The default key commands Edit category

Option Key command

Below, the default key commands are listed according to
category. Autoscroll [F]
Copy [Ctrl]/[Command]-[C]
! When the Virtual Keyboard is displayed, the usual key Cut [Ctrl]/[Command]-[X]
commands are blocked because they are reserved for
Cut Time [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[X]
the Virtual Keyboard. The only exceptions are: [Ctrl]/
[Command]-[S] (Save), Num [*] (Start/Stop Record), Delete [Delete] or [Backspace]

[Space] (Start/Stop Playback), Num [1] (Jump to left Delete Time [Shift]-[Backspace]
locator), [Delete] or [Backspace] (Delete), Num [/] Duplicate [Ctrl]/[Command]-[D]
(Cycle on/off), [F2] (Show/Hide Transport panel), and Edit In-place [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[I]
[Alt]/[Option]-[K] (Show/Hide Virtual Keyboard).
Group [Ctrl]/[Command]-[G]
• As described in the section “Key command conventi- Insert Silence [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[E]
ons” on page 12, modifier keys are written as: Left Selection Side to Cursor [E]
[Win modifier key]/[Mac modifier key].
Lock [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[L]
For example, “[Ctrl]/[Command]-[N]” in the list below means “press [Ctrl]
under Windows or [Command] under Mac OS X, then press [N]”. Move to Cursor [Ctrl]/[Command]-[L]
Mute [M]
Audio category Mute Events [Shift]-[M]

Option Key command Mute/Unmute Objects [Alt]/[Option]-[M]

Adjust Fades to Range [A] Open Default Editor [Ctrl]/[Command]-[E]

Auto Grid [Shift]-[Q] Open Score Editor [Ctrl]/[Command]-[R]

Crossfade [X] Open/Close Editor [Return]

Find Selected in Pool [Ctrl]/[Command]-[F] Paste [Ctrl]/[Command]-[V]

Paste at Origin [Alt]/[Option]-[V]
Automation category Paste Time [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[V]

Option Key command Record Enable [R]

Toggle Read Enable All Tracks [Alt]/[Option]-[R] Redo [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[Z]

Toggle Write Enable All Tracks [Alt]/[Option]-[W] Repeat [Ctrl]/[Command]-[K]

Right Selection Side to Cursor [D]
Devices category Select All [Ctrl]/[Command]-[A]

Option Key command Select None [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[A]

Mixer [F3] Snap On/Off [J]

Virtual Keyboard [Alt]/[Option]-[K] Solo [S]

Video [F8] Split At Cursor [Alt]/[Option]-[X]

VST Connections [F4] Split Range [Shift]-[X]

VST Instruments [F11] Undo [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Z]

VST Performance [F12] Ungroup [Ctrl]/[Command]-[U]

Unlock [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[U]
Unmute Events [Shift]-[U]

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Editors category Option Key command

Option Key command Down: [Down Arrow]

Select next in the Project window/
Show/Hide Info view [Ctrl]/[Command]-[I] Move selected event in the Key
Editor one semitone down
Show/Hide Inspector [Alt]/[Option]-[I]
Left: [Left Arrow]
Show/Hide Overview [Alt]/[Option]-[O] Select next in the Project window/
Key Editor
File category Right: [Right Arrow]
Select next in the Project window/
Option Key command Key Editor
Close [Ctrl]/[Command]-[W] Up: [Up Arrow]
Select next in the Project window/
New [Ctrl]/[Command]-[N] Move selected event in the Key
Open [Ctrl]/[Command]-[O] Editor one semitone up

Quit [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Q] Bottom [End]

Select bottom track in the Track list
Save [Ctrl]/[Command]-[S]
Top: [Home]
Save As [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[S] Select top track in the Track list
Save New Version [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-[S] Toggle Selection [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Space]

