Keyboard Shortcut Reference

From Audacity Development Manual
Revision as of 03:54, 23 September 2009 by Billw58 (talk | contribs) (Add list of commands without shorcuts →‎Shortcuts by menu or function)
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ToDo Tables could have a more pleasing format/color (but see other examples, in tutorials). Should be sized with same column widths as each other. Also needs all the current shortcuts adding (a major task).
Bill - see bottom of page for complete listing of shorcuts grouped by menu/function.

Apple MacOS X users: CTRL = Command


File Commands

Action Key
New Project CTRL+N
Open Project CTRL+O
Close Project CTRL+W
Save Project CTRL+S
Preferences CTRL+P  Mac: CTRL +,

Editing Tools

Action Key
Selection Tool F1
Envelope Tool F2
Editing Tool F3
Zoom Tool F4
Timeshift Tool F5
Multi Tool F6
Next tool in Tools Toolbar D
Previous tool in Tools Toolbar A

Edit Commands

Action Key
Undo CTRL+Z
Redo (Windows) CTRL+Y
Redo (Mac/Linux) CTRL+SHIFT+Z
Cut CTRL+X
Copy CTRL+C
Paste CTRL+V
Delete CTRL+K or DELETE
Silence CTRL+L
Duplicate CTRL+D
Select All CTRL+A
Find Zero Crossings Z

Navigation, Playback & Recording

Action Key
Play/Stop SPACE
Loop SHIFT+SPACE or L
Pause P
Record R
Preview 1 second 1
Play From Cursor To Selection B
Zoom In CTRL+1
Zoom Normal CTRL+2
Zoom Out CTRL+3
Fit In Window CTRL+F
Fit Vertically CTRL+SHIFT+F
Zoom to Selection CTRL+E
Import Audio CTRL+I
Create Label CTRL+B
Repeat Last Effect CTRL+R


I've pasted in below (unformatted) all the current commands which can have an associated shortcut, and the default commands (because the list above is incomplete). 1) Should we stick with a natural, functional grouping as above, or stick to the order in the Preferences? 2) Should we list (separately?) commands which can have an associated shortcut but which by default don't have one? I think yes on balance, as even the JAWS guide does not have that information. There are still a number of commands you can't have shortcuts for, even in the menus (is this an oversight we should fix, in which case maybe we don't need a list of all the commands you can set bindings for? ) - Gale 


   * Menus
   * Cycle through Dock, Track View and Selection Bar
   * Tools Toolbar
   * Control Toolbar and associated Play commands
   * Additional Delete keys
   * Seek during playback
   * Move and toggle track focus
   * Move cursor
   * Adjust selection regions
   * Track Panel and Track Drop-Down Menu commands for focused track
   * Snap To


