diff --git a/include/lmms_basics.h b/include/lmms_basics.h
index 637867b4d34..cca04e97d8f 100644
--- a/include/lmms_basics.h
+++ b/include/lmms_basics.h
@@ -141,5 +141,11 @@ typedef sample_t sampleFrameA[DEFAULT_CHANNELS] __attribute__((__aligned__(ALIGN
 #define STRINGIFY(s) STR(s)
 #define STR(PN)	#PN
 
+// Abstract away GUI CTRL key (linux/windows) vs ⌘ (apple)
+#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
+# define UI_CTRL_KEY "⌘"
+#else
+# define UI_CTRL_KEY "Ctrl"
+#endif
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/core/AutomationPattern.cpp b/src/core/AutomationPattern.cpp
index 9345ad56638..ab74c6eabe6 100644
--- a/src/core/AutomationPattern.cpp
+++ b/src/core/AutomationPattern.cpp
@@ -619,12 +619,7 @@ const QString AutomationPattern::name() const
 	{
 		return m_objects.first()->fullDisplayName();
 	}
-	return tr( "Drag a control while pressing <%1>" ).arg(
-	#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-		"⌘");
-	#else
-		"Ctrl");
-	#endif
+	return tr( "Drag a control while pressing <%1>" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/core/Track.cpp b/src/core/Track.cpp
index e115292490c..2a59334aaed 100644
--- a/src/core/Track.cpp
+++ b/src/core/Track.cpp
@@ -791,12 +791,7 @@ void TrackContentObjectView::mousePressEvent( QMouseEvent * me )
 			QString hint = m_action == Move || m_action == MoveSelection
 						? tr( "Press <%1> and drag to make a copy." )
 						: tr( "Press <%1> for free resizing." );
-			m_hint = TextFloat::displayMessage( tr( "Hint" ), hint.arg(
-								#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-								"⌘"),
-								#else
-								"Ctrl"),
-								#endif
+			m_hint = TextFloat::displayMessage( tr( "Hint" ), hint.arg(UI_CTRL_KEY),
 					embed::getIconPixmap( "hint" ), 0 );
 		}
 	}
@@ -1093,12 +1088,7 @@ void TrackContentObjectView::contextMenuEvent( QContextMenuEvent * cme )
 					tr( "Paste" ), m_tco, SLOT( paste() ) );
 	contextMenu.addSeparator();
 	contextMenu.addAction( embed::getIconPixmap( "muted" ),
-				tr( "Mute/unmute (<%1> + middle click)" ).arg(
-					#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-					"⌘"),
-					#else
-					"Ctrl"),
-					#endif
+				tr( "Mute/unmute (<%1> + middle click)" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY),
 						m_tco, SLOT( toggleMute() ) );
 	constructContextMenu( &contextMenu );
 
@@ -1734,12 +1724,7 @@ TrackOperationsWidget::TrackOperationsWidget( TrackView * parent ) :
 	m_trackView( parent )          /*!< The parent track view */
 {
 	ToolTip::add( this, tr( "Press <%1> while clicking on move-grip "
-				"to begin a new drag'n'drop action." ).arg(
-					#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-					"⌘") );
-					#else
-					"Ctrl") );
-					#endif
+				"to begin a new drag'n'drop action." ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY) );
 
