Mike Slinn

Pro Tools Keyboards and Hot Keys

Published 2020-03-01. Last modified 2023-10-22.
Time to read: 2 minutes.

This page is part of the av_studio collection.

Keyboards

For best results, use a full-size keyboard with Pro Tools. Unlike most other programs, the numeric keypad is useful for Pro Tools.

However, when you use a laptop, you usually do not want to plug in an external keyboard. You can learn the key bindings for your keyboard by referring to Pro Tools Keyboard Shortcuts.

For a 10keyless keyboard with Windows, select the PC Generic keyboard.

Starting with Pro Tools 2022.4 you can create your own custom key map. For Windows, type Start-Shift-K to see and modify the key map. For Mac, type CTRL-Shift-K instead.

Windows Power Toys

Windows Power Toys allows you to remap keys. This is especially useful if you do not have a full-size keyboard.

Key Modifiers

You can use the keyboard to navigate when A/Z Edit Key is enabled.

P Up

; Down

L Left

, right

Track Volume

CTRL-= Maximize input level of the selected track.

ALT-click on the slider knob. Set input level of the selected track to 0 dB.

Misc

CTRL-= Toggle Mix sub-window on top

CTRL-D duplicate selection

CTRL-E Cut clip at selection

CTRL-G Group selected tracks

CTRL-N new session

CTRL-Shift-L Loop toggle

CTRL-Shift-N New track

CTRL-Shift-W Close session

CTRL-ALT-B Bounce mix (mixdown)

Win-P Select previous track

Win-; Select next track

ALT-Win-Shift-= Toggle MIDI Editor

Recording

Enter Return to start of session

CTRL-Space Start recording

Space Stop recording

CTRL-. Stop recording and discard take

ALT-L Loop record toggle

CTRL-ALT-L Loop record toggle

Tracks & Compositing

ALT-Shift-D Duplicate track

ALT-Shift-N Move selection to new playlist.

Shift-S Solo playlists with cursor.

Win-ALT-v copy selected portion of selected playlist to main playlist

CTRL-Win-\ duplicate selected track to playlist.
CTRL-Win-ALT-\ duplicate all tracks to playlists.
CTRL-Win-ALT-Shift-\ duplicate selected tracks to playlists.

Win-\ add a new playlist to a single selected track.
Win-ALT-\ creates a new Pro Tools playlist on all tracks (including inactive ones).
Win-ALT-Shift-\ creates new playlists only on selected tracks.

Grid Mode

CTRL-Mouse Slip tracks

During Playback

Down arrow start selection

Up arrow extend selection

Transport

Enter Go to start of session

Space Start/stop playback / Record stop

CTRL-Space / F12 Record start

Shift-R Record enable selected tracks

Zoom

CTRL-[ horizontal zoom out

CTRL-] horizontal zoom in

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