc) key Escape (Esc) key

Open/close Search pane Command+F Ctrl+F

Pro Tools SE Shortcuts Guide 9

 Right-Click Shortcuts
The following Right-click shortcuts apply to both Mac and Windows systems equipped with a two-button mouse. Right-clicking
on the noted features allow you to perform commands and access menus (if applicable).

Feature Shortcut
Edit Window

Region, region selection, or point in • Cut

region • Copy
(Waveform Track view) • Paste
• Select loop Record Take
• Duplicate
• Rename
• Separate
• Combine
• Conform to Tempo
• Snap to Next
• Snap to Previous
• Snap to Grid
• Transpose
• Export as loop
• Learn About
Region, region selection, or point in • Remove Warp
region • Remove Transpose
(Warp Track view) • Transpose
• Learn About
MIDI Editor Window

Midi Editor window • Cut

• Copy
• Paste
• Duplicate
• Separate
• Combine
• Snap to Grid
• Transpose
• Learn About

10 Pro Tools SE Shortcuts Guide

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