Step by step
- Open the videoOpen the video speed changer and drop in your file. It opens in your browser; a free account is all you need.
- Select the clipClick the clip on the timeline. The speed controls are in the right-hand panel, under Audio & speed.
- Choose a speedClick a preset: 1.5×, 2×, 4×, 8×, 16× or 32×. For any other value, type it in Custom speed, from 0.1× to 100×. The clip becomes shorter on the timeline.
- Or type the length you needIn Fit into length, type how many seconds the clip should last. The editor calculates the speed for you.
- Speed up only one partMove the playhead to the start of the part and press S to split. Do the same at the end. Select the middle piece and change only its speed. A gap appears after a piece that became shorter; double-click the gap to close it.
- Check the sound and exportPlay the result. Lower the clip’s volume or add music if the fast sound is distracting, then click Export and download the MP4.
Which speed to choose
The right speed depends on what the viewer needs to see. Use a small increase when people must still follow the words, and a large one when only the progress matters.
| Speed | A 60-second clip becomes | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5× | 40 seconds | Talking videos and tutorials that feel slow |
| 2× | 30 seconds | Routine steps that the viewer still needs to see |
| 4× | 15 seconds | Cooking, drawing, building and cleaning |
| 8× | 7.5 seconds | A long process shown as a short summary |
| 16× | About 4 seconds | Timelapses of clouds, traffic or a sunset |
| 32× | About 2 seconds | Very long recordings, such as a full working day |
What happens to the sound
When you accelerate a video, its sound gets faster too. The pitch is kept, so a voice at 1.5× sounds quicker, not higher. Speech stays understandable up to about 2×. Above that, words are too fast to follow.
Above 16× the clip’s sound is muted, because it is no longer useful. For a timelapse at any speed, set the clip’s Volume to 0 and put a song on the track below; add music to video explains volume and fades. To remove the sound without changing the speed, see mute video.
Fit a clip into an exact length
Sometimes the length matters more than the speed: a clip must fill a 15-second advert, or a process shot must end before the voiceover does. Type the target length in Fit into length and the speed is calculated. For example, a 48-second clip that must last 15 seconds is set to 3.2×.
This is also the easiest way to make a clip match a gap on the timeline or the length of a song.
Speed up one part and keep the rest normal
Each clip has one speed. To change the speed inside a video, split it into pieces with S and give each piece its own speed. A common pattern for tutorials is normal speed while you explain, 4× or 8× while you repeat a slow action, then normal speed for the result.
A piece that you speed up becomes shorter and leaves a gap after it. Double-click the gap to close it, and the clips that follow move earlier. Text and music on other tracks stay where they are, so check their timing after a speed change. To cut a part out completely, use the trim tool. For a vertical video, how to make a TikTok video covers pacing.
Slow motion and picture quality
The same control slows a video down: 0.5× is half speed, 0.25× is a quarter, and the lowest value is 0.1×. Slow motion shows each recorded frame for longer, so a clip filmed at 30 frames per second looks less smooth at 0.25×. If you plan to slow a shot down, film it at 60 frames per second or more. A slower clip also needs more room on the timeline: if another clip follows directly, move that clip later first, because the slowed clip cannot extend past it.
Changing the speed does not lower the resolution. The video is rendered again at the size you choose in the export dialog. Free exports are Full HD with a small watermark; paid plans remove it and add 60 fps and 4K.
FAQ
How do I speed up a video online for free?
Open the video in CutLuma, select the clip and choose a speed under Audio & speed in the right-hand panel. Changing speed and exporting are free with a free account. Free exports include a small watermark.
Can I speed up a video more than 2×?
Yes. The presets go up to 32×, and Custom speed accepts any value up to 100×.
Does speeding up a video change the sound?
The sound gets faster with the picture and keeps its pitch. Above 16× the clip’s sound is muted. Set the volume to 0 and add music for a timelapse.
Can I speed up only part of a video?
Yes. Press S at the start and at the end of the part to split the clip, select the middle piece and change its speed.
Does speeding up a video reduce the quality?
No. The resolution stays the same, and the video is rendered again at the size you choose when you export.
Can I speed up a video on a Chromebook?
Yes. The editor runs in the Chrome browser, so nothing is installed. See how to edit videos on a Chromebook.