Today, you’ll learn how to speed ramp in DaVinci Resolve because this is the easiest tutorial you could have landed on!
Hey there, fellow editors and creators! Today, we will be diving into one of the coolest editing tricks in the book, i.e., speed ramping!
Speed ramping adds another level of excitement to your videos, it takes your editing skills up a notch. Yes, this effect is available in mobile editing apps like VN.
But these apps reduce the quality of your video A LOT! I would recommend against using mobile editing apps and moving to DaVinci Resolve if you’re serious about creating videos.
And not to forget, DaVinci Resolve’s free version has almost everything you might need. So, what are you waiting for? Download & install Resolve so that you can read ahead and learn how to speed ramp.
Table Of Contents
What’s a Speed Ramp?
Before we get started, let’s quickly break down what a speed ramp is.
Essentially, it’s a creative technique that allows you to smoothly transition from one speed to another in your footage.
It can be a slow-mo to real-time shift or a heart-pounding fast-motion moment – the choice is yours! Speed ramps are widely used in action sequences, music videos, vlogs, and even films, to add drama and impact to specific scenes.
Here are some examples of videos that have speed ramping applied to them,
Also Read: How To Make Instagram Reels on Da Vinci Resolve: Simple Tutorial
Learn how to speed ramp in DaVinci Resolve
Step#1 – Import your footage into Resolve
Open DaVinci Resolve, create a new project, and import your footage by either right-clicking in the media pool and selecting “Import Media” or by using the shortcut Ctrl+I (Cmd+I for Mac users). Find your video files, click “Open,” and there you have it – all your clips are ready.
Step#2 – Create a timeline
With your media imported, it’s time to create a new timeline.
Right-click in the media pool or timeline section and select “New Timeline.” Make sure to choose the desired resolution and frame rate that matches your footage. Don’t worry; you can always adjust these settings later if needed.
Or you can simply drag the video to the timeline.
Step#3 – Add speed points
Now comes the exciting part – adding those speed points!
Find the part of the clip you want to work on, whose speed you want to alter.
Right-click on the clip and click on ‘Retime controls’.
Now move your play head and place it around the point from where you want to start editing the speed.
Right under the video, you will see a dropdown button. Click on it and select ‘Add a speed point’. Now, move your play head to the end of the part of the clip where you want the speed ramping effect to end.
Add this endpoint, repeat the same steps of clicking on the dropdown button & adding a speed point.
Step#4 – It’s time to finally create the speed ramp!
Move the play head to the video clip whose speed you want to alter, click on the dropdown button, and select change speed. Choose any from the options mentioned.
You can adjust the speed more accurately using the speed curve. To use the speed curve, right-click on the video and select ‘Retime Curve’
Now you can see the speed curve. Click on the points, hold, and drag them up or down to increase or decrease the speed.
Looking for a smoother change? Ease them out for a more gradual effect.
Remember, there are no strict rules when it comes to speed ramps. Feel free to experiment with various speeds, ramp lengths, and curve shapes to achieve the desired impact. The more you play around, the better you’ll understand the art of speed ramping.
Also Read: How To Install LUTs In DaVinci Resolve & Create Your Own
Quick tip!
As you’re crafting your speed ramp, don’t forget about audio.
You might want to consider adding some sound effects to match the speed ramping effect.
There are plenty of free sound effects available online. You can find them on sites like Pixabay.
Conclusion
This fantastic editing technique can breathe life into your videos, turning them into engaging and dynamic visual stories.
So, go ahead and experiment fearlessly with speed ramps in your next project – there’s no better way to impress your audience and take your editing skills to new heights. Happy editing!
