One of the most important ways to improve your workflow and develop your expertise on a DAW is to Know Your Shortcuts (KYS). Here are all the Ableton keyboard shortcuts you’ll ever need, probably, you definitely won’t remember them all right away.
If you can’t be bothered reading all this, I highly recommend getting hold of the Editor Keys Ableton shortcut overlays, here’s the one for the MacBook Pro:
Ableton Live Keyboard Shortcuts
Showing and Hiding Views
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Toggle Full Screen Mode |
F11 |
CTRL–CMD–F |
| Toggle Second Window |
CTRL–Shift–W |
CMD–Shift–W |
| Toggle Session/Arrangement View |
Tab |
Tab |
| Toggle Device/Clip View |
Shift–Tab or F12 |
Shift–Tab or CTRL–F12 |
| Hide/Show Detail View |
CTRL–ALT–L or Shift–F12 |
CMD–ALT–L or CTRL–Shift–F12 |
| Toggle Hot-Swap Mode |
Q |
Q |
| Toggle Drum Rack/last-selected Pad |
D |
D |
| Hide/Show Info View |
Shift–? |
Shift–? |
| Hide/Show Video Window |
CTRL–ALT–V |
CTRL–ALT–V |
| Hide/Show Browser |
CTRL–ALT–B |
CMD–ALT–B |
| Hide/Show Overview |
CTRL–ALT–O |
CMD–ALT–O |
| Hide/Show In/Out |
CTRL–ALT–I |
CMD–ALT–I |
| Hide/Show Sends |
CTRL–ALT–S |
CMD–ALT–S |
| Hide/Show Mixer |
CTRL–ALT–M |
CMD–ALT–M |
| Open the Preferences |
CTRL–, |
CMD–, |
| Close Window/Dialog |
ESC |
ESC |
Under Windows, you can access each menu by pressing ALT and the first letter of the menu (ALT–F for “File,” for instance). While a menu is open, you can use:
- the up and down arrow keys to navigate the menu items;
- the right and left arrow keys to open the neighboring menu;
- Enter to choose a menu item.
In OS X, you can access individual menu entries by pressing CMD–?. This opens a search field that will suggest menu entries as you type. You can then navigate the suggested options by pressing the up and down arrow keys and press Enter to choose one.
Adjusting Values
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Decrement/Increment |
up and down arrow keys |
up and down arrow keys |
| Finer Resolution for Dragging |
CTRL |
CMD |
| Return to Default |
Delete |
Delete |
| Type in Value |
0…9 |
0…9 |
| Go to Next Field (Bar.beat.16th) |
.–, |
.–, |
| Abort Value Entry |
ESC |
ESC |
| Confirm Value Entry |
Enter |
Enter |
Browsing
In addition to the shortcuts shown here, the editing shortcuts can also be used in the browser.
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Scroll Down/Up |
up and down arrow keys |
up and down arrow keys |
| Close/Open Folders |
right and left arrow keys |
right and left arrow keys |
| Load Selected Item from Browser |
Enter |
Enter |
| Preview Selected File |
Shift–Enter |
Shift–Enter |
| Search in Browser |
CTRL–F |
CMD–F |
| Jump to Search Results |
down arrow key |
down arrow key |
| Assign Color(s) to Selected Browser Item |
1…7 |
1…7 |
| Reset Assigned Color(s) for Selected Browser Item |
0 |
0 |
Transport
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Play from Start Marker/Stop |
Space |
Space |
| Continue Play from Stop Point |
Shift–Space |
Shift–Space |
| Play Arrangement View Selection |
Space |
Space |
| Move Insert Marker to Beginning |
Home |
Function+left arrow key |
| Record |
F9 |
F9 |
| Back to Arrangement |
F10 |
F10 |
| Activate/Deactivate Track 1..8 |
F1…F8 |
F1…F8 |
Editing
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Cut |
CTRL–X |
CMD–X |
| Copy |
CTRL–C |
CMD–C |
| Paste |
CTRL–V |
CMD–V |
| Duplicate |
CTRL–D |
CMD–D |
| Delete |
Delete |
Delete |
| Undo |
CTRL–Z |
CMD–Z |
| Redo |
CTRL–Y |
CMD–Y |
| Rename |
CTRL–R |
CMD–R |
| Select All |
CTRL–A |
CMD–A |
By holding down an additional modifier key, some of the above commands can also be applied to:
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Clips and Slots Across all Tracks |
Shift |
Shift |
| Time Across all Tracks |
Shift |
Shift |
| The Selected Part of the Envelope |
ALT |
ALT |
Tab can be used to move from one track or scene to another while renaming.
Loop Brace and Start/End Markers
The loop brace and start/end markers must first be selected before any of the following commands will apply to them.