New CTRL + N
Open... CTRL + O
Close CTRL + W
Save Project CTRL + S
Save Project As  
Check Dependencies  
Open Metadata Editor  
Import Audio CTRL + SHIFT + I
Import Labels  
Import MIDI  
Import Raw Data  
Export  
Export Selection  
Export Labels  
Export Multiple  
Apply Chain  
Edit Chains  
Page Setup  
Print  
Exit CTRL + Q
Undo CTRL + Z
Redo CTRL + Y Mac/Linux: CTRL + SHIFT + Z
Cut CTRL + X
Spilt Cut CTRL + ALT + X
Copy CTRL + C
Paste CTRL + V
Trim CTRL + T
Delete CTRL + K
Split Delete CTRL + ALT + K
Silence CTRL + L
Split CTRL + I
Split New CTRL + ALT + I
Join CTRL + J
Disjoin CTRL + ALT + J
Duplicate CTRL + D
Cut Labels ALT + X
Split Cut Labels SHIFT + ALT + X
Copy Labels SHIFT + ALT + C
Delete Labels ALT + K
Split Delete Labels SHIFT + ALT + K
Silence Labels ALT + L
Split Labels ALT + I
Join Labels ALT + J
Disjoin Labels SHIFT + ALT + J
Select All CTRL + A
None CTRL + SHIFT + A
Left at Playback Position [
Right at Playback Position ]
Select Start to Cursor  
Select Cursor to End  
Find Zero Crossings Z
Cursor to Selection Start  
Cursor to Selection End  
Cursor to Track Start  
Cursor to Track End  
Selection Save  
Selection Restore  
Lock Play Region  
Unlock Play Region  
Preferences CTRL + P  Mac: CTRL +,
Zoom In CTRL + 1
Normal Zoom CTRL + 2
Zoom Out CTRL + 3
Fit In Window CTRL + F
Fit Vertically CTRL + SHIFT + F
Zoom to Selection CTRL + E
Collapse All Tracks CTRL + SHIFT + C
Expand All Tracks CTRL + SHIFT + X
Show Clipping  
Undo History  
Show Control Toolbar  
Show Device Toolbar  
Show Edit Toolbar  
Show Meter Toolbar  
Show Mixer Toolbar  
Show Selection Toolbar  
Show Tools Toolbar  
Show Transcription Toolbar  
Reset Toolbars  
Simplified View  
New Audio Track CTRL + SHIFT + N
New Stereo Track  
New Label Track  
New Time Track  
Timer Record  
Stereo to Mono  
Mix and Render  
Mix and Render to New Track CTRL + SHIFT + M
Resample  
Remove Tracks  
Mute All Tracks CTRL + U
UnMute All Tracks CTRL + SHIFT + U
Add Label At Selection CTRL + B
Add Label At Playback Position CTRL + M
Edit Labels  
Sort By Time  
Sort By Name  
Repeat Last Effect CTRL + R
Plot Spectrum  
About Audacity  
Show Welcome Message  
Help Index  
Run Benchmark  
Audio Device Info...  
Cycle backward through Dock, Track View, and Selection Bar CTRL + SHIFT + F6
Cycle forward through Dock, Track View, and Selection Bar CTRL + F6
Selection Tool F1
Envelope Tool F2
Draw Tool F3
Zoom Tool F4
Time Shift Tool F5
Multi-Tool
Next Tool D
Previous Tool A
Play/Stop SPACEBAR
Stop S
Pause P
Record R
Record Append SHIFT + R
Play/Stop and Set Cursor SHIFT + A
Play One Second 1
Play To Selection B
Play Looped L
Play Looped SHIFT + SPACEBAR
Play Cut Preview C
Skip to Start HOME
Skip to End END
Selection to Start SHIFT + HOME
Selection to End SHIFT + END
Delete Key BACKSPACE
Delete Key 2 DELETE
Seek left short period during playback LEFT
Seek right short period during playback RIGHT
Seek left long period during playback SHIFT + LEFT
Seek right long period during playback SHIFT + RIGHT
Move Focus to Previous Track UP
Move Focus to Previous and Change Selection SHIFT + UP
Move Focus to Next Track DOWN
Move Focus to Next and Change Selection SHIFT + DOWN
Toggle Focused Track RETURN
Toggle Focused Track NUMPAD_ENTER
Toggle Focused Track CTRL + SPACEBAR
Cursor Left LEFT
Cursor Right RIGHT
Cursor Short Jump Left ,
Cursor Short Jump Right .
Cursor Long Jump Left SHIFT + ,
Cursor Long Jump Right SHIFT + .
Selection Extend Left SHIFT + LEFT
Selection Extend Right SHIFT + RIGHT
Set (or Extend) Left Selection  
Set (or Extend) Right Selection  
Selection Contract Left CTRL + SHIFT + LEFT
Selection Contract Right CTRL + SHIFT + RIGHT
Change pan on focused track SHIFT + P
Pan left on focused track ALT + SHIFT + LEFT
Pan right on focused track ALT + SHIFT + RIGHT
Change gain on focused track SHIFT + G
Increase gain on focused track ALT + SHIFT + UP
Decrease gain on focused track ALT + SHIFT + DOWN
Open menu on focused track SHIFT + M
Mute/Unmute focused track SHIFT + U
Solo/Unsolo focused track SHIFT + S
Close focused track SHIFT + C
Snap To On  
Snap To Off  

Shortcuts by menu or function

Here is my attempt at documenting all the shortcuts. It turned into a grouping by menu/function. - Bill


File Menu commands

Click on the action name for a full description of the command on the File Menu page.

