Premiere Pro Rate Stretch, Slip & Slide Tutorial

How to Use Slip, Slide, and Rate Stretch

there are three indispensable tools in Adobe Premiere Pro that you absolutely must get acquainted with: Slip, Slide, and Rate Stretch. Trust me on this; as someone who has spent years editing videos, including a plethora of promotional videos for big ecommerce brands, these tools are the key to efficient editing.

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Premiere Pro Slip Tool

If you're not into quick keys, no worries. You can also locate the Slip tool by navigating to the mini menu located to the left of your sequence [Sequence: the timeline where all your clips are arranged]. If it's not immediately visible, simply hold down your mouse button and a dropdown will appear, revealing the Slip tool among other options.

What is it?

Now, what makes the Slip tool so invaluable? It allows you to adjust the specific portion of the clip you've selected. You can "slip" it either to the left or right to change the in and out points [In and Out Points: the start and end times of your clip] without altering the length of the clip or the overall sequence [Sequence: the entire timeline of your project]. This is a godsend because it doesn't affect the adjacent clips, preserving the integrity of your timeline.

Why is it Useful?

Let me give you a practical example from my years of editing experience. Suppose you have a 10-second clip of someone flying a kite, but the kite takes off at second 4. You can use the Slip tool to start the clip exactly at that emotional moment, without having to cut or move other clips around. It's like having your cake and eating it too!

How I Use It:

In my years of experience, I've found this tool invaluable for fine-tuning interview footage. If the interviewee starts answering a bit late, I can slip the clip to start right when they begin speaking, all without messing up the rest of my timeline.

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Premiere Pro Slide Tool 

Just hit the quick key "U," and you're there. Alternatively, you can locate it in the mini menu to the left of your sequence. Now, let's talk about the Slide tool's functionality. Unlike the Slip tool, which I find indispensable for fine-tuning, the Slide tool is something I don't often reach for. But that doesn't mean it's not useful; it's just specialized.

What is it?

The Slide tool moves a clip back and forth within the timeline while keeping its in and out points the same.

Why is it Useful?

Let's say you've got three clips: A, B, and C. You want to move clip B, but you don't want to affect its content—just its position between A and C. The Slide tool lets you do just that, automatically adjusting the adjacent clips to accommodate it.

How I Use It:

When editing Advertising videos, I often find that I need to adjust the timing of a specific step, like when to add an ingredient. The Slide tool allows me to do this seamlessly, ensuring the flow of the video remains natural.

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Premiere Pro Rate Stretch Tool

you're new to Adobe Premiere Pro, you can quickly access this tool by pressing the "R" key. It's also available in the mini menu to the left of your sequence. As someone who's been featured in media for my video editing tips, I can't stress enough how knowing your quick keys can make your editing process exponentially more efficient.

What is it?

This tool changes the duration of a clip while simultaneously adjusting its speed. Once activated, the Rate Stretch tool adds little handles at the ends of your clips. These aren't just decorative; they're functional. Grabbing one of these handles allows you to compress or extend your footage without altering the in or out points [the points where your clip starts and ends].

A Word of Caution

While this tool is incredibly useful, there's a caveat. I'd advise against dropping the speed below 100% unless you've shot your footage at a higher frame rate, like 60fps [frames per second]. Why? Lowering the speed on standard footage can make it look choppy, and nobody wants that.

Why is it Useful?

Say you have a 5-second clip that needs to fill a 7-second gap. Instead of cutting or looping, use the Rate Stretch tool to make the clip longer, and it will automatically slow down to fill the gap.

How I Use It:

I can't emphasize enough how much I rely on this tool, especially when editing my promo clips. If I need to show a cake rising in the oven but don't want to bore the audience, I can speed up the clip using the Rate Stretch tool, turning a 30-minute rise into a 10-second clip.

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