All Keyed Up

by James Alguire

Knowing more of Final Cut’s vast library of keyboard shortcuts definitely improves your editing efficiency, but not all of Final Cut Pro’s functions have keyboard equivalents by default. Fortunately, it’s simple to create keyboard shortcuts, using the Keyboard Layout tool, to make those features easier to use when needed. We’ll create new shortcuts for some essential Final Cut features: Import Folders, Set Logging Bin, and Insert Tracks.

Select Keyboard Layout from the Tools Menu, or type Option-H on the keyboard.

Select the Keyboard Layout from the Tools Menu

The Keyboard Layout Window displays a tabbed onscreen keyboard and function list. The tabs above the keyboard represent the different possible modifier key combinations. First click on the lock button to unlock the keyboard layout to be able to make changes. Then decide what key to use for the new shortcut. Since we’re creating a new shortcut for importing folders we’ll stick with the I key.

Unlock the Keyboard Layout to make changes.

Click through the tabs to find a set of modifier keys that doesn’t have an existing function assigned to the I key. Shift-Command is a good choice. Now to assign the Import Folders function to the I key, click in the search field of the Function list to the right of the keyboard layout and type import.

Type a keyword to search for the desired function to add a shortcut for.

All the import functions will be listed. Drag the Import Folders function from the list to the I key in the Keyboard layout. Now when clicking on File>Import>Folder it shows the new keyboard shortcut.

Drag the function to the key to be used for the shortcut.

The Import Folders function is now mapped to the Shift-Command-I key.

Notice that the Function list has Final Cut’s functions organized first by menu and also by function. We could have clicked the disclosure triangle next to File or Import in the list to display the desired functions, but I find the search field to be the quickest way to locate the appropriate function. Repeat the same process to set shortcuts for Set Logging Bin (I recommend using the B key and Shift-Command tab) and Insert Track features (use the T key). Just click on the appropriate tab and type bin or insert to list the desired functions. When done, just close the Keyboard Layout Window.

The Import Folder command from the File Menu, before.

The Import Folder command from the File Menu after.

As you work you may find other Final Cut features that need quicker access (like Reconnect Media, Close Project, Delete Tracks or Make Multiclip) and now you can create shortcuts to make that happen.

About James Alguire

James Alguire has been involved in the computer industry for over 25 years. He is an Apple Certified Trainer (ACT) for both Apple Pro Apps and Technical training, and is an Apple Certified Technical Coordinator (ACTC) in Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server, an Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist (ACSP) in Mac OS X and Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) in Mac OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard.and a member of the Apple Consultants Network and Apple Certification Alliance. Visit his website.

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