Tag Archive for 'command focus shortcuts'

Timecode Commands (TDM Only)

These final two sets of commands relate to timecode features or the use of a stationary playhead are not available on Pro Tools LE.

Snap to timecode

Having ‘parked’ your machine at a suitable timecode position these 3 commands allow you to spot the highlighted region to the ‘parked’ timecode position. Protools will obviously need incoming timecode from a slaved machine for this to work.

Snap Start (of selected region) to timecode – Y

Snap sync point (of selected region) to timecode – U

Snap End (of selected region) to timecode – I

Snap to stationary Playhead

This group of commands allows you to snap your selected region to the playhead position.

Snap Start (of selected region) to playhead – H

Snap Sync point (of selected region) to playhead – J

Snap End (of selected region) to playhead – K

Conclusions from the ‘pain barrier’

For me the best parts of using the Keyboard Focus are being able to Zoom in and out both with the Preset zooms and the Zoom Out – R; and the Zoom in – T commands. These alone have made it worthwhile to have the Keyboard Focus on and the Track View toggle, Zoom toggle, Separate, and Nudge keys are serious bonuses. I still use the Smart Tool for the fades and the Trim tool but I am definitely declaring long live Keyboard Focus!

Links to Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, part 4 & part 5.

Here are some more details on what keys do what when you enable the Keyboard Focus

See part 1 here

See part 2 here

Navigation commands

Move Edit Selection up – P
This will move a selection from one track to the track above irrespective as to whether there is any audio on it at that point.

Move Edit Selection down – ; (semi colon)
This will move a selection from one track to the track below. If no selection has been made this and the command P will move the cursor up or down a track.

Tab back – L
This will move the cursor back (earlier in time) to the previous region boundary or sync point on the same track.

Tab forward – ‘ (apostrophe)
This will move the cursor forward (later in time) to the next region boundary or sync point on the same track.

Keyboard shortcuts have been with Pro Tools from the start. The number of shortcuts in Pro Tools has grown as the software has developed. Obviously the more shortcuts you know the better, because the less you move your mouse and so the more productive you become.

The Keyboard Focus commands are a real step forward for single-key operations when the [a...z] focus mode in the Edit window is selected by clicking on the a-z button just below the zoom buttons in the Edit Window in Pro Tools 7 or at the top of the Edit window vertical scroll bar in Pro Tools 8.

These are available to use on all Windows and Mac based Pro Tools systems with only a few timecode related limitations on the LE systems. Good news for those who work with both Windows and Mac based systems that unlike some other shortcuts the Keyboard Focus shortcuts are the same for both Mac and Windows systems.

You may find it helpful to have at least sight of a qwerty keyboard as you read this as the commands are grouped together in areas of the keyboard to make them as intuitive as possible.

Alternatively if you like what you see here you may want to buy a Pro tools keyboard with the shortcuts on it or alternatively a sticker set to go on your existing keyboard…

There is a ‘pain barrier’ to go through to get the Keyboard Focus shortcuts into your way of working but rest assured it will be worth it. Perhaps go through the learning curve with a project where the deadline isn’t too pressing.

So lets start the series with some Zoom Functions…

Zoom Level 1-5 – alpha keys 1 to 5
By using the numbers 1 to 5 above the letter keys (not the number pad) you can access the 5 preset horizontal zoom settings that are 5 buttons just below the zoom buttons in the Edit window (see fig 1). To set these presets adjust the horizontal zoom to suit and then Command+Click on the Mac, or Control+Click on Windows, the appropriate button to save the preset.

Zoom Toggle – E
This will zoom an edit selection (Highlighted selection on a track not a timeline selection) to the width of the edit window. If you press E again it will take you back to the previous zoom setting.

Centre Edit Selection Start – Q
This will put the start of an edit selection in the centre of the edit window.

Center Timeline End – W
This will put the end of an edit selection in the centre of the edit window.

Zoom Out Horizontally – R
This is the same as going up to the toolbar and clicking on the zoom out button.

Zoom In Horizontally – T
This is the same as going up to the toolbar and clicking on the zoom in button.