DID YOU KNOW THAT EDITORS ONLY USE 1% OF PREMIERE PRO KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS?!
Actually, that’s a lie.
But that’s what it feels like, because it’s daunting as hell when you look at the Premiere Pro Keyboard Shortcuts window, right? What the hell do all the shortcuts do? And which ones are actually useful?!
Well, you’ll be relieved to hear that no editor uses all of the available keyboard shortcuts, so I put together a handy list of all the shortcuts I actually use, and what they do. I’ve split the list into categories:
- The Basics – All the basic Premiere Pro keyboard shortcuts every editor should know and use.
- The Ultimate Time Savers – These are the keyboard shortcuts that save you the most time. Master these to rocket through the editing process.
- Advanced (sort of) – These are the keyboard shortcuts you should master once you are familiar with the first two. It’ll help you achieve more whilst minimising use of the mouse.
- Custom Keys – These are the Premiere Pro keyboard shortcuts that I have programmed to make my life easier.
WHERE DO YOU WANT YOUR FREE PREMIERE PRO KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS PDF?
If you want a handy pdf to reference while you’re editing you can download the Premiere Pro Keyboard Shortcuts PDF here. It’s super useful to keep by your side as you learn the keys.
THE BASICS
| Key | Name | What it does | Variations |
| j | Shuttle Left | Play backwards one notch | |
| k | Shuttle Stop | Stop playback | Use shift to play a few frames behind and in front of the playhead. Use alt to play only between in/out points. |
| l | Shuttle Right | Play forwards one notch | |
| left-arrow | Step back 1 frame | Move the playhead 1 frame back | Hold shift to move several frames. Frame amount can be changed in preferences. |
| right-arrow | Step forward 1 frame | Move the playhead 1 frame froward | Hold shift to move several frames. Frame amount can be changed in preferences. |
| up-arrow | Go to previous edit point | Move playhead to previous edit point on selected tracks | |
| down-arrow | Go to next edit point | Move playhead to next edit point on selected tracks | |
| – | Zoom out | Zooms out of the timeline | |
| = | Zoom in | Zooms in to the timeline | |
| i | Mark In | Sets the in point | Use alt to delete in point and shift to move playhead to in point |
| o | Mark out | Sets the out point | Use alt to delete out point and shift to move playhead to out point |
| , | Insert | Inserts the footage from source monitor into timeline at playhead and moves everything forward | |
| . | Overwrite | Overwrites the footage from source monitor over the top of anything forward of the timeline playhead | |
| cmd-s | Save | Saves your project. Obviously. | |
| cmd-c | Copy | Copies the selected clips/effects/parameters to the clipboard | |
| cmd-x | Cut | Cuts out the selected clip/effects/parameters and puts in the clipboard | |
| cmd-v | Paste | Pastes the clipboard | |
| cmd-k | Add edit | Add edit point (cut) at the playhead for selected clips (or active track s if no selection) | |
| alt-backspace | Ripple Delete | Deletes selected clips and closes the gap left behind | |
| cmd-z | Undo | Undoes the previous action |
THE ULTIMATE TIME SAVERS
| Key | Name | What it does | Variations |
| q | Ripple Trim | Deletes everything from the playhead to the previous edit point (on activated tracks) and closes the gap | Use shift and alt to alter the direction of the delete |
| w | Ripple Trim | Deletes everything from the playhead to the next edit point (on activated tracks) and closes the gap | Use shift and alt to alter the direction of the delete |
| [ | Decrease clip volume | Decreases the volume of the selected clip by 1db | Use shift to change the volume by many |
| ] | Increase clip volume | Increases the volume of the selected clip by 1db | Use shift to change the volume by many |
| \ | Zoom to sequence | Zoom out to show everything in your timeline | Tap again to zoom back in to your previous zoom level |
| cmd-left | Nudge by 1 backwards | Move the selected clip 1 frame to the left | Hold shift to move by several frames. Frame amount can be changed in preferences. |
| cmd-right | Nudge by 1 forward | Move the selected clip 1 frame to the right | Hold shift to move by several frames. Frame amount can be changed in preferences. |
| cmd-alt-left | Slip clip left | Slip the footage inside the selected clip by 1 frame to the left | Hold shift to move by several frames. Frame amount can be changed in preferences. |
| cmd-alt-right | Slip clip right | Slip the footage inside the selected clip by 1 frame to the right | Hold shift to move by several frames. Frame amount can be changed in preferences. |
| shift-d | Apply default transition | Applies default transition to selected video or audio clips. Default transition is a fade. | You can change what the default transition is in your preferences |
ADVANCED (SORT OF)
| Key | Name | What it does | Variations |
| ` | Maximise frame | Makes the window under your mouse cursor fill the entire Premiere window | Tap again to go back to normal |
| d | Select clip at playhead | Selects the clips on active tracks underneath the playhead | |
| f | Match frame | Shows the original source file in your source monitor of the clip that you have selected | |
| g | Audio Gain | Boost the volume of the selected clips | |
| shift-s | Audio toggle while scrubbing | Toggle on and off the sound of each frame as you scrub | |
| a | Track select forward | Changes your mouse to a tool that allows you to select everything on active tracks, forward of the mouse | Hold shift to select singular active tracks |
| r | Rate stretch tool | Use this tool to stretch your clips to slow down/speed up the clip to your specific duration | |
| v | Arrow tool | Change your cursor back to the generic arrow | |
| alt- – | Decrease audio track height | Decreases the height of all your audio tracks | Remember, a tidy timeline is a today mind |
| alt- = | Increase audio track height | Increases the height of all your audio tracks | |
| cmd- – | Decrease video track height | Decreases the height of all your video tracks | |
| cmd- = | Increase video track height | Increases the height of all your video tracks | |
| cmd-m | Export | Open the export window for selected sequences |
CUSTOM KEYS
| Key | Name | What it does | Variations |
| shift-c | Add frame hold | Turns the rest of the selected clip into a freeze frame from the playhead forwards | |
| alt-f | Source monitor panel: Reveal in project | Reveals in the project window the clip that is showing in the source monitor |
Sometimes you’ll come across a project that requires you to use on tool or execute one task repeatedly. On those projects it’s useful to create your own keyboard shortcut to speed up your workflow. One example might be to set a shortcut to ‘Remove Attributes’ when you’re taking over someone else’s project who has applied loads of effects that you don’t like. Or setting a shortcut for ‘Fill to Screen’ when you are bringing lots of archive footage in weird sizes.
Of course, all these keyboard shortcuts are my preferences. Yours may differ. I’ll keep it updated with any you deem worthy. What else do you think should go on the Premiere Pro Keyboard Shortcuts PDF?
Comment below to let me know.
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