Commands and Shortcuts

Miao supports global shortcuts, command palette navigation, MIDI note keyboard input, and context menus.

Command Palette

Open with Cmd+K.

Navigation:

Shortcut	Action
ArrowDown	Move to next enabled command.
ArrowUp	Move to previous enabled command.
Home	Move to first enabled command.
End	Move to last enabled command.
Enter	Run selected command.
Escape	Close palette.

Command groups include:

• Project.
• Transport.
• Timeline.
• Chords.
• Tracks.
• Library.
• Edit.
• MIDI.
• Mix.
• Sound.

Common musical commands include:

• Add pop progression.
• Add classic progression.
• Add ii-V-I progression.
• Add blues progression.
• Build arrangement.
• Create MIDI, arpeggio, or bass from chords.
• Regenerate MIDI from chords.
• Humanize groove.
• Fit notes to scale.
• Make MIDI musical.
• Add seventh chords.

Use the command palette when you know the action name or want keyboard-first navigation.

Global Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
Cmd+K	Open command palette.
Cmd+S	Save project.
Space	Play/stop transport.
Cmd+Z	Undo last region or MIDI edit.
Shift+Cmd+Z	Redo last region or MIDI edit.
Cmd+D	Duplicate selected region, selected section, or selected MIDI notes depending on context.
Cmd+E	Split selected region.
Delete / Backspace	Delete selected region, MIDI note, or automation point depending on context.
ArrowLeft / ArrowRight	Move selected regions by 0.5 seconds, or nudge selected MIDI notes in the piano roll.
ArrowUp / ArrowDown	Transpose selected MIDI notes in the piano roll.

Shortcuts are ignored when focus is inside text inputs, selects, textareas, or normal buttons unless the shortcut is command-modified.

Computer Keyboard as Piano

When focus is not in a text field, the computer keyboard can play the sampler:

Row	Keys
Lower octave	Z S X D C V G B H N J M
Upper octave	Q 2 W 3 E R 5 T 6 Y 7 U

Release the key to release the note.

Drum Pads

Drum pads support pointer input and keyboard focus:

• Press/click to trigger.
• Space or Enter triggers a focused pad.
• Release or blur stops the pad.

Context Menus

Right-click to discover available actions. Context menus are often the fastest way to find commands for the item under the pointer.

Important context menus:

• Chord block.
• Chord lane.
• Region.
• Track.
• MIDI note.
• MIDI grid.
• Master automation lane.
• Automation point.
• Comment.
• Marker.
• Library audio.
• Timeline ruler.
• Empty timeline.

Region menus expose clip editing, loop, fade, move, undo, and redo actions.

MIDI note menus expose cleanup, transformation, musical, chord, arpeggio, and velocity actions.