> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.gridshift.studio/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Focus Mode Shortcuts

> Edit MIDI notes in the Piano Roll and play audio slices in Focus Mode.

**Focus Mode** opens a single clip for detailed editing — the Piano Roll for MIDI, slice playback for audio, and a curve editor for Automation. This page lists its keyboard and mouse shortcuts.

## Entry & exit

Double-click a clip to enter Focus Mode for detailed editing:

| Clip Type  | Focus Mode        |
| ---------- | ----------------- |
| MIDI       | Piano Roll editor |
| Audio      | Slice playback    |
| Automation | Curve editor      |

| Action              | Shortcut             |
| ------------------- | -------------------- |
| Enter Focus Mode    | `⌥↓` or Double-click |
| Exit Focus Mode     | `Escape` or `⌥↑`     |
| Focus Next Clip     | `Tab`                |
| Focus Previous Clip | `⇧Tab`               |

<Note>
  If the [clip picker](/features/linked-clips#the-clip-picker) is open,
  `Escape` closes it first and a second press exits Focus Mode.
</Note>

## MIDI (Piano Roll)

The Piano Roll uses the same modifier conventions as the main timeline, but applied to MIDI notes instead of clips.

### Modifier mapping

The same modifier hierarchy applies, but to notes instead of clips:

| Modifier | Timeline (Clips) | Piano Roll (Notes) |
| -------- | ---------------- | ------------------ |
| (none)   | Cursor movement  | Navigate notes     |
| `⇧`      | Extend marquee   | Multi-select notes |
| `⌘⌃`     | Move clips       | Move notes         |

### Note navigation

#### Horizontal (←/→)

| Modifier | Action                                    |
| -------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| (none)   | Select next/previous note (by start time) |
| `⇧`      | Add note to selection                     |
| `⌘⌃`     | Move note(s) (1 grid division)            |

#### Vertical (↑/↓)

| Modifier | Action                                |
| -------- | ------------------------------------- |
| (none)   | Select note with higher/lower pitch   |
| `⇧`      | Add note to selection                 |
| `⌃`      | Transpose selected note(s) (1 octave) |
| `⌘⌃`     | Transpose note(s) (1 semitone)        |

<Info>
  `⌃↑` / `⌃↓` only apply in the MIDI piano roll and only when one or more notes are selected. They transpose by `±12` semitones, clamp pitches to the MIDI range `0...127`, participate in undo, and have no dedicated action outside piano roll focus mode.
</Info>

### Note editing (keyboard)

| Action                             | Shortcut    |
| ---------------------------------- | ----------- |
| Delete Notes                       | `⌫`         |
| Duplicate Notes                    | `⌘D`        |
| Select All Notes                   | `⌘A`        |
| Transpose Selected Notes by Octave | `⌃↑` / `⌃↓` |
| Copy                               | `⌘C`        |
| Paste (at playhead)                | `⌘V`        |
| Cut                                | `⌘X`        |
| Exit Piano Roll                    | `Escape`    |

### Note editing (mouse)

| Action               | Result                     |
| -------------------- | -------------------------- |
| Click on note        | Select note                |
| ⇧+Click on note      | Add/remove from selection  |
| Double-click on note | Delete note                |
| Right-click on note  | Delete note                |
| Right-click + drag   | Eraser (delete multiple)   |
| Drag note            | Move note (with grid snap) |
| Drag note edge       | Change duration            |

### Creating notes

| Action              | Modifier | Result                     |
| ------------------- | -------- | -------------------------- |
| Click on empty area | (none)   | Set cursor, start marquee  |
| Drag on empty area  | (none)   | Create marquee selection   |
| Click on empty area | `⌘`      | Create new note            |
| Drag on empty area  | `⌘`      | Create note + set duration |

<Tip>
  **Brush mode**

  Hold `⌘` to enter brush mode. A ghost note appears under your cursor showing where the note will be placed. Click to create, or drag to set the note's duration.
</Tip>

### Musical Typing & slices

Letter keys play MIDI notes or trigger audio slices without any modifier. See the dedicated [Musical Typing](/shortcuts/musical-typing) page for full keyboard layouts (Scale / Piano / Drums) and slice triggering.

