KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS – Keyboard Shortcuts for Avid Media Composer
Updated: 12-18-2010
Originally Posted: 11-18-2008
Special Thanks to Larry Rubin
for his help in maintaining this resource.
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Helpful Notes:
Some icons were updated in version 3
Here's a chart of the new icons »
This symbol denotes keyboard shortcut changes or additions implemented in version 5. If you know of a shortcut that has not been included or is incorrect please let me know »
Click a link below to jump to that set of shortcuts,
or simply scroll down the page.
Audio shortcuts
= Command Key
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| Option + click Pan slider | Alt + click Pan slider | Snaps to Mid in Audio Mix tool |
| Option + click Volume slider | Alt + click Volume slider | Snaps to 0 dB in Audio EQ and Audio tools |
| Option + click Audio Track Monitor button | Alt + click Audio Track Monitor button | Selects track for audio scrub monitoring |
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Option + click Track Solo button (Automation Gain tool) |
Alt + click Track Solo button (Automation Gain tool) or Alt + number (1 to 8) at top of keyboard |
Mutes selected track (1 to 8) |
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Option + drag keyframe |
Alt + drag keyframe | Moves selected audio keyframe horizontally in Timeline |
| Option + click digital scrub parameters in Composer monitor | Alt + click digital scrub parameters in Composer monitor | Opens Audio Settings dialog box |
| Option + + L Option + + K |
Ctrl + Alt + L Ctrl + Alt + K |
L = Enlarges the waveform display on selected tracks. |
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Bin Shortcuts
= Command Key
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| +N |
Ctrl + N | Creates a new bin |
| +A |
Ctrl + A | Selects all items in the active bin or the Project Window, if selected |
| +W |
Ctrl + W | Closes open windows, bins or dialog boxes |
| +P |
Ctrl + P | Prints the selected bin in whatever view you have selected (Text, Frame or Script View) |
| +D |
Ctrl + D | Duplicates selected clip(s) or sequence(s). |
| +Shift+G |
Shift + Ctrl + G | Creates a Group Clip from selected Master Clips or Sub Clips |
| +I |
Ctrl + I | First, select clips or sequences in the bin, then use this shortcut to open the Console window, which will display useful information |
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Depending on your version of software: |
Shift + Ctrl + click Clip Menu | Select the clips in the bin, hold down these shortcut keys, then click on the Clip Menu. By holding down these keys, you have changed the Relink selection to Unlink. You can now unlink captured clips so they may be modified. |
| Option + drag clips between bins | Alt + drag clips between bins | Makes a "Clone" of the clip. Changes to one clip (e.g. name, mark-in/out, locators) will also occur in the "cloned" clip(s). If you do not want to have this behavior, copy the clips by "duplicating" them. To do this, select the clip(s), go to the Edit menu and select "Duplicate." NOTE: No matter which method you use, Avid will never allow you to "clone" a Sequence. The "clone" behavior only works on clips. |
| +Click |
Ctrl+Alt+Click |
Using the shortcut, click on the Clip (the icon in Text View or the frame image in Frame View or Script View) or the Sequence Icon. This will create a pop-up window of information about the selected item.
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| +L |
Ctrl+L | When in Frame View or Script View, this shortcut will increase the size of the Clip Frame images. |
| +K |
Ctrl+K | When in Frame View or Script View, this shortcut will decrease the size of the Clip Frame images. |
| +T |
Ctrl+T | When in Frame View, this shortcut will make the Clip Frame images align to an invisible grid. A good way to remember this shortcut is to think that "T" stands for "Tidy-up." |
| Ctrl+Double-Click | Ctrl+Double-Click |
To open a title for editing: in the bin, Control, double-click on the Title clip icon
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Capturing Shortcuts
When you are in Capture Mode (a.k.a. Digitize Mode), the Avid Media Composer takes control of your "F" keys. Whatever you may have mapped to them is replaced by the functions detailed below.