Action Key
New CTRL + N
Open... CTRL + O
Close CTRL + W
Save Project CTRL + S
Import Audio... SHIFT + CTRL + I
Exit CTRL + Q

Menu commands are described on the menu page, so they don't need to be described here, or do they?


Edit Menu commands

Action Key
Undo CTRL + Z
Redo CTRL + Y
Mac/Linux: CTRL + SHIFT + Z
Cut CTRL + X
Spilt Cut CTRL + ALT + X
Copy CTRL + C
Paste CTRL + V
Trim CTRL + T
Delete CTRL + K
Split Delete CTRL + ALT + K
Silence CTRL + L
Split CTRL + I
Split New CTRL + ALT + I
Join CTRL + J
Disjoin CTRL + ALT + J
Duplicate CTRL + D
Labelled Regions > Cut ALT + X
Labelled Regions > Split Cut SHIFT + ALT + X
Labelled Regions > Copy SHIFT + ALT + C
Labelled Regions > Delete ALT + K
Labelled Regions > Split Delete SHIFT + ALT + K
Labelled Regions > Silence ALT + L
Labelled Regions > Split ALT + I
Labelled Regions > Join ALT + J
Labelled Regions > Disjoin SHIFT + ALT + J
Select > All CTRL + A
Select > None CTRL + SHIFT + A
Select > Left at Playback Position [
Select > Right at Playback Position ]
Find Zero Crossings Z
Preferences CTRL + P  Mac: CTRL +,

These commands are not (?) described anywhere else, so need to be described here. In this format?

Edit commands not in any menu

Action Key Description
Skip to Start HOME Move cursor to the start of the track
Skip to End END Move cursor to the end of the track
Selection to Start SHIFT + HOME Select all audio from beginning of the track to the cursor
Selection to End SHIFT + END Select all audio from the cursor to the end of the track
Delete Key BACKSPACE Delete the selection
Delete Key 2 DELETE Delete the selection
Selection Extend Left SHIFT + LEFT Increase the size of the selection by extending it to the left. The amount of increase is dependent on the zoom level. If there is no selection one is created starting at the cursor position.
Selection Extend Right SHIFT + RIGHT Increase the size of the selection by extending it to the right. The amount of increase is dependent on the zoom level. If there is no selection one is created starting at the cursor position.
Selection Contract Left CTRL + SHIFT + LEFT Decrease the size of the selection by contracting it from the right. The amount of decrease is dependent on the zoom level. If there is no selection no action is taken.
Selection Contract Right CTRL + SHIFT + RIGHT Decrease the size of the selection by contracting it from the left. The amount of decrease is dependent on the zoom level. If there is no selection no action is taken.
Move Focus to Previous Track UP
Move Focus to Previous and Change Selection SHIFT + UP
Move Focus to Next Track DOWN
Move Focus to Next and Change Selection SHIFT + DOWN
Toggle Focused Track RETURN
Toggle Focused Track NUMPAD_ENTER
Toggle Focused Track CTRL + SPACEBAR
Cursor Left LEFT Move the cursor left. The distance moved is dependent on the zoom level.
Cursor Right RIGHT Move the cursor right. The distance moved is dependent on the zoom level.
Cursor Short Jump Left , Move the cursor left by the amount specified in "Seek time when playing: Short Period" of the Playback Preferences
Cursor Short Jump Right . Move the cursor right by the amount specified in "Seek time when playing: Short Period" of the Playback Preferences
Cursor Long Jump Left SHIFT + , Move the cursor left by the amount specified in "Seek time when playing: Long Period" of the Playback Preferences
Cursor Long Jump Right SHIFT + . Move the cursor right by the amount specified in "Seek time when playing: Long Period" of the Playback Preferences


View Menu commands

Action Key
Zoom In CTRL + 1
Normal Zoom CTRL + 2
Zoom Out CTRL + 3
Fit In Window CTRL + F
Fit Vertically CTRL + SHIFT + F
Zoom to Selection CTRL + E
Collapse All Tracks CTRL + SHIFT + C
Expand All Tracks CTRL + SHIFT + X

View Menu commands not in any menu

Action Key
Full screen on/off F11

Transport Menu commands

Action Key
Play/Stop SPACEBAR
Loop Play SHIFT + SPACEBAR
Pause P
Skip to Start HOME
Skip to End END
Record R
Timer Record ... SHIFT + T
Append Record SHIFT + R


