This filter requires keyframes, without keyframes it produces a still image.

The interface is similar to After Effects time-mapping functions, the vertical keyframe axis represents the frame to display while the horizontal axis is the current moment in time. Normal speed playback is a straight diagonal line from 0 at the in point to 100 at the out point.

Example Images

Start fast and slow down at the end

FCP Keyframe Graph

Start Slow and speed up towards the end

FCP Keyframe Graph

Start fast and end fast, slowing down in the middle

FCP Keyframe Graph

Start normal, slow in middle, reverse fast back to start

FCP Keyframe Graph

Start fast, slow and reverse in middle, finish fast

FCP Keyframe Graph

Keyframing

To make keyframing easier, I recommend expanding the Viewer keyframe area. Dragging the bottom line of the Frame slider’s keyframe space towards the bottom of the window will stretch it vertically.

To set up the filter for re-mapping time, do the following:

1. Press Shift-I to go to the In Point
2. Click the Keyframe button to add a keyframe here with a value of 0
3. Press Shift-O to go to the Out Point.
4. Drag the Frame slider to 100.

Now the effect is set up for normal speed playback. This line is important because whatever pitch (steepness) it is will be 100% playback speed. Making the line flatter (less steep) will slow playback, increasing it’s pitch (steeper) will cause the clip to playback faster.

Control clicking on the keyframe points allows them to be changed to Smooth points, which adds control handles for bending the curve between points. Below are some examples of what is possible with a few simple curves.

Field Separation

Time Bender can also be used to separate fields, essentially playing back each field as a frame while reducing the apparent speed to 50%. To playback fields as frames, turn off Frame Blending and set the inpoint to 0% and the outpoint to 50% (or any combination which results in 50% between keyframes)

Controls

Frame (1 - 100)

Sets the position of the current frame as a percentage of the complete clip. Zero is the first frame and 100 is the last frame. Keyframing this value results in the specified frame showing at position of the keyframe.

Frame Blending

Blends frames for smoother output motion. Frame Blending is weighted so inbetween frames will lean towards or away from whichever frame it’s closer to.

Reverse Fields

Reverses the default field order when frame blending. The default is lower field first.

Show Timecode

Shows the actual timecode of the currently visible frame.

Timecode Format (Clip Default, 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps-drop frame, 30 fps, 60 fps-drop frame, 60 fps, 16mm, 35mm)

Setting to override the default timecode format and report the virtual frame position in a user specified format.