How to Use the Control-L Shortcut to Play Forward in Final Cut Pro

Keyboard shortcut: ControlL

Control-L is bound to the Final Cut Pro command Play Forward, the same command as the L key. Final Cut Pro describes it as play forward, and pressing it multiple times increases the playback speed. It doesn't edit text, and it doesn't preview text changes on its own. It simply plays your project forward.

Why There's a Control Version

Normally you press L to play forward. But when your cursor is in a text field, such as a caption or a title you're typing, pressing L just types the letter L. Adding Control gives you a way to play forward from the keyboard while you're working with text, so you don't have to click out of the field first.

How to Use It

  1. Click into the text you're editing, such as a caption.
  2. Press Control-L. Your project plays forward.
  3. Press Control-L again to play faster.
  4. Stop playback, then keep typing.

When to Use It

  • Captioning: Type a line, play forward to hear what comes next, then type the next line.
  • Checking titles: After changing the wording of a title, play forward to see it in context with your footage.
  • Staying in the flow: Keep your hands on the keyboard instead of reaching for the mouse to start playback.

Tips

  • Outside a text field, the plain J, K and L keys are the classic way to play backward, stop and play forward.
  • Pressing L several times speeds playback up, which is great for skimming through long interviews to find the next line.
  • To see every command bound to Control-L, or to assign your own, open the Command Editor with Option-Command-K.

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