Transport commands not in any menu

Action Key
Play/Stop and Set Cursor SHIFT + A
Play One Second 1
Play To Selection B
Play Cut Preview C
Seek left short period during playback LEFT
Seek right short period during playback RIGHT
Seek left long period during playback SHIFT + LEFT
Seek right long period during playback SHIFT + RIGHT

Tracks menu

Action Key
Add New > Audio Track SHIFT + CTRL + N
Mute All Tracks CTRL + U
Unmute All Tracks SHIFT + CTRL + U
Add Label at Selection CTRL + B
Add Label at Playback Position CTRL + M

Tracks commands not in any menu

Action Key Description
Mix and Render to New Track SHIFT + CTRL + M
Change pan on focused track SHIFT + P
Pan left on focused track ALT + SHIFT + LEFT
Pan right on focused track ALT + SHIFT + RIGHT
Change gain on focused track SHIFT + G
Increase gain on focused track ALT + SHIFT + UP
Decrease gain on focused track ALT + SHIFT + DOWN
Mute/Unmute focused track SHIFT + U
Open menu on focused track SHIFT + M
Solo/Unsolo focused track SHIFT + S
Close focused track SHIFT + C


Effect Menu

Action Key
Repeat Last Effect CTRL + R

Analyse Menu

Action Key
Contrast ... SHIFT + CTRL + T


Tool Selection

Action Key
Cycle backward through Dock, Track View, and Selection Bar CTRL + SHIFT + F6
Cycle forward through Dock, Track View, and Selection Bar CTRL + F6
Selection Tool F1
Envelope Tool F2
Draw Tool F3
Zoom Tool F4
Time Shift Tool F5
Multi-Tool F6
Next Tool D
Previous Tool A

Commands with no keyboard shortcut

The following menu commands are not assigned a shortcut in a default installation of Audacity. You can assign your own shortcuts to these (or any) command through the Keyboard Preferences dialog

File Menu

  • Save Project As
  • Save Compressed Copy of Project...
  • Check Dependencies
  • Open Metadata Editor
  • Import Labels
  • Import MIDI
  • Import Raw Data
  • Export
  • Export Selection
  • Export Labels
  • Export Multiple
  • Apply Chain
  • Edit Chains
  • Page Setup
  • Print

Edit Menu

  • Select Start to Cursor
  • Select Cursor to End
  • Move Cursor to Selection Start
  • Move Cursor to Selection End
  • Move Cursor to Track Start
  • Move Cursor to Track End
  • Region Save
  • Region Restore
  • Play Region Lock
  • Play Region Unlock

View Menu

  • Show Clipping
  • History...
  • Karaoke...
  • Toolbars > Control Toolbar
  • Toolbars > Device Toolbar
  • Toolbars > Edit Toolbar
  • Toolbars > Meter Toolbar
  • Toolbars > Mixer Toolbar
  • Toolbars > Selection Toolbar
  • Toolbars > Tools Toolbar
  • Toolbars > Transcription Toolbar
  • Reset Toolbars

Transport Menu

  • Overdub (on/off)
  • Software Playthrough (on/off)
  • Sound Activated Recording (on/off)
  • Sound Activation Level...

Tracks Menu

  • Add New Stereo Track
  • Add New Label Track
  • Add New Time Track
  • Stereo to Mono
  • Mix and Render
  • Resample...
  • Remove Tracks
  • Link Audio and Label Tracks
  • Edit Labels
  • Sort Tracks By Start Time
  • Sort Tracks By Name

Analyse Menu

  • Plot Spectrum

Help Menu

  • About Audacity
  • Quick Help (in web browser)
  • Manual (in web browser)
  • Show Log
  • Screenshot Tools
  • Run Benchmark
  • Audio Device Info...

Commands with no menu item

  • Set (or Extend) Left Selection
  • Set (or Extend) Right Selection
  • Snap To On
  • Snap To Off
  • Adjust Output Gain
  • Decrease Output Gain
  • Adjust Input Gain
  • Increase Input Gain
  • Decrease Input Gain
  • Adjust Input Source
  • Play at speed
  • Adjust playback speed
  • Increase playback speed
  • Decrease playback speed
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