| Keyboard Shortcut | |
| F1 | While capturing (but not Batch Capturing), pressing F1 will mark the In-Point of a subclip. If you press F1 at a later time (before pressing the F2 key) the in-Point will be updated. |
| F2 | While capturing (but not Batch Capturing), pressing F2 will mark the Out-Point of a subclip. |
| F3 | Adds a Red locator to the clip |
| F4 | When in Capture Mode, F4 begins the capture. When in Log Mode, F4 logs a Master Clip to the bin. |
| F5 | Adds a Red locator to the clip |
| F6 | Adds a Green locator to the clip |
| F7 | Adds a Blue locator to the clip |
| F8 | Adds a Cyan locator to the clip |
| F9 | Adds a Magenta locator to the clip |
| F10 | Adds a Yellow locator to the clip |
| F11 | Adds a Black locator to the clip |
| F12 | Adds a White locator to the clip |
| Escape Key | While capturing a clip, hitting the Escape Key will end the capture of that clip and place it into the bin. |
| Space Bar | While capturing a clip, hitting the Space Bar will end the capture of that clip and place it into the bin. This functionality may be turned off by going to the Capture Settings > "General" tab > De-Select the option that says "Space Bar stops capture." |
Avid, Adobe, and Post Production Themed Designs.
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Editing Shortcuts
= Command Key
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| +Z |
Ctrl + Z | Performs an Undo of a previous editing operation such as Mark In or Splice. |
| +R |
Ctrl + R | Performs an Redo of a previous editing operation such as Mark In or Splice. |
| +C |
Ctrl + C | Copies the material between a Mark In and Mark Out on the selected tracks. |
| +V |
Ctrl + V | Pastes copied material onto the same tracks from which it was copied, at the point at which you Mark In. |
Option+ |
Alt+ |
Copies the material between a Mark In and Mark Out on the selected tracks, and places it not just into the Clipboard, but into the Source Window. This makes it very quick an easy to copy material and then be able to edit it onto *any* appropriate track in your sequence. |
Option+ or  |
Alt+ or |
Lifts the material between a Mark In and Mark Out on the selected tracks, and places it immediately into the Source Window. |
Option+ or  |
Alt+ or |
Extracts the material between a Mark In and Mark Out on the selected tracks, and places it immediately into the Source Window. |
| Option + double-click on a Clip, Sequence, or Title icon in a bin | Alt + double-click on a Clip, Sequence, or Title icon in a bin | Opens the selected item(s) in a pop-up monitor. |
| Option + click on either the Source Monitor or Record Monitor | Alt + click on either the Source Monitor or Record Monitor | Changes the cursor/pointer to a hand-icon. You can now drag a subclip or a subsequence to a bin. |
| Option + drag a clip (or multiple clips) into the Record monitor | Alt + drag a clip (or multiple clips) into the Record monitor | The clip(s) will be Spliced into your Sequence at the Mark In position. |
| Shift + drag a clip (or multiple clips) into the Record monitor | Shift + drag a clip (or multiple clips) into the Record monitor | The clip(s) will be Overwritten into your Sequence at the Mark In position. |
| +L |
Ctrl + L |
With either the Source Monitor or the Record Monitor selected, use this shortcut to enlarge the image. With the Timeline active, use this shortcut to enlarge the track width for selected tracks. |
| +K |
Ctrl + K |
With either the Source Monitor or the Record Monitor selected, use this shortcut to reduce the image. With the Timeline active, use this shortcut to reduce the track width for selected tracks. |
Opt+ |
Alt+ |
Ignores the Track Selectors and places an In and Out Mark based on the two nearest transitions to the blue Position Indicator. |
| Esc | Esc | The function that is mapped to this key by default is called "Toggle Source/Record." It will toggle between making the Source and Record monitors active. Note that when capturing footage, hitting the Escape Key will stop the capture of current clip and place the clip in your bin. |
| +Apostrophe |
Ctrl+Apostrophe | Sends selected window back to its default location. |
Opt +  |
Alt + |
Puts an "Add Edit" (a cut) only in Filler tracks (will not cut actual segments). Further, when in Trim Mode, the Add Edits will simultaneously become selected and ready for trimming. |
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Effect Mode Shortcuts
= Command Key
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| Tab (in Effect Editor) | Tab (in Effect Editor) | Moves from one active slider to next. |
