Descript / Keyboard Shortcuts

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Start here If you have edited before Full reference All three Mac Windows

Start here: the first sixteen

Everything else can wait. Once these are automatic, press ⌥opt+⌘cmd+KCtrl+Alt+K inside Descript to see the rest.

01	Play / pauseWorks when no timeline tool is active.	`SpaceSpace`
02	Play from where the cursor sitsYour main audition key.	`⇧shift`+`SpaceShift`+`Space`
03	Cut words outSelect the text, press Delete. This is the whole job most of the time.	`DeleteDelete`
04	Move a sentenceThen click where it belongs and press Cmd + V. The audio travels with the text.Then click where it belongs and press Ctrl + V. The audio travels with the text.	`⌘cmd`+`XCtrl`+`X`
05	Mark a cut without making itIgnore crosses words out but leaves them readable. Good for a first pass.	`⌘cmd`+`DeleteCtrl`+`Backspace`
06	Undo / redoRedo is Shift + Cmd + Z.Redo is Shift + Ctrl + Z.	`⌘cmd`+`ZCtrl`+`Z`
07	Fix a misheard wordHighlight the wrong word, press C, type the right one.	`CC`
	Everything above is hour one. Below is week one.
08	Speed up or slow down playbackShift + K resets it. Reviewing at 1.5x is where the time savings are.	`⇧shift`+`J`/`LShift`+`J`/`L`
09	Insert a speaker labelType at the start of a line.	`@@`
10	Drop a markerUse these instead of writing down timestamps.	`##`
11	Leave a comment for the producerBetter than a separate email about the edit.	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`MCtrl`+`Shift`+`M`
12	Find a word in the scriptCmd + G jumps to the next hit.Ctrl + G jumps to the next hit.	`⌘cmd`+`FCtrl`+`F`
13	Search every action by nameWhen you forget a shortcut, start here.	`⌘cmd`+`KCtrl`+`K`
14	Open Descript's own shortcut listThe live version of this sheet. Option + / is documented for this too, but does not fire on every setup.The live version of this sheet. Alt + / is documented for this too, but does not fire on every setup.	`⌥opt`+`⌘cmd`+`KCtrl`+`Alt`+`K`
15	Toggle Write modeTurns the single-letter shortcuts off. See the warning.	`⌘cmd`+`ECtrl`+`E`
16	Export a finished fileA file on your machine. Shift + Cmd + P instead publishes a read and comment link you can keep updating in place.A file on your machine. Shift + Ctrl + P instead publishes a read and comment link you can keep updating in place.	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`ECtrl`+`Shift`+`E`

Six things that will confuse you

Your letter keys stopped working. Single-letter shortcuts (A, R, B, H, Y, S, D, @, #, /) only fire in the Script Editor when Write Mode and Correct Mode are both off. Marker (#) and Scene (/) also stop working while the correction tool is active.
Tool keys are springy. Tapping A, R, B, H or Y switches tools. Holding one activates it only while held, then snaps back to the tool you were using. Hold it when you need one quick cut.
Cmd + S does not save.Ctrl + S does not save. In Descript it is a second play / pause. The save reflex from every other editor will start and stop your audio instead. Descript has no save shortcut.
Undo does not survive a reload. Undo history is per session. Reloading the page clears it. Descript keeps version history like a Google Doc, so open an earlier version and copy the section you want back into your current composition.
Deleting is not destructive. Removed media is hidden, not gone. Right-click the edit boundary and choose Restore removed media, or press Shift + Cmd + Delete.Removed media is hidden, not gone. Right-click the edit boundary and choose Restore removed media, or press Shift + Ctrl + Delete.
Zoom scrolls backwards. Cmd + Scroll down zooms in, Cmd + Scroll up zooms out, which is inverted from most editors. Cmd + = and Cmd + - do the same thing without the mental flip.Ctrl + Scroll down zooms in, Ctrl + Scroll up zooms out, which is inverted from most editors. Ctrl + = and Ctrl + - do the same thing without the mental flip.

If you have edited before

For Pro Tools, Audition and Audacity hands. Same work, different order: cut the transcript first, open the timeline last.

