FL Studio is a complex and powerful music production software that can seem daunting to new users. But by learning a few key shortcuts, you can significantly improve your workflow and productivity. Here are some of the top FL Studio shortcuts every producer should know, grouped by function:
SHORTCUT (WINDOWS) | SHORTCUT (MAC) | ACTION |
---|---|---|
File Menu | ||
Ctrl + O | Cmd + O | Open file |
Ctrl + S | Cmd + S | Save file |
Ctrl + N | Cmd + N | Save new version |
Ctrl + Shift + S | Cmd + Shift + S | Save as |
Ctrl + Shift + M | Cmd + Shift + M | Export MIDI file |
Ctrl + Shift + R | Cmd + Shift + R | Export MP3 file |
Ctrl + R | Cmd + R | Export WAV file |
Ctrl + Shift + H | Cmd + Shift + H | Rearrange windows |
Ctrl + Z | Cmd + Z | Undo/redo last edit |
Ctrl + Alt + Z | Cmd + Option + Z | Undo step-by-step |
Window Navigation | ||
F1 | F1 | Help |
F5 | F5 | Toggle playlist |
F6 | F6 | Toggle step sequencer |
F7 | F7 | Toggle piano roll |
F8 | F8 | Open plugin picker |
F9 | F9 | Hide/show mixer |
F10 | F10 | Hide/show MIDI settings |
F11 | F11 | Hide/show song information window |
F12 | F12 | Close all windows |
Alt + F8 | Option + F8 | Hide/show sample browser |
Enter | Enter | Toggle min/max playlist |
Esc | Esc | Close window |
Tab | Tab | Cycle nested windows |
Ctrl + Shift + H | Cmd + Shift + H | Arrange windows |
Pattern Selector | ||
– | – | Previous pattern |
+ | + | Next pattern |
Ctrl + F4 | Cmd + F4 | Next empty pattern |
F4 | F4 | Next empty pattern with naming dialog |
Piano Roll Action | ||
Ctrl + U | Cmd + U | Quick chop |
Ctrl + Q | Cmd + Q | Quick quantize |
Ctrl + M | Cmd + M | Import MIDI file |
Ctrl + L | Cmd + L | Quick legato |
Ctrl + D | Cmd + D | Deselect selection |
Ctrl + C | Cmd + C | Copy selection |
Ctr l+ Alt + G | Cmd + Option + G | Grid color |
Ctrl + Left click | Cmd + Left click | Select |
Ctrl + Shift + Left click | Cmd + Shift + Left click | Add to selection |
Alt + R | Option + R | Open randomize tool |
Alt + Q | Option + Q | Quantize |
Alt + O | Option + O | Open LFO tool when in lower event editor area |
Alt + M | Option + M | Mute selection |
Alt + L | Option + L | Open articulate tool |
Alt + K | Option + K | Open limit tool |
Alt + G | Option + G | Ungroup selected notes |
Alt + F | Option + F | Flam |
Alt + E | Option + E | Riff machine |
Alt + B | Option + B | View note helpers |
Alt + A | Option + A | Arpeggiator |
Alt + Shift + M | Option + Shift + M | Unmute selection |
Right-Alt + Right click | Right Option + Right click | Quantize selected |
Shift + Q | Shift + Q | Quick quantize |
Shift + N | Shift + N | Turn off selected chord |
Shift + I | Shift + I | Invert selection |
Shift + G | Shift + G | Group selected |
Shift + C | Shift + C | Select by color |
Shift + Ctrl + V | Shift + Cmd + V | Paste from MIDI clipboard |
Left-Shift + Right click | Left Shift + Right click | Pan view |
Double left click on note | Double left click on note | Open note properties |
Page up / Page down | Page up / Page down | Zoom in/out |
Draw tool + Shift | Draw tool + Shift | Extend note length |
Channel Rack and Step Sequencer | ||
Up arrow | Up arrow | Select next channel above |
Down arrow | Down arrow | Select next channel below |
Page up | Page Up | Select next channel group |
Page down | Page Down | Select previous channel group |
Alt + Del | Option + Del | Delete selected channels |
Alt + Up arrow | Option + Up arrow | Move selected channels up |
Alt + Down arrow | Option + Down arrow | Move selected channels down |
Alt + Z | Option + Z | Zip selected channels |
Alt + U | Option + U | Unzip selected channels |
Alt + G | Option + G | Group selected channels |
Alt + C | Option + C | Clone selected channels |
Alt + M | Option + M | Toggle mixer track selectors |
Ctrl + Alt + R | Cmd + Option + R | Force-restretch all audio clip channels |
Ctrl + Enter | Cmd + Enter | Focus playlist |
Ctrl + C | Cmd + C | Copy channel steps/score |
Shift + Mouse wheel | Shift + Mouse wheel | Move selected channel up/down |
Shift + Up arrow | Shift + Up arrow | Move channel selection up |
Shift + Down arrow | Shift + Down arrow | Move channel selection down |
Shift + Ctrl + Left arrow | Shift + Cmd + Left arrow | Shift steps left |
Shift + Ctrl + Right arrow | Shift + Cmd + Right arrow | Shift steps right |
Record, Playback, and Transport | ||
Space | Space | Start/stop playback |
Ctrl + Space | Cmd + Space | Start/pause playback |
Backspace | Backspace | Toggle line/none snap |
L | L | Switch pattern/song mode |
R | R | Switch on/off recording (including during playback) |
Ctrl + T | Cmd + T | Toggle typing keypad to piano keypad |
Ctrl + M | Cmd + M | Toggle metronome |
Ctrl + P | Cmd + P | Toggle recording metronome precount |
Ctrl + I | Cmd + I | Toggle wait for input to start recording |
Ctrl + B | Cmd + B | Toggle blend notes |
Ctrl + E | Cmd + E | Toggle step edit mode |
Ctrl + H | Cmd + H | Stop sound |
Mixer | ||
F2 | F2 | Rename selected mixer track |
Shift + Mouse wheel | Shift + Mouse wheel | Move selected mixer tracks left/right |
Ctrl + Shift + Left click | Cmd + Shift + Left-click | Select multiple mixer tracks |
Ctrl + Shift + S | Cmd + Shift + S | Save mixer track state |
Ctrl + L | Cmd + L | Link selected channels to selected mixer track |
Shift + Ctrl + L | Shift + Cmd + L | Link selected channels beginning from selected mixer track |
Alt + Left arrow / Right arrow | Option + Left arrow / Right arrow | Move selected mixer tracks left/right |
Alt + L | Option + L | Select the channels linked to the selected mixer track |
Alt + W | Option + W | Toggle peak-meter ‘wave’ view |
S | S | Solo current track |
Alt + R | Option + R | Render armed tracks to WAV |
Playlist Action | ||
Z | Z | Zoom tool |
Y | Y | Playback tool |
T | T | Mute tool |
S | S | Slip edit tool |
P | P | Draw tool (pencil) |
E | E | Select tool |
D | D | Delete tool |
C | C | Slice tool |
B | B | Paint tool |
Alt + T | Option + T | Add time marker |
Alt + P | Option + P | Open the picker panel |
Alt + M | Option + M | Mute selection |
Alt + G | Option + G | Ungroup selection |
Alt | Option | Bypass snap (can be combined with other modifiers) |
Learning these FL Studio shortcuts can help you work more efficiently and improve your music production skills. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different key combinations and find what works best for you.