Video speed in vlogs
There are many different aspects to creating a video, from planning to editing and publishing. While all of them are critical, editing can make changes that can have dramatically different results depending on what part of the video is changed. Like its speed, for example.
If the visual part of the video is important, a steady speed can become boring after a while. At such moments, viewers can switch to other things while listening to the video, use available video speed controllers, or close it altogether. Changing video speed creates a visual contrast that keeps the viewer engaged.
This, in turn, encourages interaction – engaged viewers are more likely to comment or share a video, especially if speed plays a key role in the comedy or drama of the content. Of course, whether to make the video slower or faster depends on what the creator wants to convey.
When to slow down a video
Making video slower, or applying slow motion, is used to create certain visual effects, convey emotions, or emphasize key details. Thanks to the capabilities of modern editors, this technique is popular not only in professional but also in amateur video filming.
There are many reasons for slowing your video down, such as emphasizing details. For example, when filming sports, it helps show techniques or key moments that are difficult to capture at normal speed. In nature-related vlogs, you can emphasize the flapping of a bird’s wings, raindrops falling, the movement of a flame, and so on.
Slowing down the movement of a person or object in the frame can also be used to enhance the humorous effect. For example, you can first show an accidental fall, failure, or comical reaction at normal speed, and then repeat the frame, but slowed down this time.
Slow motion can also be used during scene changes as a transition. This helps when going from one part of the vlog to another smoother or when you need to add emphasis to the beginning/end of a scene.
When to speed up a video
When it comes to making video faster, it’s often used to convey high energy, shorten time, and create comic or visually interesting effects. This technique helps to dynamically tell a story, attract attention, and increase viewer engagement.
As such, speeding up helps to visualize long actions in a compressed form. This is useful, for example, if you are running a cooking vlog and want to show the preparation of a dish from start to finish, but it takes a long time. You can also make timelapses showing the growth of a plant, the movement of clouds, or other long processes.
This technique can also be used to convey the energy and dynamics of a particular scene to create a sense of speed or chaos. For example, it’s great to use to show the bustle of a city or the process of training or warming up.
Just like slow motion, speeding up can be used in humorous scenes. For example, you can speed up scenes with running, funny panic, or failures to add comedy and lightheartedness to them.
Tips to change video speed effectively
It is important to know how to speed up or slow down a video correctly. The process itself is quite simple because you can use video speed changers to do this with the entire video or slow down part of video. But in addition to this, you also need to understand why and what effect to use.
For example, think about your audience’s preferences. Younger audiences may prefer faster videos, while educational content is better received at standard or even slightly slower speed.
Also remember that context matters. In theory, you can change the speed of any scene, but you should consider how it relates to the scenes before and after it, and whether the change makes sense for the video overall.
The most important thing is to experiment. Try out several speed options to find the optimal balance that most effectively engages your viewers and also pleases you.
FAQs
What is the impact of the high speed of a video?
Fast speed helps to keep the viewer’s attention, especially with today’s information overload. If a video seems too slow, viewers may quickly lose interest. Speeding up certain moments can also add visual "energy" to the video.
What is the impact of the slow speed of a video?
Slow-motion shots highlight details, e.g. in reviews or tutorials. This creates an emotional connection and encourages viewers to continue watching. However, you shouldn’t use them too often or for too long, as this can make viewers bored and skip ahead.
Can I change the speed of a part of my video?
Absolutely. While there are tools that work on the entire video, many editors allow you to select the needed fragment yourself and adjust its playback speed as you need.
Conclusion
The right video speed can make content more emotional, dynamic, and engaging for viewers. It is a key element of a successful video, which directly affects audience retention and engagement.
