Learning center
Keyboard Shortcuts for Lightning-Fast Editing
Unlock pro-level speed in CutScene's free video editor – no more mouse marathons!
Why Shortcuts Are Your Editing Superpower
Think of keyboard shortcuts as your editor's secret turbo boost. In CutScene's free video editor, mastering them turns hour-long cuts into 20-minute sprints. No more fumbling with menus – just pure, fluid workflow. Whether you're crafting TikToks or YouTube epics, these commands will make you feel like a editing wizard.
Pro editors swear by shortcuts: they save 50%+ time on repetitive tasks. Ready to level up? Let's dive in, starting with the essentials every creator needs.
Essential Playback Shortcuts: Control the Flow
Master playback first – it's the heartbeat of editing. These let you scrub, preview, and fine-tune without touching the mouse.
| Action | Windows | Mac | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play/Pause | Space | Space | Hit it repeatedly for frame-by-frame review – like a DJ scratching the timeline! |
| Jump to Start | Home | Home | Instant rewind to the beginning; perfect for rechecking intros. |
| Jump to End | End | End | Fast-forward to credits or outro – no endless scrolling. |
| Next Frame | Right Arrow | Right Arrow | Precise navigation; hold for smooth scrubbing. |
| Previous Frame | Left Arrow | Left Arrow | Backtrack without commitment. |
| Forward 10 Frames | Shift + Right | Shift + Right | Quick jumps for matching cuts or transitions. |
| Back 10 Frames | Shift + Left | Shift + Left | Ideal for syncing audio beats. |
| Increase Speed | ] | ] | Speed up playback for rough cuts; great for long scenes. |
| Decrease Speed | [ | [ | Slow-mo preview to catch subtle timing issues. |
Selection Mastery: Grab and Go
Selecting clips efficiently is key to batch editing. These shortcuts let you lasso multiple elements without clicking fatigue.
| Action | Windows | Mac | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select Clip | Click | Click | Double-click for properties – instant access to tweaks. |
| Select Multiple | Shift + Click | Shift + Click | Lasso a range on timeline for bulk deletes or moves. |
| Select All | Ctrl + A | Cmd + A | Clear the deck for global changes like color grading. |
| Deselect All | Ctrl + D | Cmd + D | Escape selection jail without starting over. |
| Delete Selected | Delete | Delete | Ripple delete with Backspace for seamless timeline flow. |
| Duplicate Selected | Ctrl + D | Cmd + D | Clone effects or clips – duplicate and differentiate! |
Fun Analogy: Think of Shift + Click as your editing lasso – rope in clips like a cowboy herding cattle for the big roundup.
Trimming Like a Surgeon: Precision Cuts
Trimming is where magic happens. These shortcuts make in/out points and ripple edits feel intuitive.
| Action | Windows | Mac | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set In-Point | I | I | Mark your hero moment – the "I" stands for "in the action!" |
| Set Out-Point | O | O | End the clip cleanly; "O" for "over and out." |
| Trim to In/Out | Ctrl + I | Cmd + I | Auto-trim selected clips – instant precision. |
| Ripple Delete | Ctrl + X | Cmd + X | Cut and close gaps; timeline stays tight. |
| Insert Gap | Ctrl + G | Cmd + G | Add breathing room for inserts or effects. |
Timeline Navigation: Zoom and Pan Like a Boss
Control your canvas with these zoom and pan commands. Big-picture views or pixel-perfect zooms, you've got it.
| Action | Windows | Mac | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoom In | Ctrl + + | Cmd + + | Dive deep into details; hold for rapid zoom. |
| Zoom Out | Ctrl + - | Cmd + - | Pull back for the full story. |
| Zoom to Fit | Ctrl + 0 | Cmd + 0 | See your entire epic in one glance. |
| Pan Timeline | Middle Mouse Drag | Middle Mouse Drag | Smooth scrolling without losing focus. |
| Scroll Tracks | Mouse Wheel | Mouse Wheel | Up/down for layers; left/right for time. |
| Lock/Unlock Track | L | L | "L" for lock – protect your precious audio bed. |
| Mute/Unmute Track | M | M | "M" for mute – silence the chaos. |
Core Editing Commands: Cut, Copy, Create
The bread-and-butter actions that build your edit.
| Action | Windows | Mac | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | Cmd + Z | Your best friend – use it liberally! |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y | Cmd + Y | Bring back that bold move. |
| Copy | Ctrl + C | Cmd + C | Grab effects, text, or clips. |
| Paste | Ctrl + V | Cmd + V | Drop it where you need it. |
| Cut | Ctrl + X | Cmd + X | Surgical removal with ripple. |
| Split Clip | Ctrl + K | Cmd + K | "K" for knife – slice at playhead. |
| Razor Tool | R | R | Multi-cut mode for complex edits. |
Properties and Effects: Fine-Tune Your Vision
Access and adjust without menu hunting.
