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

# Keyboard Shortcuts

> Complete keyboard shortcut reference for Meiji Sampler, organized by tab and context.

Every action in Meiji Sampler is a keypress. This page documents the main shortcut surfaces by context.

## Vim-style navigation

All arrow key navigation supports `h`/`j`/`k`/`l` as alternatives:

| Vim key | Arrow equivalent |
| ------- | ---------------- |
| `h`     | `Left`           |
| `j`     | `Down`           |
| `k`     | `Up`             |
| `l`     | `Right`          |

These work everywhere arrow keys work: browser, pads, loops, scenes, mixer, editors, modals, and settings. Some contexts previously used `h`, `j`, `k`, or `l` for other actions — those have moved to shifted variants. See [Upgrade And Migration Notes](/release-notes/upgrade-and-migration-notes) for details.

## Global

These work broadly across the app.

| Key             | Action                                                                                                                                               |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Tab`           | Cycle focus (Create: Browser → Details → Mixer; top-level: Create → Perform → Settings when Perform is enabled, or Create → Settings when it is not) |
| `?`             | Open or close help                                                                                                                                   |
| `,`             | Open Settings tab                                                                                                                                    |
| `/` or `Ctrl+F` | Open fuzzy search                                                                                                                                    |
| `a`             | Toggle autoplay                                                                                                                                      |
| `b`             | Open bounce modal outside Trim view                                                                                                                  |
| `Ctrl+R`        | Open audio recording                                                                                                                                 |
| `Ctrl+S`        | Save project                                                                                                                                         |
| `Ctrl+Shift+S`  | Save project as                                                                                                                                      |
| `Ctrl+O`        | Open project                                                                                                                                         |
| `Ctrl+N`        | New project                                                                                                                                          |
| `Ctrl+I`        | Analyze samples / ML classification flow                                                                                                             |
| `q` or `Ctrl+C` | Quit                                                                                                                                                 |

Function keys are reserved for the terminal and operating system. Use `Tab` for tab navigation and `,` for Settings.

## Create tab

The core sampler workflow lives here.

| Key                          | Action                                                              |
| ---------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Up`/`Down` or `k`/`j`       | Move selection                                                      |
| `Enter` or `Right` or `l`    | Enter directory or confirm                                          |
| `Backspace` or `Left` or `h` | Go up to parent                                                     |
| `Space`                      | Preview selected sample or cue scene depending on context           |
| `1-9`, `0`                   | Trigger pads, control loop slots, or cue scenes depending on row    |
| `Enter`                      | Open editor, details, or source-selection flow depending on context |
| `m`                          | Mute selected channel, loop, or track depending on context          |
| `Esc`                        | Close modal, exit sub-mode, or cancel current operation             |

### Browser-focused controls

| Key                         | Action                                 |
| --------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| `Space`                     | Preview selected sample                |
| `*`                         | Toggle star                            |
| `/`                         | Search                                 |
| `Enter`                     | Open folder or confirm selection       |
| `Shift+1` through `Shift+0` | Assign selected sample to a pad        |
| `Shift+L`                   | Toggle loop mode for the selected file |

### Pads row

| Key                         | Action                                        |
| --------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| `1-9`, `0`                  | Trigger pads                                  |
| `Shift+1` through `Shift+0` | Assign selected sample to a pad               |
| `Left`/`Right` or `h`/`l`   | Change channel                                |
| `Up`/`Down` or `k`/`j`      | Change row                                    |
| `Space`                     | Stop pad audio, or stop active loop transport |
| `Enter`                     | Open channel detail or source selection       |
| `m`                         | Mute channel                                  |
| `s`                         | Solo channel                                  |
| `w`                         | Swap channels                                 |
| `c`                         | Enter chop mode                               |
| `t`                         | Open trim workflow                            |
| `Shift+J`                   | Toggle pad jump mode                          |
| `Del`                       | Reset selected channel with confirmation      |

### Channel detail

| Key            | Action                 |
| -------------- | ---------------------- |
| `Left`/`Right` | Adjust focused control |
| `Up`/`Down`    | Move between controls  |
| `1-9`, `0`     | Trigger pads           |
| `Esc`          | Close channel detail   |

