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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Add a marker with M
Move the playhead to the exact spot where you want the marker. Then click on an empty gray area of the timeline to deselect everything. This matters because if a clip is selected, the marker can end up on that clip instead of on the sequence. Now press M. A small marker appears on the timeline ruler at the playhead.
Step 2: Notice the problem when you cut
By default there is a catch. If you make a cut or delete part of your footage earlier on the timeline, the marker does not move with it. It stays at its original time, so it quickly points to the wrong moment in your edit.
Step 3: Turn on Ripple Sequence Markers
To fix this, go to the Markers menu at the top left of Premiere Pro and scroll down to Ripple Sequence Markers. Click it to enable it. A check mark shows that it is on. From now on, when you cut or delete clips, the markers ripple and move with the footage.
Try it out: make a cut before the marker and you will see the marker follow along.
Step 4: Change the marker length
A marker does not have to be a single point. Hold Alt (Option on a Mac) and drag the marker to the left or right using the small handles at its edges to stretch it into a range. You can also double-click the marker to open the Marker window and type a longer Duration directly, which is more precise.
Step 5: Name and color your marker
In the same Marker window, type a note in the Name field, such as "add b roll" or a reminder of what to remove. Pick a color from the Marker Color row, then click OK. Colors are great for sorting your notes, for example red for fixes and green for ideas.
Step 6: Read your markers in the timeline
The marker now shows its text on the ruler, so you can see your note as you work. Hover over it to see a tooltip with the name, the start time and the duration. This is very useful for leaving notes to yourself while editing, or for sharing a project with someone else.
Tips
- Mark your music beats. Press M while the music plays, then cut your clips on the markers.
- Jump between markers. Use Shift + M to go to the next marker and Ctrl + Shift + M to go to the previous one.
- Cut faster. Learn all the ways to split clips in how to cut video in Premiere Pro.
FAQ
What is the shortcut for markers in Premiere Pro?
Press M to add a marker at the playhead.
Why does my marker not move when I cut?
Turn on Markers > Ripple Sequence Markers. Then markers follow your edits.
How do I rename a marker?
Double-click the marker to open the Marker window, type a new name in the Name field and click OK.
Want a faster editing setup? Try the free Mako panel for Premiere Pro.
