ZELLAZella Keyboard Shortcuts: The Complete List (Mac)
Quick answer: The shortcuts you’ll reach for most — ⌘⇧R start recording · Space play/pause · B cut at the playhead · Delete ripple-delete the selected segment · ⌘Z undo · ⇧Z add a zoom · ⌘E export. The full, grouped list is below, with a printable cheat sheet at the end.
On this page: learn these first · recording · playback · editing · motion · export · menu & panels · cheat sheet · why a shortcut isn’t working · FAQ
Keyboard shortcuts are the fastest way to edit in Zella. Every shortcut below has been verified against the current build.
The six shortcuts to learn first
If you learn nothing else, learn these — they cover most of an edit:
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| ⌘ ⇧ R | Open the recording panel |
| Space | Play / pause |
| B | Cut at the playhead |
| Delete | Ripple-delete the selected segment |
| ⌘ Z | Undo |
| ⌘ E | Export |
Recording shortcuts (work from any app)
These are global — they fire even when another app is in front, so you can start and stop a capture without clicking back to Zella.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ⌘ ⇧ R | Open the Setup panel to configure and start a recording |
| ⌘ ⇧ S | Stop the active recording (also works while paused) |
During a recording, use the floating toolbar’s ‖ to pause/resume and the red ■ to stop.
Playback & navigation (editor)
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Space | Play / pause the preview |
| ← / → | Nudge one frame (when paused) or skip 1 s (while playing) |
| ⇧ ← / ⇧ → | Skip 5 s back / forward |
Editing (editor)
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| B | Cut the clip at the playhead (drops a yellow cut marker) |
| Delete / Fn Delete | Ripple-delete the selected segment or overlay (later content slides up) |
| A | Switch to the Select tool |
| ⌘ Z | Undo the last edit |
Redo is on the transport bar (the ↷ button) — there’s no redo key; use the button.
Motion & zoom (editor)
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ⇧ Z | Add a zoom block at the playhead |
| ⌘ ⇧ A | Center the anchor point (for zoom / transform) |
Export
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ⌘ E | Open the Export & Share dialog |
Menu-bar & panels
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ⌘ L | Open Library (from the menu-bar menu) |
| ⌘ Q | Quit Zella |
| Esc | Close the Setup panel / cancel a region selection |
The menu-bar (status) items show their shortcuts;
⌘Lis invoked from that dropdown.
Printable cheat sheet
Everything in one place — screenshot or print this:
| Context | Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Global | ⌘⇧R | Open recording panel |
| Global | ⌘⇧S | Stop recording |
| Editor | Space | Play / pause |
| Editor | ← / → | Nudge 1 frame / skip 1 s |
| Editor | ⇧← / ⇧→ | Skip 5 s |
| Editor | B | Cut at playhead |
| Editor | Delete | Ripple-delete selection |
| Editor | A | Select tool |
| Editor | ⌘Z | Undo |
| Editor | ⇧Z | Add zoom block |
| Editor | ⌘⇧A | Center anchor |
| Editor | ⌘E | Export |
| App | ⌘L | Open Library |
| App | ⌘Q | Quit |
| Panels | Esc | Close panel / cancel region |
Why a shortcut isn’t working
- Editor shortcuts need the editor window focused. Click the editor window once (its title bar or timeline), then the keys respond.
Space,B,Delete, the arrows,⌘Z,⇧Z, and⌘Eonly fire when the editor is the active window. Bignores a playhead at the very start. It needs the playhead past ~0.1 s — move it a touch into the clip first.Deleteneeds something selected. Make a cut and select the segment (or select an overlay) first;Deleteripples the selected segment.⌘⇧R/⌘⇧Sare global and work from anywhere — if they don’t, make sure Zella is running (look for the Z in your menu bar).
Keyboard shortcuts FAQ
What’s the shortcut to start recording in Zella? ⌘⇧R opens the recording panel; ⌘⇧S stops an active recording. Both work from any app.
How do I cut a clip with the keyboard? Press B to cut at the playhead, then Delete to ripple-delete a selected segment.
Is there a redo shortcut? Not currently — use the ↷ button on the transport bar. Undo is ⌘Z.
How do I add a zoom with the keyboard? ⇧Z drops a zoom block at the playhead; edit its scale and timing in the Transform tab.
Why do my editor keys do nothing? The editor window must be focused — click it once, then the shortcuts respond.
Pro tips & gotchas
- The big four for editing: Space play/pause, B cut, A select, Delete ripple-delete.
- ⌘⇧R records from anywhere; ⌘L opens the Library.
- ⌘Z undoes; shortcuts only fire when the editor window is key (click it first if a key seems dead).
- Arrow keys nudge the playhead; hold ⇧ for a 5-second jump.
Related: Cut, trim & ripple-delete → · Zoom & keyframes → · Export → · Recording basics →