### Trim view

| Key                                 | Action                                                     |
| ----------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Left` and `Right`                  | Move playhead                                              |
| `Shift+Left` and `Shift+Right`      | Fine-move playhead                                         |
| `Space`                             | Play or pause                                              |
| `p`                                 | Play from the last location where `Space` started playback |
| `r`                                 | Restart playback from beginning                            |
| `s`                                 | Set trim start at playhead                                 |
| `e`                                 | Set trim end at playhead                                   |
| `Shift+S`                           | Clear trim start                                           |
| `Shift+E`                           | Clear trim end                                             |
| `o`                                 | Toggle loop mode                                           |
| `0-9`                               | Set or play from chop marker                               |
| `Delete` or `Backspace`             | Clear active chop marker                                   |
| `+` and `-`                         | Zoom in and out                                            |
| `[` and `]`                         | Scroll waveform                                            |
| `Shift+[` and `Shift+]`             | Snap playhead to the previous or next transient point      |
| `a`                                 | Autochop the first ten transient markers to `1-9,0`        |
| `Alt+[` and `Alt+]`, or `<` and `>` | Lower or raise transient snap sensitivity                  |
| `b`                                 | Cycle transient snap band: All, Lows, Mids, Highs          |
| `{` and `}`                         | Legacy terminal fallback for transient snap seek           |
| `Enter`                             | Confirm and exit                                           |
| `Esc`                               | Cancel and exit                                            |

Higher transient snap sensitivity shows more ghost markers and accepts softer hits. Lower sensitivity keeps the snap points stricter. The snapping workflow is inspired by Cool Edit Pro's bracket-key playhead movement, while the marker sensitivity model is inspired by ReCycle-style transient slicing. See [Chopping And Slicing](/guides/chopping-and-slicing#intelligent-transient-snap) for the workflow guide.

### Chop mode

| Key          | Action                |
| ------------ | --------------------- |
| `1-9`, `0`   | Trigger chop segments |
| `g`          | Toggle gate mode      |
| `Shift+J`    | Toggle pad jump mode  |
| `c` or `Esc` | Exit chop mode        |

### Loops row

| Key                       | Action                                                                                                                                               |
| ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Left`/`Right` or `h`/`l` | Select loop slot                                                                                                                                     |
| `Up`/`Down` or `k`/`j`    | Change row                                                                                                                                           |
| `[SPACE]`                 | Start cued or armed loop transport, start the only stopped loop when exactly one recorded loop exists, or stop active loop and overdub transport     |
| `1-9`, `0`                | Select the loop slot. Empty slots arm, idle stopped slots cue, idle cued slots stop, playing slots queue `STOP+`, and `STOP+` slots stop immediately |
| `[R]`                     | Open First Loop Setup before the first loop; later, arm recording or punch into overdub                                                              |
| `Enter`                   | Open sequence editor                                                                                                                                 |
| `q`                       | Open quantize                                                                                                                                        |
| `m`                       | Mute loop                                                                                                                                            |
| `s`                       | Solo loop                                                                                                                                            |
| `d`                       | Duplicate loop                                                                                                                                       |
| `e`                       | Extend loop                                                                                                                                          |
| `Shift+H`                 | Shorten loop by half                                                                                                                                 |
| `u`                       | Undo last loop edit                                                                                                                                  |
| `Del`                     | Clear loop                                                                                                                                           |

### Sequence editor

| Key                       | Action                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| ------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Up`/`Down` or `k`/`j`    | Navigate tracks                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| `Left`/`Right` or `h`/`l` | Navigate within track                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| `m`                       | Mute or unmute the selected track; when a running loop is muted, un-mute the loop, solo the selected track, and restart that track; or in ALL TRACKS view toggle loop mute, clearing all mutes if already muted |
| `s`                       | Solo the selected track; press again to un-solo                                                                                                                                                                 |
| `Del`                     | Delete track events                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| `Esc`                     | Close editor                                                                                                                                                                                                    |

For the full mental model behind channel mute versus loop and track mute, see [Muting And Soloing](/guides/muting-and-soloing).

