Steinberg Cubase 7 User Manual

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Key commands
Introduction
Most of the main menus in Cubase have key command shortcuts for certain items on 
the menus. In addition, there are numerous other Cubase functions that can be 
performed via key commands. These are all default settings.
You can customize existing key commands to your liking, and also add commands for 
many menu items and functions that currently have no key command assigned.
You can find out for which functions key commands can be assigned by looking in the 
Key commands dialog (see below), or by checking the tooltip for a particular interface 
element. If a tooltip shows [!] at the end, you can assign a key command to this 
function. Assigned key commands are shown in the tooltips in square brackets.
How are key commands settings saved?
Every time you edit or add any key command assignment, this is stored as a global 
Cubase preference – not as part of a project. If you edit or add a key command 
assignment, any subsequent projects that you create or open will use these modified 
settings. However, the default settings can be restored at any time by clicking the 
Reset All button in the Key Commands dialog.
In addition, you can save key commands settings as a “key commands file”, which is 
stored separately and can be imported into any project. This way you can quickly and 
easily recall customized settings, when moving projects between different computers, 
for example. The settings are saved in an XML file on the hard disk.
How to save key commands settings is described in the section “About key 
commands presets” on page 715.
!You can also assign tool modifier keys, i. e. keys that change the behavior of various 
tools when pressed. This is done in the Preferences dialog – see “Setting up tool 
modifier keys” on page 716. 
						

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Key commandsSetting up key commands
Setting up key commands
Adding or modifying a key command
In the Key Commands dialog you will find all main menu items and a large number of 
other functions, arranged in a hierarchical way similar to the Windows Explorer and 
Mac OS Finder. The function categories are represented by a number of folders, each 
containing various menu items and functions. When you open a category folder by 
clicking the “+” sign beside it, the items and functions it contains are displayed with 
the currently assigned key commands.
To add a key command, proceed as follows:
1.Open the File menu and select “Key Commands…”.
The Key Commands dialog opens.
2.In the Commands list on the left, choose a category.
3.Click the “+” sign to open the category folder and display the items it contains.
Note that you can also click the “global” “+” and “-” signs in the top left corner to 
open and close all category folders at once.
4.In the list, select the item to which you want to assign a key command.
Already assigned key commands are shown in the Keys column as well as in the 
Keys section in the top right corner.
5.Alternatively, you can use the search function in the dialog to find the desired item.
For a description of how to use the search function, see below.
Key commands are displayed here. 
						

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Key commandsSetting up key commands
6.When you have found and selected the desired item, click in the “Type in Key” field 
and enter a new key command.
You can choose any single key or a combination of one or several modifier keys 
([Alt]/[Option], [Ctrl]/[Command], [Shift]) plus any key. Just press the keys you 
want to use.
7.If the key command you enter is already assigned to another item or function, this 
is displayed below the “Type in Key” field. 
You can either ignore this and proceed to assign the key command to the new 
function instead, or you can select another key command.
8.Click the Assign button above the field.
The new key command appears in the Keys List.
9.Click OK to exit the dialog.
ÖYou can set up several different key commands for the same function. Adding a key 
command to a function that already has another key command will not replace the key 
command previously defined for the function. If you wish to remove a key command, 
see below.
Searching for key commands
If you want to know which key command is assigned to a certain function in the 
program, you can use the Search function in the Key Commands dialog:
1.Click in the search text field at the top left of the dialog and type in the function for 
which you want to know the key command.
This is a standard word search function, so you should type the command as it is 
spelled in the program. Partial words can be used; to search for all quantize related 
commands, type “Quantize”, “Quant”, etc.
2.Click the Search button (the magnifying glass icon).
The search is conducted and the first matching command is selected and 
displayed in the Commands list below. The Keys column and the Keys list show 
the assigned key commands, if any.
3.To search for more commands containing the word(s) you entered, click the 
Search button again.
4.When you are done, click OK to close the dialog.
Removing a key command
To remove a key command, proceed as follows:
1.Use the list of categories and commands to select the item or function for which 
you wish to remove a key command.
The key command is shown in the Keys column and the Keys list.
2.Select the key command in the Keys list and click the Delete button (the trash 
icon).
You are asked whether you really want to remove the key command.
3.Click Remove to remove the selected key command.
4.Click OK to close the dialog.
!If the key command you enter is already assigned to another function, you will get a 
warning message asking if you really want to reassign the command to the new 
function. 
						

