Change Default Transition Duration in Kdenlive

This article provides a straightforward guide on how to modify the default transition duration for overlapping timeline clips in Kdenlive. By adjusting this setting, you can customize the length of automatic transitions (mixes) created when overlapping clips, saving you from having to resize each transition manually during your video editing process.

To change the default transition duration in Kdenlive, follow these steps:

1. Open the Configuration Menu
   Click on Settings in the top menu bar, then select Configure Kdenlive… (On macOS, this is located under Kdenlive > Preferences).

2. Navigate to Timeline Settings
   In the left-hand sidebar of the configuration window, click on the Timeline option.

3. Adjust the Default Duration
   Look for the Default Durations section within the Timeline settings. Locate the Transition field. Increase or decrease the value to your preferred length. This value is typically measured in frames or seconds, depending on your project timecode display.

4. Apply and Save
   Click Apply at the bottom of the window, then click OK to save your changes and close the settings.

Once configured, any new transition or automatic mix created by overlapping clips on the timeline will default to your newly specified duration. This setting applies to all future transitions you create but will not retroactively alter the duration of transitions already present in your timeline.