Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

							Key Commands
Setting up key commands
1001
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 macros 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 
select a macro and assign a key command as with any other function.
Saving key commands presets
As mentioned above, any changes made to the key commands are automatically 
stored as a Cubase preference. However, it is also po ssible t o save  key co mmands 
settings separately. This way, you can save any number of different key command 
settings as presets for instant recall.
PROCEDURE
1. Set up the key commands 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 opens, 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.
NOTE
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! 
						

							Key Commands
Setting up key commands
1002
Loading earlier key commands settings
If you have saved key commands settings with an earlier program version, it is 
possible to use them in this Cubase version, by using the “Import Key Command 
File” function, which lets you load and apply saved key commands.
PROCEDURE
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 preset (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 file 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 commands.
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
Note that the 
						

							Key Commands
Setting up tool modifier keys
1003
Setting up tool modifier keys
A tool modifier key is a key you can press to get an alternate function when using a 
tool. For example, clicking and dragging an event with the Object Selection tool 
normally moves it – holding down a modifier key (by default [Alt]/[Option]) while 
dragging will copy it instead.
The default assignments for tool modifier keys can be found in the Preferences 
dialog (Editing–Tool Modifiers page). Here, you can also edit them:
PROCEDURE
1. Open the Preferences dialog and select the Editing–Tool Modifiers page.
2. Select an option in the Categories list, and locate the action for which you 
want to edit the modifier key.
For example, the “Copy” action mentioned above resides in the category “Drag & 
Drop”.
3. Select the action in the Action list.
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 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 tool without any modifier keys assigned.
5. When you are done, click OK to apply the changes and close the dialog.
The default key commands
Below, the default key commands are listed according to category.
NOTE
When the Virtual Keyboard is displayed, the usual key commands are blocked 
because they are reserved for the Virtual Keyboard. The only exceptions are: 
[Ctrl]/[Command]-[S] (Save), Num [*] (Start/Stop Record), [Space] (Start/Stop 
Playback), Num [1] (Jump to left locator), [Delete] or [Backspace] (Delete), Num [/] 
(Cycle on/off), [F2] (Show/Hide Transport panel), and [Alt]/[Option]-[K] 
(Show/Hide Virtual Keyboard). 
						

							Key Commands
The default key commands
1004
Audio category
Automation category
Chords
Devices category
Edit category
Option Key command
Adjust Fades to Range [A]
Auto-Grid [Shift]-[Q]
Crossfade [X]
Option Key command
Open Panel [F6]
Read Automation for All Tracks On/Off [Alt]/[Option]-[R]
Write Automation for All Tracks On/Off [Alt]/[Option]-[W]
Option Key command
Chord Pads [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[C]
Option Key command
MixConsole [F3]
Video [F8]
Virtual Keyboard [Alt]/[Option]-[K]
VST Connections [F4]
VST Instruments [F11]
VST Performance [F12]
Option Key command
Auto-Scroll On/Off [F]
Copy [Ctrl]/[Command]-[C]
Cut [Ctrl]/[Command]-[X]
Cut Time [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[X]
Delete [Delete] or [Backspace]
Delete Time [Shift]-[Backspace]
Duplicate [Ctrl]/[Command]-[D] 
						

							Key Commands
The default key commands
1005
Edit In-Place [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[I]
Group [Ctrl]/[Command]-[G]
Insert Silence [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[E]
Left Selection Side to Cursor [E]
Lock [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[L]
Move to Cursor [Ctrl]/[Command]-[L]
Move to Front (Uncover) [U]
Mute [M]
Mute Events [Shift]-[M]
Mute/Unmute Objects [Alt]/[Option]-[M]
Open Default Editor [Ctrl]/[Command]-[E]
Open Score Editor [Ctrl]/[Command]-[R]
Open/Close Editor [Return]
Paste [Ctrl]/[Command]-[V]
Paste at Origin [Alt]/[Option]-[V]
Paste Time [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[V]
Primary Parameter: Decrease [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[Down Arrow]
Primary Parameter: Increase [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[Up Arrow]
Record Enable [R]
Redo [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[Z]
Repeat [Ctrl]/[Command]-[K]
Right Selection Side to Cursor [D]
Secondary Parameter: Decrease [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[Left Arrow]
Secondary Parameter: Increase [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[Right Arrow]
Select All [Ctrl]/[Command]-[A]
Select None [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[A]
Snap On/Off [J]
Solo [S]
Split At Cursor [Alt]/[Option]-[X]
Split Range [Shift]-[X]
Edit Group on Selected Tracks On/Off [K]
Undo [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Z]
Ungroup [Ctrl]/[Command]-[U]
Unlock [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[U]
Unmute Events [Shift]-[U]
Wr i t e [ W ] Option Key command 
						

							Key Commands
The default key commands
1006
Editors category
File category
Inspector
Media category
Option Key command
Show/Hide Editors [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-[E]
Show/Hide Info Line [Ctrl]/[Command]-[I]
Show/Hide Inspector [Alt]/[Option]-[I]
Show/Hide Overview [Alt]/[Option]-[O]
Show/Hide Rack [Alt]/[Option]-[T]
Toggle Rack Tabs [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-[T]
Option Key command
Close [Ctrl]/[Command]-[W]
New [Ctrl]/[Command]-[N]
Open [Ctrl]/[Command]-[O]
Quit [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Q]
Save [Ctrl]/[Command]-[S]
Save As [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[S]
Save New Version [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-[S]
Option Key command
Toggle Inspector Footer Tabs [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-[Shift]-[T]
Toggle Inspector Tabs [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[T]
Option Key command
Open MediaBay [F5]
Open Mini Browser [F7]
Preview Cycle On/Off [Shift]-Num [/]
Preview Start [Shift]-[Enter]
Preview Stop [Shift]-Num [0]
Search MediaBay [Shift]-[F5]
Toggle Attribute Inspector [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-Num [6]
Toggle Filters [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-Num [5] 
						