### Scenes row

| Key                       | Action                                                                 |
| ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Left`/`Right` or `h`/`l` | Select scene                                                           |
| `Up`/`Down` or `k`/`j`    | Change row                                                             |
| `1-9`, `0`                | Jump to and cue scene                                                  |
| `Space`                   | Start, cue, uncue, or stop the selected scene depending on scene state |
| `Enter`                   | Open scene editor                                                      |
| `c`                       | Copy scene                                                             |
| `Del`                     | Clear scene                                                            |

### Scene editor

| Key                       | Action                                     |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| `Up`/`Down` or `k`/`j`    | Navigate loop list or auto-advance row     |
| `Space` or `Enter`        | Toggle loop membership or auto-advance     |
| `1-9`, `0`                | Quick-toggle specific loops                |
| `Left`/`Right` or `h`/`l` | Switch scene or adjust auto-advance cycles |
| `Esc`                     | Close editor                               |

## Mixer

| Key                       | Action                    |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------- |
| `Left`/`Right` or `h`/`l` | Select channel            |
| `Up`/`Down` or `k`/`j`    | Adjust selected parameter |
| `Enter`                   | Open channel detail       |
| `m`                       | Mute channel              |
| `s`                       | Solo channel              |
| `w`                       | Swap channels             |

## Perform tab

| Key                                | Action                                                                                           |
| ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `[←/→]`/`[↑/↓]` or `h`/`j`/`k`/`l` | Move focus between Bank slots and the FX Library                                                 |
| `[1]` through `[9]`, `[0]`         | Trigger assigned fixed PerformFX slots, or assign the focused FX Library preset to an empty slot |
| `[ENTER]`                          | Open FX Params for the focused slot or FX Library preset                                         |
| `[DELETE]` or `[BACKSPACE]`        | Clear the focused assigned slot after confirmation                                               |
| `[B]` unshifted                    | Toggle PerformFX bank                                                                            |
| `[Q]`                              | Cycle PerformFX quantize mode                                                                    |
| `[SHIFT+A]`                        | Select A/B lane A, current PerformFX                                                             |
| `[SHIFT+B]`                        | Select A/B lane B, permissive CLAP candidate                                                     |
| `[SHIFT+N]`                        | Start a note for the last triggered A/B target                                                   |
| `[SHIFT+S]`                        | Export PerformFX A/B feedback JSON                                                               |
| `[SHIFT+K]`                        | Kill all active PerformFX effects                                                                |

### FX Params

| Key                         | Action                                                                 |
| --------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `[←/→]`                     | Move between FX, Timing, and Params columns                            |
| `[↑/↓]`                     | Select a row                                                           |
| `[1]` through `[9]`, `[0]`  | Choose the target slot                                                 |
| `[ENTER]`                   | Save, or edit the selected Params row                                  |
| `[R]`                       | Reset the current target slot settings to the selected preset defaults |
| `[DELETE]` or `[BACKSPACE]` | Clear the selected slot after confirmation                             |
| `[S]`                       | Save the current settings as a custom preset                           |
| `[ESC]`                     | Cancel when unchanged; save and close after slot edits                 |

## MIDI tab

| Key                | Action                                        |
| ------------------ | --------------------------------------------- |
| `Left` and `Right` | Switch between Mappings and Monitor sub-views |

### Mappings sub-view (Listening phase)

| Key                     | Action                  |
| ----------------------- | ----------------------- |
| `Up` and `Down`         | Navigate mapping list   |
| `Enter`                 | Edit selected mapping   |
| `Delete` or `Backspace` | Remove selected mapping |
| `Esc`                   | Leave MIDI tab          |

### Mappings sub-view (Assigning phase)

| Key                                   | Action                                                                                                                 |
| ------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Up` and `Down`                       | Navigate menu                                                                                                          |
| `Enter`                               | Drill into category or confirm action                                                                                  |
| `Esc`                                 | Go up one menu level, or return to Listening from top level (except during Keypress capture, where it assigns `[ESC]`) |
| `Ctrl+Esc` in Keypress capture        | Cancel Keypress capture and return to the action menu                                                                  |
| any supported key in Keypress capture | Assign that exact key, including case-preserved letters such as `[m]`/`[M]` and `[ESC]`                                |
| `Delete` or `Backspace`               | Remove this control's mapping, return to Listening                                                                     |
| `Shift+Delete`                        | Clear all mappings, return to Listening                                                                                |

### Monitor sub-view

| Key                    | Action                          |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| `Space`                | Pause or resume monitor display |
| `c`                    | Clear monitor history           |
| `f`                    | Cycle monitor filters           |
| `Up`/`Down` or `k`/`j` | Scroll or navigate              |

