Keyboard Shortcut Reference - Audacity Manual

# Keyboard Shortcut Reference

### From Audacity Manual

This page provides a list of all keyboard shortcuts that can be used in Audacity, arranged in similar functional groupings used by the Menu Bar and Toolbars.

- Some shortcuts do not have an equivalent menu item. In the tables below, these shortcuts will not have a link to a menu item. For shortcuts associated with a menu item, click on the Action name for a full description of the command.
- Many menu and other commands do not have a pre-defined shortcut, but you can assign a shortcut to them in Keyboard Preferences. For convenience, these are listed at the end of the tables below (it isn't possible yet to assign shortcuts to individual effects in the Generate, Effect and Analyze menus). Similarly, you can change the pre-defined shortcut for any item in Keyboard Preferences.

Mac OS X users: CTRL = COMMAND; ALT = OPTION. So, for example, CTRL + ALT + K = COMMAND + OPTION + K

## File commands

Action | Key | Description
--- | --- | ---
New | CTRL + N | Creates a new and empty project window to start working on new or imported Tracks.
Open... | CTRL + O | Presents you with a standard dialog box where you can select either audio files, a list of files (.LOF) or an Audacity Project file to open.
Close | CTRL + W | Closes the current project window, prompting you to save your work if you haven't saved.
Save Project | CTRL + S | Saves the current Audacity project .AUP file.
Import > Audio... | SHIFT + CTRL + I | Similar to 'Open', except that the file is added as a new track to your existing project.
Exit | CTRL + Q | Closes all project windows and exits Audacity. If there are any unsaved changes to your project, Audacity will ask if you want to save them.
Menu items assignable in Keyboard Preferences: 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 commands

Action | Key | Description
--- | --- | ---
Undo | CTRL + Z | Undoes the most recent editing action.
Redo | CTRL + Y Mac/Linux: CTRL + SHIFT + Z | Redoes the most recently undone editing action.
Cut | CTRL + X | Removes the selected audio data and places it on the clipboard. Any audio to the right of the selection is shifted to the left.
Spilt Cut | CTRL + ALT + X | Same as Cut, but none of the audio data to the right of the selection is shifted.
Copy | CTRL + C | Copies the selected audio data to the clipboard without removing it from the project.
Paste | CTRL + V | Inserts whatever is on the clipboard at the position of the selection cursor in the project, replacing whatever audio data is currently selected, if any.
Paste Text to New Label | CTRL + ALT + V | Pastes the text on the clipboard at the cursor position in the currently selected label track. If there is no selection in the label track a point label is created. If a range is selected in the label track a range label is created. If no label track is selected one is created, and a new label is created.
Trim | CTRL + T | Removes all audio from the current clip except the selected part. Does not affect other clips in the same track.
Delete | CTRL + K | Removes the audio data that is currently selected without copying it to the clipboard.
Split Delete | CTRL + ALT + K | Removes the selected audio without placing it on the clipboard, but does not shift the following audio.
Silence | CTRL + L | Replaces the selection with silence.
Split | CTRL + I | Splits the current clip into up to three clips at the selection boundaries.
Split New | CTRL + ALT + I | Does a Split Cut on the current selection in the current track, then creates a new track and pastes the selection into the new track.
Join | CTRL + J | If you select an area that overlaps one or more clips, they are all joined into one large clip. Regions in-between clips become silence.
Disjoin | CTRL + ALT + J | In a selection area that includes absolute silences, creates individual non-silent clips between the regions of silence. The silence becomes blank space between the clips.
Duplicate | CTRL + D | Creates a new track containing only the current selection as a new clip.
Labelled Regions > Cut | ALT + X | Same as the Cut command, but operates on labeled regions.
Labelled Regions > Split Cut | SHIFT + ALT + X | Same as the Split Cut command, but operates on labeled regions.
Labelled Regions > Copy | SHIFT + ALT + C | Same as the Copy command, but operates on labeled regions.
Labelled Regions > Delete | ALT + K | Same as the Delete command, but operates on labeled regions.
Labelled Regions > Split Delete | SHIFT + ALT + K | Same as the Split Delete command, but operates on labeled regions.
Labelled Regions > Silence | ALT + L | Same as the Silence Audio command, but operates on labeled regions.
Labelled Regions > Split | ALT + I | Same as the Split command, but operates on labeled regions.
Labelled Regions > Join | ALT + J | Same as the Join command, but operates on labeled regions.
Labelled Regions > Disjoin | SHIFT + ALT + J | Same as the Disjoin command, but operates on labeled regions.
Select > All | CTRL + A | Selects all of the audio in all of the tracks.
Select > None | CTRL + SHIFT + A | Deselects all of the audio in all of the tracks.
Select > Left at Playback Position | [ | Select this command while Audacity is playing or recording to set the left edge of the selection.
Select > Right at Playback Position | ] | Select this command while Audacity is playing or recording to set the right edge of the selection.
Select > Track Start to Cursor | SHIFT + J | Selects a region in the selected track(s) from the start of the track to the cursor position.
Select > Cursor to Track End | SHIFT + K | Selects a region in the selected track(s) from the cursor position to the end of the track.
Find Zero Crossings | Z | Moves the edges of a selection region (or the cursor position) slightly so they are at a rising zero crossing point.
Move Cursor to Track Start | J | Moves the cursor to the start of the selected track.
Move Cursor to Track End | K | Moves the cursor to the end of the selected track.
Preferences | CTRL + P Mac: CTRL +, | Opens the Preferences dialog.
Selection to Start | SHIFT + HOME | Selects all audio from beginning of the track to the cursor.
Selection to End | SHIFT + END | Selects all audio from the cursor to the end of the track.
Delete Key | BACKSPACE | Deletes the selection.
Delete Key 2 | DELETE | Deletes the selection.
Selection Extend Left | SHIFT + LEFT | Increases 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 | Increases 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 | Decreases 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 | Decreases 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.
Cursor Left | LEFT | Moves the cursor left. The distance moved is dependent on the zoom level.
Cursor Right | RIGHT | Moves the cursor right. The distance moved is dependent on the zoom level.
Cursor Short Jump Left(1) | , | Moves the cursor 1 second left.
Cursor Short Jump Right(1) | . | Moves the cursor 1 second right.
Cursor Long Jump Left(1) | SHIFT + , | Moves the cursor 5 seconds left.
Cursor Long Jump Right(1) | SHIFT + . | Moves the cursor 5 seconds right.
Set (or Extend) Left Selection | (User-assigned) | Same as Selection Extend Left.
Set (or Extend) Right Selection | (User-assigned) | Same as Selection Extend Right.
Menu items assignable in Keyboard Preferences: 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.