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Move Start Marker to Position |
Shift-click |
Shift-click |
| Nudge Loop Left/Right |
right and left arrow keys |
right and left arrow keys |
| Move Loop By Loop Length |
up and down arrow keys |
up and down arrow keys |
| Halve/Double Loop Length |
CTRL up and down arrow keys |
CMD up and down arrow keys |
| Shorten/Lengthen Loop |
CTRL right and left arrow keys |
CMD right and left arrow keys |
| Select Material in Loop |
CTRL–Shift–L |
CMD–Shift–L |
Session View Commands
See also the editing commands.
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Launch Selected Clip/Slot |
Enter |
Enter |
| Select Neighboring Clip/Slot |
arrow keys |
arrow keys |
| Select all Clips/Slots |
CTRL–A |
CMD–A |
| Copy Clips |
CTRLdrag |
ALTdrag |
| Add/Remove Stop Button |
CTRL–E |
CMD–E |
| Insert MIDI clip |
CTRL–Shift–M |
CMD–Shift–M |
| Insert Scene |
CTRL–I |
CMD–I |
| Insert Captured Scene |
CTRL–Shift–I |
CMD–Shift–I |
| Move Nonadjacent Scenes Without Collapsing |
CTRL up and down arrow keys |
CMD up and down arrow keys |
| Drop Browser Clips as a Scene |
CTRL |
CMD |
| Deactivate Selected Clip |
0 |
0 |
Arrangement View Commands
The shortcuts for zooming, snapping/drawing and loop/region settings also work in the Arrangement View. See also the editing commands.
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Split Clip at Selection |
CTRL–E |
CMD–E |
| Consolidate Selection into Clip |
CTRL–J |
CMD–J |
| Create Fade/Crossfade |
CTRL–ALT–F |
CMD–ALT–F |
| Toggle Loop Selection |
CTRL–L |
CMD–L |
| Insert Silence |
CTRL–I |
CMD–I |
| Pan Left/Right of Selection |
CTRL–ALT |
CMD–ALT |
| Unfold all Tracks |
ALT unfold button |
ALT unfold button |
| Scroll Display to Follow Playback |
CTRL–Shift–F |
CMD–Shift–F |
| Deactivate Selection |
0 |
0 |
| Nudge Selection Left/Right |
right and left arrow keys |
right and left arrow keys |
| Reverse Audio Clip Selection |
R |
R |
| Zoom to Arrangement Time Selection |
Z |
Z |
| Zoom Back from Arrangement Time Selection/Zoom Out Arrangement Completely |
Shift–Z |
Shift–Z |
Commands for Tracks
See also the editing commands.
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Insert Audio Track |
CTRL–T |
CMD–T |
| Insert MIDI Track |
CTRL–Shift–T |
CMD–Shift–T |
| Insert Return Track |
CTRL–ALT–T |
CMD–ALT–T |
| Rename Selected Track |
CTRL–R |
CMD–R |
| While Renaming, Go to next Track |
Tab |
Tab |
| Group Selected Tracks |
CTRL–G |
CMD–G |
| Ungroup Tracks |
CTRL–Shift–G |
CMD–Shift–G |
| Show Grouped Tracks |
+ |
+ |
| Hide Grouped Tracks |
- |
- |
| Move Nonadjacent Tracks Without Collapsing |
CTRL arrow keys |
CMD arrow keys |
| Arm/Solo Multiple Tracks |
CTRL click |
CMD click |
| Add Device from Browser |
Enter |
Enter |
| Deactivate Selected Track |
0 |
0 |
Commands for Breakpoint Envelopes
The shortcuts for zooming, snapping/drawing and loop/region settings also work in the Envelope Editor and Arrangement View. See also the editing commands.
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Toggle Automation Mode |
A |
A |
| Finer Resolution for Dragging |
Shift |
Shift |
| Create Curved Automation Segment |
ALT |
ALT |
Key/MIDI Map Mode and the Computer MIDI Keyboard
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Toggle MIDI Map Mode |
CTRL–M |
CMD–M |
| Toggle Key Map Mode |
CTRL–K |
CMD–K |
| Computer MIDI Keyboard |
M |
M |
Zooming, Display and Selections
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Zoom In |
+ |
+ |
| Zoom Out |
- |
- |
| Drag/Click to Append to a Selection |
Shift |
Shift |
| Click to Add Adjacent Clips/Tracks/Scenes to Multi-Selection |
Shift |
Shift |
| Click to Add Nonadjacent Clips/Tracks/Scenes to a Multi-Selection |
CTRL |
CMD |
| Follow (Auto-Scroll) |
CTRL–Shift–F |
CMD–Shift–K |
| Pan Left/Right of Selection |
CTRL–ALT |
CMD–ALT |
Clip View Sample Display
The shortcuts for zooming and loop/region settings also work in the Sample Display.
