Key Map Assignments & Keyboard Shortcuts: Are They The Same?

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otalgia99
Posts: 253
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2017 4:21 am

Key Map Assignments & Keyboard Shortcuts: Are They The Same?

Post by otalgia99 » Thu Aug 28, 2025 5:51 pm

Hello!

This seems like far too obvious a question, but I find myself wanting to ask:

Are the KEY MAPPINGS (assignable via the KEY button, then selecting one of the possible parameters and making the assignment) separate from Live's provided KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS (for example, "CMD+SHFT+3,") -- or do they both draw from a single set of keystrokes?

I want to assign a single letter key (in this case, f) to control the Global Follow Actions button.

In the manual appendix, I see that F = "Momentarily Toggle Fade Controls" as a keyboard shortcut, but I don't know if this means that f cannot be assigned using KEY MAP without changing that default assignment. I assume that must be the case but I want to be sure.

"Momentarily Toggle Fade Controls" is a function I have never used -- in fact I'm not actually even sure I know what that does (is this a reference to the fade handles in audio clips? ...Is it a channel faders thing...??) so I could overwrite it, I suppose.

But for some reason I'm always reluctant to overwrite a default if it can ever be avoided.

Also: I also don't know if the KEY MAPPINGS are case-sensitive, whereas keyboard shortcuts that involve both letter and shift keys might be understood to be case-sensitive.

The appendix doesn't seem to show an assignment for lower-case f (which I wish to use for my proposed "follow-actions toggle") and I'd like to know if case-sensitivity could be a possible workaround for me in the event that upper-case F is "already taken" (so to say) by this momentary fade function.

Thanks!
Perform. rig
MacBook Pro 2023 | M3 Max | OS 15.7.2 | 36 Gb RAM | MicroBook IIc | Akai APC40 MkII | LIVE 12 Suite

Prod. rig
Mac Studio M1 Max | OS 15.7.2 | 64 Gb RAM | MiniStack STX | ApolloX6 | Live 12 Suite

yur2die4
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Re: Key Map Assignments & Keyboard Shortcuts: Are They The Same?

Post by yur2die4 » Thu Aug 28, 2025 9:46 pm

They are different in that they cover different functions. I ‘think’ the f is something you ‘hold’ to view fades on audio clips that are in the arrangement view.

I’m pretty sure I recall being able to take advantage of case sensitivity to expand my mappings. This is something you could test and tinker with see what happens heheh.

Another thing to be aware of is the qwerty to music keys. I don’t know if you use the qwerty for music note input, but when it’s on, your mappings might not work… or if they do work, that could mess up your qwerty keyboard.

I didn’t do numbers because that’s confusing with actual number input. But I did take advantage of all the Shift numbers (various symbols) and punctuations. It’s fine because symbols could be made to sort of represent a function. It’s also fun having Shift because two ‘similar’ or related functions could be on the same key.

Best of luck!

otalgia99
Posts: 253
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2017 4:21 am

Re: Key Map Assignments & Keyboard Shortcuts: Are They The Same?

Post by otalgia99 » Thu Aug 28, 2025 10:49 pm

Thanks so much!

I've ascertained (at least, pretty sure) that Key Mappings are set-specific?

So [ hopefully ] the risk of overwriting a Shortcut with a mapping would only apply to one set at a time, making me a ...bit... more confident about trying it out...


....I guess? :|

With appreciation,
o99
Perform. rig
MacBook Pro 2023 | M3 Max | OS 15.7.2 | 36 Gb RAM | MicroBook IIc | Akai APC40 MkII | LIVE 12 Suite

Prod. rig
Mac Studio M1 Max | OS 15.7.2 | 64 Gb RAM | MiniStack STX | ApolloX6 | Live 12 Suite

yur2die4
Posts: 7333
Joined: Sat Oct 03, 2009 3:02 am
Location: Menasha, Wisconsin
Contact:

Re: Key Map Assignments & Keyboard Shortcuts: Are They The Same?

Post by yur2die4 » Fri Aug 29, 2025 3:42 pm

They are set specific. Which brings up another point I kind of assumed or took for granted.

You can open a fresh set, do a few of your most useful key mappings, and then save that as your Default Set. Then you always have the convenience of those mappings in future sets. You would only get the occasional surprise of older sets not already having those mappings.

otalgia99
Posts: 253
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2017 4:21 am

Re: Key Map Assignments & Keyboard Shortcuts: Are They The Same?

Post by otalgia99 » Fri Aug 29, 2025 5:50 pm

Cool!

Thanks so much, the default set idea will save a few mildly annoying repetitions in future.

Best,
o99
Perform. rig
MacBook Pro 2023 | M3 Max | OS 15.7.2 | 36 Gb RAM | MicroBook IIc | Akai APC40 MkII | LIVE 12 Suite

Prod. rig
Mac Studio M1 Max | OS 15.7.2 | 64 Gb RAM | MiniStack STX | ApolloX6 | Live 12 Suite

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