Speed ramping in Premiere Pro involves dynamically changing the speed of a video clip over time, creating smooth transitions from slow to fast or vice versa. This technique, as noted by the speaker in the video "How @Motoki Uses Speed Ramping in Premiere Pro for Viral Edits," is an effect they see everywhere. The standard method to achieve this effect in Premiere Pro is by using Time Remapping with keyframes.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
Understanding Time Remapping
Time Remapping is a powerful tool in Premiere Pro that allows you to control the playback speed of a clip at specific points in time. By setting keyframes, you can define where speed changes begin and end, and how quickly the transition occurs.
Steps to Speed Ramp Using Time Remapping
Follow these steps to apply a speed ramp to your video clip:
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Prepare Your Clip:
- Place the video clip you want to speed ramp onto a sequence in your timeline.
- Ensure the clip has enough duration to accommodate both the original speed parts and the sped-up or slowed-down sections.
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Enable Time Remapping:
- Right-click on the clip in the timeline.
- Select Show Clip Keyframes > Time Remapping > Speed.
- A horizontal line will appear across the clip, representing the clip's speed (100% is the default).
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Set Speed Keyframes:
- Identify the point in the clip where you want the speed change to begin.
- Click the Add/Remove Keyframe icon (a diamond shape) on the clip's speed line at this point. A small keyframe marker will appear.
- Move the playhead to the point where you want the speed change to end (and return to normal speed, or transition to another speed).
- Click the Add/Remove Keyframe icon again to set a second keyframe.
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Split the Speed Keyframe (for Ramping):
- This is the crucial step for creating a smooth ramp rather than an instant cut in speed.
- Click directly on one of the keyframes you just created.
- A small split handle will appear next to the keyframe. Drag this split handle horizontally away from the keyframe. This splits the keyframe into two separate points, defining the beginning and end of the speed transition itself. The further apart you drag the split handles, the longer the speed transition will be.
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Adjust Speed Between Keyframes:
- Click and drag the horizontal speed line between the two split keyframes (the section with the ramp handles).
- Dragging up increases the speed (e.g., to 200%, 300%, etc.).
- Dragging down decreases the speed (e.g., to 50%, 20%, etc.).
- As you drag, the numbers next to the line will show the new speed percentage.
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Smooth the Transition (Optional but Recommended):
- By default, the speed change is linear. To make it smoother (e.g., ease in or ease out of the speed change), you can adjust the Bezier handles.
- Zoom in on the keyframes.
- Click on a split keyframe. You will see small blue circles (Bezier handles) extending from it.
- Drag these handles vertically to curve the speed graph, creating a gradual acceleration or deceleration. Dragging them horizontally affects the timing of the curve.
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Repeat for Other Sections:
- You can add more pairs of keyframes and split handles to create multiple speed ramps within the same clip.
Visualizing the Speed Ramp
When you have the Time Remapping Speed property enabled on the clip, you will see:
- A horizontal line representing speed.
- Diamond-shaped keyframes where speed changes begin or end.
- Split handles extending from keyframes, defining the duration of the speed ramp transition.
- (Optional) Bezier handles for curving the speed graph.
Practical Tips for Effective Speed Ramping
- Audio Consideration: Speed ramping also affects audio. You may need to unlink audio or add sound effects (like whooshes or impacts) to complement the visual speed changes.
- Timing is Key: Experiment with the placement of keyframes and the duration of the ramp handles to match the action in your video and achieve the desired effect.
- Combine with Effects: Speed ramps are often combined with motion blur, zoom effects, or sound design for maximum impact, common in "viral edits" as mentioned in the reference video.
By mastering Time Remapping with keyframes and adjusting the ramp handles and Bezier curves, you can create dynamic and visually engaging speed ramp effects in Adobe Premiere Pro, similar to techniques used by editors like @Motoki for popular video styles.
