# How to speed ramp a video

> Speed ramp a video by changing a clip's speed mid-shot. Exact steps for Premiere Pro, notes for DaVinci Resolve and phone apps, and a worked timing example.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-16
- **Category**: Video editing
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-guides/how-to-speed-ramp-a-video

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A speed ramp changes a clip's speed mid-shot, so a move starts slow and snaps fast, or the reverse. In Premiere Pro (now called Adobe Premiere), right-click the clip, then use Show Clip Keyframes > Time Remapping > Speed to add speed keyframes.

## Steps in Premiere Pro

1. In the Timeline panel, right-click the clip. Choose Show Clip Keyframes > Time Remapping > Speed.
2. Drag the horizontal band up to speed the clip up, or down to slow it. A tooltip shows the percentage.
3. Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (macOS) the band to add a speed keyframe.
4. Select a keyframe and drag its Bezier handles. This smooths the change between speeds.
5. Drag a keyframe left or right to move it. Select it and press Delete to remove it.

Adobe's tip: a time-remapped clip can play back slowly, so use proxies or a lower-resolution preview. See Adobe's [time remapping page](https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere/desktop/edit-projects/change-clip-speed/change-clip-speed-and-duration-using-time-remapping.html), updated 7 Jan 2026.

## Other editors

| Tool | Speed tool | Note (checked 3 Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| DaVinci Resolve | Retime control | Lists optical flow, frame blending and nearest frame as quality options. Speed Warp is Studio only. The steps are in Blackmagic's manual |
| VN | Speed curves and ramps | Phone app, listed on its home page |
| InShot | Speed curve and slow-mo | Listed on inshot.com. InShot publishes video tutorials only |
| Splice | Speed Ramp | Phone app, listed on its features page |

Resolve 21 also added bezier easing to its retime controls, for smoother non-linear speed ramps.

## Where to ramp

- Slow down into a reveal, then snap back to normal speed.
- Speed through the dull middle of a move, such as the walk to a shelf, and slow down for the payoff.
- Line the fast point up with a beat or a sound effect. See the [best beat sync video apps](/best/best-beat-sync-video-apps).
- Use one or two ramps per ad. More than that and none stand out.

## A worked example

Say a clip is 3 seconds long. The first second plays at 100%. The last 2 seconds slow to 50%.

- First second at 100%: 1 second on the timeline
- Last 2 seconds at 50%: 2 / 0.5 = 4 seconds on the timeline
- New length: 1 + 4 = 5 seconds

The ramp added 2 seconds, so trim elsewhere or the ad grows. In the other direction, 2 seconds of footage at 200% plays in 1 second (2 / 2).

See also [how to use transitions in video ads](/guides/how-to-use-video-transitions-in-ads) and [how to edit the first three seconds](/guides/how-to-edit-a-video-ad-hook). To compare editors, see [Premiere Pro vs DaVinci Resolve](/compare/premiere-pro-vs-davinci-resolve).

## FAQ

### What is the difference between a speed ramp and slow motion?

Slow motion holds one speed for the whole clip. A speed ramp changes the speed inside the clip.

### Why does my slow motion look choppy?

Slowing a clip stretches the frames you have. Resolve lists optical flow and frame blending to fill the gaps, so test each. Footage shot at a higher frame rate also helps.

### Can I speed ramp on a phone?

VN lists speed curves and ramps, InShot lists a speed curve, and Splice lists Speed Ramp. Check the app for the exact steps.

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