Last Updated: November 21, 2025
Video Editing Shortcuts
Essential shortcuts for Premiere, DaVinci, and Final Cut
Video
Productivity
Playback Controls (Universal)
Spacebar
Play/Pause (all NLEs)
J
Play backward (press multiple times for faster speed)
K
Pause/Stop playback
L
Play forward (press multiple times for faster speed)
J+K / L+K
Slow motion backward/forward (hold both keys)
Left/Right Arrow
Move 1 frame backward/forward
Shift + Left/Right
Jump 5 frames (Premiere), 1 second (Resolve)
Home
Go to beginning of timeline
End
Go to end of timeline
Premiere Pro - Cutting & Editing
C
Razor/Cut tool
V
Selection tool
A
Track Select Forward tool
Shift + A
Track Select Backward tool
Cmd/Ctrl + K
Cut at playhead (all tracks)
Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + K
Cut at playhead (active track only)
Q
Ripple Trim Previous Edit Point
W
Ripple Trim Next Edit Point
I
Mark In point
O
Mark Out point
X
Mark Clip (In to Out at playhead)
Delete
Lift (remove, leave gap)
Shift + Delete
Ripple Delete (remove, close gap)
DaVinci Resolve - Cutting & Editing
A
Selection tool
B
Blade/Razor tool
T
Trim tool
Cmd/Ctrl + B
Blade at playhead
Cmd/Ctrl + \
Blade all clips at playhead
I
Mark In point
O
Mark Out point
Backspace/Delete
Ripple Delete (remove, close gap)
Shift + Backspace
Delete (remove, leave gap)
F9
Insert (place clip at playhead, push timeline)
F10
Overwrite (replace clip at playhead)
F11
Replace (swap clip in timeline)
F12
Place on Top (overlay clip on new track)
Final Cut Pro - Cutting & Editing
A
Select tool
B
Blade tool
T
Trim tool
Cmd + B
Blade at playhead
Shift + Cmd + B
Blade all clips at playhead
I
Mark In point
O
Mark Out point
W
Insert (place clip at playhead, push timeline)
D
Overwrite (replace clip at playhead)
Q
Connect to Primary Storyline
Delete
Ripple Delete (remove, close gap)
Shift + Delete
Delete (lift, leave gap)
Timeline Navigation (All NLEs)
+ / -
Zoom in/out on timeline
Shift + Z
Fit entire timeline in view
Up/Down Arrow
Jump to previous/next edit point
Shift + Up/Down
Jump to previous/next marker (or clip in FCP)
M
Add marker at playhead
Cmd/Ctrl + Scroll
Zoom timeline horizontally
Alt/Opt + Scroll
Zoom timeline vertically (track height)
Premiere Pro - Insert & Overwrite
, (Comma)
Insert (push timeline)
. (Period)
Overwrite (replace on timeline)
Cmd/Ctrl + D
Apply default transition
Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + D
Apply default audio transition
Cmd/Ctrl + R
Speed/Duration
Audio Editing (All NLEs)
Shift + -
Lower audio level (Premiere/Resolve)
Shift + =
Raise audio level (Premiere/Resolve)
Cmd/Ctrl + L
Link/Unlink audio and video (Premiere)
S
Solo track (mute all others)
M (on track)
Mute/Unmute track
Ctrl/Cmd + U
Audio Gain (Premiere)
Effects & Color (Premiere Pro)
Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + E
Enable/Disable effect
Shift + 5
Open Effect Controls panel
Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + Y
Open Lumetri Color panel
Alt/Opt + Drag Effect
Copy effect to another clip
Cmd/Ctrl + Alt/Opt + V
Paste attributes (effects)
DaVinci Resolve - Pages & Panels
Shift + 1
Media page
Shift + 2
Cut page
Shift + 3
Edit page
Shift + 4
Fusion page (VFX/motion graphics)
Shift + 5
Color page
Shift + 6
Fairlight page (audio)
Shift + 7
Deliver page (export)
D
Enable/Disable clip
Final Cut Pro - Magnetic Timeline
E
Append to end of timeline
Cmd + G
Create Compound Clip
Shift + Cmd + G
Break Apart Compound Clip
Cmd + Option + G
Create Audition (clip alternatives)
V
Disable/Enable clip
Shift + G
Create Multicam clip
Universal Export & Rendering
Cmd/Ctrl + M (Premiere)
Export Media
Return (Resolve)
Render timeline selection
Cmd/Ctrl + E (FCP)
Export (Share)
I/O + Cmd/Ctrl + M
Export In to Out region (Premiere)
Project & File Management
Cmd/Ctrl + S
Save project
Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + S
Save As
Cmd/Ctrl + W
Close current tab/window
Cmd/Ctrl + N
New sequence/timeline/project
Cmd/Ctrl + I
Import media
Cmd/Ctrl + Z
Undo
Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + Z
Redo
Workspace & Panels
` (Backtick)
Maximize/restore panel under cursor (Premiere)
Shift + ` (Backtick)
Full screen program monitor (Premiere)
Cmd/Ctrl + \
Play around (loop region around playhead)
Tab
Hide/show panels (FCP)
Pro Tips:
- JKL Mastery: Master JKL playback for lightning-fast scrubbing through footage
- Ripple Delete: Use Shift+Delete (Premiere) or Delete (Resolve) to remove clips without gaps
- Markers Are Key: Press M to add markers for beats, notes, or sync points
- Customize Shortcuts: All NLEs allow custom keyboard shortcuts - optimize for your workflow
- Two-Hand Editing: Left hand on JKL/IOR, right hand on mouse for maximum speed
- Use In/Out Points: Mark I and O before inserting clips for precision editing
- Proxy Workflows: Edit with low-res proxies, conform to high-res for export (Premiere/Resolve)
- Auto-Save: Enable auto-save every 5-10 minutes to prevent data loss