How to Speed Up Video in DaVinci Resolve

Speeding up video footage in DaVinci Resolve is a powerful way to create dynamic edits, emphasize action, or fit your clip into a specific timeframe. Whether you’re working on a YouTube video, a cinematic project, or social media content, knowing how to adjust playback speed properly will save you time and give you better creative control.

1. Why Speeding Up Footage Matters

Adjusting playback speed can:

Add energy and impact to fast-paced sequences
Shorten lengthy clips without cutting key moments
Create smooth time-lapse effects
Sync video pacing with background music or voiceovers

With DaVinci Resolve’s flexible speed controls, you can speed up your video in several ways while maintaining quality.

2. How to Speed Up Video in DaVinci Resolve – Method 1 (Change Clip Speed)

Best for: Quick adjustments without complex keyframes.

Select Your Clip – In the timeline, click the clip you want to speed up.
Right-Click & Choose “Change Clip Speed” – This opens the speed control menu.
Adjust the Speed Percentage – Increase the percentage (e.g., 200% = twice as fast).
Ripple Sequence Option – Check this if you want all clips after it to shift and close gaps automatically.
Click “Change” – Your clip will now play faster.

💡 Pro Tip: Holding Shift while dragging the edge of the clip in “Trim Edit Mode” also changes speed.

3. How to Speed Up Footage – Method 2 (Retime Controls)

Best for: Creating variable speed ramps.

Right-Click Your Clip → Select Retime Controls.
You’ll see a speed percentage over your clip in the timeline.
Click the small arrow next to the percentage → choose a faster preset or “Change Speed” manually.
For speed ramping, add speed points (Ctrl+Click on the retime bar) and adjust each section individually.

4. How to Speed Up a Clip – Method 3 (Retime Curve Editor)

Best for: Smooth cinematic speed transitions.

With Retime Controls active, click the down arrow → Retime Curve.
Change the dropdown from “Retime Frame” to “Retime Speed.”
Add keyframes where you want speed changes to start/end.
Drag the curve points up to increase speed (e.g., 300% for triple speed).

This method is ideal for creating gradual speed-ups rather than abrupt jumps.

5. Maintaining Quality When Speeding Up Video

When you speed up footage, frame sampling becomes crucial:

Frame Blend – Smooths motion by blending frames (best for moderate speed changes).
Optical Flow – Generates new frames for smoother playback (can produce artifacts if overused).

You can find these under Clip Attributes → Video Frame Interpolation.

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Over-Speeding – Going beyond 800–1000% can make motion choppy and unnatural unless aiming for a time-lapse effect.
Ignoring Audio – Increasing video speed also increases audio pitch; mute and replace it if necessary.
Forgetting Ripple Edit – If unchecked, speeding up may leave unwanted gaps in your timeline.

7. Best Practices for Faster Workflow

Use keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+R for Retime Controls) to speed up editing.
For multiple clips, select them all before changing speed.
Apply speed presets if you often reuse the same speeds in projects.

Conclusion

Speeding up footage in DaVinci Resolve is straightforward once you know which tool fits your needs. Whether you’re doing a quick change with Change Clip Speed, adding cinematic ramps with Retime Curves, or fine-tuning with Retime Controls, the software gives you all the flexibility you need.

If you want to master DaVinci Resolve from beginner to pro — including advanced retiming, color grading, and editing workflows — check out our DaVinci Resolve Course for hands-on, professional training.

FAQ

How do I speed up a video in DaVinci Resolve without changing audio pitch?

Right-click your clip → “Change Clip Speed” → uncheck “Pitch Correction” to keep audio pitch natural, or mute and replace the audio.

What is the shortcut for speeding up video in DaVinci Resolve?

Use Ctrl+R (Windows) or Cmd+R (Mac) to open Retime Controls, then adjust the speed percentage.

Is there a limit to how much I can speed up a clip?

Technically no, but going beyond 1000% can cause choppy motion unless creating a time-lapse.

Which method is best for smooth speed changes?

Use the Retime Curve Editor for gradual speed ramps and cinematic transitions.

How to speed up footage and video in DaVinci Resolve