Media category Nudge category

Option Key command Option Key command
Open Loop Browser [F6] End Left [Alt]/[Option]-[Shift]-[Left Arrow]
Open MediaBay [F5] End Right [Alt]/[Option]-[Shift]-[Right Arrow]
Open Sound Browser [F7] Left [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Left Arrow]
Right [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Right Arrow]
MIDI category Start Left [Alt]/[Option]-[Left Arrow]
Option Key command Start Right [Alt]/[Option]-[Right Arrow]
Quantize [Q]
Project category
Navigate category Option Key command
Option Key command Open Browser [Ctrl]/[Command]-[B]
Add Down: [Shift]-[Down Arrow] Open Markers [Ctrl]/[Command]-[M]
Expand/Undo selection in the Project
window to the bottom/ Move se- Open/Close Pool [Ctrl]/[Command]-[P]
lected event in the Key Editor down Open Tempo Track Editor [Ctrl]/[Command]-[T]
1 octave
Setup [Shift]-[S]
Add Left: [Shift]-[Left Arrow]
Expand/Undo selection in the Project Show/Hide Track Colors [Shift]-[C]
window/Key Editor to the left
Add Right: [Shift]-[Right Arrow]
Expand/Undo selection in the Project
window/Key Editor to the right
Add Up: [Shift]-[Up Arrow]
Expand/Undo selection in the Project
window to the top/Move selected
event in the Key Editor up one octave

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Key commands
Tool category Option Key command

Option Key command Play Selection Range [Alt]/[Option]-[Space]

Delete tool [5] Recall Cycle Marker 1 to 9 [Shift]-Num [1] to Num [9]

Draw tool [8] Record Num [*]

Drumstick tool [0] Retrospective Record [Shift]-Num [*]

Glue tool [4] Return to Zero Num [.] or Num [,]

Mute tool [7] Rewind Num [-]

Next Tool [F10] Set Left Locator [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [1]

Play tool [9] Set Marker 1 [Ctrl]/[Command]-[1]

Previous Tool [F9] Set Marker 2 [Ctrl]/[Command]-[2]

Range tool [2] Set Marker 3 to 9 [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [3] to [9] or

[Ctrl]/[Command]- [3] to [9]
Select tool [1]
Set Right Locator [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [2]
Split tool [3]
Play [Enter]
Zoom tool [6]
Start/Stop [Space]
Stop Num [0]
Transport category
To Left Locator Num [1]
Option Key command
To Marker 1 [Shift]-[1]
Auto Punch In [I]
To Marker 2 [Shift]-[2]
Auto Punch Out [O]
To Marker 3 to 9 Num [3] to [9] or [Shift]-[3] to [9]
Cycle Num [/]
To Right Locator Num [2]
Exchange time formats [.]
Use External Sync [T]
Fast Forward [Shift]-Num [+]
Fast Rewind [Shift]-Num [-] Workspace category
Forward Num [-]
Option Key command
Input Left Locator [Shift]-[L]
Lock/Unlock Active Workspace [Alt]/[Option]-Num [0]
Input Position [Shift]-[P]
New [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [0]
Input Right Locator [Shift]-[R]
Organize [W]
Input Tempo [Shift]-[T]
Workspace 1-9 [Alt]/[Option]-Num [1-9]
Insert Marker [Insert] (Win)
Locate Next Event [N]
Zoom category
Locate Next Marker [Shift]-[N]
Option Key command
Locate Previous Event [B]
Zoom Full [Shift]-[F]
Locate Previous Marker [Shift]-[B]
Zoom In [H]
Locate Selection [L] Zoom In Tracks [Alt]/[Option]-[Down Arrow]
Locators to Selection [P] Zoom Out [G]
Loop Selection [Shift]-[G] Zoom Out Tracks [Alt]/[Option]-[Up Arrow] or
[Ctrl]/[Command]-[Up Arrow]
Metronome On [C]
Zoom to Event [Shift]-[E]
Nudge Cursor right [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [-]
Zoom to Selection [Alt]/[Option]-[S]
Nudge Cursor left [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [+]
Zoom Tracks Exclusive [Z] or [Ctrl]/[Command]-
Panel (Transport panel) [F2] [Down Arrow]

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Introduction functions. When you open a category folder by clicking the
plus sign beside it, the items and functions it contains are
Most of the main menus in Cubase have key command displayed with the currently assigned key commands.
shortcuts for certain items on the menus. In addition, there
are numerous other Cubase functions that can be per-
formed via key commands. These are all default settings. If
you want, you can customize existing key commands to
your liking, and also add commands for menu items and
functions that have no key command assigned.
! You can also assign tool modifier keys, i.e. keys that
change the behavior of various tools when pressed.
This is done in the Preferences dialog – see “Setting
up tool modifier keys” on page 483.

