About this Guide
There are a plethora of available audio recording software/Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) options available these days. I have plenty of available free resources for many of these DAWs for you here on the blog such as Lesson Ideas for Soundtrap and Bandlab, How to Record a TikTok Harmony Builder in Soundtrap Bandlab or GarageBand (as well as dozens of others, just use the search tool).
If you are someone like me who prefers using keyboard shortcuts when you are audio recording, I’ve created several simple guides that you can refer back to (bookmark this page) or print off for easy reference (downloadable version is available at the end of the blog).
Enjoy!
Audacity: Top Shortcuts
Note: The following are just the assigned keyboard shortcuts. Many other options are available for you to assign (and all can be changed) by going to ‘Preferences’ ⇒ ‘Keyboard’
| ACTION | MAC | WINDOWS |
| File Menu: | ||
| New | ⌘+N | Ctrl + N |
| Open… | ⌘+O | Ctrl + O |
| Exit | ⌘+Q | Ctrl + Q |
| Save | ⌘+S | Ctrl+S |
| Export Audio | ⌘+Shift+E | Ctrl+Shift+E |
| Import Audio (New Track) | ⌘+Shift+I | Ctrl+Shift+I |
| Edit Menu: | ||
| Undo | ⌘+Z | Ctrl+Z |
| Redo | ⌘+Y | Ctrl+Y |
| Cut | ⌘+X | Ctrl+X |
| Delete | ⌘+K | Ctrl+K |
| Copy | ⌘+C | Ctrl+C |
| Paste | ⌘+V | Ctrl+V |
| Duplicate Selection in New Track | ⌘+D | Ctrl+D |
| Edit: Special | ||
| Split Cut (no audio shift) | ⌘+Option+X | Ctrl+Alt+X |
| Split Delete (no audio shift) | ⌘+Option+K | Ctrl+Alt+K |
| Silence Audio | ⌘+L | Ctrl+L |
| Trim Audio | ⌘+T | Ctrl+T |
| Edit: Clip Boundaries | ||
| Split | ⌘+I | Ctrl+I |
| Select Menu: | ||
| Select All | ⌘+A | Ctrl + A |
| Playback: | ||
| Play/Stop | Space | Space |
| Play/Stop and Set Cursor | X | X |
| Recording: | ||
| Record (at end of track) | R | R |
| Record New Track | Shift+R | Shift+R |
| Timer Record | Shift+T | Shift+T |
| Cursor Movement: | ||
| Cursor to Track Start | J | J |
| Cursor to Track End | K | K |
| Looping: | ||
| Loop On/Off | L | L |
| Clear Loop | Option+Shift+L | Alt+Shift+L |
| Sound: | ||
| Mute All Tracks | ⌘+U | Ctrl+U |
| Unmute All Tracks | ⌘+Shift+U | Ctrl+Shift+U |
GarageBand: Top Shortcuts
| ACTION | MAC |
| Movement: | |
| Start recording | R |
| Start/Stop Playback | Space |
| Move the playhead back one bar | Comma (,) |
| Move the playhead forward one bar | Period (.) |
| Start playback from selection | Shift+Space |
| Go to the beginning of selection | Function+Left Arrow |
| Metronome: | |
| Turn Metronome Off/On | K |
| Turn Count-In On/Off | Shift+K |
| Editors/Browsers: | |
| Show/Hide Music Typing Window | ⌘+K |
| Show/Hide Smart Control Window | B |
| Show/Hide Score Editor | N |
| Show/Hide Piano Roll Editor | P |
| Show/Hide Loop Browser | O |
| Show/Hide Library | Y |
| Basic Commands: | |
| Create New Project | ⌘+N |
| Open an Existing Project | ⌘+O |
| Save Current Project | ⌘+S |
| Save Current Project As… | Shift+⌘+S |
| Undo | ⌘+Z |
| Redo | Shift+⌘+Z |
| Cut | ⌘+X |
| Copy | ⌘+C |
| Paste | ⌘+V |
| Delete | Delete |
| Select All | ⌘+A |
| View: | |
| Horizontal Zoom Out | ⌘+Left Arrow |
| Horizontal Zoom In | ⌘+Right Arrow |
| Page Up | Function+Up Arrow |
| Page Down | Function+Down Arrow |
| Page Left | Function+Left Arrow |
| Page Right | Function+Right Arrow |
| Snap to Grid On/Off | ⌘+G |
| Tracks: | |
| Create a New Track | Option+⌘+N |
| Create a New Audio Track | Option+⌘+A |
| Create a New Software Instrument Track | Option+⌘+S |
| Create a New Drummer Track | Option+⌘+U |
| Delete Selected Track | ⌘+N |