Razor or split at the playheadOnly in the timeline. Most of your cuts now happen in the transcript: select the words, press Delete.	`SS`
Select a region and delete itThe gap closes on its own. Removed media is hidden, not destroyed, so you can restore it at the edit boundary.	`DeleteDelete`
Save after a tricky editThis is play / pause here. Descript has no save shortcut.	`⌘cmd`+`SCtrl`+`S`
Shuttle faster and slowerShift + K resets to normal speed. Same J K L logic, one modifier away.	`⇧shift`+`J`/`LShift`+`J`/`L`
Nudge with , and .Shift for 5 frames, Cmd for half a frame, Option for a full second.Shift for 5 frames, Ctrl for half a frame, Alt for a full second.	`←`/`→←`/`→`
Zoom the timelineScroll zoom is inverted from what you are used to: Cmd + scroll down zooms in.Scroll zoom is inverted from what you are used to: Ctrl + scroll down zooms in.	`⌘cmd`+`=`/`⌘cmd`+`-Ctrl`+`=`/`Ctrl`+`-`
Single-key tools with keyboard focus onSelect, range, blade, hand, slip. Hold instead of tap for a one-off. They go dead in Write Mode and Correct Mode.	`A R B H YA R B H Y`
Markers and memory locationsType it where you want the mark. Not available while the correction tool is open.	`##`
Fades, music beds, transitionsToggles the timeline. Script editor for what is said, timeline for how it sounds.	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`SCtrl`+`Shift`+`S`
Patch a bad word by re-recordingHighlight it, press C, type the correction.	`CC`
Edit notes in a separate documentComments attach to the words they are about, so timestamps cannot drift out of sync.	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`MCtrl`+`Shift`+`M`

Six things that will confuse you

Your letter keys stopped working. Single-letter shortcuts (A, R, B, H, Y, S, D, @, #, /) only fire in the Script Editor when Write Mode and Correct Mode are both off. Marker (#) and Scene (/) also stop working while the correction tool is active.
Tool keys are springy. Tapping A, R, B, H or Y switches tools. Holding one activates it only while held, then snaps back to the tool you were using. Hold it when you need one quick cut.
Cmd + S does not save.Ctrl + S does not save. In Descript it is a second play / pause. The save reflex from every other editor will start and stop your audio instead. Descript has no save shortcut.
Undo does not survive a reload. Undo history is per session. Reloading the page clears it. Descript keeps version history like a Google Doc, so open an earlier version and copy the section you want back into your current composition.
Deleting is not destructive. Removed media is hidden, not gone. Right-click the edit boundary and choose Restore removed media, or press Shift + Cmd + Delete.Removed media is hidden, not gone. Right-click the edit boundary and choose Restore removed media, or press Shift + Ctrl + Delete.
Zoom scrolls backwards. Cmd + Scroll down zooms in, Cmd + Scroll up zooms out, which is inverted from most editors. Cmd + = and Cmd + - do the same thing without the mental flip.Ctrl + Scroll down zooms in, Ctrl + Scroll up zooms out, which is inverted from most editors. Ctrl + = and Ctrl + - do the same thing without the mental flip.

Full reference

Every documented shortcut, minus the scene and layer tools that a radio edit never touches. This is wall material for week three, not day one.

Core Editing (the doc keys)

Delete selected words	`Delete`or`BackspaceBackspace`or`Delete`
Cut (moves the media with it)	`⌘cmd`+`XCtrl`+`X`
Copy	`⌘cmd`+`CCtrl`+`C`
Paste	`⌘cmd`+`VCtrl`+`V`
Ignore (cross out, keep visible)	`⌘cmd`+`DeleteCtrl`+`Backspace`

Quick Access

View all shortcuts in-app	`⌥opt`+`⌘cmd`+`K`or`⌥opt`+`/Ctrl`+`Alt`+`K`or`Ctrl`+`/`
Search actions	`⌘cmd`+`KCtrl`+`K`

Screen Recorder

Start / stop Screen Recorder

⌘cmd+⇧shift+2Ctrl+Shift+2

Playback

Play / Pause	`Space`(tools inactive)or`⌘cmd`+`S`or`⌥opt`+`ClickSpace`(tools inactive)or`Ctrl`+`S`or`Alt`+`Click`
Play from cursor	`⇧shift`+`SpaceShift`+`Space`
Spot audition	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`SpaceCtrl`+`Shift`+`Space`
Move playhead to beginning	`HomeHome`
Next marker	`⌥opt`+`⌘cmd`+`.Ctrl`+`Alt`+`.`
Previous marker	`⌥opt`+`⌘cmd`+`,Ctrl`+`Alt`+`,`
Next scene	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`.Ctrl`+`Shift`+`.`
Previous scene	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`,Ctrl`+`Shift`+`,`
Step forward by a frame	`→→`
Step backward by a frame	`←←`
Next clip	`⌥opt`+`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`.Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`.`
Previous clip	`⌥opt`+`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`,Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`,`
Decrease playback speed	`⇧shift`+`JShift`+`J`
Reset playback speed	`⇧shift`+`KShift`+`K`
Increase playback speed	`⇧shift`+`LShift`+`L`
Autoscroll	`EscEsc`

