Final Cut – Reversing Clips
This quick tutorial covers how easy it is to change both the direction and speed of a clip in Final Cut Express. The tutorial is aimed at anyone making the leap from iMovie to Final Cut Express.
To reverse and change the speed of a clip in Final Cut Express. Click on the clip you want to alter and then click on the ‘Modify’ Menu. Select Speed (or use the ⌘J shortcut). A window will appear giving you the option to reverse and set the speed of the clip.
Reducing the 100 makes the clip slower, increasing it makes the clip faster. Therefore if you want the clip to play at double speed set the number to 200(%).
Note this will alter both the video and audio tracks. If you want to remove the audio, click the video and click ⌘ L. This will unlink the audio and video thus allowing the audio track to be removed.
Very easy when you know how.
Is there a way to change clip speed without changing duration? For example: I have an audio clip that I want to have play faster than 100% speed in order to sync it to a video recorded at a different speed. When I tried to change the speed to make it play faster it changed the duration so that it cut the end off the clip.
In that sort of case I personally would unlink the audio and video (⌘L) then move the audio track up the timeline away from my main footage. Change the speed of the clip and drag back down to where I want to use it and manually line it up with the video ?
Sort of related to the tutorial above and how it has been targeted at iMovie users. Do you know of, or have you posted, a comparison of FCE vs iMovie?
I’m starting to play with iMovie and would be tempted to move up to FCE but need to justify the additional spend.
Stephen …