| Shift + Left or Right Arrow | Shift + Left or Right Arrow | Moves 10 units on a slider instead of 1 unit. |
| Option + drag corner, side, or center of wire frame | Alt + drag corner, side, or center of wire frame | Displays the image as you move it, rather than displaying just a wire frame outline. |
| Option + drag keyframe | Alt + drag keyframe | Grab an active keyframe in the Keyframe Position Bar and move it earlier or later in time. Be sure you get the "hand icon" before you attempt to move a keyframe. |
| + A |
Ctrl + A | With the Keyframe Position Bar active, this will select all the keyframes. |
| Select segment + Delete key | Select segment + Delete key | Removes an effect. |
| Select a segment, and then Option + double-click an Effect in the Effect Palette or an Effect Template in a bin. | Select a segment, and then Alt + double-click an Effect in the Effect Palette or an Effect Template in a bin. | This allows you to add an effect to a segment that already has an effect on it, creating a "Nest." This also allows you to place one effect over multiple segments that are selected. Using Alt/Opt + Double-click is what Avid calls "Auto Nesting." |
| + Option + click and drag video image (with image zoomed in) |
Ctrl + Alt + click and drag video image (with image zoomed in) | Changes the Arrow/cursor pointer to the Hand pointer for moving an enlarged video image around in the Record Monitor. This is also useful for moving the working area around when using the Advanced Keyframe features or when using the Speed and Position Graphs in the Timewarp Motion Effect Editor Window. |
Opt + |
Alt + |
Renders to the last drive selected, without bringing up the render dialog box. |
| Press P while rendering | Press P while rendering | Displays the percentage of the render that is complete. |
| Press T while rendering | Press T while rendering | Displays render time completed and an estimated total render time. |
| + . (period) |
Ctrl + . (period) | Stops the render process and displays a dialog box asking if you would like to keep the already rendered portion or not. Keeping the rendered portion means that the next time you render that effect it will pick up where you left off. |
| "Other Options" Button | "Other Options" Button |
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| Click anywhere in the Timecode track | Click anywhere in the Timecode track | When in Trim Mode, Segment Mode or Effect Mode, this will take you out of that mode and place you into Source/Record Mode. |
Enter Effect Mode. Then select a title that has been edited into your sequence. In the top left corner of the Effect Editor window will be a little button, called the "Other Options" button. Click that and your title will open in the titling tool that was used to create it. You may now revise your title, save it, and the changes will appear in your sequence.
Avid, Adobe, and Post Production Themed Designs.
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Playing and Marking
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Opt + or  |
Alt + or |
Steps forward or backward 10 frames. |
Opt +  or  |
Alt + or |
Steps forward or backward 1 field. |
Opt + or  |
Alt + or |
In the Position Bar (underneath the Source and Record monitors), you can grab the marks with the hand icon and move them earlier or later. NOTE: this works only one mark at a time. |
Opt +  or  |
Alt + or |
Marks an In or an Out. |
| Opt + or |
Alt + or |
Goes to Mark In or Mark Out |
Ctrl +  |
Alt + |
Mark an In and an Out and use this shortcut to loop the playback until stopping it. |
 or  |
or |
Press either of these keys multiple times and you will speed up, much like shifting gears. The speeds are as follows: NOTE: use the NOTE: This shortcut also works when in Trim Mode. |
| Opt + or |
Alt + or |
While speeding along, using the shortcut directly above this one, use Opt/Alt + Play Forward or Play Reverse to "down shift" or "up shift" the speed without having to come to a complete stop as when using the Pause key. |
Holding and then Holding or |
Holding and then Holding or |
This will scrub the audio forward or reverse at just 8fps. NOTE: This shortcut also works when in Trim Mode. |
| Holding and then Tapping or |
Holding and then Tapping or |
This will scrub the audio forward or reverse just one frame at a time. NOTE: This shortcut also works when in Trim Mode. |
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Timeline Shortcuts
= Command Key
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| + click near a transition in the Timeline |
