How to Create Slow Motion Video in DaVinci Resolve

Edited 3 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Davinci Resolve is a powerful video editing software that offers a number of features for both amateur and professional video editors. One of the most striking effects you can add to your videos is slow motion. It can create dramatic tension, highlight specific moments, or simply add an artistic touch to your footage. In this guide, we will guide you through the simple steps to create a slow motion video in Davinci Resolve, even if you're just a beginner. The focus will be on providing clear and concise instructions, so you can understand each step of the process.

Step 1: Import your video

Before you start editing your video to create a slow motion effect, you'll need to import your footage into DaVinci Resolve. Follow these steps:

• Open DaVinci Resolve on your computer.
• Click the "Media" tab at the bottom of the software interface. This will take you to the media workspace where you can import media files.
• In the Media workspace, locate your video file on your computer using the built-in file navigator.
• Click and drag your video file from the file navigator to the media pool at the bottom of the media workspace.
• Once your video is in the media pool, you're ready to move on to the next step.

Step 2: Go to the editing page and create a timeline

Now that your video is imported, you'll need to create a timeline to begin editing:

• Click the "Edit" tab at the bottom of the DaVinci Resolve interface. This will take you to the editing workspace.
• In the Media Pool, locate the video file you imported earlier.
• Click and drag the video file from the Media Pool to the timeline area. This will create a new timeline with your video.
• If the “Create New Timeline” dialog box pops up, you can give your timeline a name and confirm the settings by clicking “Create.”

Step 3: Change the playback speed

Now that your video is on the timeline, you can adjust its playback speed to create a slow motion effect:

• Find your clip on the timeline. Right-click on the video clip to open the context menu.
• Select "Change Clip Speed" from the context menu. This action opens the "Change Clip Speed" dialog.
• In the "Speed" box, enter a value less than 100 percent to slow down the video. For example, entering 50% will slow the video down to half speed.
• Check the box labeled "Ripple sequence" if you want the length of the entire sequence to automatically adjust when the speed changes.
• After setting the desired speed value, click "Change" to apply the slow motion effect to the clip.

Understanding frame rate and speed

When you slow down video footage, it's important to understand how the frame rate affects the speed. The frame rate refers to the number of frames captured per second in your video.

For example, videos shot at 24 frames per second (fps) will look more cinematic, while 30 fps often looks like a video. Higher frame rates such as 60 fps, 120 fps or higher can be used for smoother slow motion effects.

• If you shot your video at a higher frame rate, you’ll have more flexibility to slow it down without it stopping.
• Slowing down a 60 fps video to 30 fps (50%) will play more smoothly than a 30 fps video slowed to the same speed.
• It is often recommended to shoot at a higher frame rate if you plan to apply significant slow motion effects during editing.

Step 4: Adjusting the video for smoothness

Once you slow down your video, you may notice some issues with smoothness or playback quality. Here are some additional adjustments you can make:

• In the editing window, click the "Inspector" panel if it's not already open. This panel provides various editing options specific to the selected clip.
• Check the settings under the "Retime and Scaling" section of the Inspector panel.
• Use the "Retime Process" and set it to "Optical Flow" to show a smooth slow motion. Optical Flow estimates the speed and creates additional transitional frames to reduce flickering.
• For best results, use "Speed Warp" if your computer can handle the increased processing. Speed Warp enhances optical flow by providing more accurate speed estimates.
• Experiment with these settings, as the correct choice may vary depending on the specific footage and desired result.

Step 5: Fine-tuning and final adjustments

After applying the slow motion effect and adjusting the smoothness, you may want to make some final adjustments to ensure the video looks polished:

• Review the entire video timeline and make sure the transition between normal speed and slow motion is seamless.
• Cut out any unnecessary parts of the video that might disrupt the flow of the content.
• Add other video effects such as color grading to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your video.
• Consider adding audio adjustments or enhancing the soundtrack to coordinate well with slow-motion scenes.
• Keep saving your project frequently so that there is no loss of work.

Final step: Exporting the slow motion video

Once you're satisfied with your slow motion video, you'll need to export it so it can be shared or uploaded:

• Click the "Deliver" tab at the bottom of the DaVinci Resolve interface to enter the export workspace.
• Select the desired render settings in the "Render Settings" panel. You can choose from presets for platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, or custom settings depending on your needs.
• Choose the file name and output location by clicking the "Browse" button. Make sure to name your file appropriately and choose a convenient location for easy access.
• Click the "Add to Render Queue" button. This action adds the job to the render queue on the right side of the interface.
• In the render queue, click the "Start Render" button to begin exporting your slow motion video.

Conclusion

Creating a slow motion video in Davinci Resolve is an engaging and gratifying process that can significantly enhance the storytelling and artistic elements of your footage. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily achieve a slow motion effect, even if you're new to video editing.

Understanding the basics of importing footage, adjusting playback speed, and ensuring seamlessness can give your videos a professional edge. Additionally, remember that practicing these techniques and experimenting with different settings can lead to even more creative results.

The wide range of tools and options offered by Davinci Resolve will allow you to hone your video editing skills and create engaging content for any platform or audience.

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