 	QMenu * toMenu = new QMenu( this );
 	toMenu->setFont( pointSize<9>( toMenu->font() ) );
diff --git a/src/gui/TimeLineWidget.cpp b/src/gui/TimeLineWidget.cpp
index ccf32add12a..5c91cfcf8e1 100644
--- a/src/gui/TimeLineWidget.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/TimeLineWidget.cpp
@@ -337,24 +337,14 @@ void TimeLineWidget::mousePressEvent( QMouseEvent* event )
 	{
 		delete m_hint;
 		m_hint = TextFloat::displayMessage( tr( "Hint" ),
-					tr( "Press <%1> to disable magnetic loop points." ).arg(
-						#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-						"⌘"),
-						#else
-						"Ctrl"),
-						#endif
+					tr( "Press <%1> to disable magnetic loop points." ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY),
 					embed::getIconPixmap( "hint" ), 0 );
 	}
 	else if( m_action == MoveLoopEnd )
 	{
 		delete m_hint;
 		m_hint = TextFloat::displayMessage( tr( "Hint" ),
-					tr( "Hold <Shift> to move the begin loop point; Press <%1> to disable magnetic loop points." ).arg(
-						#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-						"⌘"),
-						#else
-						"Ctrl"),
-						#endif
+					tr( "Hold <Shift> to move the begin loop point; Press <%1> to disable magnetic loop points." ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY),
 					embed::getIconPixmap( "hint" ), 0 );
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/gui/editors/AutomationEditor.cpp b/src/gui/editors/AutomationEditor.cpp
index 890bb234696..e00c107d1dc 100644
--- a/src/gui/editors/AutomationEditor.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/editors/AutomationEditor.cpp
@@ -2294,26 +2294,11 @@ AutomationEditorWindow::AutomationEditorWindow() :
 	/*DropToolBar *copyPasteActionsToolBar = addDropToolBarToTop(tr("Copy paste actions"));*/
 
 	QAction* cutAction = new QAction(embed::getIconPixmap("edit_cut"),
-					tr("Cut selected values (%1+X)").arg(
-						#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-						"⌘"), this);
-						#else
-						"Ctrl"), this);
-						#endif
+					tr("Cut selected values (%1+X)").arg(UI_CTRL_KEY), this);
 	QAction* copyAction = new QAction(embed::getIconPixmap("edit_copy"),
-					tr("Copy selected values (%1+C)").arg(
-						#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-						"⌘"), this);
-						#else
-						"Ctrl"), this);
-						#endif
+					tr("Copy selected values (%1+C)").arg(UI_CTRL_KEY), this);
 	QAction* pasteAction = new QAction(embed::getIconPixmap("edit_paste"),
-					tr("Paste values from clipboard (%1+V)").arg(
-						#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-						"⌘"), this);
-						#else
-						"Ctrl"), this);
-						#endif
+					tr("Paste values from clipboard (%1+V)").arg(UI_CTRL_KEY), this);
 
 	cutAction->setShortcut(Qt::CTRL | Qt::Key_X);
 	copyAction->setShortcut(Qt::CTRL | Qt::Key_C);
diff --git a/src/gui/editors/PianoRoll.cpp b/src/gui/editors/PianoRoll.cpp
index 1060574c9a6..1ec23724c8d 100644
--- a/src/gui/editors/PianoRoll.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/editors/PianoRoll.cpp
@@ -4090,28 +4090,13 @@ PianoRollWindow::PianoRollWindow() :
 	DropToolBar *copyPasteActionsToolBar =  addDropToolBarToTop( tr( "Copy paste controls" ) );
 
 	QAction* cutAction = new QAction(embed::getIconPixmap( "edit_cut" ),
-							  tr( "Cut (%1+X)" ).arg(
-									#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-									"⌘" ), this );
-									#else
-									"Ctrl" ), this );
-									#endif
+								tr( "Cut (%1+X)" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY), this );
 
 	QAction* copyAction = new QAction(embed::getIconPixmap( "edit_copy" ),
-							   tr( "Copy (%1+C)" ).arg(
-	 								#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-	 								"⌘"), this);
-	 								#else
-									"Ctrl" ), this );
-	 								#endif
+								 tr( "Copy (%1+C)" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY), this );
 
