Keyboard Shortcuts: The Cheat Codes of Editing

Editing without keyboard shortcuts is like making a five-course meal with a plastic spoon—it technically works, but why would you do that to yourself?

Whether you’re on Mac or PC, getting cozy with keyboard shortcuts is one of the best ways to speed up your workflow. And if you edit across multiple platforms (looking at you, Premiere and DaVinci users), customizing your shortcuts to match can make your life so much easier.

Why Bother?

Sure, shortcuts feel awkward at first, like learning to drive stick - okay I never did get the hang of driving stick, but that proves that learning shortcuts is totally doable. Once you get the muscle memory down, you’ll be flying through edits at lightning speed. We’re talking HOURS saved. No more hunting through menus or fumbling with your mouse—just quick, precise editing like the pro you are.

My Go-To Shortcuts:

• Trim Head/Tail – Because dragging the ends of clips is for the weak.

• Frame Match – Instantly jump to the source of a clip (magic!).

• Select All Tracks – Avoid clicking through 57 layers one by one.

• Cut (Razor Tool) – If you’re not using this, I’m concerned for you.

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I even customized my DaVinci Resolve keyboard to match my Premiere Pro shortcuts. Now, switching between platforms is seamless—no mental gymnastics required.

So do yourself a favor: take an afternoon, map out the shortcuts that make sense for your workflow, and commit to using them. It’ll feel clunky at first, but once it clicks (pun absolutely intended), you’ll never go back.

Your future self will thank you.