Reverse video or apply a rewind or instant replay effect

To reverse video:

When you reverse video, its length stays the same; it plays at the same speed, only backward.

  1. In the Project browser, double-click a video clip you want to reverse, or select one or more video clips and then double-click.

  2. In the Clip inspector that opens, select the Reverse checkbox, and then click Done.

    This makes the clip play backward in your project.

    If you see a Convert Entire Clip button instead of the Speed slider and other speed controls, click it. Certain types of video—including video shot with the iPhone and H.264 video shot on the Flip camcorder—must be converted before making a speed change. After the video is converted, you can select the Reverse checkbox.

  3. Click Done.

In the Project browser, when you move the pointer over a video clip that has been reversed, an icon near the left edge of the clip (see examples below) indicates the following:

  • Rabbit facing to the left:  The clip is reversed, or both sped up and reversed.

  • Turtle facing to the left:  The clip is reversed and slowed down.

Image of some speed-related icons in a video clip

If you change your mind later and want to undo the changes you’ve made, you can always select the reversed video in the Project browser, open the inspector, and deselect the Reverse checkbox.

To apply the instant replay effect to video:

Applying the Instant Replay effect lengthens your project somewhat because the replay plays in addition to the original clip.

  1. In the Project browser, select a single video clip or a frame range you want to replay.

  2. Choose Clip > Instant Replay > [percentage]; the Clip menu appears in a light gray bar across the top of your computer screen.

    The percentages refer to the speed of the replay. For example, choosing 50% means the replay plays at half the speed of the original clip. The replay clip appears in the Project browser after the original clip.

    If you have automatic transitions and titles turned on, you need to turn them off. Click the Turn Off Automatic Transitions button in the dialog that appears. You can turn them on again later by choosing File > Project Theme, and then selecting “Automatically add transitions and titles.”

    If the Instant Replay option is dimmed, you may need to convert your video. Certain types of video—including video shot with the iPhone and H.264 video shot on the Flip camcorder—must be converted before making a speed change. Double-click the clip in the Project browser, and then click Convert Entire Clip. Then choose Clip > Instant Replay > [percentage] again.

  3. In the viewer, double-click the Instant Replay title that appears onscreen, and type a new title if you want.

    To delete the title, select the Instant Replay title bar in the Project browser (so that it has a yellow outline), and then press Delete.

  4. Play back the effect by placing the playhead (the red vertical line) anywhere before where the effect begins in the Project browser and then pressing the Space bar.

    Press the Space bar again to stop playback.

To undo the Instant Replay effect, select the replayed clip in the Project browser and press Delete.

To apply the rewind effect to video:

Applying the Rewind effect lengthens your project somewhat because the rewound clip plays in addition to the original clip, though at a faster speed.

  1. In the Project browser, select a single video clip or a frame range you want to rewind.

  2. Choose Clip > Rewind.

    This feature inserts a reverse clip (at 400 percent speed) after the original clip, and also another copy of the original clip.

    If you have automatic transitions and titles turned on, you need to turn them off. Click the Turn Off Automatic Transitions button in the dialog that appears. You can turn them on again later by choosing File > Project Theme, and then selecting “Automatically add transitions and titles.”

    If the Rewind option is dimmed, you may need to convert your video. Certain types of video—including video shot with the iPhone and H.264 video shot on the Flip camcorder—must be converted before making a speed change. Double-click the clip in the Project browser, and then click Convert Entire Clip. Then choose Clip > Rewind again.

  3. Play back the effect by placing the playhead (the red vertical line) anywhere before where the effect begins in the Project browser and then pressing the Space bar; press the Space bar again to stop playback.

To undo the Rewind effect, select the rewound clip and the copy of the original clip in the Project browser, and then press Delete.