videobeaux/docs/programs/effects/reverse.md

reverse

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Description

Reverses the playback of the input video, producing a backward-motion effect.
This simple but powerful manipulation can completely change the emotional or aesthetic tone of footage, turning ordinary actions into surreal rewinds, resets, or temporal loops.

Purpose

reverse is designed for creators who want to:

• flip time direction for stylistic emphasis,
• generate rewind moments or temporal reversals,
• create looping effects by combining forward and reverse sequences,
• enhance glitch, montage, or collage workflows,
• build playful or cinematic transformations by reversing motion.

How It Works

1. Frame Order Inversion
   All frames in the source video stream are read, then written backwards.
2. Audio Handling
   Depending on global Videobeaux settings and FFmpeg behavior, audio may be reversed or muted.
   (Many workflows intentionally mute or replace audio for reverse sequences.)
3. Encoding
   The final reversed output is encoded using global Videobeaux codec, CRF, and pixel-format settings.

Program Template

videobeaux -P reverse -i input.mp4 -o output.mp4

Arguments

• (No additional program-specific arguments; uses global videobeaux options only.)

Real World Example

videobeaux -P reverse \
  -i myvideo.mp4 \
  -o reverse_styled.mp4

Program Output

Technical Notes

• Perfect for reversible motion such as walking, pouring, splashing, spinning, or transitions.
• Some codecs do not allow efficient reverse seeking; full decoding may be required.
• Audio reversal is often undesirable unless explicitly intended, so many pipelines mute or replace the audio after reversing.
• Large files may require significant memory or disk usage during reverse operations.

Recommended Usage

• Rewind effects in music videos or narrative sequences.
• Loop creation by combining forward + reversed versions of the same clip.
• Glitch-art assemblies where time feels elastic or broken.
• Transitions or visual punctuation in experimental edits.
• Montage moments where reverse motion provides humor, shock, or surreal tone.

Quality Tips

• For crisp reversed motion, use lower CRF values.
• Pair with looper_pro to generate seamless mirrored loops.
• Combine with bad_contrast or double_cup for stylized retro or dreamy rewinds.
• Apply reverse before heavy effects if you want the effects themselves to accumulate in reverse order.
• Apply reverse after stylistic effects if you want the look preserved but motion reversed.