							Key Commands
The default key commands
1007
MIDI category
Navigate category
Toggle Location Tree [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-Num [4]
Toggle Locations [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-Num [8]
Toggle Previewer [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-Num [2] Option Key command
Option Key command
Show/Hide Controller Lanes [Alt]/[Option]-[L]
Option Key command
Add Down:
Expand/Undo selection in the Project 
window to the bottom/ Move selected event 
in the Key Editor down 1 octave[Shift]-[Down Arrow]
Add Left:
Expand/Undo selection in the Project 
window/Key Editor to the left[Shift]-[Left Arrow]
Add Right:
Expand/Undo selection in the Project 
window/Key Editor to the right[Shift]-[Right Arrow]
Add Up:
Expand/Undo selection in the Project 
window to the top/Move selected event in 
the Key Editor up one octave[Shift]-[Up Arrow]
Bottom:
Select bottom track in the track list[End]
Down:
Select next in the Project window/Move 
selected event in the Key Editor one 
semitone down[Down Arrow]
Left:
Select next in the Project window/Key 
Editor[Left Arrow]
Right:
Select next in the Project window/Key 
Editor[Right Arrow] 
						

							Key Commands
The default key commands
1008
Nudge category
Project category
Quantize category
Tool category
To p :
Select top track in the track list[Home]
Toggle Selection [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Space]
Up:
Select next in the Project window/ Move 
selected event in the Key Editor one 
semitone up[Up Arrow] Option Key command
Option Key command
End Left [Alt]/[Option]-[Shift]-[Left Arrow]
End Right [Alt]/[Option]-[Shift]-[Right Arrow]
Left [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Right Arrow]
Right [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Right Arrow]
Start Left [Alt]/[Option]-[Left Arrow]
Start Right [Alt]/[Option]-[Right Arrow]
Option Key command
Open Browser [Ctrl]/[Command]-[B]
Open Markers [Ctrl]/[Command]-[M]
Open Pool [Ctrl]/[Command]-[P]
Open Tempo Track [Ctrl]/[Command]-[T]
Remove Selected Tracks [Shift]-[Delete]
Setup [Shift]-[S]
Option Key command
Quantize [Q]
Option Key command
Draw tool [8]
Drumstick tool [0]
Erase tool [5] 
						

							Key Commands
The default key commands
1009
Transport category
Glue tool [4]
Mute tool [7]
Next Tool [F10]
Play tool [9]
Previous Tool [F9]
Range tool [2]
Object Selection tool [1]
Split tool [3]
Zoom tool [6] Option Key command
Option Key command
Auto Punch In [I]
Auto Punch Out [O]
Cycle [÷] (Win)/[/] (Mac)
Exchange Time Formats [.]
Fast Forward [Shift]-Num [+]
Fast Rewind [Shift]-Num [-]
Forward Num [+]
Input Left Locator [Shift]-[L]
Input Position [Shift]-[P]
Input Right Locator [Shift]-[R]
Insert Marker [Insert] (Win)
Locate Next Event [N]
Locate Next Hitpoint [Alt]/[Option]-[N]
Locate Next Marker [Shift]-[N]
Locate Previous Event [B]
Locate Previous Hitpoint [Alt]/[Option]-[B]
Locate Previous Marker [Shift]-[B]
Locate Selection [L]
Locators to Selection [P]
Loop Selection [Alt]/[Option]-[P]
Metronome On/Off [C]
Nudge Cursor Left [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [-]
Nudge Cursor Right [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [+]
Panel (Transport panel) [F2] 
						

							Key Commands
The default key commands
1010
Windows category
Workspaces category
Play Selection Range [Alt]/[Option]-[Space]
Record Num [*]
Retrospective Record [Shift]-Num [*]
Return to Zero Num [.] or Num [,] or Num [;]
Rewind Num [-]
Set Left Locator [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [1]
Set Marker 1 [Ctrl]/[Command]-[1]
Set Marker 2 [Ctrl]/[Command]-[2]
Set Marker 3 to 9 [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [3] to [9] or 
[Ctrl]/[Command]- [3] to [9]
Set Right Locator [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [2]
To Left Locator Num [1]
To Marker 1 [Shift]-[1]
To Marker 2 [Shift]-[2]
To Marker 3 to 9 Num [3] to [9] or [Shift]-[3] to [9]
To Right Locator Num [2]
Use External Sync [T] Option Key command
Option Key command
Inline: Key Commands [Shift]-[F4]
Inline: Settings [Shift]-[F3]
Inline: View Layout [Shift]-[F2]
Option Key command
New [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [0]
Reset [Alt]/[Option]-Num [0]
Update Workspace [Alt]/[Option]-U
Workspace 1-9 [Alt]/[Option]-Num [1-9]
Workspace X [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-Num [0]