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Premiere Pro keyboard shortcuts

These are the only Premiere Pro keyboard shortcuts you'll need

Premiere-Pro-Keyboard-shortcuts-window

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:

  1. The Basics – All the basic Premiere Pro keyboard shortcuts every editor should know and use.
  2. The Ultimate Time Savers – These are the keyboard shortcuts that save you the most time. Master these to rocket through the editing process.
  3. 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.
  4. Custom Keys – These are the Premiere Pro keyboard shortcuts that I have programmed to make my life easier.

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.

 

Premiere-Pr-keyboard-shortcuts-pdf-mockup

 

THE BASICS

KeyNameWhat it doesVariations
jShuttle LeftPlay backwards one notch
kShuttle StopStop playbackUse shift to play a few frames behind and in front of the playhead. Use alt to play only between in/out points.
lShuttle RightPlay forwards one notch
left-arrowStep back 1 frameMove the playhead 1 frame backHold shift to move several frames. Frame amount can be changed in preferences.
right-arrowStep forward 1 frameMove the playhead 1 frame frowardHold shift to move several frames. Frame amount can be changed in preferences.
up-arrowGo to previous edit pointMove playhead to previous edit point on selected tracks
down-arrowGo to next edit pointMove playhead to next edit point on selected tracks
Zoom outZooms out of the timeline
=Zoom inZooms in to the timeline
iMark InSets the in pointUse alt to delete in point and shift to move playhead to in point
oMark outSets the out pointUse alt to delete out point and shift to move playhead to out point
,InsertInserts the footage from source monitor into timeline at playhead and moves everything forward
.OverwriteOverwrites the footage from source monitor over the top of anything forward of the timeline playhead
cmd-sSaveSaves your project. Obviously.
cmd-cCopyCopies the selected clips/effects/parameters to the clipboard
cmd-xCutCuts out the selected clip/effects/parameters and puts in the clipboard
cmd-vPastePastes the clipboard
cmd-kAdd editAdd edit point (cut) at the playhead for selected clips (or active track s if no selection)
alt-backspaceRipple DeleteDeletes selected clips and closes the gap left behind
cmd-zUndoUndoes the previous action

 

THE ULTIMATE TIME SAVERS

KeyNameWhat it doesVariations
qRipple TrimDeletes everything from the playhead to the previous edit point (on activated tracks) and closes the gapUse shift and alt to alter the direction of the delete
wRipple TrimDeletes everything from the playhead to the next edit point (on activated tracks) and closes the gapUse shift and alt to alter the direction of the delete
[Decrease clip volumeDecreases the volume of the selected clip by 1dbUse shift to change the volume by many
]Increase clip volumeIncreases the volume of the selected clip by 1dbUse shift to change the volume by many
\Zoom to sequenceZoom out to show everything in your timelineTap again to zoom back in to your previous zoom level
cmd-leftNudge by 1 backwardsMove the selected clip 1 frame to the leftHold shift to move by several frames. Frame amount can be changed in preferences.
cmd-rightNudge by 1 forwardMove the selected clip 1 frame to the rightHold shift to move by several frames. Frame amount can be changed in preferences.
cmd-alt-leftSlip clip leftSlip the footage inside the selected clip by 1 frame to the leftHold shift to move by several frames. Frame amount can be changed in preferences.
cmd-alt-rightSlip clip rightSlip the footage inside the selected clip by 1 frame to the rightHold shift to move by several frames. Frame amount can be changed in preferences.
shift-dApply default transitionApplies 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)

KeyNameWhat it doesVariations
`Maximise frameMakes the window under your mouse cursor fill the entire Premiere windowTap again to go back to normal
dSelect clip at playheadSelects the clips on active tracks underneath the playhead
fMatch frameShows the original source file in your source monitor of the clip that you have selected
gAudio GainBoost the volume of the selected clips
shift-sAudio toggle while scrubbingToggle on and off the sound of each frame as you scrub
aTrack select forwardChanges your mouse to a tool that allows you to select everything on active tracks, forward of the mouseHold shift to select singular active tracks
rRate stretch toolUse this tool to stretch your clips to slow down/speed up the clip to your specific duration
vArrow toolChange your cursor back to the generic arrow
alt- –Decrease audio track heightDecreases the height of all your audio tracksRemember, a tidy timeline is a today mind
alt- =Increase audio track heightIncreases the height of all your audio tracks
cmd- –Decrease video track heightDecreases the height of all your video tracks
cmd- =Increase video track heightIncreases the height of all your video tracks
cmd-mExportOpen the export window for selected sequences

 

CUSTOM KEYS

KeyNameWhat it doesVariations
shift-cAdd frame holdTurns the rest of the selected clip into a freeze frame from the playhead forwards
alt-fSource monitor panel: Reveal in projectReveals 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.

 

 

Premiere-Pro-keyboard-shortcuts-pdf

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.