Updated: 6-10-12
     
     

        
Share your Avid Keyboard

If you would like to share your keyboard:

1. Take a screen snapshot and e-mail it to me at Ben [at] ContactBen [dot] com (please put "Keyboard Exchange" in the subject line).
2. If you'd like, include a brief description of work you do, why you like your setup, and any links you'd like me to include with your entry.

     
 

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The Keyboards

A lot can be gained by seeing how other editors work. I hope that these examples will get you thinking and inspire you to experiment and find ways of mapping your keyboard in a way that will make your working hours easier and more productive. Thanks to everyone that has helped this section grow.

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Benjamin Hershleder – I'm running v5.5 and v6, and have made some changes to my layout (which I'll post one of these days), but here's what I was using just before v5. I also keep a modified version of this for when I'm using all of the MultiCam functionality.

Benjamin's Top Level (2010)

Benjamin's Shift Level

    
AE = Audio Editing Toolset
AM = Audio Mix Tool
BD = Batch Digitize
CM = Clear Monitor or Clear Menu
Ca = Capture Toolset
CS = Custom Sift
EE = Effects Editing Toolset
Ex = Export
FW = Fill Window
Im - Import
Lo = Locator Window
LD = Less Detail
Lt = Link to AMA Volume
MD = More Detail
Ra = Render at Position and Render In / Out
SE = Source/Record Editing Toolset
SU = Show Unsifted
SP = Sample Plot
T = Title Tool
Also note: I've added the Option Modifier to the Copy to Clipboard, FInd Bin and Find Script functions.

S, D and F
I use the mouse with my right hand and have my left hand on the keyboard. If you're like me, consider moving (in my case, I've repeated) the functions that are on J, K and L over to S, D and F. The benefits are:

1. Mark In and Mark Out remain above S, D and F.
2. My pinky reaches over to the Shift and Option keys easily.
3. My thumb rests naturally on the Space Bar. For me, this is most useful when I'm in Trim Mode. I can trim using S, D and F and then review my edit with a quick tap of my thumb; and by holdng the Shift key, I can tap the Space Bar and "Cycle Trim Sides."
4. I save very frequently and getting to "Cmd S" is a simple movement of the wrist: my index finger lands on the S key and my thumb lands on the Command key.
5. When I have to type text, I don't have to shift my left hand from the J, K & L keys over to the left side of the keyboard. Instead, my right hand just comes off the mouse onto the right side of the keyboard and I'm ready to type.

      

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Glen Montgomery is an Editor & Videographer in Cincinnatti, Ohio.
Glen's company web site is: www.curtisinc.com
Glen's Vimeo: www.vimeo.com/glenmontgomery
Follow Glen on Twitter: twitter.com/glenmontgomery

Glen's Top Level (2010)

Glen's Shift Level

     

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Agustin Goya is an editor with WANCAMP Post in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The company’s portfolio includes feature films and short films competing at local and international levels.
They have also developed television documentaries and cultural programs for TV channels and cable networks, such as NatGeo and Gourmet.

Agustin's Top Level (2010)

Agustin's Shift Level

    

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Tim Leavitt uses this keyboard set-up for both assisting and editing.
He says, "I do mostly reality TV but also cut music videos and a comedy web series."

He also kindly provided a key to abbreviations:
GI = get clip info
CF = clip frames
SA = save all
MM = multicam mode
EI = expert render
RI = render
Se = select all
De = deselect all
MD = more detail
LD = less detail
EP = energy plot
SP = sync point editing
UT = unlock tracks
LT = lock tracks
ZI = zoom in
ZB = zoom back
AF = add filler
CM = clipboard monitor

Tim's Top Level (2010)

   
Tim's Shift Level

     

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Owen Williams is an online editor at Rockhopper Post. He says, "my keyboard is geared more toward effects and color correction. The original concept behind the arrangement was to keep movement keys mostly on the right side of the keyboard, and actions mostly on the left side." You can follow Owen on Twitter at: twitter.com/ywwg
   
