Speed, reverse and freeze frames

Change how fast a clip plays: slow motion for a big moment, fast-forward for a long walk, a clip played backwards, a frozen frame, or a speed ramp that slows down and speeds up again within one clip.

Speed up or slow down a clip

Speed is written as a multiple: 1 is normal, 2 is twice as fast, 0.5 is half speed (slow motion). You can choose from 0.1 to 10.

The same footage still plays, so the clip changes length on the timeline: an 8-second clip at 2 lasts 4 seconds, and at 0.5 it lasts 16 seconds.

In Properties › Speed

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1. 1 Speed — the tab with all the timing tools.
2. 2 Speed — drag the slider or type a number, then press Enter.
3. 3 Reverse — plays the clip backwards.
4. 4 Open in a window — the speed ramp editor in a larger window (see Speed ramps).
5. 5 Reset — back to normal speed (or removes a speed ramp).
6. 6 How many seconds of footage play in how many seconds on the timeline.

The Clip tab in Properties also has a Speed box and a Reverse tick box.

With the Speed / Duration dialog

Select a clip and press Ctrl + R, or choose Clip › Speed / Duration…. This is handy when the clip must last an exact time.

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• 1 Type a Speed (×) and the duration is worked out for you.
• 2 Or type the Duration (s) you want and the speed is worked out.
• 3 Reverse plays it backwards. Click Apply.

Right-click a clip

All the timing tools are also in the clip's right-click menu on the timeline.

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1. 1 Speed / Duration… — the dialog above.
2. 2 Speed Ramp… — the speed ramp editor in a window.
3. 3 Reverse — plays the clip backwards. On a reversed clip it says Unreverse.
4. 4 Freeze Frame at Playhead — see Freeze frames.
5. 5 Insert Freeze Segment at Playhead — see Freeze frames.
6. 6 Fit Length — see Fit a clip to a length.

Play a clip backwards

Use any of these: the Reverse tick box in Properties, right-click › Reverse, or Clip › Toggle Reverse. Do the same again to play it forwards. Things like people jumping into a pool or pouring a drink look fun in reverse.

Freeze frames

A freeze frame holds one picture still, for example to show a name or end on a dramatic moment. Freeze frames work on video clips. First put the playhead on the frame you want inside the clip.

• Freeze Frame at Playhead — the whole clip shows that one picture, for its whole length. To play it normally again, right-click › Unfreeze (play again).
• Insert Freeze Segment at Playhead › 2, 3 or 5 seconds — cuts the clip at the playhead and puts a still picture of that length in between. Everything after it on that track moves along to make room, then the clip carries on playing.

Speed ramps: change speed within a clip

A speed ramp changes the speed during the clip: fast, then slow motion for the key moment, then fast again. The same footage still plays from start to end; only its timing changes.

Select the clip and open Properties › Speed. Below the speed controls is the Speed ramp editor. Changes there apply straight away.

A clip without a ramp shows a flat line at its own speed. It becomes a ramp only when you drag or add a point, or pick a preset; changing If it grows or Motion blur on their own leaves the clip at one speed.

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1. 1 Preset — a ready-made shape to start from, such as Speed dip in the middle, Ramp up — slow to fast or Constant 0.5× (slow-mo).
2. 2 The graph — left to right is the clip from start to end; higher is faster. The brighter line is normal speed (1×). Drag a point to change the speed there. Click the graph to add a point; double-click a point to delete it.
3. 3 A summary: how many points, the curve, and how long the clip will be. It warns you when the clip would grow into the next one.

The other settings:

• Curve — how the speed changes between points. Ease In-Out gives smooth, natural ramps. Right-click a point to set the curve to the next point, or right-click the graph › Smooth Every Segment.
• If it grows — a slower ramp makes the clip longer. Keep the layout (cut off at the next clip) stops it at the next clip; Push neighbours along moves the following clips later.
• Motion blur — smears the fast parts the way a camera would, so they do not look jerky.

Prefer a bigger editor? Click Open in a window, or choose Clip › Speed Ramp… (Ctrl + Shift + R). In the window, click Apply to keep your ramp, or Remove Ramp to go back to one speed.

Fit a clip to a length

Right-click a clip › Fit Length to make it end exactly where you need:

Choice	What happens
Fit to Video (stretch)	Changes the speed so the clip ends where the video ends.
Fit to Video (loop)	Repeats the clip one after another until it reaches the end of the video.
Fit to Video (trim)	Cuts the clip shorter, or makes it longer if there is footage left. The speed stays the same.
Extend to Playhead	Makes the clip end at the playhead, at the same speed.
Stretch to Playhead	Makes the clip end at the playhead by changing its speed.
Custom…	Type a Target length and choose a Method.

"The end of the video" is the end of the last picture on the timeline, counted from where the clip starts: a clip that starts 10 seconds in, under a 60-second video, becomes 50 seconds long. The "Fit to Video" choices are greyed out for a clip that starts after the video ends. When a clip gets longer, the clips after it on the same track move along to make room.

Next steps