6.3. Keyboard shortcuts

Three everyday actions use a single key: M mutes or bypasses, B picks the Cut tool, and Q picks the Select tool. Every other editor action needs at least one modifier key. The keys a DAW uses for computer-keyboard note input stay free in every runtime; see Reserved note keys. Settings lists every shortcut — see Shortcut list.

6.3.1. Canvas

See Editing and navigation.

Action	macOS	Windows
Open node browser (command palette)	Shift+A	Shift+A
Select tool	Q, or Option+Shift+V	Alt+Shift+V
Pan tool	Option+Shift+H	Alt+Shift+H
Cut tool	B, or Option+Shift+C	Alt+Shift+C
Select all visible nodes	Cmd+A	Ctrl+A
Confirm deletion of selected nodes or cables	Delete	Backspace
Delete nodes or cables without confirming	Option+Shift+Delete	Alt+Shift+Delete
Delete nodes or cables without confirming	Option+Shift+Backspace	Alt+Shift+Backspace
Duplicate selected node	Option+Shift+D	Alt+Shift+D
Mute or bypass selected node	M, or Option+Shift+M	Alt+Shift+M
Tidy graph (auto-layout)	Option+Shift+T	Alt+Shift+T
Zoom to selection	Option+Shift+F	Alt+Shift+F
Create a Frame for the selection	Cmd+Shift+F	Ctrl+Shift+F
Zoom to fit all visible nodes	Option+Shift+Home	Alt+Shift+Home
Delete node and reconnect chain	Cmd+X	Ctrl+X
Nudge selection one step	Option+←/→/↑/↓	Alt+←/→/↑/↓

Holding M toggles once; the key repeat does not flip it back. Single-key shortcuts do nothing while you type in a text field, search box, or rename field.

Plain Delete or Backspace opens a confirmation for the selected nodes or links. Press Enter to delete or Escape to cancel; focus returns to the canvas. Holding either delete key never confirms. Text fields keep normal editing behaviour. The MIDI clip editor uses the same confirmation for selected notes. Option/Alt+Shift+Delete or Backspace deletes without a confirmation.

Delete and reconnect works when the selected node has one compatible incoming connection and one compatible outgoing connection. If the routing is ambiguous or the neighbouring sockets are incompatible, Throughline deletes the node without reconnecting and shows an explanation.

6.3.2. Groups and Zones

See Groups and Zones.

Step inside a Group to edit its members. Group navigation shortcuts do not enter Polyphony Zones.

Action	macOS	Windows
Create Group	Option+Shift+G	Alt+Shift+G
Enter selected Group	Option+Shift+E	Alt+Shift+E
Exit current Group	Option+Shift+X	Alt+Shift+X

6.3.3. Editing displays

See Inspecting signals.

Option/Alt pans the canvas over a node display without editing it.

While dragging a point in the Shaper display:

• Cmd (Mac) / Ctrl (Win) temporarily inverts snapping.
• Press X or Y to toggle an axis lock. Press the same key again to release the lock.

6.3.4. Global

See Editing and navigation.

Action	macOS	Windows
Toggle node browser	Cmd+K	Ctrl+K
Open settings	Cmd+J	Ctrl+J
Undo	Cmd+Z	Ctrl+Z
Redo	Cmd+Shift+Z	Ctrl+Shift+Z

6.3.5. Reserved note keys

See Set up your DAW.

Logic Pro’s Musical Typing and Ableton Live’s Computer MIDI Keyboard send notes from the computer keyboard through the host. Turn the feature on in your DAW and route MIDI to the Throughline track. Throughline never binds these keys to an unmodified editor action:

Action	macOS	Windows
White-key notes	A S D F G H J K L ; '	A S D F G H J K L ; '
Black-key notes	W E T Y U O P	W E T Y U O P
Octave down and up	Z X	Z X
Velocity down and up	C V	C V
Logic only: pitch bend, modulation, sustain	1–8, Tab	1–8, Tab

Letters outside this set, such as Q R I B N M, can be single-key shortcuts.

6.3.6. Inside a DAW

See Set up your DAW.

The AU and VST3 plugin receives note input and transport from its host. Use your DAW’s Musical Typing or Computer MIDI Keyboard feature, or a MIDI controller, to play Throughline. The editor leaves the host’s note keys free.

Transport shortcuts are disabled in the plugin because the host owns transport.

The modified group-navigation bindings are fixed in the plugin. M, B, and Q keep their editor actions.

6.3.7. Shortcut list

See Editing and navigation.

Open settings with Cmd (Mac) / Ctrl (Win) + J and choose the Keyboard Shortcuts button. It lists the editor shortcuts for the current runtime, grouped as Global, Canvas, and Structure. The list is read-only: bindings can't be changed yet. A disabled action, such as transport inside a DAW, shows that the host owns it.

Option/Alt action shortcuts follow physical key positions when the operating system transforms the typed character. On non-QWERTY layouts, the letter shown in the shortcut label can differ from the printed key cap.