Ctrl + click near atransition in the Timeline | Snaps the blue position indicator to the "head frame" (the first frame) of a segment. It also makes the blue position indicator snap to Mark In points or to the next audio keyframe. |
| + Opt click near a transition in the Timeline |
Ctrl + Alt click near a transition in the Timeline | Snaps the blue position indicator to the "tail frame" (the last frame) of a segment. It also makes the blue position indicator snap to Mark In points or to the next audio keyframe. |
| + L |
Ctrl + L | Increases the height of selected track(s). |
| + K |
Ctrl + K | Decreases the height of selected track(s). |
| Opt + drag | Ctrl + drag |  NOTE: In the example pictured above, it is the V1 track that is being effected. THE STEPS: Hold down the Option key (Mac) or the Control key (PC), then place your cursor between two tracks. The resize icon will appear (a black line with arrows pointing both up and down). Continue to hold down the mouse button and move the mouse up or down to resize the track. |
| + [ or ] (left or right bracket) |
Ctrl + [ or ] (left or right bracket) | Shows more or less detail in the Timeline. "More Detail" and "Less Detail" are also selections from the Timeline Fast Menu, if you'd like to map these functions to your keyboard. A common location to map these functions to are the up arrow and down arrow keys. |
| + F |
Ctrl + F | Opens the "Find" dialog box. This allows you to search the timeline for clip names, source (tape) names that are displayed, text in locators, etc. |
| + Y |
Ctrl + Y | Adds a new video track. |
| + U |
Ctrl + U | Adds a new Mono audio track. |
| Shift + + U |
Shift + Ctrl + U | Starting in v5, this shortcut adds a new Stereo audio track |
| Opt + + Y |
Alt + Ctrl + Y | Opens a dialog box which allows you to add a specifically numbered audio or video track. |
| Opt + + U |
Alt + Ctrl + U | Opens a dialog box which allows you to add a specifically numbered audio or video track. |
| + click on video or audio monitor icon in track selector panel |
Ctrl + click on video or audio monitor icon in track selector panel |
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| Shift + click segments when in Segment Mode or Effect Mode | Shift + click segments when in Segment Mode or Effect Mode | Allows you to select multiple segments. |
| + drag a segment when in Segment Mode |
Ctrl + drag a segment when in Segment Mode | Snaps the "head" of the selected segment(s) to a transition (that occurs on any track in the Timeline), as well as to Mark In, Mark Out and the blue position indicator. |
| Opt + + drag a segment when in Segment Mode |
Alt + Ctrl + drag a segment when in Segment Mode | Snaps the "tail" of the selected segment(s) to a transition (that occurs on any track in the Timeline), as well as to Mark In, Mark Out and the blue position indicator. |
| Ctrl + drag up or down | Shift + Ctrl + drag up or down |
Allows you to move segments to a higher or lower track without letting them move left or right, and thus getting out of sync.
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| Lasso one or more segments | Lasso one or more segments | You must begin by clicking in the Timeline Window (the area with no tracks), then lasso the segments by going from LEFT to RIGHT, making sure your lasso totally surrounds the desired segments. This will place you into Segment Mode, specifically the last one you used during that session. |
| Ctrl + Lasso one or more segments | Alt + Lasso one or more segments | Same as above, except you can now lasso segments inside the timeline tracks. |
| Lasso a transition | Lasso a transition | You must begin by clicking in the Timeline Window (the area with no tracks), then lasso only a transition (on one or multiple tracks) making sure your lasso totally surrounds the desired transition(s). This will place you into Trim Mode. |
| Ctrl + Lasso | Alt + Lasso |
Same as above, except you can now lasso transitions inside the timeline tracks.
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| Lasso one or more segments | Lasso one or more segments | You must begin by clicking in the Timeline Window (the area with no tracks), then lasso just one segment per track by going from RIGHT to LEFT, making sure your lasso totally surrounds the desired segments. This will place you into Trim Mode, specifically the "Slip" function of trimming. |
| Ctrl + Lasso | Alt + Lasso |
Same as above, except you can now lasso segments inside the timeline tracks. You can also lasso transitions in order to enter Trim Mode.
