It uses only what the product already provides; reference material lives in docs_keyboard/README_KEYBOARD_SHORTCUTS (full reference), MIDI_HID_CONTROLLER_GUIDE (the same actions from hardware) and VISUALIZERS_GUIDE (what masks and styles actually change on screen).

Chapter 1: The Example Set

Figure 1: keyboard only on the booth — no controller needed.

Nothing here needs a controller, a second screen, or NDI/Spout. If you later add a MIDI/HID controller, the same actions apply: every shortcut action (playlistStep, maskStep, style, artist) can be mapped to a button, fader or pad — see the MIDI & HID guide.

Goals for a room this size

1. The audience must never see the application chrome: go fullscreen before the doors open.
2. One hand stays free (drinks, microphone, mixer): every action is a single Ctrl combination.
3. Transitions look intentional: change style + mask + video as a deliberate chain, not random key mashing.
4. The artist card never stays hidden by accident: know the visibility timer reset by heart.

Chapter 2: Concepts In Two Minutes

• Application-wide, Ctrl-only. All 14 shortcuts use the Ctrl modifier (never Alt, Meta or ⌘ on macOS) and work anywhere in the app — no need to click a panel first. They are case-insensitive (Ctrl+W = Ctrl+w). Implemented as Qt Shortcut with Qt.ApplicationShortcut context.
• Focus is required. The DjMirror Pulse window must have OS focus (click it once). If a shortcut does nothing, focus was stolen by another app — not a bug in the shortcut.
• Two windows. Ctrl+W drives the main window; Ctrl+S drives the separate (second-screen) window. Ctrl+F toggles the main window's frame, but only in windowed mode (fullscreen is always frameless).
• Wrap-around lists. Styles and masks cycle and wrap: past the last style comes the first one again. There is no "style 0" to get stuck on.
• Artist timer. Ctrl+Right / Ctrl+Left step through the artist list and reset the artist card + marquee visibility timer. Ctrl+R resets the timer without changing artist — the "bring the card back" key.
• Video playlist. Ctrl+Up / Ctrl+Down step through the background video playlist (previous / next). They control the background video view only.
• Fixed set. Shortcuts are currently hardcoded — there is no remapping UI. To get the same actions on hardware buttons, map them in Settings → MIDI/HID/OSC Controller instead.

Chapter 3: Step By Step

Step 1 – Go fullscreen before anyone looks at the screen

Press Ctrl+W once. The window chrome disappears and the visuals fill the projector.

• Pressing Ctrl+W again returns to windowed mode: the window is resized to half its current dimensions and centered — handy for reaching Settings between sets without dragging corners.
• Second screen? Ctrl+S toggles the separate window fullscreen/windowed (windowed = 80 % of that screen, centered). Ctrl+F hides/shows the main window frame — windowed mode only. Ctrl+I toggles the FPS indicator: useful during setup to confirm rendering headroom, hide it before doors.
• Do this before the doors open. The audience should never see panels, cursors or window borders.
• On laptops where F1–F4 are media/brightness keys, check the Fn-lock now (hold Fn if needed) — you will need Ctrl+F1…Ctrl+F4 later and you do not want to discover the Fn key mid-drop.

Step 2 – Put the right artist on screen

Rehearse this chain: Ctrl+Right three times (watch the card change), wait for the card to auto-hide, then Ctrl+R (card comes back). That is the exact move you will use when the host grabs the microphone.

Step 3 – Learn the two visual axes: masks and styles

Masks are shape overlays on the output; styles are saved visual themes (colors, layers, behavior).

Practice the transition double-hit: Ctrl+F4 then Ctrl+F2 (next style + next mask). Fired together on a phrase change, it reads as one deliberate visual cut. Reverse it (Ctrl+F3 + Ctrl+F1) to step back if you overshoot — both lists wrap, so you can always come around again.

Step 4 – Drive the background video without the mouse

These control the background video view only. Step through the whole playlist once during soundcheck so there are no surprises (vertical phone clips, black intros) during the set.

Step 5 – Know the two exit keys and when NOT to press them

If your laptop keyboard puts W and Q next to each other (most do), train yourself: fullscreen = Ctrl+W with the left hand only before the set; nothing near Q while dancing.

Chapter 4: Putting It Together: What Your Hands Should Do

Chapter 5: Test It Before The Event (2 Minutes, No Audience Needed)

1. Click the DjMirror Pulse window once (focus), press Ctrl+W — confirm fullscreen with no chrome.
2. Ctrl+Right, Ctrl+Left — confirm the artist card changes and the timer resets (card reappears).
3. Let the card auto-hide, press Ctrl+R — confirm it comes back without changing artist.
4. Ctrl+F2, Ctrl+F1, Ctrl+F4, Ctrl+F3 — confirm masks and styles cycle and wrap at both ends.
5. Ctrl+Up, Ctrl+Down — confirm the background video steps through the playlist.
6. If any of Ctrl+F1–F4 adjusts brightness/volume instead: hold Fn or flip Fn-lock, repeat step 4.
7. On macOS: open System Settings → Keyboard → Shortcuts, confirm no OS entry steals your combos.

Print the reference card (§8) and tape it to the laptop lid — under stage lighting you will not read a PDF.

Chapter 6: Doing It From Hardware Later (Same Actions, No Re-Learning)

Every shortcut action exists as a mappable controller action for when you buy a controller:

Keyboard and controller can be used simultaneously: keep Ctrl+R and Ctrl+W on the keyboard even after mapping everything else to pads. See MIDI_HID_CONTROLLER_GUIDE.md §9 for a worked DDJ example.

Chapter 7: Troubleshooting

Chapter 8: Quick Recipe Card (Print Me)

• Before doors: Ctrl+W → fullscreen (Ctrl+S for the second screen). Check Fn-lock for F1–F4. Ctrl+I to check FPS, then hide it.
• Artist: Ctrl+Right / Ctrl+Left to pick · Ctrl+R to bring the card back.
• Look: Ctrl+F3 / Ctrl+F4 styles · Ctrl+F1 / Ctrl+F2 masks · chain style+mask for transitions.
• Video: Ctrl+Up / Ctrl+Down through the background playlist.
• After: Ctrl+W to windowed · Ctrl+Q to quit (no confirmation — careful!).
• If dead: click the window (focus) → retry → check Fn / macOS conflicts.
• All Ctrl, case-insensitive, application-wide. Fixed set in 6.9 — hardware mapping is the customization path.