(1) | The long and short jump times can be set in the Seek Time When Playing section of Playback Preferences.

## View commands

Action | Key | Description
--- | --- | ---
Zoom In | CTRL + 1 | Zooms in on the horizontal axis of the audio displaying more detail about less time.
Normal Zoom | CTRL + 2 | Zooms to the default view which displays about one inch per second.
Zoom Out | CTRL + 3 | Zooms out displaying less detail about more time.
Fit In Window | CTRL + F | Zooms out until the entire project just fits in the window.
Fit Vertically | CTRL + SHIFT + F | Adjusts the height of all the tracks until they fit in the project window.
Zoom to Selection | CTRL + E | Zooms in until the selected audio fills the width of the screen to show the selection in more detail.
Collapse All Tracks | CTRL + SHIFT + C | Collapses all tracks to take up the minimum amount of space.
Expand All Tracks | CTRL + SHIFT + X | Expands all tracks to their original size before the last collapse.
Full screen on/off | F11 (1) | Toggles between normal and full-screen mode.
Menu items assignable in Keyboard Preferences: Show Clipping; History...; Karaoke...; Mixer Board...; Toolbars > Control, Device, Edit, Meter, Mixer, Selection, Tools, Transcription, Reset Toolbars.

(1) | Mac users: F11 is a system "Expose" command to display the desktop. Assign a different shortcut to this command.

