Final Cut Pro (FCP) shortcut to reset playhead in timeline using "return".

Don’t you wish you could press return to reset the playhead in FCP? Learn how to solve this issue, and create your own custom commands.

If you or your students are frustrated using final cut pro because the return key doesn’t reset the playhead to the beginning of the timeline similar to GarageBand and Logic, you can easily create a custom key command to fix this using the video or instructions below.   

https://www.youtube.com/embed/kwH7H4GlOG4?showinfo=0&enablejsapi=1


1) Open Final Cut Pro. In the menu bar click “Final Cut Pro”.

2) “Final Cut Pro” → “Command Sets" → “Customize…” or shortcut Option+Command+K (⌥⌘K). 

Final Cut Pro menu opening to Command Sets, with cursor then leading to Customize option.
Step 2: Creating your own custom key commands in Final Cut Pro.
3) In Command Editor dialogue box, click on the drop menu in the upper/left corner.  
Final Cut Pro Command Editor Dialogue Box opened with cursor moved to the upper left corner where a drop down menu lives.
Step 3: Creating your own Custom Command Set.
4) Choose “Duplicate”. 
Final Cut Pro Command Editor Dialogue Box opened with menu in top right oped and cursor clicking on the word Duplicate.
Step 4: Duplicating the Default Command Set to begin create a Custom Command Set.

5) Rename the Command Set as desired or use the name “Custom” and press “Ok”. 

Final Cut Command Set Renaming Dialogue Box opened with the name Custom typed and cursor clicking the OK button.
Step 5: Renaming the Copy of the Default name.

6) In Command Editor dialogue box, use the search field in the upper/right corner. 

Final Cut Pro Command Editor Dialogue Box opened with cursor floating over the search bar in the top right corner.
Step 6: Using the search to help find the command "Go to Beginning".

7) Search “Go to Beginning”. The command will appear in the lower/center, indicating the Home Key on the extended keyboard to execute. 

Final Cut Pro Command Editor Dialogue Box opened with Go to Beginning command in viewer to select desired command.
Step 7: Search "Go to Beginning" to filter commands in the viewer for selection.

8) Click, Drag, and release the command “Go to Beginning” and hover it over the return key which should be grey. A green plus (+) icon will appear. 

Final Cut Pro Command Editor Dialogue Box opened with cursor dragging Go to Beginning command to the grey return key.
Step 8: Assigning the command "Go to Beginning" to the return key.

9) Press “Save” in the bottom/right corner. And close dialogue box window by clicking the red "x" or using the shortcut command+W (⌘W). This process can be used to create more custom shortcuts adding them to your new custom command set and pressing save.

1 reply

January 29, 2025

This is awesome for someone who wants it to work like Logic Pro!

If the custom mapping hasn't been setup, there is also another way to use the Home (and End) buttons that are on the full keyboard. You can Press Fn–Left Arrow (Home) to go the start of the timeline and Fn–Right Arrow (End) place the playhead at the end of the timeline.

These shortcuts actually work across all apps - so if you are in pages and press Fn–Left Arrow (Home) it will take you to the first page of the current document and pressing Fn–Right Arrow (End) will scroll to the last page of the document.

Lots of ways to get to where you want to be!

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