Keyboard Shortcuts

Feedtracks provides keyboard shortcuts to help you work faster and more efficiently. These shortcuts control audio playback, navigation, and common actions without needing to reach for your mouse.

Audio Playback Shortcuts

Play/Pause

Shortcut: Space

Toggles playback of the current track:

• Press once to play
• Press again to pause
• Works when the audio player is active

This is the most commonly used shortcut for quick playback control.

Forward 10 Seconds

Shortcut: Shift + → (Shift + Right Arrow)

Skips forward 10 seconds in the current track:

• Useful for quickly moving through long tracks
• Can be pressed multiple times to skip further
• Playback state (playing/paused) is maintained

Rewind 10 Seconds

Shortcut: Shift + ← (Shift + Left Arrow)

Jumps backward 10 seconds in the current track:

• Useful for re-listening to specific sections
• Can be pressed multiple times to go back further
• Playback state (playing/paused) is maintained

Rewind to Start

Shortcut: Shift + Alt + ← (Shift + Alt + Left Arrow)

Jumps immediately to the beginning of the track (0:00):

• Resets playback position to the start
• Playback state is maintained (if playing, continues playing from start)
• Useful for quickly starting over

Track Navigation Shortcuts

Next Track

Shortcut: Ctrl + → (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + → (macOS)

Skips to the next track in the current context:

• In a playlist: moves to the next track in the playlist
• In a folder view: moves to the next track in the folder
• Playback automatically starts for the new track

Previous Track

Shortcut: Ctrl + ← (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + ← (macOS)

Returns to the previous track in the current context:

• In a playlist: moves to the previous track in the playlist
• In a folder view: moves to the previous track in the folder
• Playback automatically starts for the new track

Comment Shortcuts

Open Comment Form

Shortcut: Shift + C

Opens the comment form for the current track:

• Places cursor in the comment text field
• Ready for you to type your comment
• Press Esc to close without commenting
• Press Enter (or Ctrl/Cmd + Enter depending on form) to submit

This shortcut is useful when you hear something that needs a comment and want to capture it quickly.

Shortcut Availability

When Shortcuts Work

Keyboard shortcuts are active when:

• ✅ The audio player is loaded and active
• ✅ You’re viewing a track, playlist, or folder
• ✅ Your cursor is not in a text input field

When Shortcuts Don’t Work

Shortcuts are disabled when:

• ❌ Your cursor is in an input field (typing text)
• ❌ Your cursor is in a textarea (writing comments)
• ❌ Your cursor is in a contentEditable element
• ❌ The audio player is not active or loaded

This prevents shortcuts from interfering with normal typing.

Example Scenarios

✅ Shortcuts work:

• You’re viewing a track page and press Space → Playback toggles
• You’re browsing a playlist and press Ctrl + → → Next track plays
• You’re listening and press Shift + C → Comment form opens

❌ Shortcuts don’t work:

• You’re typing in the search bar and press Space → Adds a space to your search
• You’re writing a comment and press Shift + C → Types the letter “C”
• You’re editing track metadata in an input field → Shortcuts are disabled

Keyboard Shortcut Reference Table

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS	Description
Play/Pause	Space	Space	Toggle playback
Forward 10s	Shift + →	Shift + →	Skip forward 10 seconds
Rewind 10s	Shift + ←	Shift + ←	Skip backward 10 seconds
Rewind to start	Shift + Alt + ←	Shift + Alt + ←	Jump to beginning of track
Next track	Ctrl + →	Cmd + →	Play next track in context
Previous track	Ctrl + ←	Cmd + ←	Play previous track in context
Open comment	Shift + C	Shift + C	Open comment form

Tips for Using Shortcuts

1. Keep Audio Player Active

To use playback shortcuts:

• Ensure a track is loaded in the player
• Click play at least once to activate the player
• Shortcuts won’t work until the player is initialized

2. Learn the Most Common Shortcuts First

Start with the essentials:

1. Space for play/pause (most important)
2. Shift + →/← for skipping around (very useful for reviews)
3. Shift + C for quick comments (great for feedback workflows)

Master these three before worrying about the rest.