| Action | Windows | Mac | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Properties | Double-Click | Double-Click | Dive into clip details instantly. |
| Toggle Effects Panel | E | E | "E" for effects – your visual toolbox. |
| Toggle Color Panel | C | C | "C" for color – grade like a cinematographer. |
| Add Keyframe | Right-Click Property | Right-Click Property | Animate everything from opacity to position. |
| Delete Keyframe | Delete on Keyframe | Delete on Keyframe | Clean up curves for smooth motion. |
Advanced Workflow Hacks: Pro-Level Efficiency
For when you're ready to go beyond basics.
| Action | Windows | Mac | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Clip Group | Ctrl + G | Cmd + G | Bundle clips into reusable modules. |
| Ungroup | Ctrl + Shift + G | Cmd + Shift + G | Break apart for tweaks. |
| Adjustment Layer | Ctrl + Alt + A | Cmd + Option + A | Apply effects to entire timelines. |
| Match Frame Rate | Auto-Detect | Auto-Detect | Seamless import from mixed sources. |
UI and Full-Screen Controls: Maximize Your Space
| Action | Windows | Mac | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toggle Fullscreen | F | F | Immersive editing mode – block distractions. |
| Hide/Show Panels | Tab | Tab | Timeline takeover for big-picture work. |
| Maximize Timeline | Shift + T | Shift + T | Focus on cuts without preview clutter. |
| Maximize Preview | Shift + P | Shift + P | Judge color and motion in full glory. |
| Open Settings | Ctrl + , | Cmd + , | Quick prefs access mid-edit. |
Beginner vs. Pro Shortcut Paths
New to Editing? Start Here (Top 10 Essentials)
- Space – Play/Pause (your command center)
- Delete – Remove clips (cleanup king)
- Ctrl+Z / Cmd+Z – Undo (lifesaver)
- Ctrl+K / Cmd+K – Split (your digital razor)
- Ctrl+C/V – Copy/Paste (duplicate delight)
- I/O – In/Out points (trim essentials)
- Shift+Click – Multi-select (batch boss)
- [ / ] – Speed adjust (pace police)
- Ctrl+0 / Cmd+0 – Zoom fit (overview oracle)
- Tab – Hide UI (focus mode)
Practice these for a week – you'll cut edit time in half!
Pro Power Users: Advanced Combos
- Ripple Edit Flow: Ctrl+X (cut) + Space (preview) – endless loop of refine and review.
- Color Pass: C (color panel) + Arrow keys (fine-tune) + Space (check) – grade on the fly.
- Audio Mix: M (mute tracks) + [ ] (speed for timing) + Right-click (keyframes) – mix like a sound engineer.
Printable Cheat Sheet: Your Desk Companion
Copy this into a note or print it – your editing co-pilot:
CUTSCENE FREE VIDEO EDITOR SHORTCUTS
PLAYBACK: Space (play), ←/→ (frame), Home/End (jump), [ ] (speed)
SELECTION: Click (single), Shift+Click (multi), Ctrl+A (all), Delete (remove)
TRIMMING: I (in), O (out), Ctrl+K (split), Ctrl+X (ripple delete)
EDITING: Ctrl+Z (undo), Ctrl+C/V (copy/paste), R (razor)
TIMELINE: Ctrl+0 (fit), + / - (zoom), Tab (hide UI), F (fullscreen)
PANELS: E (effects), C (color), L (lock track), M (mute)
Laminate it, pin it up – whatever keeps it handy. Your future self will thank you.
Custom Shortcuts and Browser Quirks
Level Up Your Editing Speed: Weekly Challenge
Week 1: Master playback and selection (daily 15-min practice). Week 2: Nail trimming and timeline nav. Week 3: Dive into effects and properties. Week 4: Chain combos for full workflows.
By month’s end, you'll edit 3x faster – that's real time back for more creative pursuits.
Rapid Workflow Techniques: Put Shortcuts to Work
The "Cut-Preview-Refine" Cycle (For Tight Edits)
- Ctrl+K – Split at playhead (find the perfect moment).
- Delete – Remove excess.
- Space – Preview the flow.
- Ctrl+Z – Undo if it jars.
- Repeat until seamless.
Analogy: Like sculpting clay – chip away until the form emerges.
Color Correction Blitz (Pro Look in Minutes)
- C – Open color panel.
- Tab – Hide distractions.
- Arrow keys – Nudge exposure/saturation.
- Right-click – Add keyframes for dynamic grades.
- Space – Check in context.
Result: Cinematic polish without the Hollywood budget.
Audio Balancing Sprint (Clean Mix Fast)
- M – Mute/unmute tracks.
- [ / ] – Adjust playback speed for timing tweaks.
- Double-click waveform – Zoom audio details.
- Right-click – Keyframe volume/EQ.
- Space – Audition the mix.
Pro Hack: Duck music under dialogue with automation curves – your audience hears every word crystal clear.
Final Boss Level: Full Workflow Integration
Chain these for end-to-end mastery:
- Import → Ctrl+A select all → Organize in media groups.
- Rough cut: I/O marks + Ctrl+K splits + Delete ripples.
- Polish: E/C panels + keyframes.
- Export: Ctrl+E (coming soon) or menu preset.
You've got the tools – now edit like the pro you are. Dive into CutScene's free editor and start shortcutting your way to faster, better videos today!