How Do I Turn Slow-Mo Into Normal Speed On My iPhone?: Reverting iPhone Slow-Motion Videos
Want to revert your iPhone slow-motion video to normal speed? It’s easier than you think! You can easily adjust the slow-motion segment in the Photos app to achieve a normal-speed video.
Understanding Slow-Motion on Your iPhone
The iPhone’s slow-motion video feature, often called “slo-mo,” is a powerful tool for capturing details that might be missed at regular speed. It records video at a high frame rate (typically 120 or 240 frames per second) and then plays it back at a lower frame rate, creating the slow-motion effect. However, sometimes you might want the entire video, or portions of it, to play at normal speed. Understanding how your iPhone manages this process is crucial for successfully editing the speed.
Why You Might Want to Revert to Normal Speed
There are several reasons why you might want to convert a slow-motion video back to normal speed:
- You only intended to capture a small portion in slow-motion: Perhaps you wanted only the peak of a jump or the splash of water to be slowed down, and the rest should play normally.
- You accidentally recorded the entire video in slow-motion: Mistakes happen!
- You want to use the video in a context where slow-motion doesn’t fit: For example, creating a fast-paced montage.
- File size: Slower motion capture tends to create larger video files.
The Simple Steps to Revert to Normal Speed
Here’s how to turn slow-mo into normal speed on your iPhone:
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Open the Photos App: Locate and tap the Photos app icon on your iPhone’s home screen.
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Select the Slow-Motion Video: Navigate to the “Albums” tab and find the “Slow-mo” album or locate the video in your general photo library. Tap the video to open it.
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Tap “Edit”: In the upper right corner of the screen, tap the “Edit” button.
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Adjust the Slow-Motion Segments:
- You’ll see a timeline at the bottom of the screen. This timeline shows the sections of the video that are in slow-motion.
- The sections between the vertical lines are the slow-motion parts.
- To revert to normal speed, drag the vertical lines closer together, effectively shortening or eliminating the slow-motion segment. Drag the line all the way to the edge of the video to remove slow-motion completely.
- You can add multiple slow-motion sections by manipulating the timing lines.
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Preview the Video: Tap the play button to preview the video with your adjustments.
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Tap “Done”: Once you’re satisfied with the speed changes, tap “Done” in the bottom right corner.
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Choose Save Options: You have two choices:
- Save Video: This overwrites the original slow-motion video with the edited version.
- Save Video as New Clip: This creates a new video file with the edits, preserving the original slow-motion version. Choosing this option is recommended in case you want to revert your changes later.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Not Saving as a New Clip: Always save as a new clip initially. This protects your original slow-motion video.
- Incorrectly Adjusting the Timeline: Pay close attention to the timeline and ensure you are dragging the correct markers. Experiment to get the desired effect.
- Expecting Perfect Results: The quality of the normal-speed sections may be slightly reduced compared to videos recorded at normal speed from the start. Keep in mind, the iPhone is extrapolating frames to achieve normal speed.
- Forgetting Where You Saved the Video: If you chose “Save Video as New Clip,” make sure you know where the new video is saved (usually in the general photo library).
Advanced Editing Options
While the iPhone’s built-in editor is convenient, third-party video editing apps offer more advanced control over speed adjustments. These apps allow for:
- More precise speed control: Fine-tune the speed with greater accuracy.
- Variable speed ramps: Create smooth transitions between slow-motion and normal speed.
- Keyframe editing: Have total control over the video’s speed through the entire video.
Some popular options include:
- iMovie (Free and preinstalled on many iPhones)
- LumaFusion (Paid, but powerful)
- VN Video Editor (Free with optional paid features)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is my slow-motion video still playing in slow motion after I adjust the timeline?
The most common reason is that you haven’t dragged the slow-motion markers fully to the edges of the video or close enough together to eliminate the slow-motion segment. Double-check the timeline and ensure that no slow-motion sections remain.
Can I convert a normal-speed video into slow-motion using the iPhone’s built-in editor?
Yes, you can create a slow-motion effect in a normal video. Open the video in Photos, tap Edit, and adjust the frame rate slider as if it were slow-motion footage. However, the result won’t be as smooth as a video originally recorded in slow-motion since the phone has to interpolate frames.
Does converting slow-motion to normal speed reduce the video quality?
Potentially, yes. When you turn slow-mo into normal speed on your iPhone, the phone may extrapolate frames, which can sometimes result in slightly reduced sharpness or introduce artifacts, especially if the original slow-motion recording wasn’t perfectly lit.
How do I make only a specific part of the video normal speed and the rest slow-motion?
Use the timeline editor in the Photos app. Position the vertical bars to indicate the segments you want in slow motion. The regions between the bars will be slow, and the segments outside will run at normal speed.
What happens if I accidentally overwrite my original slow-motion video with the normal-speed version?
Unfortunately, if you chose “Save Video” (overwriting the original), the original slow-motion version is gone. It’s strongly recommended to always choose “Save Video as New Clip” to avoid this situation. Check iCloud Photos, as it might retain the original.
Can I undo the changes I made to the slow-motion video after saving it?
If you saved the video as a new clip, your original is untouched. If you overwrote the original, you can attempt to revert the edits by re-editing the video in the Photos app and resetting the slow-motion segments. However, your original settings might be lost.
What if I don’t see the timeline when editing my slow-motion video?
Ensure you are in the editing mode of the video within the Photos app. Sometimes, the editor might not load correctly; close the Photos app entirely and reopen it. Also, make sure you are editing a true slow-motion video, as defined by the iPhone.
Is there a limit to how much slow-motion I can remove from a video?
No, there is no explicit limit. You can adjust the slow-motion sections as needed, from removing all slow-motion to fine-tuning specific segments.
Why is my edited video choppy after converting it from slow-motion to normal speed?
This is often caused by insufficient lighting during the slow-motion recording. Low light can lead to fewer details, making frame interpolation (used to create normal speed) less effective and resulting in choppiness.
Does this process work on all iPhone models?
Yes, the process for changing slow-motion video speed within the Photos app is consistent across most iPhone models running iOS 13 and later.
I accidentally deleted my original slow-motion video after saving it as normal speed. Is it gone forever?
Check your “Recently Deleted” album in the Photos app. Deleted photos and videos are typically stored there for 30 days. If it’s been longer than 30 days, it may be permanently deleted. iCloud Photos may retain it for longer, however.
Can I use a third-party app to better turn slow-mo into normal speed on my iPhone?
Yes! Apps like iMovie (free), LumaFusion (paid), and VN Video Editor (free with premium features) offer more granular control over speed adjustments, allowing you to create smoother and more customized speed ramps and transitions. They often employ more sophisticated frame interpolation algorithms for better results.