3. Use Shift + C for Timestamped Comments

When you hear something that needs feedback:

1. Press Space to pause at the exact moment
2. Press Shift + C to open the comment form
3. Type your feedback
4. The comment is automatically timestamped to the current playback position

This creates precise, actionable feedback.

4. Use Arrow Keys for Fine Control

For detailed listening:

• Press Shift + ← to rewind 10 seconds
• Press Space to play
• Listen to the section
• Press Shift + ← again if you need to hear it once more

This is perfect for critical listening sessions.

5. Combine with Mouse for Speed

Use shortcuts for playback control and your mouse for:

• Clicking on the waveform to jump to specific points
• Selecting tracks
• Opening folders

Combining keyboard and mouse is faster than using one exclusively.

6. Disable Browser Shortcuts if Conflicts Occur

Some browsers have their own shortcuts that might conflict:

• Space might scroll the page in some browsers
• Ctrl/Cmd + → might navigate browser tabs

If you experience conflicts:

• Try clicking on the waveform area first to focus the player
• Use Feedtracks in fullscreen or focused mode
• Check your browser extension shortcuts for conflicts

Customizing Shortcuts (Future Feature)

Currently, keyboard shortcuts are fixed and cannot be customized. However, future versions of Feedtracks may include:

• Custom shortcut assignment
• Additional shortcuts for common actions
• Shortcut profiles for different workflows

If you’d like to request specific shortcuts, contact support with your suggestions.

Accessibility Considerations

Keyboard Navigation for Accessibility

Keyboard shortcuts improve accessibility for users who:

• Prefer keyboard navigation over mouse use
• Use assistive technologies
• Have motor control limitations

Additional Accessibility Features

For full keyboard navigation beyond shortcuts:

• Use Tab to navigate between interactive elements
• Use Enter to activate buttons and links
• Use Esc to close modals and dialogs
• Use arrow keys to navigate dropdown menus

These standard navigation keys work throughout Feedtracks.

Troubleshooting

Shortcuts aren’t working

Possible causes:

• The audio player isn’t active (no track loaded)
• Your cursor is in an input field
• Browser focus is on a different element
• JavaScript is disabled or errored

Solution:

• Click on the waveform or player area to focus it
• Click outside input fields before using shortcuts
• Refresh the page if shortcuts suddenly stop working
• Check the browser console for JavaScript errors

Space bar scrolls the page instead of pausing

Cause: The browser interprets Space as “scroll down” when the page has focus instead of the player.

Solution:

• Click on the waveform or player controls first
• This focuses the player and allows Space to control playback
• Alternatively, use the on-screen play/pause button

Ctrl/Cmd + Arrow keys aren’t working

Possible causes:

• Browser shortcuts taking precedence
• Operating system shortcuts interfering
• Not in a playlist or folder context (no next/previous track to navigate to)

Solution:

• Try focusing the player area first
• Check if you’re in a context where next/previous makes sense
• Disable conflicting browser extensions

Shift + C types “C” instead of opening comment form

Cause: Your cursor is in a text input field, so shortcuts are disabled.

Solution:

• Click outside the input field first
• Then press Shift + C to open the comment form

Shortcuts work inconsistently

Possible causes:

• Browser tab is backgrounded (inactive)
• Focus is switching between elements
• Network latency affecting player state

Solution:

• Keep the Feedtracks tab active and focused
• Click on the player area before using shortcuts
• Refresh if the issue persists

Best Practices

1. Memorize the Core Trio

Focus on memorizing:

• Space = Play/Pause
• Shift + →/← = Skip 10s forward/backward
• Shift + C = Comment

These three cover 90% of common workflows.

2. Use Shortcuts During Reviews

When reviewing tracks for clients:

1. Play the track
2. When you hear something to comment on, press Space to pause
3. Press Shift + C to open the comment form
4. Type your feedback
5. Press Space to continue playing

This creates a smooth, efficient review workflow.

3. Practice Makes Perfect

Like any skill:

• Use shortcuts consciously at first
• Over time, they become muscle memory
• You’ll navigate faster without thinking about it

4. Share Shortcuts with Collaborators

If you’re working with a team:

• Include a shortcut reference in your onboarding docs
• Demonstrate shortcuts in training sessions
• Encourage team members to use them for efficiency

Related Articles

• Adding Comments and Feedback
• Uploading Your First Track
• Global Search