06 Jun 2020

Cubase shortcuts, macros and tips (with gif examples)

Last update: Mar '24 on Cubase 12

We might take for granted the ability to customize shortcuts, but not every DAW offers this feature. In Ableton, Bitwig, Reason, and FL Studio (as far as I know), modifying shortcuts is not possible. Luckily, Cubase is the exception. You can set a hotkey for virtually anything. If there's a function you want but it doesn't have a default shortcut, you can create a macro, which combines smaller steps to achieve your desired outcome.

It's true that overcoming initial resistance to learning shortcuts might feel like an effort. However, Cubase prioritizes efficiency with its keyboard-focused interface, which some point-and-click enthusiasts might find less intuitive. I believe that mastering shortcuts not only pays off quickly in terms of workflow, but also fosters a sense of control, akin to piloting a spaceship towards your perfect song rather than getting lost in the maze of on-screen buttons.

Default shortcuts
Less useful default shortcuts
Custom made shortcuts
Doesn't have a shortcut
Macros
Other

Default shortcuts

s = solo selected track
m = mute selected track
r = rec enabled on selected track
c = metronome
num * = record ^{more info}
j = snap to grid (I also recommend `)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 = switch tools
i, o = punch in / punch out (starts and stops recording at locators position)
u = bring to front I suggest reassigning u to 'Bring Events to Back' though, it just makes more sense, how do you move something to front if you can not click on it?
alt + z = mixer / VST undo alt + shift + z = mixer / VST redo ⚠️ it will undo/redo changes in a VST plugin too!
ctrl + left / right = move clip, step is quantize grid
alt (+ shift) + left / right = nudge clip
. = toggle ruler between time and beats (change time format)
, = return to start
shift + t = input tempo
shift + c = tempo window
shift + n / b = jump to next / previous marker
shift + num/ = preview cycle on / off
k = toggle group editing

ctrl + a = select all
ctrl + shift + a = deselect all

p = locators to selection

alt + p = loop and play selection

num / = loop on/off

l, e = jump to selection start / end

x = crossfade. Remove fades: Audio > Remove Fades

ctrl + l = move to cursor

f = follow cursor

g / h = zoom in / out (view centers to cursor). One of the most cool features of Cubase, believe it or not.

shift + g / h = vertical zoom in / out

alt + up / down = vertical resize of tracks

alt + x = split at cursor

q = quantize

shift + backspace = delete time (region)

shift + backspace - if Range Selection tool = delete time on particular track

ctrl + shift + e = insert time (empty, silence)

ctrl + shift + x = cut time
ctrl + shift + v = paste time (region)

ctrl + g, ctrl + u = group / un-group

shift + del = delete track

ctrl + f = find tracks

F3 = mixer
alt + F3 = mixer in the lower zone

alt + l = show / hide control line

ctrl + shift + l / u = lock / unlock event

shift + x = split range

ctrl + 1-9 = set marker
insert = insert marker
shift + 1-9 = go to marker

t = add track
ctrl + t = add audio track
alt + shift + t = add instrument track

Right click menu also has hotkeys, D, R, B, N are my favorites. ¹

Send tracks hotkeys ²

Inserts hotkeys

A = adjust fades to range

Secondary

shift + s = project properties

alt + c = stationary cursor / page scroll

ctrl + i = info line

ctrl + v = paste
alt + v = paste at origin
shift + v = paste relative to cursor

2 = range selection tool
ctrl + x = cut

shift + enter = set event name from track name

num+ / num- = move playhead
ctrl + num+ / ctrl + num- = snap to grid
shift + num+ / shift + num- = fast

F2 = show transport bar

F7 = direct offline processing

F8 = video

F4 = show input\output\bus selection, audio connections

F5 = show Media Bay

F11 = VST instruments

F12 = audio performance

shift + F2 = inline: view layout somehow it doesn't work in C10

alt + k = show/hide virtual keyboard (if enabled some shortcuts doesn't work)

ctrl + p = open pool

e = left selection side to cursor

d = right selection side to cursor

ctrl + k = repeat

alt + o = show / hide overview

alt + i = show / hide left zone

shift + i = show / hide punch in / out separate window

alt + shift + c = events color window

ctrl + shift + space = shuttle play 1/2x

z = zoom track exclusive (I disable this because sometimes it conflicts with ctrl + z and wrecks horizontal zoom)

alt + r = toggle read

alt + w, w = toggle write

alt + e = expand / reduce mixer racks (it should be in focus)

alt + a = activate / deactivate whatever can be activated/deactivated when it's focused
don't understand how this is quicker than mouse click, it must be for MIDI controllers

shift + q = auto grid ³

ctrl + shift + up / down = raise the volume of the focused channel(s) in 1dB steps. Works in Mixconsole only.

alt + g / h = audio wave zoom in / out

alt + space = play selection or clip (it will stop at the end)

n / b = locate next\prev event

(shift +) tab = move through fields

ctrl + shift + i = open in-place editor (I reassigned this to shift + e)

shift + num* = retrospective record
ctrl + w = close project, current window, plugin
ctrl + z = undo
ctrl + shift + z = redo
ctrl + a, ctrl + shift + a = select all / unselect
ctrl + e = open (same as double click, use to open multiple midi or audio clips)
ctrl + alt + s = save new version
shift + F5 = search mediabay
ctrl + shift + n = new track version
ctrl + shift + h = next track version
ctrl + shift + g = previous track version
ctrl + shift + d = duplicate track version