## Transport commands

Action | Key | Description
--- | --- | ---
Loop Play | SHIFT + SPACE | Plays the selection over and over again.
Pause | P | Temporarily pauses playing or recording without losing your place.
Skip to Start | HOME | Moves the cursor to the beginning of the project.
Skip to End | END | Moves the cursor to the end of the project.
Record | R | Recording begins on a new track at either the current cursor location or at the beginning of the current selection.
Timer Record ... | SHIFT + T | Brings up the Timer Record dialog.
Append Record | SHIFT + R | Starts recording at the end of the currently selected track(s).
Play/Stop | SPACE | Toggles playback on and off. When stopped, it is the same as the Play command. When playing, it is the same as the Stop command.
Play/Stop and Set Cursor | SHIFT + A | Toggles playback on and off, but also sets the cursor to the stop point. When stopped, this is the same as the Play command. When playing, using this shortcut will stop playback and move the cursor to the position where playback was stopped.
Play One Second | 1 | Plays for one second centered on the current pointer position (not from the current cursor position). See this page for an example.
Play To Selection | B | Plays to or from the current pointer position to or from the start or end of the selection, depending on the pointer position. See this page for more details.
Play Cut Preview | C | Plays for 1 second before the current selection and one second after the current selection, as if the current selection had been cut or deleted. This is useful for previewing what the audio will sound like after the cut. The length of time that is played before and after the selection can be set in the Cut Preview section of Playback Preferences.
Seek left short period during playback(1) | LEFT | Skips the playback cursor back one second.
Seek right short period during playback(1) | RIGHT | Skips the playback cursor forward one second.
Seek left long period during playback(1) | SHIFT + LEFT | Skips the playback cursor back five seconds.
Seek right long period during playback(1) | SHIFT + RIGHT | Skips the playback cursor forward five seconds.
Play | (User-assigned) | Single command to start standard speed playback immediately.
Stop | (User-assigned) | Single command to stop playing or recording immediately.
Play at speed | (User-assigned) | Equivalent to clicking the Play at speed button on the Transcription Toolbar.
Adjust playback speed | (User-assigned) | Displays the Playback Speed dialog. You can type a new value for the playback speed (between 0.01 and 3), or press <Tab> then use the left and right arrow keys to adjust the slider.
Increase playback speed | (User-assigned) | Each key press will increase the playback speed by 0.03.
Decrease playback speed | (User-assigned) | Each key press will decrease the playback speed by 0.03.
Menu items assignable in Keyboard Preferences: Overdub (on/off); Software Playthrough (on/off); Sound Activated Recording (on/off); Sound Activation Level...

(1) | The long and short seek times can be set in theSeek Time When Playing section of Playback Preferences.

## Tracks commands

Action | Key | Description
--- | --- | ---
Add New > Audio Track | SHIFT + CTRL + N | Creates a new empty audio track.
Mute All Tracks | CTRL + U | Mutes all the audio tracks in the project as if you had used the mute buttons from the Track Panel on each track.
Unmute All Tracks | SHIFT + CTRL + U | Unmutes all the audio tracks in the project as if you had released the mute buttons from the Track Panel on each track.
Add Label at Selection | CTRL + B | Creates a new label at the current selection.
Add Label at Playback Position | CTRL + M(1) | Like Add Label at Selection but the label is added at the current position during playback.
Mix and Render to New Track | SHIFT + CTRL + M | Same as Tracks > Mix and Render, except that the original tracks are preserved and a new track is created containing the resulting mix.
Move Focus to Previous Track(2) | UP | Changes the track that responds to keyboard input to the previous (upper) track. If the top track currently has focus no action is taken.
Move Focus to Previous and Change Selection(2) | SHIFT + UP | As above, but if there is a selection in the current track that selection is extended into the track above.
Move Focus to Next Track(2) | DOWN | Changes the track that responds to keyboard input to the next (lower) track. If the bottom track currently has focus no action is taken.
Move Focus to Next and Change Selection(2) | SHIFT + DOWN | As above, but if there is a selection in the current track that selection is extended into the track below.
Toggle Focused Track(2) | RETURN NUMPAD_ENTER CTRL + SPACE | Changes the focused track from selected to not selected, or from selected to not selected.
Change pan on focused track | SHIFT + P | Brings up the Pan dialog for the focused track where you can enter a pan value, or use the slider for finer control of panning than is available when using the track pan slider.
Pan left on focused track | ALT + SHIFT + LEFT | Controls the pan slider on the focused track. Each keypress changes the pan value by 10% left.
Pan right on focused track | ALT + SHIFT + RIGHT | Controls the pan slider on the focused track. Each keypress changes the pan value by 10% right.
Change gain on focused track | SHIFT + G | Brings up the Gain dialog for the focused track where you can enter a gain value, or use the slider for finer control of gain than is available when using the track pan slider.
Increase gain on focused track | ALT + SHIFT + UP | Controls the gain slider on the focused track. Each keypress increases the gain value by 1 dB.
Decrease gain on focused track | ALT + SHIFT + DOWN | Controls the gain slider on the focused track. Each keypress decreases the gain value by 1 dB.
Mute/Unmute focused track | SHIFT + U | Toggles the Mute button on the focused track.
Open menu on focused track | SHIFT + M | Opens the track menu on the focused track. Use the Up and Down keys to navigate the menu, the Right key to open a hierarchical menu, the Left key to move from a hierarchical menu to the main menu and the Enter key to select a menu item.
Solo/Unsolo focused track | SHIFT + S | Toggles the Solo button on the focused track.
Remove focused track | SHIFT + C | Removes the focused track.
Menu items assignable in Keyboard Preferences: 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(3); Edit Labels; Sort Tracks By Start Time; Sort Tracks By Name.