 	QAction* pasteAction = new QAction(embed::getIconPixmap( "edit_paste" ),
-					tr( "Paste (%1+V)" ).arg(
-						#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-						"⌘" ), this );
-						#else
-						"Ctrl" ), this );
-						#endif
+					tr( "Paste (%1+V)" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY), this );
 
 	cutAction->setShortcut( Qt::CTRL | Qt::Key_X );
 	copyAction->setShortcut( Qt::CTRL | Qt::Key_C );
diff --git a/src/gui/widgets/ProjectNotes.cpp b/src/gui/widgets/ProjectNotes.cpp
index d8d6636c490..7fc35b446a6 100644
--- a/src/gui/widgets/ProjectNotes.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/widgets/ProjectNotes.cpp
@@ -115,56 +115,31 @@ void ProjectNotes::setupActions()
 
 	a = new QAction( embed::getIconPixmap( "edit_undo" ), tr( "&Undo" ),
 									this );
-	a->setShortcut( tr( "%1+Z" ).arg(
-		#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-		"⌘") );
-		#else
-		"Ctrl") );
-		#endif
+	a->setShortcut( tr( "%1+Z" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY) );
 	connect( a, SIGNAL( triggered() ), m_edit, SLOT( undo() ) );
 	tb->addAction( a );
 
 	a = new QAction( embed::getIconPixmap( "edit_redo" ), tr( "&Redo" ),
 									this );
-	a->setShortcut( tr( "%1+Y" ).arg(
-		#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-		"⌘") );
-		#else
-		"Ctrl") );
-		#endif
+	a->setShortcut( tr( "%1+Y" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY) );
 	connect( a, SIGNAL( triggered() ), m_edit, SLOT( redo() ) );
 	tb->addAction( a );
 
 	a = new QAction( embed::getIconPixmap( "edit_copy" ), tr( "&Copy" ),
 									this );
-	a->setShortcut( tr( "%1+C" ).arg(
-		#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-		"⌘") );
-		#else
-		"Ctrl") );
-		#endif
+	a->setShortcut( tr( "%1+C" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY) );
 	connect( a, SIGNAL( triggered() ), m_edit, SLOT( copy() ) );
 	tb->addAction( a );
 
 	a = new QAction( embed::getIconPixmap( "edit_cut" ), tr( "Cu&t" ),
 									this );
-	a->setShortcut( tr( "%1+X" ).arg(
-		#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-		"⌘") );
-		#else
-		"Ctrl") );
-		#endif
+	a->setShortcut( tr( "%1+X" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY) );
 	connect( a, SIGNAL( triggered() ), m_edit, SLOT( cut() ) );
 	tb->addAction( a );
 
 	a = new QAction( embed::getIconPixmap( "edit_paste" ), tr( "&Paste" ),
 									this );
-	a->setShortcut( tr( "%1+V" ).arg(
-		#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-		"⌘") );
-		#else
-		"Ctrl") );
-		#endif
+	a->setShortcut( tr( "%1+V" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY) );
 	connect( a, SIGNAL( triggered() ), m_edit, SLOT( paste() ) );
 	tb->addAction( a );
 
@@ -194,24 +169,14 @@ void ProjectNotes::setupActions()
 
 	m_actionTextBold = new QAction( embed::getIconPixmap( "text_bold" ),
 							tr( "&Bold" ), this );
-	m_actionTextBold->setShortcut( tr( "%1+B" ).arg(
-		#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-		"⌘") );
-		#else
-		"Ctrl") );
-		#endif
+	m_actionTextBold->setShortcut( tr( "%1+B" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY) );
 	m_actionTextBold->setCheckable( true );
 	connect( m_actionTextBold, SIGNAL( triggered() ), this,
 							SLOT( textBold() ) );
 
