User manual

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Hotkey Mastery:
The fastest way to learn the Hotkey Matrix and become a Pro Tools power user is to systematically try out every key and familiarize yourself with
each shortcut.
Open an existing project in Pro Tools. If you use MIDI sequencing, make sure it has at least one MIDI or Instrument track in it. Save it as “Test
Project” or something similar so you don’t have to worry about messing up an existing project.
Start anywhere on the Hotkey Matrix and begin to systematically try out the commands. If you don’t understand a particular shortcut or function,
you can refer to the detailed explanations included in Chart 3 which starts on page 4 of this guide. The Pro Tools reference manual will also be
helpful. After you have tried every key and have a basic understanding of what it does, you will have a working familiarity with all of the shortcuts.
Next, make yourself use the Hotkey Matrix shortcut instead of your usual method for accessing a command whenever you arrive at an appropriate
task in your workflow.
If you are already a Pro Tools power user, you will quickly learn all of the shortcuts that are available. The next time you encounter the need for a
function that has a Hotkey Matrix shortcut, you will know that it exists, and roughly where it is on the Hotkey Matrix.
If you are not already a Pro Tools power user, this exercise will require more learning. It will give you a crash course in some of the advanced
features of Pro Tools that can make your workflow much faster and easier. It might take you several hours to complete, but it is time that you will
quickly make up as you become more fluid and proficient using the Hotkey Matrix with Pro Tools.
Divide and Conquer:
Instead of systematically learning the entire Hotkey Matrix right away, you can start with a few shortcuts for commands you use frequently. For
example, the duplicate selection is a useful command in almost any Pro Tools session. This is a yellow key, and you will find similar Edit
commands grouped around it. Other shortcuts that are very quickly learned are the “New Track” commands. In the heat of the creative process,
it’s nice to be able to pop up a new stereo aux track, or new MIDI track with the press of a single button.
Combining the two approaches works well — pick a few shortcuts to get started, then when you feel inspired to enhance your workflow, you can
learn new sections of the Hotkey Matrix. Remember, it’s always a good idea to use a test project for experimentation.
While not every Pro Tools command can fit on the Hotkey Matrix, the vast majority of commonly used Pro Tools shortcuts are represented when
paired with the default Pro Tools shortcuts on a standard computer keyboard. You can add in Hotkey Matrix shortcuts to your workflow at a rate
that works for you.
Detailed descriptions of the Hotkey Matrix layout and shortcuts:
Chart 1 is a representation of the Hotkey Matrix layout with the key legends. On the Y-axis, the rows are labeled 1-8. On the X-axis, the
columns are labeled A-R. This chart can be paired with Chart 3, which has notes and explanations for all the shortcuts. You can find the
relevant part of the chart by referencing the column letter/row number for the shortcut on this diagram. For example, the duplicate selection
shortcut is on key L6.
Chart 2 gives a conceptual explanation of how the key colors are organized.
Chart 3 lists the letter/number for every key on the Hotkey Matrix in its first column. It starts with key A1 (the show/hide track list shortcut) and
continues across the rows. So the next entry is for B1 (show/hide clip list), next is C1 (recall window config 1) and so on. To learn more about
a specific shortcut, find its entry in Chart 3 using this method.
Tip: Although the Hotkey Matrix functions independently from Pro Tools Keyboard Focus mode, we recommend Commands Keyboard Focus mode for
most tasks (it is active when the little square with the letters “a-z” the top right corner of the Edit Window track display is highlighted yellow). It gives
access to one-key shortcuts on the regular computer keyboard. See the Pro Tools Reference Guide for further information on Keyboard Focus.