My custom shortcuts

d = Edit > Delete
⭐ Very convenient, deleting is very common and to move hand to the right side of the keyboard is tedious.

ctrl + space = Transport - play from selection start

alt + f = invert selection
By default it's "Invert" however does nothing. So I reassigned it.

shift + d = zoom to event (custom, shift + e - default)
shift + f = zoom to project, horizontal (default)

alt + shift + e = export mixdown

alt + shift + b = bounce selection

alt + shift + v = events to part (is great for duplicating clip every N bars or make it have certain length). Cancel: Audio > Dissolve Part

x = mute / unmute object
By default there is shift + m button but it seems not working. Mute/unmute object will work like a toggle. alt + m is possible shortcut, but recently I use just X

alt + shift + r = render in place (current settings)

alt + ` = select next plugin window

shift + F4 = close all plugin windows (useful if you use "always on top" option)

ctrl + shift + f = find selected in pool (it is useful for quick change of file's tempo, stretch algorithm, finding its location, etc)

ctrl + ` = pre-count on / off

shift + m = monitor on / off

alt + shift + x = split loop (cut selection at locators)

num+ / num- = move playhead quantized (reassigned)

ctrl + q = quantize pitch (reassigned)

ctrl + t = add mono track, without confirmation (reassigned)

a = show used automation (selected track) (like Ableton)
shift + a = hide automation of the selected track

ctrl + alt + e = edit in lower zone

alt + shift + q = quantize length

space = play / stop
shift + space = toggle return to start position

ctrl + shift + c = global copy (overwrites Show Chord Pads)

/ = preferences: automation follows events

y = convert to real copy

0 = pop-up toolbox

alt + shift + i = statistics

ctrl + r = reverse
alt + shift + n = normalize
alt + shift + g = gain
alt + shift + s = silence
alt + ctrl + p = preferences
shift + F12 = key commands

Doesn't have a shortcut by default

in brackets my variant

Slip Event Content Left / Right (No need a macro anymore!)

Move Event Ends to Cursor

Remove Fades

Remove Volume Curve

close gap (Audio > Advanced)

convert tracks: mono to multi-channel, '

decrement event volume (can be done at Info Line)

delete overlaps (Audio > Advanced)

detect silence (Audio > Advanced)

unstretch audio, shift + k

shrink to range selection (i.e. crop range), shift + c

edit VST instrument (i.e. open/close VSTi), v

show key commands window, shift + F12

scrub tool (fun for sound design)

jog left / jog right

next / previous quantize setting, alt + 1 / alt + 2

next / previous VST instrument preset, [, ]

next / previous preset, =, -

rename track version, F2

copy/paste warp markers from selected events (Audio > Advanced)

alt + d = the shortcut assigned to the built-in macro named "Duplicate selected track without data" in PLE. I highly approve 👍

Macros

Remove all arms for record PLE

Media Type Is - All Types
Track Operation - Record - Disable
(I don't use "Enable Record on Selected Track" so I need a quick way to disable previously armed instruments)
shift + r

Duplicate time (region)
Ableton inspired

Edit - Global Copy
Transport - Go to Right Locator
Edit - Paste Time
Transport - Locators To Selection
Transport - Go to Right Locator
ctrl + shift + d (reassigned from Duplicate Track Version)

💡 So to sum-up working with time in Cubase (the space between left and right locators):
Insert Empty Time - ctrl + shift + e
Delete Time - shift + backspace
Copy Time (i.e. global copy) - ctrl + shift + c (by default there is such command, but no shortcut)
Cut Time - ctrl + shift + x
Paste Time - ctrl + shift + v
Duplicate Time - ctrl + shift + d (for consistency I replaced 'duplicate track version')

Play file in Media Bay with a shortcut

To test an audio sample in a mix.

Media - Preview Stop
Media - Preview Start

I use num enter

Play from selection start

Transport - Locate selection start
Transport - Start

I use ctrl + space for this macro.

Quantized Nudge

A thing before Cubase 12.

Base

File that stores shortcuts is Key Commands.xml

User presets are stored in c:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Steinberg\Cubase 10_64\Presets\KeyCommands\

You'd better save your configuration as preset from time to time save

. Sometimes Cubase' config files get corrupted and don't work. So it is a good idea to back-up them.

My shortcuts preset: download. Just in case. It is better to make your own personal shortcuts preset.

Tools

Key Commands Overview as HTML Page

Original post at steinberg.net/forums

This is a really cool, well made thing to display your hotkeys as printable table that looks like image below. First you open raw file from github, then press ctrl + s to save it as web-page (plain HTML tool). Then you open that web page in a browser (Firefox, Opera, Chrome), there will be a form to pick a file. You select your key-commands.xml file from path mentioned above and it will display this table.

backup download

KeyCommand Utility

Original post at steinberg.net/forums

VB Script that creates two HTML files which show Cubase shortcut keys.
1. List of the commands which have keys and their associated key
2. Matrix of all the Keys vs Modifiers, and the commands for each combination
The HTML files will be opened in your default browser and are stored in the installation folder (see below). Place this script in the Cubase 'User Settings Data Folder', where the 'Key Commands.xml' file is stored. Run the script (double click) and it will create two HTML files (in the same folder as the script) and display them in your default browser. Original scripts written by JMCecil and someone else, adapted by MJV.