							714
Key commandsSetting up key commands
Setting up macros
A macro is a combination of several functions or commands to be performed in one 
go. For example, you can select all events on the selected audio track, remove DC 
offset, normalize the events and duplicate them, all with a single command.
Macros are set up in the Key Commands dialog as follows:
1.Click the Show Macros button.
The macro settings are shown in the lower part of the dialog. To hide these from 
view, click the button (now renamed Hide Macros) again.
2.Click New Macro.
A new, unnamed macro appears in the Macros list. Name it by typing the desired 
name. You can rename a macro at any time by selecting it in the list and typing in a 
new name.
3.Make sure that the macro is selected, and use the categories and commands in 
the upper half of the dialog to select the first command you want to include in the 
macro.
4.Click Add Command.
The selected command appears in the list of commands in the Macros section.
5.Repeat the procedure to add more commands to the macro.
Note that commands are added after the currently selected command in the list. 
This allows you to insert commands “in the middle” of an existing macro.
A macro with 
three com-
mands
•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. 
						

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Key commandsSetting up key commands
About key commands presets 
As mentioned above, any changes made to the key commands are automatically 
stored as a Cubase preference. However, it is also possible to save key commands 
settings separately. This way, you can save any number of different key command 
settings as presets for instant recall. 
Saving key commands presets 
Proceed as follows:
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. 
ÖThe 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!
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: 
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. 
						

							716
Key commandsSetting up tool modifier keys
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.
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:
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.
!Note that the “Reset All” operation will cause any changes made to the default key 
commands to be lost! If you want to be able to revert to these settings again, make 
sure to save them first! 
						

							717
Key commandsThe default key commands
The default key commands
Below, the default key commands are listed according to category.
Audio category
Automation category
Devices category
Edit category
!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).
OptionKey command
Adjust Fades to Range[A]
Auto-Grid[Shift]-[Q]
Crossfade[X]
Find Selected in Pool[Ctrl]/[Command]-[F]
OptionKey command
Open Panel[F6]
Read Automation for All Tracks On/Off[Alt]/[Option]-[R]
Write Automation for All Tracks On/Off[Alt]/[Option]-[W]
OptionKey command
MixConsole[F3]
Video[F8]
Virtual Keyboard[Alt]/[Option]-[K]
VST Connections[F4]
VST Instruments [F11]
VST Performance[F12]
OptionKey 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]
Edit In-Place[Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[I]
Group[Ctrl]/[Command]-[G]
Insert Silence[Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[E]
Left Selection Side to Cursor[E] 
						

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Key commandsThe default key commands
Editors category
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]
Record Enable[R]
Redo[Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[Z]
Repeat[Ctrl]/[Command]-[K]
Right Selection Side to Cursor[D]
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]
OptionKey command
Show/Hide Info Line[Ctrl]/[Command]-[I]
Show/Hide Inspector[Alt]/[Option]-[I]
Show/Hide Overview[Alt]/[Option]-[O]
Option Key command 
						

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Key commandsThe default key commands
File category
Media category
MIDI category
Navigate category
OptionKey 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]
OptionKey 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]
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]
OptionKey command
Show/Hide Controller Lanes[Alt]/[Option]-[L]
OptionKey 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] 
						

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Key commandsThe default key commands
Nudge category
Project category
Quantize category
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]
Up:
Select next in the Project window/ Move selected 
event in the Key Editor one semitone up
[Up Arrow]
Bottom
Select bottom track in the track list
[End]
Top: 
Select top track in the track list
[Home]
Toggle Selection[Ctrl]/[Command]-[Space]
OptionKey command
End Left[Alt]/[Option]-[Shift]-[Left Arrow]
End Right[Alt]/[Option]-[Shift]-[Right Arrow]
Left[Ctrl]/[Command]-[Left Arrow]
Right[Ctrl]/[Command]-[Right Arrow]
Start Left[Alt]/[Option]-[Left Arrow]
Start Right[Alt]/[Option]-[Right Arrow]
OptionKey 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]-[Del]
Setup[Shift]-[S]
OptionKey command
Quantize[Q]
Option Key command