(1) | Mac users: COMMAND + M is a system command to minimize the front window. Assign a different shortcut to this command.
(2) | See Audacity Selection for examples of changing track focus and selection.
(3) | Not available in current beta release; last available in 1.3.9 Beta.

## Effect Menu

Action | Key | Description
--- | --- | ---
Repeat Last Effect | CTRL + R | Repeats the last applied effect using the same option and without displaying the dialog.

## Analyze Menu

Action | Key | Description
--- | --- | ---
Contrast ... | SHIFT + CTRL + T | Displays the Contrast dialog.
Menu items assignable in Keyboard Preferences: Plot Spectrum.

## Help Menu

Action | Key | Description
--- | --- | ---
Menu items assignable in Keyboard Preferences: About Audacity; Quick Help (in web browser); Manual (in web browser); Show Log; Screenshot Tools; Run Benchmark; Audio Device Info.

## Tools Toolbar

Action | Key | Description
--- | --- | ---
Selection Tool | F1 | Chooses the Selection tool.
Envelope Tool | F2 | Chooses the Envelope tool.
Draw Tool | F3 | Chooses the Draw tool.
Zoom Tool | F4 | Chooses the Zoom tool.
Time Shift Tool | F5 | Chooses the Time Shift tool.
Multi-Tool | F6 | Chooses the Multi-tool.
Next Tool | D | Cycles through the tools: Selection to Envelope to Draw to Zoom to Time Shift to Multi-tool to Selection etc.
Previous Tool | A | Cycles through the tools: Selection to Multi-tool to Time Shift to Zoom to Draw to Envelope to Selection etc.

## Mixer Toolbar

Action | Key | Description
--- | --- | ---
Adjust Output Gain | (User-assigned) | Displays the Output Volume dialog. You can type a new value for the output volume (between 0 and 1), or press <Tab> then use the left and right arrow keys to adjust the slider.
Increase Output Gain | (User-assigned) | Each key press will increase the output gain by 0.1.
Decrease Output Gain | (User-assigned) | Each key press will decrease the output gain by 0.1.
Adjust Input Gain | (User-assigned) | Displays the Input Volume dialog. You can type a new value for the input volume (between 0 and 1), or press <Tab> then use the left and right arrow keys to adjust the slider.
Increase Input Gain | (User-assigned) | Each key press will increase the input gain by 0.1.
Decrease Input Gain | (User-assigned) | Each key press will decrease the input gain by 0.1.
Adjust Input Source | (User-assigned) | Displays the Select Input Source dialog, but only if the Input Source popup menu is available in the Mixer Toolbar. Otherwise an error message will be displayed.

## Selection Toolbar

Action | Key | Description
--- | --- | ---
Snap To On | (User-assigned) | Equivalent to checking the Snap to control in the Selection Toolbar.
Snap To Off | (User-assigned) | Equivalent to unchecking the Snap to control in the Selection Toolbar.

## Keyboard Focus

Action | Key | Description
--- | --- | ---
Move backward through Dock, Track View, and Selection Bar | CTRL + SHIFT + F6 | Each use moves the keyboard focus as indicated.
Move forward through Dock, Track View, and Selection Bar | CTRL + F6 | Each use moves the keyboard focus as indicated.

##### Views

##### Help Location

- Local manual in use
- Internet manual