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Common shortcuts in Ableton Live you’ll actually use

We know there are many lists of shortcuts out there, which we’re always told to learn to save time and to increase our productivity when producing. 

You’re probably using your favourite ones already, or maybe this is something you have in mind to incorporate in your workflow one day. If you’re one of the latter, continue reading and let us help you. 

 

“But with the mouse I´m faster”

What makes us lazy about learning shortcuts is that they can take a bit of time getting used to and, since we just want to jump into the fun of producing music, we just keep using the mouse for everything. 

We normally have them written down somewhere or in our computer notes, using some of them while we’re producing, adding a few more here and there.

However, we’re not going to incorporate them into our workflow until we use them many times and create a routine from start to end that we can learn by heart, and then after a while, by muscle memory (without even thinking about it). 

 

A different way to learn your shortcuts

That is why we suggest learning them in a different way. Here is a routine we have prepared with some important shortcuts, from the moment you open a new project, so you start creating some musical ideas in a very fast way: 

We suggest you watch the video and memorize some of the shortcuts consciously. Then try to use them by heart without watching the video or looking at your list of shortcuts. 

As you can see in the video, we’re not just showing the typical shortcuts, but the possible arrows you can use when you’re in the different spaces, so you don’t get stuck and are tempted to go back to the mouse. 

Unfortunately, you’ll always need to use the mouse, since there are many other actions that do not have a shortcut, such as arming the track for recording. In those cases you could create your custom key commands and then save them into an empty project as a template (Shortcut to assign key commands: Cmd+K / Ctrl+K).

Also, there are many adjustments that are made more comfortably using the mouse, as it’s the case of graphic parameters of many of the plugins you might use.

However, after a while using some recurring shortcuts during your production time, you’ll notice an increase in your workflow. You’ll then appreciate the fact that you can go much faster when you get creative and you’ll wish there were no DAW between your ideas and the actual music!

 

List of common shortcuts

MAC

PC

Audio Track

md + T

Ctrl + T<

MIDI Track

Cmd + Shift+T

Ctrl + Shift+T

Swift between arrangement and session view

TAB

TAB

Open Browser

Cmd + Alt + B

Ctrl + Alt + B

Serch in Browser

Cmd + F

Ctrl + F

Clip View

Shift + TAB

Shift + TAB

Zoom in/out

+/ –

+/ –

Select all

Cmd + A

Ctrl + A

Quantize

Cmd + U

Ctrl + U

Play from start marker/stop

Space

Space

Continue play from stop point

Shift + Space

Shift + Space

Delete

Delete

Delete

Duplicate

Cmd + D

Ctrl + D

Undo

Cmd + Z

Ctrl + Z

Toggle MIDI map mode

Cmd + M

Ctrl + M

Toggle key map mode

Cmd + K

Ctrl + K

50 Top Industry Music Production Tips You Must know

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50 Top Industry Music Production Tips You Must know

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Essential concepts you must know

If you’re looking to keep learning more about the music industry, there are certain essential concepts you need to know before moving forward with the rest of the article. These concepts are used by Grammy-winning producers, industry professionals, and the best artists in the business. Whether you’re a musician, producer, engineer, or simply a music lover, these 50 tips will help you develop a solid base of knowledge and skills. From understanding the importance of rhythm and melody to improving the art of mixing and mastering or learning how to market yourself. So, if you’re serious about your music career, make sure to go through this list and start building a strong foundation for your future success.

July 15, 2021
By Vanesa Paris
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50 Industry Music Production Tips You Must Know
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50 Top Industry Music Production Tipsw You Must know

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