EasyCut Pro Keyboard Shortcuts That Boost Your Editing SpeedEditing video quickly is less about raw talent and more about workflow. EasyCut Pro includes a rich set of keyboard shortcuts that let you move faster, stay focused, and keep your hands on the keyboard instead of hunting menus. This article collects the most useful shortcuts, explains when to use them, and shows small workflow examples so you can shave minutes — or hours — off your editing sessions.
Why shortcuts matter
Keyboard shortcuts reduce context switching, minimize mouse travel, and let you execute repetitive tasks with muscle memory. That adds up: a few saved seconds per action multiply across dozens or hundreds of edits in a single project. With the right shortcuts, trimming, cutting, navigating, and applying effects becomes fluid and nearly automatic.
Basic navigation and transport
These are the shortcuts you’ll use constantly to move around the timeline and control playback.
- Space — Play/Pause. The universal transport control; use it to audition clips quickly.
- J / K / L — Shuttle controls: J reverse, K pause, L forward. Tap multiple times to increase speed.
- Left Arrow / Right Arrow — Move playhead one frame left/right.
- Shift + Left/Right Arrow — Move playhead 10 frames (or a small, configurable step) for faster scrubbing.
- Home / End — Jump to start or end of timeline.
- Ctrl/Cmd + Plus/Minus — Zoom in/out on the timeline to focus on trims or see the whole project.
When to use: rely on J/K/L and Space when trimming in rhythm to audio; use frame stepping for precision edits like cutting on action.
Selection and trimming
Speed comes from making precise selections without context menus.
- V — Selection tool (move clips).
- A — Track select forward/backward (selects all clips to the right/left of the playhead). Useful when inserting or moving sections.
- Ctrl/Cmd + T — Add a default transition at the playhead between clips.
- Ctrl/Cmd + K — Razor/split clip at playhead. Split clips quickly to remove or reposition sections.
- Alt/Option + [ / ] — Trim clip start/end to playhead (ripple disabled).
- Shift + Alt/Option + [ / ] — Ripple trim clip start/end to playhead (moves subsequent clips).
- Ctrl/Cmd + Z / Shift + Ctrl/Cmd + Z — Undo/Redo. Essential — don’t hesitate to undo.
Workflow tip: use K to pause, then Ctrl/Cmd + K to split at a beat or action. Use ripple trims when you want downstream clips to follow your changes.
Track and clip management
Organize and manipulate clips without reaching for the mouse.
- M — Add marker at playhead (press again to edit). Use markers to mark sync points or notes.
- Ctrl/Cmd + D — Duplicate selected clip(s) on the same track. Great for repeating a cut or effect.
- Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + D — Duplicate clip to next track (handy for stacked effects).
- Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + E — Export selection or timeline (check export dialog for configuration).
- Shift + Delete / Backspace — Ripple delete selected clip (removes and closes gap).
- Ctrl/Cmd + G — Group selected clips.
- Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + G — Ungroup.
When to use: group clips to move multi-track sequences (e.g., audio + video) together. Duplicate to build layered montages quickly.
Audio shortcuts
Audio often requires tight control; these shortcuts make adjustments quick.
- Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + M — Mute selected track.
- Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + S — Solo selected track.
- G — Add audio gain/normalize dialog for selected clip.
- Alt/Option + Drag — Duplicate clip while dragging; works for audio and video.
- Ctrl/Cmd + L — Link/Unlink audio and video in a clip (so you can move audio independently).
Use solo/mute during complex mixes to focus on problematic sections, then un-solo to audit in context.
Effects, color, and titles
Applying and fine-tuning effects is faster with keyboard shortcuts.
- E — Open effects panel for the selected clip.
- Ctrl/Cmd + R — Render selected region or timeline (if available).
- Ctrl/Cmd + 1 / 2 / 3 — Switch workspace tabs: editing, color, audio (customizable).
- T — Add text/title at playhead (opens title editor).
- Shift + E — Toggle effect bypass on selected clip (quick A/B test).
Workflow: apply an effect with E, toggle it off with Shift + E to compare before/after, adjust parameters, then render only that region for a smooth preview.
Markers, metadata, and searching
Keeping a large project navigable is key for speed.
- Shift + M — Go to next marker.
- Ctrl/Cmd + F — Search project panel for clip names or metadata.
- Alt/Option + M — Add marker with color presets (if supported).
- Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + F — Find missing media or relink assets.
Use markers to flag versions, approved takes, and problem areas; jump between them during review.
Customizing shortcuts
Most editors let you remap keys. Create a custom profile that matches your workflow:
- Map frequently used actions (e.g., ripple trims, split) to keys near your hands (Q/W/E/R area).
- Avoid conflicts — test the layout in a real edit.
- Export your mapping so you can load it on another machine.
Pro tip: mirror shortcuts from other tools you know (e.g., Premiere, Final Cut) to reduce the relearning curve.
Sample fast-edit workflow (short tutorial)
- Import footage and create sequence.
- Use Space to play and M to mark good takes in the source monitor.
- Drag marked clips to the timeline; use V to position.
- Play through with L/K/J; at each cut point press K, then Ctrl/Cmd + K to split.
- Use Alt/Option + [ / ] to trim to the playhead; use ripple trims when needed.
- Add transitions with Ctrl/Cmd + T and adjust duration with numeric input or dragging.
- Apply color corrections in the color workspace (Ctrl/Cmd + 2), toggle effects with Shift + E, render region (Ctrl/Cmd + R).
- Export final with Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + E.
Practice and muscle memory
Start by learning 5–10 shortcuts that cover 80% of your daily tasks (playback, split, trim, undo, ripple delete). Practice them on small projects until they become automatic, then add more shortcuts.
Closing note
Shortcuts are a force multiplier: a small investment in learning them pays back in faster edits and less fatigue. Start with the transport, trim, and split keys, then expand to clip management and effects shortcuts as you get comfortable. Over time, you’ll find your editing cadence becomes smoother and far faster than clicking through menus.
Leave a Reply