Full Guide to Slow Down Video with AE Properly

After Effects can accurately slow down video and is also a professional video editing tool. However, for beginners, it can be tricky to locate and use these features effectively. This guide will show you how to slow down video in AE and some simpler alternatives you can try.

Use the Time Stretch to Slow Down Video with After Effects

The easiest and most intuitive way to slow down a video in After Effects is to use the Time Stretch feature. This simple method is ideal for beginners. However, it can make the video look choppy, especially when slowing down the entire clip. This happens because Time Stretch only extends the duration of existing frames without generating new ones to ensure smooth playback.

Step 1Run the software, add the video you want to slow down to AE and drag it to the timeline. Then right-click on the video and choose "Time". Then select "Time Stretching".

Step 2Adjust the "Stretch Factor" ratio to adjust the slowdown rate. Below 100 to slow down. The lower the value, the slower the video speed.

Step 3Preview the clip to see if the speed is as expected. If it doesn't fit, you can return it for further adjustments.

Slow Down Video with After Effects by Time Remapping

If you want to slow down a specific clip in After Effects, use the Time Remapping function. It provides precise control over the speed and allows for smooth transitions between different speed segments.

Step 1Click to select the video you dragged into the timeline, right-click and select time, then click "Enable Time Remapping".

Step 2When enabled, keyframes automatically appear at the beginning and end of the video. Move the play head to where you want to slow down the clip. Right-click the timeline and select "Set New Keyframe."

Step 3Select "Keyframe Helper" and then enable "Easy Ease In". Drag keyframes horizontally to create smoother transitions.

Step 4Repeat this process at the end of the video to keep the video speed consistent.

Slow Down Your Video in After Effects with the TimeWarp Effect

After Effects’s Timewarp effect slows down video better with high-quality, high-frame-rate videos. This helps maintain visual quality, even at reduced speeds. Timewarp is more flexible than the first two methods, but it also demands more memory and processing power from your computer.

Step 1Import the video to After Effects, drag it to the timeline, and click to select it. Right-click and select "Effects," then find "Time" and "TimeWrap."

Step 2Click "TimeWrap" to apply it to the selected video. You can also choose "Pixel Motion" to improve the quality of the slow-motion effect.

Step 3By default, a speed value 50 represents the original speed. Setting it below 50 will slow down the footage with After Effects.

An Alternative to Easier and Faster Slow Down Videos

The above three methods of slowing down videos in After Effects may still be a bit complicated and require high computer performance, or you may not be used to AE's user interface. You can choose 4Easysoft Total Video Converter as an alternative. Its method of slowing down videos is simpler and more intuitive, and it doesn't require any video editing experience. Set the multiplier speed precisely while maintaining the quality. It has an editing toolbox with more editing features such as cropping, rewinding, making 3D movies, and more.

Step 1Run the software and click "Toolbox" to find the "Video Speed Controller". Open it and import the video you want to slow down.

Step 2Select a multiplier such as 0.5 or 0.25 and preview if the slowed-down effect is what you expect.

Step 3Click "Output" below the speed to customize the video parameters to ensure quality. When satisfied, click "Export" to save the decelerated video.

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