How are key commands settings saved?

Every time you edit or add any key command assignment,
this is stored as a global Cubase preference – not as part
of a project. Hence, if you edit or add a key command as-
signment, any subsequent projects that you create or
open will use these modified settings. However, the de-
fault settings can be restored at any time by clicking the
Reset All button in the Key Commands dialog.
In addition, you can save key commands settings as a “key To add a key command, proceed as follows:
commands file”, which is stored separately and can be im-
1. Pull down the File menu and select “Key Commands…”.
ported into any project. This way you can quickly and easily
The Key Commands dialog appears.
recall customized settings, when moving projects between
different computers, for example. The settings are saved in 2. In the Commands list on the left, choose a category.
an .xml file on the hard disk. 3. Click the plus sign to open the category folder and
How to save key commands settings is described in the display the items it contains.
section “About key commands presets” on page 482. Note that you can also click the “global” plus and minus signs in the top
left corner to open and close all category folders at once.

Setting up key commands
The following is a description of how you set up key com-
mands and save them as presets for easy access. Key
commands settings are accessed and edited in the Key
Commands dialog.
4. In the list, select the item to which you want to assign
a key command.
Already assigned key commands are shown in the Keys column as well
as in the Keys section in the top right corner.

Adding or modifying a key command

In the Key Commands dialog you will find all main menu
items and a large number of other functions, arranged in a
hierarchical way similar to the Windows Explorer and Mac
OS Finder. The function categories are represented by a Key commands are displayed here.
number of folders, each containing various menu items and