He also kindly provided a key to abbreviations:
Se: Select all tracks
De: Deselect all tracks
DD: Dupe Detection
CC: Color correction indicators (symphony)
SE: Show Entire Sequence
LD: Less Detail
MD: More Detail
Ea: ExpertRender In/Out
EI: Effect Icons
Ex: Export
CU: Render Title Media
SP: Sample Plot
Ra: Render In/Out
T1-T4: CC Tabs (symphony)
RM: Remove match-frame edits

Things to note: 

• Shift+right and left arrow advance one field instead of one frame, which is handy for checking interlace issues.
• Up and down are step-in, step-out, which makes diving into containers easy
• Having segment modes as A and S make it extremely quick to move clips around

Owen's Top Level (2010)

    
Owen's Shift Level

    

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Benn Wyldeck is a director and editor in London.
   
Benn's Top Level (2012)

   
Benn's Shift Level

         

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Share your Avid Keyboard

If you would like to share your keyboard:

1. Take a screen snapshot and e-mail it to me at Ben [at] ContactBen [dot] com (please put "Keyboard Exchange" in the subject line).
2. If you'd like, include a brief description of work you do, why you like your setup, and any links you'd like me to include with your entry.
       

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Older Keyboards

Many of the keyboard snapshots below are pretty old. Some of them go back to 2000. Even though new features and functions have been added to Avid Media Composer software since these snapshots were taken, hopefully they will inspire you to create a customized keyboard layout that will help you with your work.

     

Benjamin's Old Avid Keyboard (2000)
While I have made changes since then, much of this mapping is what I still use today.
I've also included a key so you'll know what the menu items are that I've mapped to the keyboard:
AC = Add Comment
AM = Audio Mix Tool
BD = Batch Digitize
CM = Clear Monitor or Clear Menu
CS = Custom Sift
DC = Digital Cut Tool
Di = Digitize Tool (a.k.a Record Tool)
Ha = Hardware Tool
Lo = Locator Window
LD = Less Detail
LT = Lock
MD = More Detail
PL = Play Length Toggle
Re = Render at Position and Render In / Out
Ro = Render on the Fly
SP = Sync Point Editing
SU = Show Unsifted
T = Title Tool
UT = Unlock
VO = Video Output Tool
W1, W2, W4 = Workspaces 1, 2 and 4
 

Benjamin's Top Level (2000)

 

Benjamin's Shift Level

 

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Dean's Top Level (2000) -- His Shift Level is a well kept government secret

 

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Fiona's Top Level (2000)

 

Fiona's Shift Level

 

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Joe's Top Level (2000)

 
Joe's Shift Level

 

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Larry's Top Level (2000) -- He didn't use the Shift Level at this time

 

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Scott C.'s Top Level (2001)
Scott is from Winnipeg, MB Canada. He edits national commercials and corporate videos.

 

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Mike S.'s Top Level (2002)
Mike edits for a television station in North Carolina.

 

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Michael M.'s Top Level (2002)
This mapping is from when Michael was using Xpress Pro

 
Michael M.'s Shift Level

     

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Ivar's Top Level (year unknown)
Ivar is an Avid editor in the Netherlands and has this to say:
"I work mostly for TV. I normaly work on an Avid Adrenaline. These keyboard settings have grown over the years (I've edited on Avid since 1992, when I worked on one of the first 3 avids here in Holland). Everytime I run into a repetative action I try to put it on the keyboard."

 
Ivar's Shift Level

     
     

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Share your Avid Keyboard

If you would like to share your keyboard:

1. Take a screen snapshot and e-mail it to me at Ben [at] ContactBen [dot] com (please put "Keyboard Exchange" in the subject line).
2. If you'd like, include a brief description of work you do, why you like your setup, and any links you'd like me to include with your entry.
       

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Updated: 5-14-10 – Updated my keyboard picture & page layout
Updated: 5-14-10 – Added Tim's and Owen's keyboard
Updated: 5-9-10 – Added Glen's and Agustin's keyboard
Updated: 6-10-12 – Added Benn's keyboard