## Trim view

| Key                         | Action                                              |
| --------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| `Left`/`Right`              | Move playhead (coarse)                              |
| `h`/`l`                     | Move playhead (coarse, same as arrow keys)          |
| `Shift+H`/`Shift+L`         | Move playhead (fine)                                |
| `s`                         | Set start point                                     |
| `e`                         | Set end point                                       |
| `Shift+S`                   | Clear start point                                   |
| `Shift+E`                   | Clear end point                                     |
| `o`                         | Toggle loop mode                                    |
| `-`/`+`                     | Zoom out/in                                         |
| `Shift+[`/`Shift+]`         | Snap to previous/next transient point               |
| `a`                         | Autochop the first ten transient markers to `1-9,0` |
| `Alt+[`/`Alt+]`, or `<`/`>` | Lower/raise transient snap sensitivity              |
| `b`                         | Cycle transient snap band: All, Lows, Mids, Highs   |
| `{`/`}`                     | Legacy terminal fallback for transient snap seek    |
| `Space`                     | Toggle playback                                     |
| `Enter`                     | Accept trim                                         |
| `Esc`                       | Cancel                                              |

Transient snap lands on useful hits and refines to a clean edit point when possible. Use the band mode when a sample is dense and you want to move through only lows, mids, or highs. Use `a` after sensitivity feels right to turn the first ten visible transient candidates into playable chops.

## Audio recording

These shortcuts are available inside the audio recording flow (`Ctrl+R`).

| Key                | Phase           | Action                          |
| ------------------ | --------------- | ------------------------------- |
| `Space`            | Idle            | Arm recording                   |
| `Space`            | Armed/Recording | Stop recording and enter review |
| `Space`            | Review          | Replay the recorded take        |
| `N`                | Review          | Toggle peak normalization       |
| `U` or `Backspace` | Review          | Undo and discard the take       |
| `Enter` or `K`     | Review          | Keep and save the take          |
| `Esc`              | Any             | Discard or close                |

## Modals

| Key                       | Action            |
| ------------------------- | ----------------- |
| `Up`/`Down` or `k`/`j`    | Navigate options  |
| `Left`/`Right` or `h`/`l` | Adjust values     |
| `Enter`                   | Confirm or select |
| `Esc`                     | Cancel or close   |

### Bounce modal

| Key            | Action                                                          |
| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Up`/`Down`    | Navigate options                                                |
| `Space`        | Toggle selected option                                          |
| `Left`/`Right` | Cycle WAV bit depth (on the WAV Audio row, when WAV is enabled) |
| `Enter`        | Start bounce                                                    |
| `Esc`          | Cancel (stops an in-progress bounce)                            |

### Settings tab

The Settings tab uses a two-pane layout: sidebar (categories) and content (fields).

**Sidebar:**

| Key                       | Action                                       |
| ------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| `Up`/`Down` or `k`/`j`    | Switch category                              |
| `Enter` or `Right` or `l` | Enter content pane                           |
| `Esc`                     | Return to previous tab (saves automatically) |

**Content pane:**

| Key                       | Action                                                                   |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `Up`/`Down` or `k`/`j`    | Move between fields                                                      |
| `Left`/`Right` or `h`/`l` | Adjust value or go back from project picker                              |
| `Enter`                   | Confirm action, open picker, or activate button                          |
| `Space`                   | Tap tempo (on the Tempo field — tap rhythmically, then `Enter` to apply) |
| `Esc` or `h`              | Return to sidebar                                                        |

### Metronome

| Key       | Action                                                                            |
| --------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `[M]`     | Open the metronome controls dialog                                                |
| `[SPACE]` | Start, stop, or count in transport while the metronome controls dialog stays open |

Lowercase `m` still follows the active mixer context, such as channel or loop mute, where that binding already exists.

### First Loop Setup

This dialog appears when `[R]` starts the first loop in an empty project.

| Key                        | Action                                                                       |
| -------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `[ESC]`                    | Cancel and return to the previous view                                       |
| `[↑]`/`[↓]` or `[K]`/`[J]` | Move between setup fields                                                    |
| `[←]`/`[→]` or `[H]`/`[L]` | Adjust the selected field                                                    |
| Digits and `.`             | Type a BPM while Tempo is highlighted                                        |
| `[SPACE]`                  | Tap tempo with a click from any field, switch to Fixed mode, and focus Tempo |
| `[ENTER]`                  | Apply the selected mode and arm recording                                    |