Tutorial: Ableton Shortcuts (Patreon)

Welcome to a new series on workflow! We'll be covering shortcuts, creative tips, organization and more.

Welcome to a new series on workflow! We'll be covering shortcuts, creative tips, organization and more. This first video is our 'Ableton Shortcut Bible' which includes every useful keyboard/mouse shortcut you need to know, to help speed up your workflow using Live. We have also listed them below for quick reference.

00:00 - Intro

01:00 - UI & Navigation

03:00 - Audio/MIDI Clips

05:30 - Transport

06:54 - Automation

09:04 - Devices & Tracks

macOS users: Unless stated otherwise, substitute Cmd for Ctrl, and Option for Alt

UI & NAVIATION

[Tab] Switch between Session and Arrangement view

[Ctrl+T] Insert new Audio track

[Ctrl+Shift+T] Insert new MIDI track

[Ctrl+F] Search in browser

[Ctrl+1-5] Change grid size/quantization

[Alt+drag] Disable grid snap — [Cmd] on macOS

[+][-] Zoom

[Ctrl+scroll] Zoom

[Shift+scroll] Horizontal timeline navigation

[Ctrl+Alt+drag] Horizontal timeline navigation

[Alt+scroll] Increase/decrease track height

[Shift+?] Show/hide Info box

[Ctrl+,] Open Preferences window

[Ctrl+Shift+W] Open second Live window

[Ctrl+K] Enable Key Map Mode

[Ctrl+M] Enable MIDI Map Mode

AUDIO & MIDI CLIPS

[Ctrl+D] Duplicate

[Ctrl+R] Rename

[Ctrl+E] Split

[Ctrl+J] Consolidate

[0] Deactivate/reactivate

[R] Reverse audio

[Shift+drag edge] Stretch audio

[Ctrl+Shift+drag] Navigate audio file inside the clip

[Ctrl+Alt+F] Crossfade adjacent clips

[F] Show clip fades (in automation mode)

[Ctrl+Shift+M] Create MIDI clip

[M] Toggle keyboard mode

[B] Toggle draw mode

[Shift+↑↓] Move MIDI notes up/down octave

[Shift+←→] Shorten/lengthen MIDI notes

[Alt+drag] Adjust note velocities

TRANSPORT & LOOPING

[F9] Start recording

[Shift+Space] Play from paused position

[Ctrl+Space] Play highlighted region only — [Option+Space] on macOS

[Ctrl+I] Insert silence

[Ctrl+L] Loop highlighted region

[Ctrl+click] Set start loop marker

[Ctrl+Shift+click] Set end loop marker

[←→] Move highlighted loop

[Ctrl+←→] Double/halve loop duration

[Ctrl+Shift+L] Highlight loop contents

[Ctrl+Shift+R] Open Export Audio window

AUTOMATION

[A] Toggle automation mode

[Alt+drag] Create curve from line segment

[Alt+double click] Reset curve to line segment

[Shift] Fine tune value adjustment/lock movement to single axis

[Drag edge] Stretch automation

[Shift+drag edge] Stretch whilst preserving automation

[Ctrl+drag handle] Mirror stretch on opposite handle — [Alt] on macOS

DEVICES & TRACKS

[Shift+Tab] Switch between device and clip views

[Ctrl+Alt+P] Show/hide plugins windows

[Ctrl+G] Group devices/tracks

[Ctrl+Shift+G] Ungroup devices/tracks

[0] Toggle track on/off switch

[S] Toggle solo

[C] Toggle arm track

[Shift+↑↓] Highlight multiple tracks

[Ctrl+↑↓] Move highlighted track(s)

[←→] Collapse/expand track(s)