Media Composer's keyboard is remappable end to end — the Command Palette (Ctrl+3) assigns any command to any key — so these are the defaults of the shipped "MC English (United States)" preset. Avid states the playback keys in the Editing Guide but publishes the rest of the default map only as an illustration of the Keyboard settings window, whose keys are icons you have to hover in the application to name. The playback, marking and J-K-L rows below are the guide's own; the editing, trim and tool rows come from Avid's keyboard reference and are consistent with it.
Official:Official site
All Avid Media Composer keyboard shortcuts (Windows)
+ 4 more controls in the table below
+ 4 more controls in the table below
64 shortcuts
Playback 17
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Play / Stop | Space |
| Shuttle Backward (normal speed) | J |
| Pause Play | K |
| Shuttle Forward (normal speed) | L |
| Step Backward 1 Frame | 3 |
| Step Forward 1 Frame | 4 |
| Slow Forward (8 fps NTSC, 6 fps PAL) | KL |
| Slow Backward (8 fps NTSC, 6 fps PAL) | KJ |
| Play In to Out | 6 |
| Step Backward 10 Frames | 1 |
| Step Forward 10 Frames | 2 |
| Play / Stop (Tab) | Tab |
| Play / Stop (5) | 5 |
| Move Footage 1 Frame Backward | LEFT |
| Move Footage 1 Frame Forward | RIGHT |
| Go to Start of Clip / Sequence | Home |
| Go to End of Clip / Sequence | End |
Marks 10
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Mark In | E |
| Mark Out | R |
| Mark Clip (In and Out) | T |
| Mark In (alternate) | I |
| Mark Out (alternate) | O |
| Clear In Mark | D |
| Clear Out Mark | F |
| Clear Both Marks | G |
| Go to In Point | Q |
| Go to Out Point | W |
Trim 10
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Enter Trim Mode | U |
| Trim Left 1 Frame | , |
| Trim Right 1 Frame | . |
| Enter Source/Record Mode | Y |
| Toggle Source/Record Monitor | Esc |
| Trim Left 10 Frames | M |
| Trim Right 10 Frames | / |
| Select A-Side (Outgoing) Trim | P |
| Select Both Sides Trim | [ |
| Select B-Side (Incoming) Trim | ] |
Editing 9
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Splice In | V |
| Overwrite | B |
| Lift | Z |
| Extract | X |
| Undo | CtrlZ |
| Redo | CtrlR |
| Copy to Clipboard | C |
| Paste | CtrlV |
| Duplicate Clip / Sequence | CtrlD |
Timeline 9
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Quick Transition | \ |
| Add Keyframe (Effect Mode) | ' |
| Focus Timeline Around Position | H |
| Enlarge Track in Timeline | CtrlL |
| Reduce Track in Timeline | CtrlK |
| New Video Track | CtrlY |
| New Audio Track | CtrlU |
| Select All Tracks | CtrlA |
| Deselect All Tracks | CtrlShiftA |
Tools 9
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open Command Palette | Ctrl3 |
| Open Effect Palette | Ctrl8 |
| Find (Clip Name / Locator / Text) | CtrlF |
| Open Audio Tool | Ctrl1 |
| Open Capture Tool | Ctrl7 |
| Activate Project Window | Ctrl9 |
| Activate Timeline Window | Ctrl0 |
| New Bin | CtrlN |
| Open Console | Ctrl6 |
Sourced from resources.avid.com, logickeyboard.com Last verified Shortcuts last changed
Unofficial reference. ShortcutPosters is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Avid Media Composer. All product names, logos, and trademarks are property of their respective owners. See our licensing & trademark notice.
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A printable, framed-quality poster of the essential Avid Media Composer shortcuts for Windows — the keys worth keeping in view, designed to stay readable on a wall.
Free PNG is web-resolution & watermarked.
These shortcuts, on physical keys
There is a Stream Deck profile for Avid Media Composer — 113 shortcuts laid out across the keys, each one labelled, installed by double-clicking a file. It fits every current Stream Deck model.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the poster include every Avid Media Composer shortcut?
- Avid Media Composer has 64 keyboard shortcuts on Windows — the complete list is free to read on this page. The poster features the most essential ones, curated to stay readable on a wall.
- Can I print it at home?
- Yes. The digital download is a high-resolution 300 DPI file you can print at home or at any print shop, in standard frame sizes.
- Does it cover both Mac and Windows?
- We sell a separate edition per platform so every key matches your keyboard exactly. This page is the Windows edition.
- Is this an official Avid Media Composer product?
- No. This is an unofficial reference poster and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Avid Media Composer. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
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