# Applying transform/scale effect makes video slow down

**URL:** <https://discuss.kde.org/t/applying-transform-scale-effect-makes-video-slow-down/13200>\
**Category:** Help\
**Tags:** kdenlive\
**Created:** [March 29, 2024, 10:38am UTC](https://discuss.kde.org/t/applying-transform-scale-effect-makes-video-slow-down/13200 "2024-03-29T10:38:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MikeM](https://discuss-cdn.kde.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/41988e/32.png) [@MikeM](https://discuss.kde.org/u/MikeM)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2024, 10:38am UTC](https://discuss.kde.org/t/applying-transform-scale-effect-makes-video-slow-down/13200/1 "2024-03-29T10:38:39Z")

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Hi,  
I’ve found that when I apply a Transform or Scale effect to a video clip, like making it 105% rather than 100%, the video then slows down, so it is not smooth.  
I tried using proxies, thinking it was the 4K video, but the exact same thing happens.  
I’m on PC using the latest version.  
Any ideas?  
The sound is OK (not slowed down) but the slowed-down video now makes precise editing impossible, making kdenlive unusable for me.  
Thx,  
Mike

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**Author:** ![berndmj](https://discuss-cdn.kde.org/user_avatar/discuss.kde.org/berndmj/32/2423_2.png) [@berndmj](https://discuss.kde.org/u/berndmj)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2024, 10:15pm UTC](https://discuss.kde.org/t/applying-transform-scale-effect-makes-video-slow-down/13200/2 "2024-03-29T22:15:23Z")

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> [@MikeM](#):
>
> the video then slows down, so it is not smooth

Do you mean playback in the project monitor? This is to be expected for PCs with older or not very powerful CPUs.

When effects are applied to a clip, Kdenlive uses the MELT framework to render the clip for preview/playback in the project monitor. This is done using only the CPU (GPU support is coming but will take a while).  
There are several ways to overcome this:

- Use [proxy clips](https://docs.kdenlive.org/en/user_interface/menu/clip_menu.html#proxy-clip)
- [Reduce the preview resolution](https://docs.kdenlive.org/en/user_interface/monitors.html#preview-resolution)
- Define a zone in the timeline, add that zone as a preview zone and use [preview render](https://docs.kdenlive.org/en/tips_and_tricks/tips_and_tricks/timeline_preview_rendering.html#timeline-preview-rendering)

Hope this helps …

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**Author:** ![MikeM](https://discuss-cdn.kde.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/41988e/32.png) [@MikeM](https://discuss.kde.org/u/MikeM)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 2:58pm UTC](https://discuss.kde.org/t/applying-transform-scale-effect-makes-video-slow-down/13200/3 "2024-04-01T14:58:35Z")

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Many thanks Bernd! I will give this a whirl.

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**Author:** ![Fml](https://discuss-cdn.kde.org/user_avatar/discuss.kde.org/fml/32/19282_2.png) [@Fml](https://discuss.kde.org/u/Fml)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 11:51am UTC](https://discuss.kde.org/t/applying-transform-scale-effect-makes-video-slow-down/13200/4 "2025-03-11T11:51:43Z")

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Sure not having NASA’s cloud to run a transform filter is a bummer.  
Any modern CPU should run a transform filter with zero overhead.  
Even Kdenlive can run it with zero overhead…hilariously enough not when you press the play button tho.  
With drop frames unchecked:  
No filter:  
Play button 10s—\>10s  
Next frame button 10s----\>20s  
Transform filter:  
Play button 10s------\>30s  
Next frame button 10s----\>20s

So it has no overhead on next frame button.  
The transform filter is the worst thing on Kdenlive.