Cheatsheet - Final Cut Pro

1. Project & Interface Navigation

Action	Shortcut Key(s)	Notes
New Library	Cmd+Opt+N
New Project	Cmd+N
Import Files	Cmd+I	Opens the import window.
Export File (Share)	Cmd+E	Opens the Share/Export window.
Undo / Redo	Cmd+Z / Cmd+Shift+Z
Toggle Full Screen	Ctrl+Cmd+F	Enters/exits full-screen mode.
Toggle Browser/Viewer/Timeline	Cmd+1 / Cmd+2 / Cmd+3	Jumps focus to the respective area.

2. Timeline & Playback Controls

Action	Shortcut Key(s)	Notes
Play / Stop	Spacebar or K	K is the stop key in the J-K-L system.
Play Forward	L	Press multiple times to increase playback speed.
Play Backward	J	Press multiple times to increase playback speed (Reverse).
Frame Forward	$\rightarrow$ (Right Arrow)	Moves the playhead one frame at a time.
Frame Backward	$\leftarrow$ (Left Arrow)	Moves the playhead one frame at a time.
Go to Next Edit Point	$\uparrow$ (Up Arrow)	Jumps the playhead to the next cut in the magnetic timeline.
Go to Previous Edit Point	$\downarrow$ (Down Arrow)	Jumps the playhead to the previous cut in the magnetic timeline.
Zoom In Timeline	Cmd+=
Zoom Out Timeline	Cmd+-
Zoom All Clips to Fit	Shift+Z	Fits the entire sequence duration into the timeline view.

3. Core Editing Tools (Single Key)

Tool	Shortcut Key(s)	Function
Select Tool	A	The default pointer for selecting, moving, and trimming clips.
Trim Tool	T	Used to adjust the start/end points of a clip on the timeline.
Position Tool	P	Disables the magnetic timeline for the selected clip (leaves a gap).
Range Selection Tool	R	Selects a specific duration within a clip or section of the timeline.
Blade Tool	B	Used for cutting/splitting clips on the timeline.
Zoom Tool	Z	Click to zoom in; hold Opt and click to zoom out.

4. Editing Actions (The 4 Primary Edits)

These actions are performed after setting In (I) and Out (O) points in the Browser or Viewer.

Action	Shortcut Key(s)	Notes
Connect Edit	Q	Places the clip above the primary storyline, aligned with the playhead. Good for B-roll.
Insert Edit	W	Places the clip into the primary storyline, pushing other clips aside.
Overwrite Edit	D	Replaces an existing segment of the primary storyline without affecting the total duration.
Append Edit	E	Places the clip at the very end of the primary storyline.

5. Fast Timeline Editing

Action	Shortcut Key(s)	Notes
Blade Clip (Cut)	Cmd+B	Cuts the selected clip(s) at the playhead position.
Delete Selected Clip	Delete / Backspace	Removes the clip and automatically closes the gap (magnetic timeline).
Create Audition	Cmd+Y	Creates a container to easily swap between multiple takes or cuts.
Open Storyline	Cmd+Opt+G	Converts selected clips into a Compound Clip (nested sequence).
Mute Selected Clip	V	Disables the selected clip(s) visually and audibly.
Split Audio/Detach Audio	Ctrl+Shift+S	Separates the audio from the video clip for independent editing.

6. Adjustments & Inspector

Action	Shortcut Key(s)	Notes
Show/Hide Inspector	Cmd+4	Access clip details (video, audio, info, metadata).
Add Default Transition	Cmd+T	Adds the currently set default video transition (usually Cross Dissolve) to the edit point.
Apply Cross Dissolve (Audio)	Cmd+Opt+T	Adds the currently set default audio crossfade to the edit point.
Show Effects Browser	Cmd+5	Opens the list of video and audio effects.
Show Titles/Generators	Cmd+6	Opens the Titles and Generators library.