 	m_actionTextItalic = new QAction( embed::getIconPixmap( "text_italic" ),
 							tr( "&Italic" ), this );
-	m_actionTextItalic->setShortcut( tr( "%1+I" ).arg(
-		#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-		"⌘") );
-		#else
-		"Ctrl") );
-		#endif
+	m_actionTextItalic->setShortcut( tr( "%1+I" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY) );
 	m_actionTextItalic->setCheckable( true );
 	connect( m_actionTextItalic, SIGNAL( triggered() ), this,
 							SLOT( textItalic() ) );
@@ -219,12 +184,7 @@ void ProjectNotes::setupActions()
 	m_actionTextUnderline = new QAction( embed::getIconPixmap(
 								"text_under" ),
 						tr( "&Underline" ), this );
-	m_actionTextUnderline->setShortcut( tr( "%1+U" ).arg(
-		#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-		"⌘") );
-		#else
-		"Ctrl") );
-		#endif
+	m_actionTextUnderline->setShortcut( tr( "%1+U" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY) );
 	m_actionTextUnderline->setCheckable( true );
 	connect( m_actionTextUnderline, SIGNAL( triggered() ), this,
 						SLOT( textUnderline() ) );
@@ -236,12 +196,7 @@ void ProjectNotes::setupActions()
 
 	m_actionAlignLeft = new QAction( embed::getIconPixmap( "text_left" ),
 						tr( "&Left" ), m_edit );
-	m_actionAlignLeft->setShortcut( tr( "%1+L" ).arg(
-		#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-		"⌘") );
-		#else
-		"Ctrl") );
-		#endif
+	m_actionAlignLeft->setShortcut( tr( "%1+L" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY) );
 	m_actionAlignLeft->setCheckable( true );
 	grp->addAction( m_actionAlignLeft );
 
@@ -249,36 +204,21 @@ void ProjectNotes::setupActions()
 								"text_center" ),
 						tr( "C&enter" ), m_edit );
 	m_actionAlignCenter->setShortcutContext( Qt::WidgetShortcut );
-	m_actionAlignCenter->setShortcut( tr( "%1+E" ).arg(
-		#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-		"⌘") );
-		#else
-		"Ctrl") );
-		#endif
+	m_actionAlignCenter->setShortcut( tr( "%1+E" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY) );
 	m_actionAlignCenter->setCheckable( true );
 	grp->addAction( m_actionAlignCenter );
 
 	m_actionAlignRight = new QAction( embed::getIconPixmap( "text_right" ),
 						tr( "&Right" ), m_edit );
 	m_actionAlignRight->setShortcutContext( Qt::WidgetShortcut );
-	m_actionAlignRight->setShortcut( tr( "%1+R" ).arg(
-		#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-		"⌘") );
-		#else
-		"Ctrl") );
-		#endif
+	m_actionAlignRight->setShortcut( tr( "%1+R" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY) );
 	m_actionAlignRight->setCheckable( true );
 	grp->addAction( m_actionAlignRight );
 
 	m_actionAlignJustify = new QAction( embed::getIconPixmap(
 								"text_block" ),
 						tr( "&Justify" ), m_edit );
-	m_actionAlignJustify->setShortcut( tr( "%1+J" ).arg(
-		#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-		"⌘") );
-		#else
-		"Ctrl") );
-		#endif
+	m_actionAlignJustify->setShortcut( tr( "%1+J" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY) );
 	m_actionAlignJustify->setCheckable( true );
 	grp->addAction( m_actionAlignJustify );
 
diff --git a/src/tracks/SampleTrack.cpp b/src/tracks/SampleTrack.cpp
index 3315ccb55c4..bd70a3a084c 100644
--- a/src/tracks/SampleTrack.cpp
+++ b/src/tracks/SampleTrack.cpp
@@ -338,12 +338,7 @@ void SampleTCOView::contextMenuEvent( QContextMenuEvent * _cme )
 					tr( "Paste" ), m_tco, SLOT( paste() ) );
 	contextMenu.addSeparator();
 	contextMenu.addAction( embed::getIconPixmap( "muted" ),
-				tr( "Mute/unmute (<%1> + middle click)" ).arg(
-					#ifdef LMMS_BUILD_APPLE
-					"⌘"),
-					#else
-					"Ctrl"),
-					#endif
+				tr( "Mute/unmute (<%1> + middle click)" ).arg(UI_CTRL_KEY),
 						m_tco, SLOT( toggleMute() ) );
 	/*contextMenu.addAction( embed::getIconPixmap( "record" ),
 				tr( "Set/clear record" ),