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last_reviewed: 2026-05-18
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# Controls Reference

This page covers the current keyboard controls for Hypnograph Studio. Most commands
are also available from the macOS menu bar.

Single-key controls apply only when the main Hypnograph window is active and text
input is not focused. Direct keyboard controls, such as Space, `S`, Tab, backtick,
and hold behaviors for `1-9`, require the **Override Global Keyboard Controls**
setting.

## App And File

| Command                | Shortcut             | Notes                                      |
| ---------------------- | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| New                    | `Cmd+N`              | Starts fresh                               |
| New Composition        | `Cmd+Shift+N`        | Adds a new composition                     |
| Open                   | `Cmd+O`              | Opens an existing Hypnograph file          |
| Save                   | `Cmd+S`              | Saves the current file                     |
| Save As                | `Cmd+Shift+S`        | Saves a copy                               |
| Save Composition       | `Cmd+Option+S`       | Saves the current composition              |
| Save Composition As    | `Cmd+Option+Shift+S` | Saves the current composition as a copy    |
| Save & Render          | `Ctrl+Cmd+S`         | Saves and renders the current composition  |
| Save & Render Sequence | `Ctrl+Cmd+Shift+S`   | Saves and renders the current sequence     |
| Open Effects Composer  | `Cmd+Option+K`       | Available when Effects Composer is enabled |

## Panels And Views

| Command          | Shortcut   | Notes                                     |
| ---------------- | ---------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| Properties       | `Option+1` | Toggles the Properties panel              |
| New Compositions | `Option+2` | Toggles the New Compositions panel        |
| Effect Chains    | `Option+3` | Toggles the Effect Chains panel           |
| Hypnograms       | `Option+4` | Toggles the Hypnograms panel              |
| Hide Panels      | `Tab`      | Hides or restores Studio panels           |
| Show Full Clips  | `F`        | Toggles full clip display in the timeline |

## Live Display

| Command              | Shortcut      | Notes                                             |
| -------------------- | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| Live Preview         | `W`           | Toggles the Live Preview panel                    |
| Live Mode            | `Cmd+L`       | Toggles Live Mode                                 |
| External Monitor     | `Cmd+Shift+L` | Toggles the external live display                 |
| Send to Live Display | `Cmd+Return`  | Sends the current composition to the live display |
| Reset Live Display   | `Cmd+Shift+R` | Resets the live display                           |

## Playback

| Command              | Shortcut      | Notes                                     |
| -------------------- | ------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| Play/Pause           | `Space`       | Direct keyboard control                   |
| Next Composition     | `Right Arrow` | Moves to the next composition             |
| Previous Composition | `Left Arrow`  | Moves to the previous composition         |
| Loop Composition     | `L`           | Loops the current composition             |
| Loop Sequence        | `Shift+L`     | Loops the sequence                        |
| Generate at End      | `G`           | Toggles generation at the end of playback |
| Save Snapshot Image  | `S`           | Direct keyboard control                   |

## Composition

| Command                     | Shortcut     | Notes                                               |
| --------------------------- | ------------ | --------------------------------------------------- |
| Favorite                    | `Cmd+F`      | Favorites the current composition                   |
| Delete                      | `Cmd+Delete` | Deletes the current composition                     |
| Next Composition Effect     | `E`          | Advances the composition effect chain               |
| Previous Composition Effect | `Shift+E`    | Moves backward through the composition effect chain |
| Clear Composition Effect    | `C`          | Clears the composition effect                       |
| Suspend Composition Effects | Hold `` ` `` | Direct keyboard control while the key is held       |

## Layers And Sources

| Command                  | Shortcut             | Notes                                                  |
| ------------------------ | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| Add Random Source        | `Shift+N`            | Adds a random source                                   |
| Cycle Blend Mode         | `M`                  | Cycles the selected layer blend mode                   |
| Delete Layer             | `Delete`             | Removes the selected layer                             |
| Clear Layer Effect       | `Shift+C`            | Clears the selected layer effect                       |
| Next Layer Effect        | `Cmd+E`              | Advances the selected layer effect chain               |
| Previous Layer Effect    | `Cmd+Shift+E`        | Moves backward through the selected layer effect chain |
| New Random Source        | `.`                  | Replaces the selected source with a random source      |
| Favorite Source          | `Shift+F`            | Favorites the selected source                          |
| Exclude Source           | `Shift+X`            | Excludes the selected source                           |
| Next Source Or Layer     | `Option+Right Arrow` | Selects the next source/layer                          |
| Previous Source Or Layer | `Option+Left Arrow`  | Selects the previous source/layer                      |
| Select Layer 1-9         | `1-9`                | Selects the corresponding layer                        |

## Direct Hold Controls

These controls are handled directly by Hypnograph rather than by the standard macOS
menu shortcut system.

| Key                  | Behavior                            | Notes                                                  |
| -------------------- | ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| `1-9`                | Select and hold-to-solo a layer     | Suspends composition effects while the layer is soloed |
| `1-9` double-tap     | Latch solo mode                     | Any later `1-9` press clears the latch                 |
| `` ` ``              | Hold to suspend composition effects | Restores composition effects when released             |
| `Tab` or `Shift+Tab` | Hide or restore panels              | Direct keyboard override for panel visibility          |

*Source of truth: `Hypnograph/App/AppCommands.swift`,
`Hypnograph/App/Studio/Menus.swift`, and
`Hypnograph/App/HypnographAppDelegate.swift`.*