Timeline Tools

Select tool	`A`(or hold A)`A`(or hold A)
Range tool	`R`(or hold R)`R`(or hold R)
Blade tool	`B`(or hold B)`B`(or hold B)
Hand tool	`H`(or hold H)`H`(or hold H)
Slip tool	`Y`(or hold Y)`Y`(or hold Y)
Zoom in	`⌘cmd`+`Scroll down`or`⌘cmd`+`=Ctrl`+`Scroll down`or`Ctrl`+`=`
Zoom out	`⌘cmd`+`Scroll up`or`⌘cmd`+`-Ctrl`+`Scroll up`or`Ctrl`+`-`
Zoom to playhead	`⌥opt`+`⌘cmd`+`3Ctrl`+`Alt`+`3`
Fit selection	`⌥opt`+`⌘cmd`+`4Ctrl`+`Alt`+`4`
Scroll left	`⇧shift`+`Scroll Down`or`H`+`Drag RightShift`+`Scroll Down`or`H`+`Drag Right`
Scroll right	`⇧shift`+`Scroll Up`or`H`+`Drag LeftShift`+`Scroll Up`or`H`+`Drag Left`
Add clip boundary (split clip)	`SS`
Toggle timeline	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`SCtrl`+`Shift`+`S`

Nudging (Timeline)

Nudge by 1 frame	`←`/`→←`/`→`
Nudge by 5 frames	`⇧shift`+`←`/`→Shift`+`←`/`→`
Nudge by 1/2 frame	`⌘cmd`+`←`/`→Ctrl`+`←`/`→`
Nudge by 1 second	`⌥opt`+`←`/`→Alt`+`←`/`→`

Text Tools

Toggle capitalization	`Z`(hold, then click a word)`Z`(hold, then click a word)
Toggle punctuation	`X`(hold, then click a word)`X`(hold, then click a word)
Correct the selection	`C`(highlight the word first)`C`(highlight the word first)
Toggle Correct mode	`⌥opt`+`CAlt`+`C`

Selection & Editing

Highlight	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`HCtrl`+`Shift`+`H`
Paste attributes	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`VCtrl`+`Shift`+`V`
Edit sequence	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`OCtrl`+`Shift`+`O`
Auto-level clip	`⌥opt`+`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`LCtrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`L`
Comment	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`MCtrl`+`Shift`+`M`
Duplicate	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`CCtrl`+`Shift`+`C`
Quick duplicate	`⌥opt`+`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`CCtrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`C`

Insert

Speaker label	`@@`
Marker	`#`(not while Correct is active)`#`(not while Correct is active)
Regenerate	`DD`
Scene	`/`(not while Correct is active)`/`(not while Correct is active)

View

Toggle project contents	`⌥opt`+`⌘cmd`+`CCtrl`+`Alt`+`C`
Media library	`⌥opt`+`⌘cmd`+`LCtrl`+`Alt`+`L`
Toggle AI Tools	`⌥opt`+`⌘cmd`+`YCtrl`+`Alt`+`Y`

Edit (Project-Level)

New project	`⌘cmd`+`NCtrl`+`N`
New composition	`⌥opt`+`⌘cmd`+`NCtrl`+`Alt`+`N`
Toggle Write mode	`⌘cmd`+`ECtrl`+`E`
Undo	`⌘cmd`+`ZCtrl`+`Z`
Redo	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`ZCtrl`+`Shift`+`Z`
Select all	`⌘cmd`+`ACtrl`+`A`
Find	`⌘cmd`+`FCtrl`+`F`
Find in project	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`FCtrl`+`Shift`+`F`
Find previous	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`GCtrl`+`Shift`+`G`
Find next	`⌘cmd`+`GCtrl`+`G`
Restore removed media	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`DeleteCtrl`+`Shift`+`Backspace`

Project access	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`ACtrl`+`Shift`+`A`
Share page (read and comment link)	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`PCtrl`+`Shift`+`P`
Copy project link	`⌘cmd`+`LCtrl`+`L`
Local export (file on your machine)	`⇧shift`+`⌘cmd`+`ECtrl`+`Shift`+`E`

Shortcuts checked against Descript's published shortcut list. Descript ships changes often, so confirm anything critical in the app itself.

Adjust word gap at cursor	`⌘cmd`+`GCtrl`+`G`
Adjust word gap to last used duration	`⌘cmd`+`⇧shift`+`GCtrl`+`Shift`+`G`
App Settings	`⌘cmd`+`,Ctrl`+`,`