Logic has hundreds, if not thousands, of key commands designed to make using Logic easier and more efficient. The most common ones come preassigned, while many less regularly used ones are left unassigned by default. Of course, no user on the planet is going to use all the key commands. Anyone capable of remembering them all would more likely be working on nuclear computations or astrophysics rather than recording music in a DAW. So, which key commands are important enough to commit to memory? And which ones are safely ignored?

The answer, of course, is different for every user. The general rule of thumb is that if you find yourself using the same function day in and day out, it is probably worthwhile to learn the key command. The most often used functions, in my experience, are transport functions. So, those are worthwhile committing to muscle memory. 

Generally speaking, the more common functions are preassigned to key commands when you install Logic Pro. More esoteric ones are left unassigned, meant to be delved into by those who use the non-standard functions more regularly. And these will be different for different users. A film composer scoring to picture doing frame-accurate editing will have different needs than a rap producer comping together vocals from Take folders. 

The first step is to filter the display in the Key Command window by pressing the Unused button. The list will populate with functions currently unassigned. 

When you find one you want to use, select it, click either the Learn by Key Label button or Learn By Key Position button if using an extended keyboard, and enter your custom key combination. You will be prompted if the assignment is already used. 

Here, I'd like to share five originally unassigned key commands that I have assigned, improving my workflow immensely. I am not suggesting these are necessarily the most useful for you. But they do seem to me to be  “all purpose” in nature, and ones that most users will benefit from. The point is, it is worthwhile exploring the plethora of unassigned key commands and figure out which you will benefit from integrating into your workflow. Look around the key command window, and I guarantee that some of the functions will inspire workflows you might not have thought of on your own. 

Record/Record Repeat

Although available as two separate individual functions, I find the combined iteration works best for me. We all know what Record does, but Record Repeat is a useful variation. While recording, if you decide you don't like what you are playing and want to try again, the Record Repeat command will, in one step, discard your current recording and jump back to the original record position, all without stopping the transport. I have this assigned to Control + Spacebar. One fringe benefit that suits my needs is that I occasionally use an unwired Apple keyboard at my drums when recording. I use Control Spacebar in this situation to start regular recording. So, the same key command does double duty. 

Move File(s) out of project

From time to time, for various reasons, it becomes necessary to move the location of audio files used within your Logic Project. Moving them around manually in the Finder, outside of Logic, is generally a bad idea. Logic will have difficulty locating the files the next time the project is re-opened. It is best to move the files within the Project Audio window inside fo Logic. This way, Logic will know where about the updated file location. There is a helpful function under the Project Audio's AudioFile menu called Move File(s). It opens a Finder window, allowing you to choose a new location for the selected audio file. I have this function assigned to Control Shift M.

Clear Overload Flag in Audio Channel Display

This one is a mouthful to say but handy when mixing. As we all know, the channel strip level indicator lights up when exceeding digital 0 dB. Clicking on the displayed value clears the field. When gain staging a mix, this can happen regularly. A fringe benefit of this function is that it clears the field even when the values have not been clipped. So if you are monitoring your levels carefully, looking for peaks, frequent use of this function resets the field each time, allowing you to locate peaks in your track more easily. I save myself a manual mouse click each time by assigning the function to the Zero key on my qwerty keyboard. For this, I used the Learn By Key Position function to not interfere with the Zero key on my numeric keypad. The numeric keypad Zero key has been assigned to Stop since Logic 1.0. 

Bypass All Effects Plug-ins

This is a recent addition to Logic and now acts as a toggle. Logic has long needed a way to momentarily switch off all channel strip processing to compare a track's processed and unprocessed state easily. I have this assigned to Option Control Shift B. This function will simultaneously bypass all channel strip effects plug-ins and enable them the next time you invoke the same key command.

Open/Close Instrument Plug-in Window of focused Track

This is a long and descriptive name for a prevalent need. That is, clicking a plug-in slot to open a software instrument for tweaking. I have this assigned to Command Option I (for Instrument). Similar key commands are available to open and close audio effects plug-ins in the various channel strip slot positions.

So there you have it, my most commonly used custom key command assignments for unassigned functions. I have several others, but these came to mind as my most often used. Take a look around the Key Command window in Logic Pro. It is bound to inspire new ideas and workflows for editing, transport, mixing, file management, and various other commonly needed tasks.