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Quantize |
CTRL–U |
CMD–U |
| Quantize Settings… |
CTRL–Shift–U |
CMD–Shift–U |
| Move Selected Warp Marker |
right and left arrow keys |
right and left arrow keys |
| Select Warp Marker |
CTRLright and left arrow keys |
CMDright and left arrow keys |
| Scroll Display to Follow Playback |
CTRL–Shift–F |
CMD–Shift–F |
| Move Clip Region with Start Marker |
Shiftright and left arrow keys |
Shiftright and left arrow keys |
| Zoom to Clip Selection |
Z |
Z |
| Zoom Back from Clip Selection/Zoom Out Clip Completely |
Shift–Z |
Shift–Z |
Clip View MIDI Editor
The shortcuts for zooming, snapping/drawing and loop/region settings also work in the MIDI Editor.
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Quantize |
CTRL–U |
CMD–U |
| Quantize Settings… |
CTRL–Shift–U |
CMD–Shift–U |
| Scroll Editor Vertically |
Page Up/Down keys |
Page Up/Down keys |
| Scroll Editor Horizontally |
CTRL Page Up/Down keys |
Shift Page Up/Down keys |
| Copy Notes |
CTRLdrag |
ALTdrag |
| Change Velocity From Note Editor |
ALTdrag |
CMDdrag |
| Move Insert Marker to Beginning |
Home |
Function+left arrow key |
| Move Insert Marker to End |
End |
End |
| Scroll Display to Follow Playback |
CTRL–Shift–F |
CMD–Shift–F |
| Move Clip Region with Start Marker |
Shiftright and left arrow keys |
Shiftright and left arrow keys |
| Zoom to Clip Selection |
Z |
Z |
| Zoom Back from Clip Selection/Zoom Out Clip Completely |
Shift–Z |
Shift–Z |
Grid Snapping and Drawing
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Toggle Draw Mode |
B |
B |
| Narrow Grid |
CTRL–1 |
CMD–1 |
| Widen Grid |
CTRL–2 |
CMD–2 |
| Triplet Grid |
CTRL–3 |
CMD–3 |
| Snap to Grid |
CTRL–4 |
CMD–4 |
| Fixed/Zoom-Adaptive Grid |
CTRL–5 |
CMD–5 |
| Bypass Snapping While Dragging |
ALT |
CMD |
Global Quantization
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Sixteenth-Note Quantization |
CTRL–6 |
CMD–6 |
| Eighth-Note Quantization |
CTRL–7 |
CMD–7 |
| Quarter-Note Quantization |
CTRL–8 |
CMD–8 |
| 1-Bar Quantization |
CTRL–9 |
CMD–9 |
| Quantization Off |
CTRL–0 |
CMD–0 |
Working with Sets and the Program
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| New Live Set |
CTRL–N |
CMD–N |
| Open Live Set |
CTRL–O |
CMD–O |
| Save Live Set |
CTRL–S |
CMD–S |
| Save Live Set As… |
CTRL–Shift–S |
CMD–Shift–S |
| Quit Live |
CTRL–Q |
CMD–Q |
| Hide Live |
|
CMD–H |
| Export Audio/Video |
CTRL–Shift–R |
CMD–Shift–R |
| Export MIDI file |
CTRL–Shift–E |
CMD–Shift–E |
Working with Plug-Ins and Devices
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Show/Hide Plug-In Windows |
CTRL–ALT–P |
CMD–ALT–P |
| Open Second/Multiple Windows with Plug-In Edit Button |
CTRL |
CMD |
| Open Mac Keystroke Plug-In Window with Plug-In Edit Button |
|
Shift |
| Group/Ungroup Devices |
CTRL–G |
CMD–G |
| Activate/Deactivate All Devices in Group |
ALT device activator |
ALT device activator |
| Click to Append Devices to a Selected Device |
Shift |
Shift |
| Load Selected Device From Browser |
Enter |
Enter |
A context menu is available in Live for quick access to many commonly used menu items. To access the context menu, right-click(PC) / CTRL–click(Mac) on the part of the interface where you would like to execute a particular command. It is worth noting that Live’s context menu may sometimes contain applicable settings from the Preferences. You should change these options with care, as they will affect not only the currently selected item but the general settings of the program.
Some commands only appear in the context menu. Among these are: various options for working with the browser (see 5.1); the special grid marker commands for directing Auto-Warp (see “Syncing Longer Pieces”); detailed options for zoom-adaptive and fixed grid line width (see 6.9); copying and pasting for Operator’s envelopes and oscillators (see 24.6); and numerous device-specific commands.