### Slice definition

* **Slice 0**: From clip start to first transient
* **Slice 1**: From first transient to second transient
* **Slice 2**: From second transient to third transient
* And so on...

<Tip>
  Slices are defined by transient markers. Transient detection and marker editing live in the [Sample Editor](/features/sample-editor) (`⌥X`). Use `⌘⇧E` on the main timeline to split a clip at all transients, creating separate clips from each slice.
</Tip>

### Splitting at transients

| Action                       | Shortcut |
| ---------------------------- | -------- |
| Split Clip at All Transients | `⌘⇧E`    |

This creates individual clips from each slice, useful for rearranging drum hits or creating variations.

## Automation (curves)

The Automation Focus Mode uses the same modifier hierarchy for editing automation points on parameter curves.

### Point navigation

| Action                | Shortcut |
| --------------------- | -------- |
| Select next point     | `→`      |
| Select previous point | `←`      |

When you reach the last point in a clip, pressing `→` jumps to the first point of the next automation clip. Similarly, `←` at the first point jumps to the previous clip.

### Cursor & marquee

| Action                           | Shortcut |
| -------------------------------- | -------- |
| Cursor horizontal (1 grid)       | `⌘←/→`   |
| Cursor vertical (1/8 value)      | `⌘↑/↓`   |
| Cursor horizontal (fine)         | `⌘⌥←/→`  |
| Extend marquee horizontal        | `⌘⇧←/→`  |
| Extend marquee vertical          | `⌘⇧↑/↓`  |
| Extend marquee horizontal (fine) | `⌘⇧⌥←/→` |

Points within the marquee are automatically selected.

### Moving points

| Action                           | Shortcut |
| -------------------------------- | -------- |
| Move horizontal (1 grid)         | `⌘⌃←/→`  |
| Move vertical (1/8 value)        | `⌘⌃↑/↓`  |
| Move horizontal (fine)           | `⌘⌃⌥←/→` |
| Move vertical (fine, 1/16 value) | `⌘⌃⌥↑/↓` |

### Point editing (keyboard)

| Action                 | Shortcut |
| ---------------------- | -------- |
| Delete selected points | `Return` |
| Exit Automation Mode   | `Escape` |

### Point editing (mouse)

| Action                | Result                    |
| --------------------- | ------------------------- |
| Click on point        | Select point              |
| ⇧+Click on point      | Add/remove from selection |
| Double-click on point | Delete point              |
| ⌥+Click on point      | Delete point              |
| Drag point            | Move (with grid snap)     |
| ⌥+Drag point          | Move (fine, no snap)      |

### Creating points

| Action                     | Modifier | Result           |
| -------------------------- | -------- | ---------------- |
| Double-click on empty area | (none)   | Create new point |
| Click on empty area        | `⌘`      | Create new point |

### Step recording

When Automation Focus Mode is active, recording is armed, and the transport is stopped, the number keys insert automation points directly at the cursor position:

| Key | Value |
| --- | ----- |
| `1` | 10%   |
| `2` | 20%   |
| `3` | 30%   |
| `4` | 40%   |
| `5` | 50%   |
| `6` | 60%   |
| `7` | 70%   |
| `8` | 80%   |
| `9` | 90%   |
| `0` | 100%  |

After each keystroke, the cursor advances by one grid division automatically. If a point already exists at the cursor position (within a small tolerance), it is replaced.

<Note>
  **Non-reassignable shortcut**: The `0–9` step recording keys are processed directly and are not part of the Command Palette system. They cannot be customized via `Settings → Shortcuts`. The same applies to clip volume keys (`1–9`, `0` on the main timeline), audio slice playback keys, the Sample Editor's transient / grid-offset nudge (`⌘←` / `⌘→`, with `⌥` for a single-sample step), and Musical Typing.
</Note>

### Grid snapping

* **Horizontal**: Points snap to the current grid (same as MIDI notes)
* **Vertical**: Points snap to an 8-step grid (0%, 12.5%, 25%, ... 100%)
* **Option**: Fine mode — free positioning without grid snap