As a video editor, using ripple delete is incredibly useful. If you are new to editing, understanding how to use ripple delete is something you should consider mastering immediately. Ripple delete in Premiere Pro is a gamechanger to your editing workflow.  

Ripple delete in Premiere Pro

Knowing how to use ripple delete allows you to edit more efficiently and much faster. It speeds up your editing workflow, and learning these cool tricks and techniques will help you become a better video editor. 

This article will cover what ripple delete is and how to ripple delete in Adobe Premiere Pro. We have also covered some additional frequently asked questions around using ripple delete below in the contents. 

Right, let’s get into it!

What is ripple delete?

Ripple delete is a tool that allows you to automatically delete content that sits between two existing clips with one singular click. 

The ripple delete tool in Premiere Pro will delete the selected clip and then fuse the two clips on either side together, so you don’t have to. Seamless and save a lot of time whilst editing. 

It doesn’t mess up any of the timing, audio or anything. It simply merges it keeping everything else in place. 

It’s painful when you shift your entire layer and the other aspects to the cut are thrown out of place, but no need to worry when using the ripple delete tool.

How to ripple delete in Premiere Pro

Here’s the good stuff, here is how to ripple delete in Adobe Premiere Pro. Firstly you will want to ensure your settings are correct before you start using the ripple delete tool. Below is a step by step guide on how to use the ripple delete tool in Premiere Pro. 

Firstly, make sure your layers are targeted. 

For the ripple delete tool to work, you must ensure that all the layers you are working with and want to cut or protect from cuts are correctly set.

To do this, look at the locks on the labels “V1, V2, V3, A1, A2, A3”. 

Ripple Delete - Select the layers

If these labels are in blue, this means that they will be affected by ripple delete; if they’re not highlighted, then they will be locked and unaffected. 

If you want to edit a certain layer, simply uncheck it, but if you don’t want to edit it, simply lock it by clicking it. This will then either allow you to ripple delete or not.

Now, it’s time to use the ripple delete tool in Premiere Pro

Now you’ve set your layers to your preferred choice; it’s now time to use the ripple delete tool. 

Firstly, make your desired cuts in your Timeline. Now right-click on the area you wish to delete and select “Ripple Delete”. This will now automatically fill the gap left in the Timeline whilst using ripple delete. 

Ripple Delete

Remember for this to work on all unlocked layers, make sure you cut across these – any layers that are “locked” won’t be affected. 

Also, you can use a simple keyboard shortcut to ripple delete – scroll below to find out how to achieve this!

You may also be interested in reading What’s the best export settings in Premiere Pro CC for YouTube?

How to use the ripple delete shortcut in Premiere Pro

Shortcuts in Premiere Pro are super simple and effective. Here’s how to set up a shortcut for the ripple delete in Premiere Pro.

To set up ripple delete in Premiere Pro as a shortcut, simply click on the top bar and select Premiere Pro > Keyboard Shortcuts > Then type into the search bar “Ripple Delete”

Ripple Delete Shortcut

Choose your preferred letter on the keyboard and associate the ripple delete with that letter. In our example, we’ve chosen “B”. 

Just follow the above steps to ensure you’ve locked or unlocked the correct layers and you’re ready to go and edit using the ripple delete shortcut. 

Why isn’t ripple delete working?

The most common reason for this is that you have locked one of your layers that you’re trying to ripple delete on. 

The locked layer can simply be adjusted to “Unlocked” by clicking on the letter and number combination. I.e “V1” at the side of the Timeline. 

This will then allow you to use ripple delete. 

Unlock layers in Premiere Pro - Ripple Delete

If you’re still having issues, it’s worth checking out the audio layers. 

Occasionally you may need to look further at one of the locked audio layers. Audio occasionally will be the blocking mechanism. Make sure you unlock the relative audio to the layer.

I.e V1 and A1 – this is so Premiere Pro can merge the clips together to fill the gap left. If it’s locked you’ll be unable to merge the audio and ripple delete won’t work in Premiere Pro. 

Unlock layers - Ripple Delete

Why not have a read of: How to zoom in on Premiere Pro | Our Simple Guide

Ripple delete vs delete – What’s the difference?

The difference between ripple delete and delete is pretty simple to tell apart.

Delete

Delete simply removes the clip within the Timeline, which leaves a gap and does not merge the two clips on either side of the deleted section.

Whereas,

Ripple Delete

Ripple delete removes the clip but joins the clip before and after the deleted clip together. It essentially closes the gap between the two clips. 

We hope this article on how to ripple delete was useful to you. Let us know your thoughts down below in the comments; we love to hear from you. 

It may even be worth you checking out our full resource page for all things Adobe Premiere Pro. We try to make Premiere Pro as easy to use as possible and help you become a better video editor without having to spend thousands on classes

Happy editing!

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