| Loop Selected Region | L |
| Join Regions/Notes | ⌘+J |
| Split Selected Region at Playhead | ⌘+T |
Soundtrap: Top Shortcuts
| ACTION | MAC | WINDOWS |
| General: | ||
| Play/Pause | Space | Space |
| Record | ⌘+Space | Ctrl + Space |
| Rewind | Arrow Left | Arrow Left |
| Fast Forward | Arrow Right | Arrow Right |
| Restart Recording | Return | Enter |
| Undo | ⌘+Z | Ctrl+Z |
| Redo | ⌘+Shift+Z | Ctrl+Shift+Z |
| Cut | ⌘+E | Ctrl+E |
| Copy | ⌘+C | Ctrl+C |
| Paste | ⌘+V | Ctrl+V |
| Fine Tuning | Shift+Mouse Drag | Shift+Mouse Drag |
| Editing: | ||
| Move Region | Shift+Arrow Keys | Shift+Arrow Keys |
| Toggle Selection | Shift+Click | Shift+Click |
| Zoom to Selection | ⌘+Click and Drag | Ctrl+Click and Drag |
| Zoom In/Out | ⌘+Arrow Left/Right | Ctrl+Arrow Left/Right |
| Split Region | ⌘+E | Ctrl+E |
| Tracks: | ||
| Unsolo/Unmute All | ⌘+Click Solo/Mute Icon | Ctrl+Click Solo/Mute Icon |
| Piano Roll: | ||
| Move Selected Notes | Shift+Arrow Keys | Shift+Arrow Keys |
| Toggle Selection | Shift+Click | Shift+Click |
| Switch to Draw (Temporary) | Option | Alt |
| Switch to Velocity (Temporary) | Option+⌘ | Alt+Ctrl |
| Switch to Erase (Temporary) | Option+Shift | Alt+Shift |
| Instrument/Loops: | ||
| Show/Hide Instrument | ⌘+I | |
| Open/Close Loop Tab | ⌘+L | |
| Preview Next/Previous Loop | Arrow Up/Down | |
| Preview Pause/Play | P | P |
| Add Loop to Favorites | F | F |
| Add Loop to Project | Return | Enter |
Bandlab Web: Top Shortcuts
| ACTION | MAC | WINDOWS/CHROMEBOOK |
| Function: | ||
| Play/Pause | Space | Space |
| Record | R | R |
| Slice Region | S | S |
| Toggle Automation | A | A |
| Toggle Cycle | C | C |
| Toggle Metronome | M | M |
| Toggle Snap to Grid | G | G |
| Toggle Velocity | V | V |
| Toggle BandLab Sounds Browser | L | L |
| Go to Beginning | Return | Enter |
| Move Playhead | ← or → | ← or → |
| Delete Region | Delete | Delete |
| Cut | ⌘+X | Ctrl+X |
| Copy | ⌘+C | Ctrl+C |
| Paste | ⌘+V | Ctrl+V |
| Save | ⌘+S | Ctrl+S |
| Select All Regions | ⌘+A | Ctrl+A |
| Undo | ⌘+Z | Ctrl+Z |
| Redo | Shift+⌘+Z | Shift+Ctrl+Z |
| Zoom Out/In | ⌘+← or → | Ctrl+← or → |
| Mute Track | ↑ + M | ↑ + M |
| Solo Track | ↑ + S | ↑ + S |
| Add Track | ↑ + T | ↑ + T |
| Duplicate Track | ↑ + D | ↑ + D |
| Delete Track | ↑ + Delete | ↑ + Delete |
| Select Track | ↑ + [1-9] | ↑ + [1-9] |
Final Thoughts
I hope you’ve enjoyed these simple guides and find them useful!
What is your favorite Digital Audio Workstation? Did we miss any helpful shortcuts that you would like to share?
Let us know with a comment below!
Note: all software programs undergo regular updates and current shortcuts may not work in later versions.
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Looking for More Resources for Music Teachers?
Hello! I’m Katie Argyle – an Australian music technology trainer and consultant with a passion for helping music teachers through my business Midnight Music.
I’m a qualified teacher but no, I don’t currently teach in a school. I help teachers through my online professional development space – the Midnight Music Community – where there are tutorial videos, courses, links and downloadable resources.
I like to focus on easy ways to incorporate technology into what you are already doing in your music curriculum through a range of creative projects. I also run live workshops and have presented at countless conferences and other music education events.
If you want simple, effective ideas for using technology in music education, I would LOVE to help you inside the Midnight Music Community.
