3 Ways to Create Amazing Seamless Video Loops in Premiere Pro

Premiere Pro 18/10/2021 4 min read

Creating looping videos is a crucial skill for any online content creator, allowing you to extend and improve your video watch times across social media. The benefits of a file that perfectly loops unto itself can also be essential for creative work outside of Premiere Pro.  For example, you can use this kind of a clip when building a website so that it never experiences a jarring jump back to the beginning upon repeat.

Today, we’re going to take you through several ways to achieve seamless looping videos in Premiere Pro. Don’t worry, even if you’re not using Premiere Pro, the steps will be the same.

Part 1: How to Loop a Single Clip

The process of looping a single clip is relatively straightforward, but you may need to experiment a little with the transitional effect you use. If your scene ends in a similar position to the start, you can probably use a Cross Dissolve to hide the edit entirely. If there are huge differences between the beginning and end, a Whip Pan or Film Reel transition would be a good option. It won’t hide the cut but will create a loop.

  1. Cut your clip in the middle using the Blade tool (C on your keyboard).
  2. Move the first half of the clip to after the second.
  3. Add a Transitional effect to the join between the two clips.

Part 2: How to Loop a Complete Project

When you loop a complete project, the aim is to finish the video with the same frame as the start of the video. If you are using a logo or graphics, this will be relatively straightforward. If you are using video clips of people or talking heads, it can be a little more complicated, but there are a couple of things you can do to help.

Always Have Extra Video and Audio

When you edit your video in the first instance, make sure there is a couple of seconds of audio/dialogue at the end of the video, such as an outro. And a couple of seconds of talking before the intro.

The looping will work by taking the additional video from the start and placing it over the additional audio at the end. The lip movements won’t match entirely, but you will be able to create a seamless loop.

Film for the Loop 

Filming specifically to loop your video is a much easier option. As there will be cuts in the edit after the intro and before the outro, you can use the start and end of your video to create the loop in your filming.

It sounds more complicated than it is. All you’ll need to do is film your Outro, then go straight into your Intro. It might feel a little strange, but by filming this way, you can create a seamless loop in your edit.

Step 1: Duplicate the Video

Let’s look at the video first; the results of this method will depend on how your composition is put together. Remember, you can always add a transition to blend your clips.

  1. Position your playhead at the end of your video and press O on your keyboard to mark the Outpoint.
  2. Hold Alt on the keyboard, then drag the first clip of your video to the end of the timeline past outpoint, creating a duplicate.
  3. Line the duplicate clip up precisely with the end of your video.
  4. Drag the front of the copied clip backward to fill in the space over the additional audio.
  5. Play the loop through by selecting the Loop option on your media viewer toolbar. If you don’t see the option, click the plus button and drag it from the menu to the toolbar.

Step 2: Duplicating the Audio

The key to successfully looping a music track is choosing the right piece of music; consistent tracks will be easier to loop. Before you start, ensure that the track starts at least 10 seconds in.

  1. Select the music track in your timeline.
  2. Hold Alt and drag the music track to make a duplicate. Line up the start of the duplicate with your endpoint.
  3. Drag the start of the duplicate backward to meet the end of the original track.
  4. Hit the N key on your keyboard to access the Rolling Edit tool.
  5. Select between the 2 music tracks, and drag the cut point along the timeline until you find a point where the music blends well.
  6. If needed, add a Constant Power Audio Transition of a few frames to blend the cut further.
  7. If you need to upload your video to somewhere that loops automatically, you’re done.
  8. If you want to create the loop manually, hit Cmd+A or Ctrl+A to select your entire sequence.
  9. Hit Cmd+C or Ctrl+C to copy the sequence.
  10. Move the playhead to the Outpoint and hit Cmd+V or Ctrl+V to paste it. Do this as many times as you want the video to loop.

Part 3: How to Create a Boomerang Loop

The final method of creating a looping video is to use the boomerang effect, which repeats and reverses your video clip. The method will work best with clips that can be played backward without it being obvious, so keep an eye out for visual giveaways in your clips, such as people or vehicles in motion.

  1. With your clip editing in the timeline, hold Alt and drag it to make a duplicate.
  2. Place the duplicate after the first clip, so they play one after the other.
  3. Right-click on the copied clip and choose Speed Duration.
  4. In the dialogue box, select the Reverse Checkbox. The 2 clips will now create a seamless loop.

Looping videos is a social media trend that isn’t going away anytime soon. While you can rely on Instagram and Facebook to take care of the video looping, with a bit of extra editing, you can hide the cut, leaving your audience unsure when your video starts and ends. If you’re looking to create something a little more stylized in Premiere Pro, then check out this glitch loop tutorial.