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| + A |
Ctrl + A | Selects all tracks |
| Shift + + A |
Shift + Ctrl + A |
De-selects all tracks |
Opt +  |
Alt + |
Performs a match-frame, but does not remove previously placed Mark In or Mark out points. |
Opt +  |
Alt + |
For the clip on the top-most selected track, this opens the bin in which that clip resides (if located within the project). |
Opt +  < new iconOpt +  < old icon |
Opt + < new icon Opt + < old icon |
Option/Alt + Copy to Clipboad = Copies the enabled tracks of a marked portion of the timeline to the clipboard as well as loads that material directly into the Source Monitor. This allows instant access to the selected material as well as the ability to patch that material to any track you want. |
| + / (forward slash) |
Ctrl + / (forward slash) |
Displays the entire Sequence in the Timeline Window. |
| + M |
Ctrl + M | Allows the editor to select an area of the timeline to "zoom" into. The smaller the slection, the greater the magnification. |
| + J |
Ctrl + J | After using the "Zoom" shortcut above, this shortcut allows the editor to return to the previously used timeline magnification. |
| Option + + L Option + + K |
Ctrl + Alt + L Ctrl + Alt + K |
L = Enlarges the waveform display on selected tracks. |
| Option + Add Video or Audio Track | ALT + Add Video or Audio Track | 1. Allows you to add a specifically numbered track. 2. If you select a track that already exists in the Timeline you have the option of inserting a track. |
| Click anywhere in the Timecode track | Click anywhere in the Timecode track | When in Trim Mode, Segment Mode or Effect Mode, this will take you out of that mode and place you into Source/Record Mode. |
| Shift + L | Shift + L | Starting in v5, this is the default mapping location for enabling/disabling the "Link Segments" feature. Of course it may be re-mapped to any location. |
| Shift + Tab | Shift + Tab |
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| Shift + A | Shift + A | Starting in v5, this enables or disables the Lift/Overwrite tool. This is the default mapping location, of course it may be re-mapped to any location. |
| Shift + S | Shift + S | Starting in v5, this enables or disables the Extract/Splice-in tool. This is the default mapping location, of course it may be re-mapped to any location. |
| Shift + D | Shift + D | Starting in v5, this enables or disables the Trim Away tool. This is the default mapping location, of course it may be re-mapped to any location. |
| Shift + F | Shift + F | Starting in v5, this enables or disables the Trim Ripple tool. This is the default mapping location, of course it may be re-mapped to any location. |
| Shift + D | Shift + D | Starting in v5, this enables or disables the Keyframe Selection tool. This is the default mapping location, of course it may be re-mapped to any location. |
Avid, Adobe, and Post Production Themed Designs.
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Trim Mode Shortcuts
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Opt +  or  |
Alt + or |
Ignores the track selector panel configuration and will jump to the previous or next transition in the Timeline. |
| Control + Drag | Alt + Drag |
When in a Single Roller Trim configuration, this allows the user to SHORTEN segments without getting out of sync. It does this by replacing the trimmed footage with Filler. NOTE: Sync Locks must be disabled for this to work. |
Opt +  |
Alt + |
After exiting Trim mode, this places the editor back in Trim Mode and into the Trim Roller configuration that was last used. |
| or |
or |
Press either of these keys while in Trim Mode and you will be TRIMMING (not just playing). Press these keys multiple times and your trimming will speed up, much like shifting gears. The speeds are as follows: NOTE: use the |
| Holding and then Holding or |
Holding and then Holding or |
This will trim and scrub the audio forward or reverse at just 8fps. |
| Holding and then Tapping or |
Holding and then Tapping or |
This will trim and scrub the audio forward or reverse just one frame at a time. |
|
While looping |
While looping in Trim Mode. or |
1. While in Trim Mode press the "Loop Play" button to begin looping around the selected transition. 2. While looping is in progress: Press "Go To Mark In" to loop only the "A" side of the transition. Press "Go To Mark Out" to loop only the "B" side of the transition. |
| Click anywhere in the Timecode track | Click anywhere in the Timecode track | When in Trim Mode, Segment Mode or Effect Mode, this will take you out of that mode and place you into Source/Record Mode. |
| Opt + |
Alt + |
Puts an "Add Edit" (a cut) only in Filler tracks (will not cut actual segments). Further, when in Trim Mode, the Add Edits will simultaneously become selected and ready for trimming. |
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Tools Shortcuts
= Command key
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| + = (equals) |
Ctrl + = (equals) | First, select the Composer Window, a Bin, the Timeline or the Capture Tool, then use this shortcut to quickly open the related settings. To open the Trim settings, you must be in Trim Mode AND make sure that the Composer window is active (rather than the Timeline window). |
| + 0 |
Ctrl + 0 | Opens or selects the Timeline window |
| + 1 |
Ctrl + 1 | Audio tool |
| + 2 |
Ctrl + 2 | Avid Calculator |
| + 3 |
Ctrl + 3 | Command Pallette |
| + 4 |
Ctrl + 4 | Composer window |
| + 5 |
Ctrl + 5 | Media Creation |
| + 6 |
Ctrl + 6 | Console |
| + 7 |
Ctrl + 7 | Capture Tool |
| + 8 |
Ctrl + 8 | Effects Pallette |
| + 9 |
Ctrl + 9 | Project window |
Avid, Adobe, and Post Production Themed Designs.
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KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS for MEDIA COMPOSER, SYMPHONY and XPRESS PRO
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