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5. Alternatively, you can use the search function in the
dialog to find the desired item.
For a description of how to use the search function, see below.
6. When you have found and selected the desired item,
click in the “Type in Key” field and enter a new key com-
mand.
You can choose any single key or a combination of one or several modi-
fier keys ([Alt]/[Option], [Ctrl]/[Command], [Shift]) plus any key. Just
press the keys you want to use.
7. If the key command you entered is already assigned to
another item or function, this is displayed below the “Type
in Key” field.
You can either ignore this and proceed to assign the key command to
the new function instead, or you can select another key command.
8. Click the Assign button above the field.
The new key command appears in the Keys List.
! If the key command you enter is already assigned to
another function, you will get a warning message
asking if you really want to reassign the command to
the new function.
9. Click OK to exit the dialog.
Ö You can set up several different key commands for the
same function. Adding a key command to a function that
already has another key command will not replace the key
command previously defined for the function. If you wish
to remove a key command, see below.
Searching for key commands
If you want to know which key command is assigned to a
certain function in the program, you can use the Search
function in the Key Commands dialog:
1. Click in the search text field at the top left of the dialog
and type in the function for which you want to know the key
command.
This is a standard word search function, so you should type the command
as it is spelled in the program. Partial words can be used; to search for all
quantize related commands, type “Quantize”, “Quant”, etc.
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Key commands
2. Click the Search button (the magnifying glass icon).
The search is conducted and the first matching command is selected
and displayed in the Commands list below. The Keys column and the
Keys list show the assigned key commands, if any.
3. To search for more commands containing the word(s)
you entered, click the Search button again.
4. When you are done, click OK to close the dialog.
Removing a key command
To remove a key command, proceed as follows:
1. Use the list of categories and commands to select the
item or function for which you wish to remove a key com-
mand.
The key command is shown in the Keys column and the Keys list.
2. Select the key command in the Keys list and click the
Delete button (the trash icon).
You are asked whether you really want to remove the key command.
3. Click Remove to remove the selected key command.
4. Click OK to close the dialog.
Setting up macros
A macro is a combination of several functions or commands
to be performed in one go. For example, you could select all
events on the selected audio track, remove DC offset, nor-
malize the events and duplicate them, all with a single com-
mand.
Macros are set up in the Key Commands dialog as follows:
1. Click the Show Macros button.
The macro settings are shown in the lower part of the dialog. To hide
these from view, click the button (now renamed Hide Macros) again.
2. Click New Macro.
A new, unnamed macro appears in the Macros list. Name it by typing the
desired name. You can rename a macro at any time by selecting it in the
list and typing in a new name.
3. Make sure the macro is selected, and use the catego-
ries and commands in the upper half of the dialog to se-
lect the first command you want to include in the macro.
4. Click Add Command.
The selected command appears in the list of commands in the Macros
section.
5. Repeat the procedure to add more commands to the
macro.
Note that commands are added after the currently selected command in
the list. This allows you to insert commands “in the middle” of an existing
macro.
A macro with three commands
• To remove a command from the macro, select it in the
Macros list and click Delete.
• Similarly, to remove an entire macro, select it in the
Macros list and click Delete.
After you have closed the Key Commands dialog, all mac-
ros you have created appear at the bottom of the Edit menu
in the Macros submenu, available for instant selection.
You can also assign key commands to macros. All macros
you have created appear in the upper section of the Key
Commands dialog under the Macros category – just se-
lect a macro and assign a key command as with any other
function.
About key commands presets
As mentioned above, any changes made to the key com-
mands (and macros) are automatically stored as a Cubase
preference. However, it is also possible to store key com-
mands settings separately. This way, you can store any
number of different key command settings as presets for
instant recall.
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Key commands
Saving key commands presets
Proceed as follows:
1. Set up the key commands and macros to your liking.
When setting up key commands, remember to click “Assign” to make the
changes.
2. Click the Save button next to the Presets pop-up
menu.
A dialog appears, allowing you to type in a name for the preset.
3. Click OK to save the preset.
Your saved key commands settings are now available on the Presets
pop-up menu.
Loading key command presets
To load a key command preset, simply select it from the
Presets pop-up menu.
Ö Note that this operation may replace existing key com-
mands!
The key command settings you load will replace the current key command
settings for the same functions (if any). If you have macros of the same
name as those stored in the preset you load, these will be replaced too.
If you want to be able to revert to your current settings again, make sure to
save them first, as described above!
Loading earlier key commands settings
If you have saved key commands settings with an earlier
program version, it is possible to use them in Cubase 5, by
using the “Import Key Command File” function, which lets
you load and apply saved key commands or macros:
1. Open the Key Commands dialog.
2. Click the “Import Key Command File” button to the
right of the Presets pop-up menu.
A standard file dialog opens.
3. In the file dialog, use the “Files of type” pop-up menu
to specify if you want to import a key commands file
(“.key”) or a macro commands file (extension “.mac”).
When you have imported an older file, you might want to save it as a pre-
set (see above) to be able to access it from the Presets pop-up menu in
the future.
4. Navigate to the file you want to import and click “Open”.
The file is imported.
5. Click OK to exit the Key Commands dialog and apply
the imported settings.
The settings in the loaded key commands or macros file now replace the
current settings.

About the “Reset” and “Reset All” functions

These two buttons in the Key Commands dialog will both

restore the default settings. The following rules apply:
• “Reset” will restore the default key command setting for
the function selected in the Commands list.
• “Reset All” will restore the default key commands for all 2. Select an option in the Categories list, and locate the
commands. action for which you want to edit the modifier key.
For example, the “Copy” action mentioned above resides in the category
! Note that the “Reset All” operation will cause any “Drag & Drop”.
changes made to the default key commands to be
lost! If you want to be able to revert to these settings 3. Select the action in the Action list.
again, make sure to save them first! 4. Hold down the desired modifier key(s) and click the
Assign button.
The current modifier keys for the action are replaced. If the modifier keys
Setting up tool modifier keys you pressed are already assigned to another tool, you will be asked
whether you want to overwrite them. If you do, this will leave the other
A tool modifier key is a key you can press to get an alter-
tool without any modifier keys assigned.
nate function when using a tool. For example, clicking and
dragging an event with the Arrow tool normally moves it – 5. When you’re done, click OK to apply the changes and
holding down a modifier key (by default [Alt]/[Option]) will close the dialog.
copy it instead.
The default assignments for tool modifier keys can be
found in the Preferences (Editing–Tool Modifiers page).
Here, you can also edit them:
1. Open the Preferences dialog and select the Editing–
Tool Modifiers page.

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